St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-02-14
Secratary FLOYD.

Ex-Sccretary Floyd, who left his
two millions of acccptanccs to take
care Of themselves, and FASTENED to
Virginia at the call of patriotism, re-
Gently made speech in Richmond
which was immensely applaudcd. The
revelations Of Cabinet Councils, which
we quote below, will be read with in.
tcrest, though Mr.. Floyd's character
for vcracity is hardly such as to en-
able us To rely altogether on his state.
ments. Mr. Stanton compactly ex-
pressed the real position of the South
III relation to Southern forts, in a
speech he made recently in the house
OF Representatives,. "If," said he,
the forts are garrisoncd, it is called
coercion ; if they are left in a weak
condition, they are seized and their
guns turned upon the Federal authori-
ties" Mr.. Floyd's account should be
read by the light thrown upon it by
MIR. Stanton's maxim:
Mr.. Floyd alluded to the two poll
cies set forth in the Presidents Mes.
sage. Mr.. Attorney Black said we
must execute the laws. !, said Mr..
Floyd. could not quite bow to that.
Mr.. Buchanan said, This question of
the forts is a question Of property"
| agreed to that. ! said more. | said,
" | am your Secretary, and have in
my hands this property of the forts.
| will turn over to my successor that
property inviolatc. / know these
people Of South Carolina went to
school among them. know they are
not thieves. Isaac Haync, Manigault
and Frank Pickens are good men
they are great men-and | will back
their honesty and integrity, if ncccs-
sary, with my blood. But cannot
consent that you place among them
military power that would choke them
to the ground"
At a subsequent interview with the
President, he said to me, "Mr. Floyd,
what about sending recruits to Charles
tonT l said, Nothing about send
ing recruits" "Don't you intend to
strengthen the forts at Charleston?"
he asked ! replied, 81 do not"
Said he, IL would rather be at the
bottom of the Potomac tomorrow,
than that these forts should be in the
hands of those who intend to take
them. 1t will destroy mc-it will
cover your name, which is an honor
ed one, with iniamy, for you will new
CT be able TO show that you had not
some completely in it," said, "Mr.
President, trust me-therc is no dan
ger. l will stake my reputation, and
| will stake my life, that the forts of
Charleston will not be touched !
said this because | felt it. The Presi-
dent then said-"But. Mr.. Floyd, does
that secure the forts 2" mo, sir"
said !, "but it is the best guarantee
| can give you that they will not be
touched He rcplied-"I am not
satisfied" Said l." 1t is yours to
command, and you will be obeyed.
You can strengthen the forts, but it
will lead to the efiusion of blood. You
can, however, put an orderly sergeant
there--a man with a worsted epau-
lctte and a stripe on his pantaloons.
He is representative man-the rep
resentative of the stars and stripes,
and of Hail Columbia and Yankee
Doodle He can stand there and so
proclaim himself, and his authority
will be respected. Why not submit
to Congress the question of the seces-
sion Of South Carolina Congress
may say State has right to with.
draw, or may say we rcpudiatc the
right of seccssion-we will send down
our armies to coerce you to submis-
sion. Do this, and l will wait the
issue"
Mr.. Floyd then proceeded to state
that he called to his aid jefferson
Davis, "that bright Saladin Of the
South" Mason and Hunter, with other
patriots, Northern as well as South.
ern, and talked with the President.
He then said am content with
your policy-wc will send no more
troops to the harbor of Charleston. !"
1t delighted me and | now thought
the question capable of peaceful So
luton. Mr. Floyd next spoke of Gen.
Cass, to whom he paid glowing
tribute. General Cass said" These
forts must be strengthened. l de-
mand it," This, gentlemen, is the
Northern sentiment. The President
replied" l am sorry to differ from
the Secretary Of State, but the inter-
ests of the country do not demand q
reinforcement of the forts at Charles
ton. cannot do it, take the re.
sponsibility" The next day Gen.
Cass resigned. Thus matters stood
when there was proposition to send
for Gen. Scott. Mr.. Floyd. who had
long known and admired him as a
Virginia soldier, gladly acquiesced
Gen. Scott came. He had other ideas
He was soldier He had a pro
gramme to allay disunion and bring
peace to the country. He laid this
,, programme before the Secretary o
War, who told him he did not like it
He then laid it before the President
I and the President did not much lik,
: it at that time.
The programme of Gen. Scott wa
as follows To take Fort Sumpte
| and 10 stlo pincL pnv otrocntho, u.