The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1860-12-27
D0ings at Northumberland
James Buchanan.

NlISA'N~s 'o ~
Pennsylvania fills the place Of the lat
ter.
The House has passed the Pacific
railroad bill and it was made the special
order in the Senate on the end Of Janu-
airy. The announcement Of the seces-
siou of South Carolina created but lit
tie sensation. The news was already
anticipated. James Buchanan took it
differently, however. He was excited
and embarrassed. No donbt that little
spark Of celestial Are sometimes called
conscience, revived ana burned him 4
little.
Mr.. Hamlin has had interviews with
Generals Scott and Cass. The former
thinks pacific measures will eventually
quiet the country. The latter still holds
to his views, that the President should
reinforce Maj. Anderson at TT. NJ ,ultric
the failure to do SO being the eau e OF
his resignation.
Both Houses are doing but little in
matters Of legislation.
In the Crisis Committee on the 18th.
the proposition offered by II. Winter
Davis was adopted with but two dis
sen.ing voices. 1t requests the several
State Legislatures 70 re,isetheir several
State laws. to see if there are any in
conflict with the Constitution Of the
United States, especially that portion
having reference to the Fugitive Slave
law, and earnestly requests sach States
if there be any, to repeal such laws.
We now invite a careful perusal by
Gu readers Of the following extract Of a
letter written by the regular correspond
ent Of the Chicago Tribune, dated at
Washington Dec 10th:
.'rhe resignation Of Gen. Cass is the
theme or every tongue. The reason
for !, ,nynt start!c the nation. Cass
was Secretary Of War under Gen. Jack
son. whes South Carolina attempted
notification. How different he and Old
Hickory act,a then from FLOYD and
Buchanan now. wren the same State is
again preparing for rebellion. Cass re.
;ntorced the forts, that command
Charleston with SEQ regular soldiers.
and placed Gen. Sect in command OF
them. Two frigates We're anchored
broadsiae to the town. The govern
ment was resolved and y, eparcd 10 de-
fend the public %rrovcrtv- collect tho
revenues and enforce the fay -, though
it might reduce Charleston to ashes.
and execute every n%n1litier taxi y with
arms in his hands. That was the way
Jackson and Cass dealt with The sit"a-
ton then. BIT. a 1isnnionist is now
Secretary Of War. and = cawaralv m
lcrila IS President. The forts 10,
st,i,aped efdefenses: a mere handful o !
troops. whose very weakness in numbers
invites , tack, holds them. The gov
eminent q, scnal, containing 10000
stand Of musk ITS. rifles and revolvers, Is
il: the possessi Nh Of = company OF
Charleston traitors.
Cass A y that Gen. jackson Won't
call things treason on th>e !"'. " vi
executive against the cons 'V','on an'
the loyal citizens. and. IS mn, ~ NJ
dislikes to give up office. fe says w."
nc longer remain \ membe; of = .
eminent guilty Of such deeds. lie G.
tiers his solemn protest, wastes his
hands, lays down the sccretarv's chill
and retires from the department o.
State. What a striking ,~,,ra'lel the
antipodcs Of the old mans life Afford
When a youth. half q century ago, he
broke his sword and threw away the
when Hull proved = traitor and
surrendered his armv to the British
Now, a veteran in the last decade of
life, when he finds Buchanan surrender
ing to the Fire-Eaters, he %denonnces
him before the country, rcnds his port
folio aud fmgs the pieces in his face
This last act will wipe away a multitude
Of sins against his State and section
After being we'll kissed. in several acts
for badly PLAYING his part. he makes
his exit from the stage amid rounds of
applause.
Secretary Floyd has sold 100000
stand Of government arms, since the
election, to the cotton States for a NOM
inal sum. He has not given them the
old arms, but large quantities Of the
newest and best style Of weapons be-
longing to the nation. He has placed
large magazines Of ammunition IN exposed
places in the slave States, and left them
fanguarded for the express purpose Of
Supplying the rebels with the munitions
OF war at the national expense. when
they set up the standard Of revolt. He
has stripped the arsenals in the free
States of arms and ammunition, and Of
the means Of enforcing the laws and
preserving the Union, so far AS it lay in
his power to do so. He has Just dona
ted 5000 stand Of improved infantry
weapons to Louisiana in the face Of the
resolution passed by tie Legislature Of
that State, OF their purpose to secede!
He has sent nearly all the United States
troops rs far away as possible. One or
two regiments were recently shipped to
the Pacific States where they are not
needed the other regiments are scat
tn-ol olour %ln Do Grop1n ~ Nav.