Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-18
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.

Their adviceS from Washington. Inc olar s"y''
We believe his letter Of virtual resignation
10 have embraced an elaborate argument IN
favor of the governmental policy which, 1t has
been long known, President Buchanan will. in
no event resort 10. That is, in iuvor oil the Initial
ton of Il civil war by the general government
10 prevent the secession Of Southern States
Thus, he doubtless urged the policy Of so
STRENGTHENING the troops i'll Charleston harDoF
~ would enable them 10 resist any possible
effort on lie part Of the South Carolina seccs-
sionists to take possession OF the tortlllcatlonS
there. We feel sure, too, that nc made the ac-
cep,ance Of that policy by the President the
uliima,um upon which he would remain in the
government. Of course it was not accepted;
hence his resignation.
We further feel confident that on Monday
, Attorney General Black will be nominated to
the Senate for the Secretaryship Of State in his
stead, and regard it as being highly probable
that Mr.. Edwin NJ. Stanton, formerly OF OHIO,
well known Of late years from his connection
with the law business Of the government, III
| California particularly, will he rendered the
| Attorney Gcncralship in Judge Blacks stead.
1t is very certain that no two better appoint
nents could be Inade-no two more likely TO
command public confidence everywhere, Or to
accord to the President more substantial aSSis-
lance in this hour of the country's trataA.
There WAS a rumor on Saturday that Secrc-
tary Thompson had also resigned, but it was
subsequently, asccrtaincd TO be without i"uH-
dation.
The President, it is said, would have APP
pointed Mr.. Henry L.cdyard, Mr.. CasS's son.
in-law, 10 the Assistant Sccretarysllip Of State,
made vacant by the resignation OF Mr.. Tres
colt, but that gentleman declined to accept.
4 letter from Washington says:
General Cass is a native of the United
States which adopted the Constitution. Tie
lived in the town where the convention was
held; remembers distinctly the rcjOlcIngS at
the birth Of the conledcracy has grown with
its growth and strengthened with its strength,
and he is now unwilling to be present at It's
last expiring gasp. Having witnessed Its blrth,
he SAYS he is unwilling to remain here to wit
ness its dissolution. Hence he rctires from the
Cabinet, but with the kindest feelings Tor Presl'
dent Buchanan and each member of the Cabl-
net, whom ne colnplimented highly rs honora-
bic and patriotic men.
In the conversation upon the Affairs OF The
Union between the President and Cabinet, the
President and General CaSS are said to nave
shed tears ut the probable fate Of the coun-
try.
Another letter from Washington says:
The PRESIDENT is deeply exercised and gricvcd
at the departure Of his old and valued friend,
Gen. Cass, from among the coterie OF his most
Intimate advisers. But he has taken a stand
against coercion, in which he is sustained by
the Secretaries of the Army and Navy, and
will abide the issue. Gen. Cass is preparing u
letter to the President, in which he vii! rN-
nlain his reasons for leaving The cabinet at this
critical period.
IL is well known that Gen. Cass has had in
contemplation for some time resigning his seat
in the cabinet, owing 10 difference OF opinion
between himself and the President III regard
Of the propricty Of sending additional force to
Fort Moultrie. On Friday his resignation was
accepted by the President, not, however, until
the matter Of difference had been fully and de-
liberatclv agreed upon by all the member Of
the cabinct, with the additional connSciS OF
that wise, able and discreet patriot and soldier,
Gen. Scott, who is now here, and who attended
the cabinet meeting.
The cabinet are unanimous in the opinion
that it would be not only unwisc and lnjudl.
cious, in the present disturbed and excited
state Of the Southern people, to send addition
al force to Fort Moultric, but that it would GER
taiulv result in a collision between the State
and Federal troops.
Mrs. Anderson, wife Of Major Anderson, in
command at Fort Moultrie, has called upon the
President within a few days, and demanded
that he increase the force at that place, or she
will take his neglect to do so as an intentional
and wicked sacrifice Of her husbands life, who,
she declares, will never surrender the place,
out rather fall in its defence.
The Washington Constitution Of Saturday
evening confirms the rulnors that General Cass
resigned because he differed from the President
as to the Iropriety Of sending reinforcenents 10
Fort M~oul,ric. The President, it says, will not
sanction a movement which might lead 10 COL
liSion and bloodShed in the present excited
state of feeling in South Carolina and other
Southern States, and at Il time when every
friend Of the Union is using his best efforts to
prevent its dissolution, or, if that DO not posi-
bic, to avert the adoption Of my measure which
would render its reconstruction hopeless. The
| Constitution further states that the President
has resolved to appoint Attorney General Black
to the vacant Secretaryship Of State and that
his nomination will he sent to the Senate.
Th Views OF Gen. Scott.
According to a dispatch from Washington,
General Scott has given the President an clab.
crate opinion in reference 10 the present condI-
ton Of the military defences Of the country,
and what should be done in view of possible
contingencies. lie drprecates secession, and
bcgs his own State Of Virginia to pause and
bear the ills she has, rather than fly 10 those
she knows not OF. But if secession occurs, he
saws il will result in the formation Of not only
two but four distinct Mathematics. These are as
follows: First-New York, New England, Penn
s~vlvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Min
nesota. The second will consist Of Indiana,
Illinois, Ohio, Western Virginia, and so along
down the Blue Ridge, taking in Western FIori-
da, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee,
Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Texas
The third will consist of South Carolina, Ccor-
gia, East Florida, Eastern Virginia, and per
haps, Maryland and Delaware. The Pacific
States will constitute the fourth.
The General treats the exclusion of the grain
growing States OF the West from a direc, COM
municalion With the Gulf Of Mexico as an i'm.
possibility. They will have free course 10 co
down the Mississippi, and will insist upon Pen
sacola Us = naval depot. The General also gives
an elaborate statement Of the disposition Of the
military forces Of the nation, and the condition
and needs Of the fortified places.
IL a Compromise Possible
The Charleston Courier thus responds 10 this
question:
We Call only answer, in ful. confidence and
conviction, that we DO not believe any compro-
mise possible. Nor do we deem it probable
that any terms which the more dominant Sec
ton will adopt, even under the imminencc Of
separation, could be honorably accepted by the
| South. Admitting, however. the adjustment Of
terms acceptable in themselves, the great qncs-
ton would present itself: "What guarantees
can he given" What pledge or token or earn
es, or covenant could be offered more obligatory
on the North aud more satisfactory 10 the South
than those which have been violated again and
again by tie North?