The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-25

President Buchanan and Secretary
Thompson. ~
The correspondence between President
Buchanan and Secretary Thompson, on the
occasion OF the resignation of the latter is
as follows: a1A
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8. 1861.
SIR 1t is with extreme regret have
just learned that additional troops have
been ordered to Charleston. This subject
has been frequently discussed in Cabinet
Councils and when on Monday night, Dec.
81, the orders for reinforcements to Fort
Sumpter were countermanded, I distinctly
understood from you that no order of the
kind would be made without being pre-
viously considered and decided in Cabinet.
1t 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 in
ordering reinforcements without something
more than was then said. learn, however,
this morning, for the first time, that the
steamer Star of the West sailed from New
York last Saturday night with ESQ men, un-
der Lieut. Bartlett, bound for Fort Sumter.
Under these circumstances feel myself
bound to resign my commission, as one of
your constitutional advisers, into your hands.
With high respect, your obedient sey't.
2 .mT. o j. THOMPSON.
His Excellency, JAMES BUCHANAN, President
of the United States.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY. cc5
~ WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 1861.
| how
resignation, on yesterday, of the Office of
Secretary of the Interior.
On Monday evening, 3lst December,
1860, l suspended the orders which had
been issued by the War and Navy Depart,
ments, to send the Brooklyn with reinforce
ments to Fort Sumter. Of this informed
you on the same evening. stated to you
my reason for this suspension, which you
knew, from its nature, would be speedily
removed. In consequence of your request,
however, promised that these orders should
not be renewed without being previously
considered and decided in Cabinet" This
promise was faithfully observed on my
part. In order to carry it into effect,
called a special Cabinet meeting on
Wednesday, I'd January, 1861, in which
the question of sending reinforcements to
Fort Sumpter was amply discussed both
by yourself and others. The decided
majority of opinions was against
you. At this moment the answer of
the South Carolina Commissioners to
my communication to them of 31st Decem.
Der was received and read. 1t produced
much indignation among the members of
the Cabinet. After further brief CONVEX
sation l employed the following language:
Ii is noa1 all over, and reinforcements must
be sent Judge Black said, at the moment
of my decision, that after this letter the
Cabinet aUould be unanimous, and I heard no
dissenting voice. Indeed, the spirit and
tone of the letter left no doubt on my mind
that Fort Sumter would be Immediately
attacked, and hence the necessity of send
ing reinforcements there without delay.
Whilst you admit that on Wednesday,
Jan. 2, this subject was again discussed in
the Cabinet" you say, but certainly no
conclusion was reached, and the War De-
partment was not justified in ordering
reinforcements without something more
than was then said" You are certainly
mistaken in alleging that no conclusion
was reached" In this your recollection is
different from that of your four Oldest col
leagues in the cabinet. Indeed, my language
was so unmistakable that the Secretaries of
War and the Navy proceeded to act upon
it without any further intercourse with
myself than what you heard, or might have
heard me say. You had been so emphatic
in opposing these reinforcements that /
thought you would resign in consequence
of my decision. I deeply regret that you
have been disappointed in point of fact,
though I firmly believe honestly mistaken.
Still it is certain that you have not the less
been mistaken.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.