The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1861-03-13
A Noble Letter from Secretary
IoIt-He Exposes the Trenson
of Ex-Secretary Thompson.
WAsHIreroN, March 8. 1851.

| ILOlN-AAO GARCSSS ee@S
of Ex-Secretary Thompson.
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1851.
To The Editors of the National. Inteti9eneeri :
In your issue OF Saturday last you pub
lished an extract from an address recently
made to tie people of Mississippi, by Hon.
jacob Thompson, late Secretary ct the In
terror, in which the following language Oc'
curs
"As I DGs vritino my resignation, l sent
despatch to Judge Longstreet that the Star
of The West was coming with reinforcements
The troops were thus put on their guard, and
when the Star of the West arrived, she re.
ceived tDa, m celcome from booming cannon,
and scon beat retreat. was rejoiced the
vessel was moi sunk, but was still more
reioced that the concealed trick, first con.
ceived by General Scott, and adopted BY
Secretary Holt, but countermanded by the
| President when too late, proved failure"
We have here a distinct and exultant
avowal, on the part OF the Honorable Secre'
tary, that, while yet member OF the Cabi.
net, he disclosed to those in open rebellion
against the United States, information which
he had derived from his official position, and
which he held under the seals Of a conf.
dence that, from the beginning OF our history
as q nation, had never been violated. This
step not merely endangered the highest pub
lie interests, but put in imminent jeopardy
the lives of two hundred and fifty innocent
men, who had never wronged the Hon.
Secretary, and who, in proceeding to Charles
ton harbor, were simply obeying the lawful
command of their superior officers. The
armed enemies of the Government he was
serving, under the solemn sanctions OF an
oath, were, as be declares "thus put upon
their guerd," and the frail vessel that was
bearing succor to it's friends "received q
warm welcome from booming cannon" II
could not be less than offensive to the heart
and to the intelligence OF the American peo.
pie to comment gravely on this humilating
transaction. Its true character has already
been determined by the public voice, and
that voice will, doubtless, fad its echo in
the judgment OF history.
The reference in the concluding sentence
Of the paragraph is not to the reinforcement
which had been contemplated by the Brook
Ign, but to that which was attempted by the
Star of The West This is denounced as "a
concealed trick, first conceived by General
Scott, and adopted of course with know.
ledge OF its character-"by Secretary Holt"
and the impression left upon the mind Of
the reader is, as soon Os the President be.
came aware Of the "trick," it wae counter
manded by him, but too late. II it was not
designed to make this impression, then the
amin adversion Of the Hon. Secretary would
lose most, if not all ils point, as it was his
evident purpose to sharpen his censure OF
Gen. Scott and myself by leaving it to be
inferred that our sction had been with ut
the sanction of the President. As the effort
to reinforce Fort Sumter WAS the most re,
sponsible act o the War Department during
my brief connection with its administration,
it is due alike to the public ard to my own
reputation that calumBious imputa.ioa css,
upon it by the paragraph quoted should be
promptly met and reiuted. That reIutation
will be furnished by the following cores
pondence:
WASHINGTON, January s, 1861.
SIR 1T is with extreme regret have
just learned that additional troops hive been
ordered to Charleston. This subject has
been frequently discussed in Cabinet Coun.
Gil, and when, on Monday night, slst OF
December ultimo, the orders lor reinforce
ments to Fort Sumter were countermanded,
distinctly understood from you that no or
der of the kind would be made without be-
ing previously considered and decided in
Cabinet. 1t is true. that or "Wednesday.
Janu1ry 2. this subject was tgaIu discussed
in Cabinet, but certainly no conclusion was
renched, and the War Department was not
justified in ordering reinforcements without
something more than ives then said.
learn, however, this morning, for the first
time, that the steamer Star of the West sailed
from New York last Saturday night with
two hundred and fifty men, under Lieut..
Bartlett, bound for Fort Sumter. Under
these circumstances, fee! myself bound to
resign my commission as one of your con-
stirutionul advisers into your hands.
With high respect, your obedient servant,
]. THOMPSON.
His Excelency JAMES BUCHANAN,
President OF the United States.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 1861.
SIR 81 have received and accepted your
on yesterday, of the office OF
Secretary OF the Interior.
On Monday evening, 3lst of December,
1860, | suspended The orders which had been
issued by lhe War and Navy Departments
to send the Brooklyn with reinforcements to
Fort Sumter. OF this informed you on
he same evening. stated to you my req
son fer this suspension, which you knew,
from its nature, would be speedily removed.
In consequence of your request, however. |
promised that these orders should not be
renewed "without being previously consd-
cred and decided in Cabinet" This prom
ise was faithfully observed on my part. 1n
order to carry it into effect / called specia
Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, I'd jan,
1861, in which the question OF sending re-
to Fort Sumter WIS amply
discussed both by yourself and Others. The
decided majority OF opinion was against you