New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-27
WHY SECRETARY THOMPSON RESIGNED.
HE Cos;FEssFS HIS TREASON.


WHY SECRETARY THOMPSON RESIGNED.
HE Co.FEssEs HIS TREASON.
Jacob Thomr-er late Secretary of the Interior I'M
der Mr. Buchanan arrived at his home IN OHofd,
Miss short time since and WIRE received ut the depot
bv q large crowd of his friends and neigbbors. hr.
Thompson after thanking his feow-clllzens for the
demonstration explained his reasons for leaving Mr..
Ruchai ans Cabinet. He said;
No seuo,s difficulty or division occurred in Mr..
Ruchanan's Cabinet, until after the late fesn'h'ai
election A. soon as il WAS known that the sectional
candidate WAS elected President by sectional vote on
patform OF principles in direct conflict with the ,on-
stitu,on which, by denying night OF protection 10
vast property in the Southern States, overihro"lnte
EQUALITY Of the States aud in effect put all the States
OF the Sosth in state Of outlaw II perceived thai
new class Of questions would afre-the extent Oh 'ne
reserved powers Of the States wse the hrst great ques
tion and the power of the general government 70 Use
military force upon the people of sovereign S'aie,
undertaking 10 r, sume the powers delegated IN the
Constitution Of the United Snes TO enforce obedience
10 the mandates Of the Government Of the Union was
the next great question On the hrt, that Il on the
power of State Ia secede, there coon developed
an irrosoncilabe difference 81 opinion On the power
10 eoeree State 10 remain IN, or 10 return 10
the Union there found 10 be unanimty and mar,
monv Hence il was low-ciizeDs that continued
a member Of the Cabinet after the delivery OF the
President message. differed With HIM m lis artu-
ment on the right cf secession. agreed Win I'm III
DENYING the right az coercion. agreed WIN MN,
that il was his duty to enforce the law, and 20 hol
and preserve the pablc property. And believing as
did that in enforcing law IN this free GoNeromtnt,
where fathers took the greatest pains TO snbord
nate the military 70 tie civil authorities, the army aud
navy could only be called on AZ porse oomtatus %
aid the civil gftoers in executing Tie pr3ces'r Pa
orders ssning from tPs eiyi III IL la -
tended 10 a resistance 10 all maranderr to III. diving
back and defeating all the approaches Of mobs sbd M
lawful end Unauthorized combinations OF individuals
With an ardent detlre TO preserve peace, 10 avoid al
conflict and 10 give iull and free opportunity in AL
sect ons for the public opinion TO develop i'eli -
that il po-sible Institutions might he preserved
retained my place. .
due exercise Of caution ami moderation, eOnti could
be avoided. Without IA civil magistrate tere could be
no process withOat writ or process there could be
no arrsi. nment and 10 jnsh aon for the ,alhng III
the military force, and lebce enforcing tie laws War
an impossbility iuasmuch the machinery Tor its
comphshment wanting. Forts had been erected
within the limits OF the States with their consent for
the purpose of enabling the United States to iglh s
duties TO protect the Staes by Iepelhug invasion and
suppressing instructions. To hold fort ar "A menace
upon State with view of controlling her political
action of endaneering her power, was sueh per-
yersion Of the giant Of Juihdcuun by Tie Safes tuht
in the Indignant Of all true men II would be viewed
a CRYING outrage, an act OF The forts, then, III
seceding States can lie rghliully regarded only NJ
property. To bold them military post, 10 tbus
threaten tho peace OF the State Is at war with the
theory Of our Government
With these opinions cou,ceniOufly entertained, and
believing, as cid, that any attempt 10 reinforce the
forts in CHARLIE llarbur would lie viewed by the
ueoIe OF South Carolina act OF hostility, ana
would therefore, be resisted, my oplO,itOn 10 an
order for reGni ofcement early taken ad uniform
ly maintained. When the qutelion first aro-e, the
President decided 10 refuse such Oraef, and Gen
Cass withdrew from the Cabinet OIL account Of tie
refusal The President then agreed with certain
gentlemen, undertaking 10 represent South Carolina,
ihat change should 10 made ia the niiliuy status
Of the forts and when Major Anderson, adopting
extreme Of war only justified III the lr,syrce
Of all OveTpoweing enemy, splked hi guns Und burned
BIZ gun-carIiages, and moved with bis garLOn from
Fort MollIe 10 Fort Sumter, aud thus commits an act
OF hostility the President heard OF The movement with
Chagiin aud modification. Gov. Floyd considered Ills
honor comp Heated, unless the Garrison under Ma Jor
Anderson war withdrawn; and when he was refused
that permission, TO make thai order, he threw up lie
commission On Ills withdrawal, Mr.. Holt war tra1s-
erred 10 the War Department ~ Secretary ad lu-
term. This assig nment was made without cOuEnltg-
ton with me- ana on tie day was adSised that Mr.
Holt had taken charge OF the War Department. know
ing his 10 strengthen these iorts, vlriied
the President ith my resignatlOn dawn up lie liz
formed then that tie orders tor reinforcement b.
the Brooklyn had been cOuntenmanded, ana that no
other orders would be- issued without tie question
being fret considered and de .ded In Cabinet. With
that promise / was content. Two days atterwafd
the question was considered, decision was
reached, TO send messenger 10 MAJOR Ander-
son TO learn his true situation aud WILKES.
Az 10 Wnht cpe was uOuc my rps ttditut
because all Cabinet consultations confidential OF
one thing be assured, that hostile baa been from
the beginning The sending OF additional troops u
the forts in Charles that there ii not one member Of
tie Cabinet who would have expected mo TO continue
one hour ia it's councils, after az Affirmative decision
had been made by The President. did lot Understand
such conclusion 10 have been adopted, and the hIst
intimaton had that additional troops had been sent
70 Fort Sumter wac the morning Of the oil Of jan
uary. That day severed my connection With the
Cabinet. Ny ground for doing was tyo-fold First,
on account Of Of the issuance OF the srder
and second on account Of the order itself. On the
Saturday previous / had telegraphed my old irisnd
] Judge LoIgstreet, that NO uOops had beer orderd
and that if 10 attack made Oh Fort sumter none,
in my opinion would be ordered, and urged
him 10 exert his influence with the South |
Carolina authorities TO make attack on Fort |
sumter. This dispatch was cent IN good faith. |
Judge Longstreet acted effectively in preventing an
attack and while thus engaged 10 preserve peace, the
secretary Of War actually engaged IN AN effort by
eaih 10 charter steamer, put OH board bis soldiers,
lear the vessel for NewOheaps, TO ESCAPE surprise,
d thus by strategy strengthen fort 10 threaten tie
exec of South Carolina As was writing my resig-
alton sent dispatch TO Judge Longstreel that tue
tar Of the West was coming with reenforcements.
he troops were thus put on their guards and when
10 Star of the West arrived, abe received WARM
eleome from booming cannon, and soon best 70 re-
Get, wss rsioiced tas vessel Was not sunk, but