The national Republican., 1861-03-01

character OF so much OF present disputes as cal
be affected by any legislation, or constitution
al amendment whatever, by correcting the mis-
representations which prevailed at the Soutl
in respect to the purposes Of the North, and By
bringing out and stimulating everywhere, tina
spirit of American nationality, which NOR,
than Constitutions, makes US one people.
THE SECRETS OF THE PRISON. HOUSE
Mr.. ex-Secretary Thompson's recent speech
to his neighbors, an extract from which is pub
lished elsewhere in this paper, reveals some
things, which he had better have kept to him
self, if he consulted either the Presidents rep
utation, or his own.
He verifes the fact, hitherto involved in some
doubt, that the President, when it was too late
countermanded the order in execution of which
the Star Of the West attempted to reinforce
Fort Sumter. 1t was rumored at the time,
that it was to reach the Star of the West with
this countermand, that the Brooklyn left Nor.
folk on an errand otherwise wholly mysterious.
This may now be regarded as confirmed fact.
Mr.. Thompson admits that he telegraphed
the sailing of the Star of the West to Judge
Longstreet, Of South Carolina, and exults in
claiming that it was this information, so com.
municated, which put the South Carolinans on
their guard, and enabled them to foil the effort
to succor Major Anderson. 1t was informa.
ton which he obtained by virtue of his position
as member Of the Cabinet, and was revealed
while he was still member of it. He says
that he telegraphed Judge Longstreet, while
he was in the act Of writing his letter Of resig
nation. But it was before his resignation was
accepted, and before his letter Of resignation
was still at his discretion, whether to send it,
or not. He was still Secretary of the Interior,
and he made use of one of his official subordi-
mates to send his dispatch to the telegraph of.
fee. The fact of the sending of this dispatch
was known at the time to more people than Mr..
Thompson was aware Of The period may
come, when it will become prudent to expose
all the circumstances connected with it. But
upon Mr. Thompson's own showing, he be-
trayed to the public enemy the important Sc.
crets Of the Government of which he was still
a member. That may be chivalry in Missis.
sippi, but it would be accounted meanness, as
well as treason, almost everywhere else.
Mr.. Buchanans Cabinet seems to have been,
for two months after Mr.. Lincoln's election, a
very happy family. Its harmony was entirely
uudsturbed by some little abstract notions en-.
tertained by the President against the right of
secession, while he relgiously abstaued from
lifting a finger to stop it. Thompson and
Floyd were men of too much practical sense
to care button for Mr.. Buchansns theories,
SO long as he would do nothing to impede the
rebellion. Everything was going smoothly,
until the venerable Secretary of State began
to suspect that if he valued good name in
history, he had better doze somewhere else
than in his chair of office. 1t was the resigna.
ton Of General Cass that disturbed the serene
flow of events, and brought the President him
self to at length comprehend the truth.
The inherent power of this Union has been
illustrated in many crises, as it will be in this,
the greatest Of all. But no more signal illus
traton of it was ever given, than its crushing
down the wall Of official and personal advisers,
standing between the President and his true
line Of duty. Never was a man-so completely
surrounded by and imbedded in treason, as
Mr.. Buchanan was four months ago. His at.
tachments, his prejudices, and his animosities
all led him in the wrong direction, and it
seemed impossible to reach him through any
channel. But the intrinsic power Of our insti.
tutions shattered his Cabinet to atoms, changed
his personal advisers, and forced him into a
new path.
nU- The Star of last evening says of the re.