The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-16

OF the time. But twelve days before, in
the annual message Of the Sd December,
had urged upon Congress the adoption
of amendments TO the Constitution Of the
same character with those subsequently,
proposed by Mr.. Crittenden, called the
"Crittenden Compromise" AT that time
high hopes were entertained throughout
the country that these would be adopted.
Besides, / believed, and this correctly,
as the event proved, that Major Ander-
son was then in no danger of attack. In
deed he aud his command were then treat
ed with marked kindness by the author
tiles and people of Charleston. Under
these circumstances, to have sent such a
force there would have been only TO i'm
pair the hope of compromise, TO provoke
! collision, and disappoint the country.
There are some details of the conver-
sation in regard to which the Generals
memory must be defective. At present
! shall specify only one could not
have stated that on a future contingent
| occasion | would telegraph Major An
derson of Fort Moultrie to hold the Forts
(Moultrie and Sumter) against attack !"
because, with prudent precaution, this
had already been done several days be-
fore, through special messenger sent TO
Major Anderson for this very purpose.
refer to Major Buell., of the Army.
The Generals supplementary note of
the same day, presenting to me General
Jackson's conduct in 1888, during the
period Of notification, as an example,
requires no special notice. Even if the
cases were not entirely different, | had
previously determined upon policy of
my own, as will appear from my annual
message. This was, at every hazard, to
collect the customs at Charleston, and
outside of the port, if need be, in ves-
sci Of war. Mr.. Colcock, the existing
collector, as | had anticipated, resigned
his Office about the end of December, and
Immediately thereafter I nominated to
the Senate as his successor n suitable
person prepared at any personal risk to
do his duty. That body, however,
throughout its entire session, declined to
act on this nomination. Thus, without a
collector, it was rendered impossible to
collect the revenue
W. General ScOtt's statement alleges
that the Brooklyn, with Capt. Vodges's
company alone, left the Chesapeake'tor Ft
Pickens about January 22d, and on the
10Th President Buchanan, having entered
into quasi armisticc with certain leading
seceders at Pensacola and elsewhere
caused Secretaries Holt and Toucey e
instruct in joint note the commando
of the war vessel off Pensacola, and 1t
Slemmer, commanding Fort Pickens, L
} commit no act of hostility, and not I,
land Capt. Vodges's company unless th,
; Forts should be attacked" He after
wards states, within brackets, "Tha
joint note | never saw, but suppose Tn
armistice was consequent upon the meet
ing of the Peace Convention at Washing
ton, and was understood TO terminal
with it,"
These statements betray a singula
want Of memory on the part of Ger
Scott. II is scarcely credible that thi
. very joint note, presented in such odiou
colors, was submitted to Gen. Scott o.
4 the day it was prepared Goth January,
: and met his entire appreciation. woul
= not venture 10 make this assertion if
= did not possess conclusive evidence {
prove it. On that day Secretary HOl
= addressed me note, from which the fol
: lowing is an extract 81 have the sat
isfaction of saying, that on submittin
;, the paper to Gen. Scott he expresse
q himself satisfied with il, saying ths
;. there could be no objection TO the al
- rangement in military point Of view {
; otherwise" This requires no commen
= That the General had every reason TO B
- satisfied with the arrangement will ap
pear from the following statement:
"a A revolutionary outbreak had occurre
i In Florida; the troops of the Unite
N States had been expelled from Pensacol
" and the adjacent navy-yard; and Lieu
n Slemmer, Of the artillery, with his BRAY
10 little command, had been forced to TAX
il refuge in Fort Pickens, where he was
e. imminent danger every moment Of bein
/. captured by a vastly superior force
,s Owing 10 the interruption Of regular con
,e munications Secretary Holt did not rC
l. ceive information of these events unit
10 several days after their occurrence, an
m then through letter addressed TO athir
l. person. He instantly informed the Pres
j. ident Of the fact, and reinfOrcements, pre-
visions, and military stores were des
,r patched by the Brooklyn to Fort Picker
Is without moments unnecessary della,
re She left Fortress Monroe on the oath
" January.
h. Well-founded apprehensions wer
l. however, entertained at the time of h
D. departure that the reinforeements, wit
Is the vessels Of war at no great distan
m from Fort Pickens, could not arrive
A. time TO defend il against the impendir
d. attack. In this state Of suspense, an
ne whilst Lieutenant Slemmer was In e.
d, treme peril, Senators Slidell, Hunter, az
n, Bigler received telegraphic despatC
IN from Senator Mallory, Of Florida, date
no at Pensacola, on the 28th January, vii
a. the urgent request that they should Ia
| il before the President. This despat'
to expressed an earnest desire to mainta
IL the peace, as well as the most posili