The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-01-17
CorrespOr dence Between the Presiden'
and Secretary Thompson.

SECRETARY THOMPSON TO MR.. BUCHANAN.
WAsA1NGToN, Jan, 0, 1861.
Sir-It is with extreme regret | have
lust learned that additional troops have
zen ordered to Charleston. This sub
iect has been frequently discussedin Cab
met Council, and when on Monday night
the 3lst Of December ullimo, the order
for reinforcements to Fort Sum'er was
countermauded, | distinctly understood
from YOU that no order Of the kind would
be ma le Without hoing previously con-
sidervd and decidedin Cabinet. tits true
that on Wednesday January Cd, the sub
lect was again discussed in Cabinet, but
certainly no conclusion was reached, aud
the War Department: was not justified inor-
derug roiuforcemsuts without somsthlng
more than was then said:
/ learn. however, this morning for the
frst time that the steamer Star of the
West sailed from New York last Satu''
day nigh, with two hundred and fifty
men under Lieut.. Bartlett, bound for Fort
Sumter. Under these circumstances, l
feel myself bound to resign my commits
sion rs ono Of your constitutional advisers
into your hands.
With high respect, your obedient SER
want,
]. THOMPSON.
, His Excellency. JAMES BUCHANAN, Pres
idcnt Of the United States.
t MR.. BUCHANAN TO SECRETARY THOMPSON.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 8, 1861.
=, Sir have received and accepted
, your resignation of Yesterday, Of the off
! ce Of the Secretary Of the Interior, Or
Monday evening, 3lst December, 1860
. | suspended the orders which had bcer
. issued by the War ani Navy Department.
to send the Br ocblyn with reinforcement
to Fort Sumter. OIL this l Informed yo'
on the same evening. l stated to yo'
= my reason for this suspension, which yo'
i know, from its nature. would be speediI
removed In consequence Of you re
!, quest, however, l promised that these OF
dsrs should not be renewed, without he
ing previously considered and decided j
Cabinet. This promise was faithfully oh
ia served on my part. In order to carry
4 into eie,t, called special Cabinet NEE
" ling on Wednesday, the I'd Of January
=. 1867, in which the question OF sendin
II reinforce 10 Fort Sumter was ampl
if discussed both by yourself and other
ia Tile decided neyority Of opinion wzsdgaim
y you.
~ At this meeting the answer ofths Sout
Carolina Commissioners to my commun
II cation to them Of the 3lst Of Decembe
81 or was received and read. 1t produce
v much indignation among the members {
,, the Cabinet. After further brief cor
. versation. Iemployed The following Ian
Ia guags: IN is now all over, and he rein
forcements must be sem"
i. Judge Black said at the moment Of n
- decision that after this letter the Cabint
- would be unanimous, and heard no di;
:. serting voice. Indeed the spirit and tor
lv of the letter left no doubt on my min
i THAT Fort Sumter would he immediatel
q, attacked, and hence the necessity ofsent
ing reinforcements there without dcla.,
n Whilst you admit that on Wednesda
bo January Cd, this subjsct was again di
cusscd in Cabinet, yousay "but Ger'ai
a. y no conclusion was reached, and Il
War Departments was not jutIfed in o
No. dering reinforcements without somethil
,,c more than was then said"
"a. You are certainly mistaken in alegil
nr that no conclusion was reached. In III
1 ,s, your recollection is entirely different fro
tb. that of your four oldest colleagues iu t
nm C,binet. Lnieed my language w1s' sou
., misiakable, that lie Secretaries of War a
,ss tie Navy proceeded TO act upon acithc
90 90 any further Intercourse Nth myself, I'll
rh ,chat you heard or might have Heard
'be say
Ia Ia You had been so emphatic in opposi
,ov these reinforcemenls, that | thought y
ds would resign in consequence of my
40, cision. l deeply regret that you h'
m. been mistaken in point of fact, though
w. Nv firmly believe, honestly mistaken. s
ivn it is certain you have not the less bt
,he mistaken. Yours, very respectfully,
III. JAMES BUCHANAN
of To Hon. Jacob Thompson.