The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-17 00:00:00

" I then considered the honour of the Admi-
nistration pledged to maintain the troops in
the position they occupied, for such had been
the assurances given to the gentlemen of
South Carolina who had a right to speak for her.
South Carolina, on the other hand, gave reciprocal
pledges that no force should be brought by them
against the troops or against the property of the
United States. The sole object of both parties
in these reciprocal pledges was to prevent a collision
and the effusion of blood, in the hape that some
means might be found for a peaceful accommodation
of the existing troubles, the two houses of Congress
having both raised committees looking to that
object. Thus affairs stood until the action of
3Lejor Anderson, taken unfortunately while the
'Commissioners were on their way to this capital
on a peaceful mission, looking to the avoidance of
bloodshed, has complicated matters in the existing
manner. Our refusal or even delay to place affairs
back as they stood, under our agreement invites a
collision, and must inevitably inaugurate civil war.
I cannot consent to be the agent of such cala-
mity. I deeply regret that I feel myself under
the necessity of tendering to you my resig-
nation as Secretary of War, because 1 can no
longer hold it under my convictions of patriotism,
nor with honour, subjected as I am to a violation
of solemn pledges and plighted faith.
" With the highest personal regard,, I am most
truly yours,
" JOHN B. FLOYD;
" To his Excellency the President of the
United States.
" THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY.

"Washington, Dec. 31, 1860.
"My dear Fir,--I have received and accepted
your resignation of the office of Secretary of War,
and. not wishing to impose upon you the task of
performing its mere routine duties, which you have
so kindly offered to do, I have authorised Postmas-
ter-General Holt to administer the affairs of the
department until your succtessor shall be appointed.
" Yours very respectfully,
" JAMES BUCHANAN.

" Hon. John B. Floyd."
The South Carolina Commissioners have not yet,
however, *withdrawn from Washington. The

Charleston mob; however, have forced the Govern-
ment of South Carolina to seize upon the unoccu-
pied forts and other property of the United States,
and hoist over them the Palmetto flag ; and there
they remain at the mercy of Major Anderson, whose
guns command every point they occupy.
These important proceedings have put a stop for
the moment to attempts at conciliation and con-

cession., The cotton States are all preparing to go

out, several of there during the coming week. Some
Northern gentlemen hope that Georgia will stem
the tide. My adviceS do not give me any grounds
for entertaining such a hope. The whole planting
interest will, in my opinion, side with South Caro-
lina, and go to its protection in case of a collision.
There is already a cause of quarrel—the armed
occupation of the forts—but that may be overlooked
if no attempt is made upon the other forts. I
apprehend that a collision will come, if at all, from
" the enforcement of the revenue laws. The col-
lector of Charleston claims to make entries, collect
duties, and give clearances in the name of the State
of South Carolina. It would have been easy for
South Carolina had there been any wish for a
peaceful separation to postpone these questions
-until the united South could settle with the
North the terms of the separation. Instead of
doing so they have precipitated this question, and
I cannot see how a collision can be long postponed.
This country is now on the verge of a civil war,
and there does not appear to be statesmanship ,
enough to avoid it. Nothing was easier than to I
prevent it. Bat the time for prevention is fast
slipping away. The Smith is armed from one end to
the other. The messages, which at least two of the
Republican Governors will read to-morrow to the
Legislature of their respective States, will counsel
the North to do the same thing. Where there is so
much inflammable material around, and so many
sparks flying about, how long will it take the two
,to come together?
How is.the South to raise money enough to main-
tain a controversy with the Federal Governmeni ?
They answer this question by saying that there wi;l
be, hio Federal Government to contend with—that,
dist). acted by internal divisions, the remainder o f
the Vnion will, when the South has separated from
it, fall asunder. In this they count without their
beet, 'the North'•is more united to-day than it wait
A month. sinoo,-and will bc,,in my opinion, united
16,04 man if the dreadful contest is precipitated by
thconadne.Ns of the South. The North wishes to

awliel it, if possible. The North (and when I speak
of Northern public sentiment I speak not only of
"what L see, but cd what I hear from all parts of the
interior), the No rth is attached to the Union, which
it venc rates as its nationality. It wishes to
preserv. 3 the Cnion, and it will make any
concessi an short otf an abandonment of principle to
secure it P preservt ►tion. And, above all, there is a