Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-12
THE PRESIDENT AND Ex-sECRETARY THOMPSON

THE PRESIDENT AND EX-SECRETARY THOMPSON.
The National htsligsaeer of Thursday contains the
letter Of resignation addressed By the late Secretary of
the Interior to the President regnng his post and the
reply Of the latter accepting. Mr. Thompson under date
Jan. Sth, says
It is with extreme regret have just learned that add-
tioual troops have been ordered to Charleston. This
subject has been frequently discussed in cabinet council
and when MOudty night "lst OF December ult, the
orders for -einforcemens Fort Sumter were counter
manded distinctly understood from you that order
Of the kind would oe made without being previously
sidered aud decided in cabinet
Ii is true that on Wednesday, January 2d this subject
was again discussed in Cabinet but certainly concu-
on was reached and the War Department not usti
fed in ordering reintOrcements without something more
than was then said. earn however this morning, for
the first tme 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
bouni TO resign my commission, OF your consu-
tioual advisers, into your hands
In reply the Presiien: says that the suspension" of
the orders for re-inorcements was, as Mr.. Thompson
knew, for cause that "woud speedily be removed"
He continues:
In consequence Of your request, however promised
that these orders should not be renewed whout being
previously considered aud decided in Cabinet"
This promise was faithfully observed on my part In
OrQer 10 carry u INTO elect
meeting on Wednesday "a January 1861, IN which the
question of sending reinforcemens 10 Fort Sumter was
amply discussed, both by yourself and others The de-
cided ma ory Of opinions against you AT tins mo-
melt the of the South Carolina commissioners
to my communication to them Of Slst December was
received and read It produced much indignation among
the members of the Cabiuet
After further brief conversation, employed the io
loving language at ia all oyer and reiuoreements
must be sent Judge Black said, at the moment oil my
decision that after this letter the Cabinet would De unan
irnOus aud | heard no dissenting voice Indeed, the
spirit Of this letter le doubt on my mind that Fort
Sumter would be Immediately attacked, ana henee tue
necessity OF sending reinorcements there without deay
Whist you admit that on Wednesday, January "a
this subject again discussed in Cabinet you say,
"bu. certainly no conclusion reached, and the war
Department justified 10 ordering re-inoreemenIs
without something more than was then said lou are
certainly mistaken in alleging that mo conclusion was
reached In this your recollection Is enlirey uueen'
from that of your iour oldest colleagues IN the oSone~
Indeed, nay language so unmistakaoie that tne
Secretaries of War and the Navy proceeded to act upon
il without any further intercourse With myself than what
you heard or might have heard me say fou had oee1
so emphatic in opposing the re-lniOreemeats tna'
thought you would resign in consequence OF my ueei
sion.