which may be
consummated before the 4th of March, we ask instructions whether
the delegations are to remain in Congress until that date, for
the purpose of defeating such legislation.

"_Resolved_, That a committee be and are hereby appointed,
consisting of Messrs. Davis, Slidell, and Mallory, to carry out
the objects of this meeting."
]

CHAPTER II.

Tenure of Public Property ceded by the States.--Sovereignty and
Eminent Domain.--Principles asserted by Massachusetts, New York,
Virginia, and other States.--The Charleston Forts.--South
Carolina sends Commissioners to Washington.--Sudden Movement of
Major Anderson.--Correspondence of the Commissioners with the
President.--Interviews of the Author with Mr. Buchanan.--Major
Anderson.--The Star of the West.--The President's Special
Message.--Speech of the Author in the Senate.--Further
Proceedings and Correspondence relative to Fort Sumter.--Mr.
Buchanan's Rectitude in Purpose and Vacillation in Action.

The sites of forts, arsenals, navy-yards, and other public property of
the Federal Government were ceded by the States, within whose limits
they were, subject to the condition, either expressed or implied, that
they should be used solely and exclusively for the purposes for which
they were granted. The ultimate ownership of the soil, or eminent
domain, remains with the people of the State in which it lies, by virtue
of their sovereignty. Thus, the State of Massachusetts has declared
that--

"The sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Commonwealth extend to
all places within the boundaries thereof, subject only to such
rights of _concurrent jurisdiction_ as have been or may be
granted over any places ceded by the Commonwealth to the United
States."[111]

In the acts of cession of the respective States, the terms and
conditions on which the grant is made are expressed in various forms and
with differing degrees of precision. The act of New York, granting the
use of a site for the Brooklyn Navy-Yard, may serve as a specimen. It
contains this express condition:

"The United States are to retain such use and jurisdiction, _so
long as said tract shall be applied to the defense and safety of
the city and port of New York, and no longer_.... But the
jurisdiction hereby ceded, and the exemption from taxation
herein granted, shall continue in respect to said propert