Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-01-29
The New Secretary of War-A Chap,
ter in his History.

year ago, when Gen Cass-grieved and
1ndlgnant-left Mr.. Bnchanaa's Cabinet Mr.
Attorney Gen. Black was transferred t5, tho
portfolio Of State, and Mr.. Stanton. then alb.
sent from Washington, was fixed upon as At
/ torney General. The same night he arrived
at late hour, and learned from his family
"t the appointment. Knowing the character
ot the bold, lad men, then in the ascendency
IN the Cabinet, he determined at once to de.
cline; but when, the next day, he ANNOUNCED
his resolution at the White House, the en-
treaties of the distressed and helpless Presi-
dent, and the arguments Of Mr. Black, pre-
vailed upon him to accept.
AT the first meeting of the Cabinet which
he attended, the condition of the seeded
States and the course to be pursued with the
garrls N al Fort Sumter were discussed Floyd
and Thompson dwelling upon - the irritation
OF the southern heart" and the folly Of con
tlnuing n useless garrison to incre; Sc the ir.
rltatlon." No one formally proposed any
course of action, but the designs Of the con.
splrators were plain 10 the new Attorney Gen.
eral lie went homo troubled lie had in
tended, coming in at so late au hour. to re-
main quiet member of this discordant coun-
ell. But ii was not his nature to sit quiet
longer under such utterances.
Ihenext meeting was long and stormy one,
Mr.. Holt, teebly seconded by the President,
urging the immediate reinforcement of Sum
ter, while Thompson, Floyd, and Thomas
contended that quasi treaty had been made
by the officers Of the Government with the
leaders of the rebellion, to offer no resistance
to their violations of law and seizure of Gov
ernment property. Floyd especially blazed
with indignation Of what he termed the "yio-
latlon of honor" At last, Mr.. Thompson
formally moved that an imperative order be
issued to Major Anderson to retire from Sum.
ter to For. Mou!trie, abandoning Sumter to
the enemy, and proceeding to post where he
must at once surrender. .e
Stanton could sit still no longer. and, ris
ing, he said, with all the earnestuess that
, could be expressed in his bold and resolutc
| features, +" Mr. President, it is my duty, as
your legal adviser, to say that you have no
right to give up the property of the Govern
ment, or abandon the soldiers of the United
States to It's e4emies and the course propos-
ed by the Secretary of the Interior, if follow
! ed, IS treason, and will involve YOU and all
concerned in treason" Such language had
never before been heard in Buchanan's Cabin
et and the men that had SO long ruled and bul
| lied the President were surprised and enra.
ged to be thus rebuked. Floyd and Thomp
san sprang to their feet with fierce, menacing
gest;r seeming about to assault Stanton
Mr. Holt took step forward to the side of
/ the attorney General. The imbecile Presi.
/ dent lmPiorcd them piteousy to take their
seats After few more bitter words the
meeting broke up. That was the list Cabi
net meeting on that e=aiting question in which
. Floyd participated, Before another was cal.
led all Washington was startled with ru-
mer Of those gigantic frauds which have made
his name so infamous At first he tried to
brazen it ont with his customary clustering
manner; bnt the next day the Cabinet waited
long Tor his apparition to be thrust into the
room, and tlo5 d disappeared from Washing
ton. Such was the end of Floyd and the
beginninr Of Stantnn-M Lonis RennhIicnl,