Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-01-30
The New Secretary Of War; 4
Chapter In his History.

A year ago, when General CAss-grieved
and indignant-left Mr. Buchanans Cabinet.
Nr. Attorney General Black was transferred
to the portfolio of State, and Mr. Stanton.
thon absent from Washington, was Fixed
upon as Attorney General The same night
he arrived Mt late hour and learned OF his
family of his appointment. knowing the
character of the bold, bad men then in the
ascendancy of the Cabinet, lie determined at
once to decline; but when the next dav he
announced his resolution at the White House,
the entreaties Of the distressed and helpless
President, and the arguments Of 1l,. Black.
prevailed 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
garrison Mt Fort Sumter was discussed,
Floyd and Thompson dwelling upon "thc
irritation of the Southern heart" and the
folly OF continuing. useless garrison to
increase the irritation No one formally
proposed any course of action, but the de-
signs OF the conspirators were plain to the
new Attorney General He went home trou-
bled. He had intended, coming in n so late
q day, to remain quiet member of the dis
cordant council. But it was not in his na
tnre to sit quiet longer, under such utter
ances.
The next meeting was long and stormy
one, MIR. Holt feehly seconded by the Prcsi-
dent, urging the immediate reinforcement of
Sumter, while Thompson, Floyd and Thomas
cohtended 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 seizures of Go
fernment property. Floyd especially blazetl
with Indignation at what he termed the
. violation OF honor" At last Mr.. Thompson
formally moved that an imperative order he
issued to Major Anderson to retire from
sumter to Fort Mouth ie-abandonn Sum-
Ter to the enemy, and proceeding to post
where lie must at once surrender.
Stanton could sit still no longer, and ris- {
ng, he said, with all the earncstness that ;
'ould be expressed in his bold and rcsoluto r
catures; Mr. President it is my duty, as ,
.our cga! adviser, to say that you have no ,
light to give mp the property oil the Govern :.
nent, or abandon the soldiers of the United l
states to its enemies and the course pro- S
POSED by the Secretary Of the Interior, if fol- t
owed, Is treason, and will involve you and Il
II concerned in treason Such language y
lad never before been heard in Buchanans I
"hinet, and the men who had 50 long ruled y
nd bullied the President were surprised and !
nraged to he thus rrtuked Floyd and
thompson sprang TO their feet, with fierce >
?enaclhg gestures, seeming about to assault '
tanton. Mr. Holt took a step forward to Il
he side Of the Attorney General The i'm s
eclIe President implorcd them rjteously to
'kc their seats. After few more bitter Y
ords tho meeting broke M. That was the if
st Cabinet meeting on that exciting qucs- -,
on in which Floyd participated. Before VI
icIher was called all Washington was star ,'n
I'd with rum"r Of those gigantic frauds DO
hch have made his name so infamous. At FL
st he tried to brazrn it out With mis- Gus v
mary clustering manner; but the next day
c Cabinet waited long Tor his appearance p,
last he came; the door opened his rcsig- -,
ton WAS thrust into the room, and Floyd ~
from Washington. Such was SC
Q end Of Floyd and tie beginning Of De
anton. dl