Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1861-01-30

)NESDAY. JANUARY 3
i SECRETARY FLOYD SPEAKS.
lion. Ex.Secretary Floyd was dincd
, and wincd at Richmond, Virginia, on
the 1lth. Ofcoursc he made speech
and in it he made some revelations as
to the controversies in Mr.. Buchanan's
cabinet. We quote from the report
of the Baltimore american
! Mr.. Attorney Black said we must
execute the laws. I, said Mr.. Floyd.
could not quite bow to that, Mr.. Bu.
Ichanan said, "Thjs question is qucs.
ton of property in tho forts" Iagreed
, to that. I said more. l said I am
your secretary, and have in my hands
J this property Of the forts. will turn
over to my successor that property in.
violate. ! know those people of South
Carolina,1 i went to school among them.
| know they are not thieves. Isaac
Hayne, Manigault and Frank Pickens
are good msn-they are great men,
and / will back their honesty and
integrity if necessary, with my blood.
But cannot consent that you place
amongst them a military power that
would crush them to the ground.
! AT subsequent interview, the Pres.
ident said TO me, Mr.. Floyd what
!about sending recruits to Charleston.
I said "Nothing about sending re-
cruits."
"Don't you intend to strengthen the
Forts al Charleston" he asked.
81 do not" I replied.
Said he, ~ would rather be at the
bottom Of the Potomac tomorrow
than these forts should be in the hands
of those who intend to take them. 1t
will destroy met will cover your
name, which is an honored one, with
infamy, for you can never show that
yon had not some completely in it," !
said "Mr. President, trust me, there is
no danger, I will stake my reputation
and / will stake my life that the Forts
at Charleston will not be touched.
said this because felt it."
''But, Mr.. Floyd, does that secure
the forts.''
"No, sir" said !, "but is the best
guarantee I can give that they will not
be touched"
He replied, "1 am not satisfied
Said l: "1t is yours to command
and you will he obeyed. Yot can
strengthen, but it will lead to the effu.
sion Of blood. You can however put
an orderly sergeant there, a man with
a worsted epaulette and a stripe OH
his pantaloohs. He is representative
man, the representative of the stars
and stripes and Hail Columbia and
Yankee Doodle. lie can stand there
and 50 proclaim himself, and his au.
thority will be respected. Why not
, submit to Congress the question OF
the secession of South Carolina. Con.
gress may say a State has right to
withdraw or may say we repudiate the
right Of secession, we will send down
our arms to coerce you to submission.
do this, and / will wait the issue. Mr..
Floyd then proceeded to state that
he called to his aid Jefferson Davis,
} t'The bright Saladin Of the South;''
: Mason and Hunter, with other patriots,
} Northern As we'll as Southern, and
r talked with the President. lie then
) said: II am content with your policy
t We will send no more troops to the
harbor of Charleston" 1t delighted
me, and I now thought the question
capable of peaceful solution. Mr.
Floyd next spoke Of General Cass, to
whom he paid a glowing tribute. Gen
: Cass said: "TRese forts must be
r strengthened. 1 demand it. This
gentlemen; is the northern sentiment
I The President replied: II am sorro*
to differ from the Secretary of the
: State, bnt the interests of the countr,
e do not demand a reinforcement of tho
: forts at Charleston. l cannot do it
t take the responsibility" The nex'
| day Mr.. Cass resigned. Thus matters
Z stood, when there was 4 proposition
e to send for Gen. Scott. Mr. Floyd
who had long known and admired
I him ass Virginia soldier, gladly &C
i qmesced. Gen. Scott came. III
!, had other ideas. lie was soldier
u He had programme to allay disunior
0 and bring peace to the country. HI
laid his programme before the Secre
tary Of Wa, who told him he die
4 not like it. lie then laid it before tn,
e President and the President. did no
8 much like it at that time. The pro
t gramme of Gen. Scott was rs fol
. lows: To take Fort Sumptcr ant
k and Castle Pickney, stresthcn For
;, Moultrie, occupy and hold the forts o
. Georgia., Florida, Alabama ant
to send ships-ofwar and revenue cu,
. ters to the waters of South Carolina
n No Northern forts were to be occu
: pied, but troops were tobe taken from
! them and sent to South ern forts. Mr.
S Floyd looked upon this as tramplin&
j, on the political rights of the south
:. Next came Major Anderson's nnfortu
e nate move. lie was not authorized
2 by the Secretary's instructions t