Lincoln and Ft. Sumter

[JMadonna]

An interesting sidelight as to who owned sovereignty to S.C. territory.

When S.C. left the Union it had unforeseen consequences going back to the revolution. In the Treaty of Paris in 1783, England made separate treaties for peace with both the U.S. and France.

Britain granted independence to the 13 colonies forming the United States. France got various territories and 2 clauses that re-established old treaties between the two countries and any territory taken before the war would be returned to the original owners.

France was in America twenty years before the British establishing a colony at Charlesfort (now Charleston S.C.). Through the numerous France/England wars in America - England made a treaty with France recognizing that Charlesfort was owned by France.

Since South Carolina broke up the U.S. by leaving it, South Carolina legal minds reasoned that the Treaty of Paris agreement between England and the U.S. was now null and void - but the treaty between England and France was still valid. Therefore, legally speaking, Charleston should now revert to French control.

Governor Pickens was shocked when told of this but was relieved when the French told him that they would not pursue their claim. Apparently he didn't feel the same way to U.S sovereignty claims for Fort Sumter.