Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-01-19
Sflistellaneous.

csy The correspondence between President
buchanan and Secretary Thompson, on tb,
occasion Of the resignation Of the latter, is a.
follows:
WARRINGTON, Jan. 8, 1861.
Sir: 1t is with extreme regret have jus,
learned that additional troops have beer
ordered to Charleston. This subject has
been frequently discussed in Cabinet Coun
ellis and when on Monday night, Dec. 81
ut, the orders for reinforcemeDts to Fort
Sumpter were countermanded, ] distinctly
understood from you that no order of the
kind would be made without being previously
considered and decided in Cabinet. IL is
true that on Wednesday, Jan. 2, this subject
was again discussed in Cabinet, but certainly
no conclusion was reached, and the War
Department was not justified 10 ordering rein.
torcemeuts without something more than was
then said ! learn, however, this morning.
for the first time, that the steamer Star Of
he Vest sailed from New York last Saturday
night with $50 men, under Lieut.. Bartlett,
hound for Fort Sumter. Under these cir.
cumstances feel myself bound to resign my
commission, as one Of your constitutional
advisers, into your hands.
With high respect your obedient servant.
j. THOMPSON.
Ills Excellency James Buchanan, Presi.
dent of the United States.
TnEp EpREsIDENr'sR
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 1861.
SIR: | have, received and accepted your
resignation, on yesterday, OF the Office of
Secretary of the Interior.
On Monday evening, 3lst December, 1850,
suspended the orders which had been issued
by the War and Navy Departments, to send
The Bro0ktyn with reiniOrcemeuts TO Fort
Sumter. | stated to you my reason Tor this
suspensiou. which you know, from its nature,
would be speedily removed. lu consequence
OF your request, however, | promised that
these orders should not be renewed "without
being previously considered and decided ~
Cabinet" This promise was faithfully obser-
we'd on my part. 10 order to carry 1t into
effect called special Cabinet meeting on
Wednesday, % January. 1861, in which the
question OF sending reinforcemeuts to Fort
Snmter was amply discussed both by yourself
aud others. The decided majority of opinion
was against you. AT this momen. the an
swer Of the South Carolina commissioners
10 my communication to them Of 3lst Decem.
Der was received and read. IL produced
much Indignation among the members of the
Cabinet After 3 further conversation | |
employed the following language II is noe
all Orer, anil reintorcementS must be sent"
Judge Black said, at the moment OF my dec |
sion, that aler this letter the Cabinet Uould he /
unanimous. and heard no dissenting voice |
lDdeed, the spirit aud tone Of the litter left |
no doubt on my mind that Fort Sumter would !
Se Immediately attacked, and hence the Deces-
sty Of sending reinforcements there without
delay.
Whilst you admit "that on Wednesday,
Jan. =, this subject was ugan discussed 10
Cabinet" you say, "but certainly no conclu-
sion was reached, and the War Department
was not justified in sending reiuforcements
without something more than wss then said"
You are certainly mistaken in alleging that
no conclusion was reached" 10 this your
recollection was entirely different from that
OF your four oldest colleagues in the Cabinet.
Indeed, my language was so unmstakabe
that the Secretaries of War and the Navy
proceeded to act upon it without any further
intercourse with myself than what you heard,
or nigh. have heard me say. You had been
so mphatic in opposing these reinfOrcements
that thought you would resign in conse.
quence of my decision. ] deeply regret that
you have been disappointed in point Of fDct
though | firmly believe honestly mistaken.
Still it is certain thst you have not the less
been mistaken.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.