Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-19
secretary Floyd tells cabinet secret,

Secretary Fioyd tells Cabinet secrets.
Mr. Secretary Floyd made speech in
Richmond, Virginia, "a few days ago in which
| he said:
| Mr. Attorney Black said we must execute
the laws. L. said Mr.. Floyd, could not quite
| bow to that. Mr. Buchanan said, "This ques-
ton Of the forts is question of property
| agreed to that. L said more. l said Il am
| your Secretary, and have in my hands this
| property Of the forts. will turn over TO my
| these people of South Carolina; went to
school among them. / know they are not
thieves Isaac Hayne, Manigault and Frank
| Pickens are good men--they are great NELL
and | will back their honesty and integrity
| If necessary, with my blood. But | cannot
consent that you place among them militia
~ power that would choke them to the
ground" At subsequent interview with
| the President he said to me, "Mr. Floyd. what
| about sending recruits to Charleslon?'' 1 said
nothing about sending recruits" Don't
| you intend to strengthen the forts at Charles
ton. be asked. / replied, II do not" Said he,
20 tcoud rather be at The 6ottons of the Potomac to-
Haorroac than that these forts should be tn the hands
Of those schO intend to take heM--It will de-
stroy met viii cover your name, which
is an honored one. with iniamy, for
had not some completely liz it," / said:-
Mr.. President, trust me-there is no dan
ger. / will stake my reputation and 1 will
stake my life that the forts of Charleston will
not he touched" | said this because felt
it. The President then said:-"But Mr..
Flovd does that secure the forts?' mo, sir"
said !, "but it is the best guarantee | can
give you that they will not be touched" He
replied:-"I am not satisfied" Said lit
i.ar
You can strengthen the forts, but it will
lead TO the effusiOn of blood. You can. how
ever, put an orderly sergeant there-a man
with worsied epaulette and stripe on his
pantalOOns. He is a representative man
(laughter)-the representative of the stars
and stripes, and of Hail Columbia and
Yankee Doodle He can stand there and so
proclaim himself, and his Authority will be
respected. Why not submit TO Congress the
question of the secession of South Carolina?
Congress may say a State has a right to with
draw, or may say we Tepudiate the right of
secessiOn-we will send down our armies to
coerce you to submission. Do this, and l
will wait the issue" Mr.. Floyd then pro-
ceeded to state that he called to his aid JEFF
fsrsOB Davis, '.that bright Saladin of the
South;" Mason and Hunter, with other patri-
OTIS, Northern as well as Southern, and talked
with the President He then said: Il am
content with your policy-we will send no
more troops to the harbOr of Charleston" 1t
delighted me, and / now thought the ques-
ton capable of peaceful solution.
Mr.. Floyd next spoke of Geu. Cass, to
whom be paid glowing tribnte. Gen. Cass
said: ''These forts must DE strengthened.
demand it." This. gentlemen, is the North
ern sentiment. The President replied:-'I
am sorry to differ from the Secretary of the
State, but the interests of the country do not
demand reinforcement of the forts at
Charleston. L cannot do it. I take the re-
sponSibility.' The next day Gen. Cass re-
signed. Thus matters stood, when there was
Il proposition to send for Gen. Scott. Mr..
Floyd, who had long known and admired
him as Virginia soldier, gladly acquiesced. |
Gen. Scott came. He had other ideas. He |
was a soldier. He had a programme to al |
lay disunion and bring peace TO the country. |
He laid this programme before the Secretary |
of War, who told him he did not like it. He |
then laid it before the President and the Pre- |
sident did not much like it at that time.