The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-03-13

when on Monday night, slst OF December
ultimo, the orders Tor reinforcements to Fort
Sumter were countermanded, | distinctly
understood from you that no order Of the
kind would be made without being previous
u considered aud decided in Cabinet. II
is true that on Wednesday, January Cd, this
subject was again discussed in Cabinet but
certainly no conclusion was reached, and the
War Department was not justified in order
ing reiniorcements 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 two hundred and fifty
men, under Lieutenant Bartlett, bound for
Fort Sumter. Under these circumstances
feel myself bound to resign my commission,
as one ofyour constitutional advisers, mtg
your hands.
With high respect. your obedienl servant,
J. THOMPSON.
His Exesleney James Buchanan,
President Of the United sIaiea.
WAsHISGToN, January 9, 1861.
SIR: received and accepted your res'g.
nation. on Yesterday. Of the office q secreta-
ty Of the Interior.
On Monday evening, Sist December. 1860,
| suspended the orders which had been lssu-
ed BY the War and Navy Departments I,
send the BROOKLYN with reinlorcements to
Fort Sumter. Of this informed You on the
same evening. | stated to you my reason
Tor this suspension, which you knew, from
It's nature, would be speedily removed. IL
consequence OF your request, however, l
promised that these orders should not be re-
newed "without being previously consider
ed and decided IN Cabinet" This promise
was faithfully observed on my part. In or
der to carry it into effect ! ra.led special
Cabinet meeting On "Wednesday, 2d January,
/ 1861, IN which the question oil sending rem
fprcemeu,s to Fort Sumter was amply dis:
cussed both by yourself and others. The
decided maturity u opinlnns WIS against
you. At this moment the answer 81 the
South Carolina :. Commissioners 10 N,
communication 10 them vi 3lst necembei
was received and read. Il produced much
Indignation amnng the inrmbers ~ the labi-
net. After further briri conversation !
employed the following language: ''lt Is
nav all over, and teIntorcements must be
sent" Judge Black said. al the mument 81
nv decision, that after this letter ihr CabI.
net would b. unanimous, AID heard 10 dis
senting voice. Indeed. ihr spirit aud tome
Of the letter lefl nu doubt on NV maud that
Fort Sumter would be Immediately attacked
and hence the necessity Of sending rciutOree.
inents there without DELAY.
Whilst YOU admit +" that on Wednesday
January 3D. this subject Vas again discussed
IN Cabinet" yOu say, " but {, riainly no con
riosion was reached, and the War Depart
mtnt Was MT ja,tlhed ~ ord ring rclniorce,
msnts without something mnie lhan Sas the'
sad" fuu are certainly mistaken ~ alleg
ing that mo cnnelusion WIS reached" b.
this YOUR recollection is entieIy d,ftrrn
lrnm ll,at If ynar four oldest colleagues ~
the abinrt. indeed, nv language WAS ;,
: unmi,tassble that the Secretaries of Wa
aud the NAVY proceeded tuset upon II with
mt any lurthcf intercourse with myself than
what you heard or might have heard me -,
You aad been - emphatic IL 1ppuslng ties,
reiniprcemrnls HAT | tl,uasht ,oI would r..
sign ~ consequence 81 my ,lrc,sinn. deep.
|, roget that inu have ben mistaken inpoIn
d TACT, though 6rmi, brliete honestly M,
taken. SttlI ~ 4 certain sou lare mol th,
less been mistaken.
iunrs. very rpsDrcifnlly.