The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-15


his Political pledges, the const .ution and the South.
He had wanted TO 60 into The Cabinet, and when
he became the subject Of voperation by official aspi
rants he undertook TO dkoGe Of the business in his
hands that y might be said, '.Ihs man has done his
duty (Applause) Ha thought Mr.. Buchanan had not
been quite strongly sustained by the South he ought
have been But il might be natural that he could no
quite the wishes Of the South son wond
TO the wishes Of his mother The speaker alluded
10 the two policies set forth in the Presidents Message
Mr. Attorney Black said we must execute laws. l,
said Mr Floyd, could moi quite bow TO that Mr. Buchanan
said This question Of theIorts question OF property"
Iagreed TO that said said, II am your Secre-
viii turn TO my that property nviolate.
know these people Of South Carolina; went TO school
Manigault and Frank Pickens are good men-they are
great men-and viii back their honesty and integrity,
II necessary, with my blood. But ! cannot consen.
that you place among them "a military power that
would choke them to the ground" AZ subsequent
interview with the President he said TO me, MIR.
Floyd, what about sending recruits TO CharlestonY"
said, "Nothing about sending recruits" don"
you intend TO strengthen the forts at Charleston
he asked. l replied, II do not" Said he, 81 would
rather the bottom of the Potomac 10 thai
that these forts should be in the hands Of those who in
tend to take them. 1t viii destroy met win cover
your name, which is honored one, with inamy for
you will never be able to show that you had not some
completely in it," l sad:-"Mr President, trust me-
there is danger. will stake my reputation and will
stake my life that the forts Of Charleston win not be
touched.o said this because ielt It, The President
then aid-'Bu. MT Floyd does that secure the orsrn
You that they will not be touched" He replied'I am
not satisfied" Said -"It Is yours to command and you
will be obeyed. You strengthen the FORTS but will
lead to the esion Of blood You can, however, put
orderly sergeant there-a man with worsted epaulete
and stripe on his pantaloons he is representative
stripes, and Of hail Columbia and Yankee Dnodle'
He can stand there and so proclaim himself and his au.
th"ry will be respected. Why not submit to Congress
the question of the secession Of South Carolina Con-
gress may say State has right TO withdraw or may
send down our armies to Coerce you to submission.
Do this, and will wait the issue" Mr. Floyd then
proceeded to state that nc called 70 me aid ,, Jei
and Hunter, with other patriots, Northern as well
as Southern and talked with the President. He then
more troops to the harbor Of Charleston 1t delighted
me, and thought the question capable Of peaceful
solution Mr. Floyd next SPOKE o. Cen .as 10 wnom
must be strengthened. demand IT," This, gentlemen,
is the Northern sentiment. The President repcdI am
sorry differ from the Secretary of the State but the
interests Of the country do not demand reinforcement
Of the forts at Charleston cannot do It, take the re-
matters sood when there was proposition TO send for
Gen. Scott MIR. Floyd who had long known and admired
him as Virginia soldier, gladly acqaiesced Gen Scott
came. He had other ideas. He a soldier He had
programme to aay dsunon and bring peace to the coun
try, He laid this programme before the Secretary OF
fore the President and the President did not much like
1t at that time The programme OF Gen. Scott was
as foows-To take Fort Sumter and Castle Pnck-
ney strengthen Fort Moutre occupy and hold the forts
OF Georgia, Florida Alabama and Louisiana, and
TO send ships and cutters to the waters OF
but troops to be taken from them aud sent TO South
forts Mr.. Floyd looked upon this trampling on
Mnn.t M wos uot nv
the Secrearys instructions to change his position Ma
jor Anderson wrote to the Secretary and said he could
change his position If he had authority to do SO. But
Mr. Floyd had pledged his word to South Carolina and he
is confident the President had also. South Carolina, with
twenty men, could have taken the fort at any tme but
she respected her pledge Major Anderson changed his
position. South Carolina said TO Mr. Floyd, "Yon have
can 10 "a i /
then denounced the doctrine Of coercion and quoted John
O. Adams and others against IT, Referring In his concu
sion to matters personal to himself he said he was the
first Secretary for who had administered the War
Department upon the estimates and within the appropria
tons made. In Investigations Of his official course he
only asked that they would not resort to forgery and
perjury.
others full Of devotion to the South.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT HISTORY.
STATEMENT OF MEssRs. MILES AND KEITT, OF WHAT
TRANSFERRED BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE
SOUTH CAROLINA DELEGATION.
In compliance with the request Of the Convention, we
beg leave to make the following statement
On Saturday, the sth of December, several Of the
South Carolina delegation, including ourselves, waited
upon the President. At this time there was growing
belief that reinforcemens the Of being
to the forts in Charleston harbor IL known that the
subject frequently and earnestly discussed In the
Cabinet II rumored that General Cass and Mr., Holt
tnat reiporcements should be sent. Upon
being announced tho President, Who
Cabinet Council out TO us In the We
at entered into conversation upon the topic which
closely occupying his thoughts, as well as ours
The President seemed much disturbed and moved. He
told that he had had painful Interview with tho wife
of Mayor anderson who bad come on from New York TO
him. She had manifested great anxiety and distress
at the situation OF her husband whom she seemed to
consider in momcntry danger Of attack from an ex
cited and avess mob. The President prorcssed feel
deep responsibility resting upon him to protect the
ives OF Major Anderson and his command. We told him
that tho news that achievements their way
Charleston would be the suret means of provoking what
Mrs Anderson apprehcnded and what he SO much de-
a I'm " he hat
Major Anderson was in any danger of such attack
that the general sentiment of the State against
any such proceeding. That, prior to the action
OF the state Convention, then only ten days OF,
felt satisfied that there would be no attempt
Convention me,Hwhile We could not possiby u mo
deriake TO say what that body would ft TO dove
yet hoped and believed that nothing would be done until
we had first endeavored by duly accredited Commission
ers TO negotiate for peaceful settlement of all matters
including the delivery Of the forts between south
lima and the federal government At the time, we
reiterated solemn belief that any change in the then
existing condition Of things in Charleston harbor would
the excited state Of feeling at home inevitably precp
the President was wavetng, and had not decided what
course he would parsue. He said he glad have
had this conversation with us but would prefer that
should give him written memorandum OF the substance
Of what had said This did Monday, the 10th.
II was in these words
To Hrs ExcKILEscr JAMES BUCHANAN PnEsrprsr ov THE
IN sc"
uted authorities nor body Of the people OF the State
forts in the harbor Charesion previously the action
has been made through accredited representative
ate for aicable Of all between the
State and the federal government provided that reinforce
ments shall be sent into those forts and their relative mill
JOHN MCQUEEN,
WIN. PORCHER MILES,
NJ Il BOSHAM
w. w. BOYCE,
LAWRENCE VI. REITr
WASHINGTON, 9th December, 1850
The President did not like the word provided be-
cause II looked as Il we were binding HIM while avowng
that We bad authority 10 commit the Convention We
told him that did not understand IL. We ex
pressing convictions and belief predcatoa upon the
maintenance Of a certain condition Of things which main
enance absolutely and entirely his power. II he
maintained such condition, then wo believed that col
son must inevitably, and at once, be prccpitated lie