Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-11-07
buchanan and sect.

The publication Of General scott's late state
ment Of the condition of afTairs during the last
few months OF Mr. Bughanans administration
has called forth a reply from the ex- President
which appears in tho National IatelligsHesr o.
the lss inst. The following synopsis has beer
tslegrsphed to the press North:
WASHINGTON, November lex President
Buchanan, through the National IriisIiigsncsr
replies at length to Lisnlenant-Csneral Scott
whose recent publication he considers sn undis-
gUised eensure Of his conduct during the last
months Of his administrator, in regard to the
seven cotton States now in rebellion, in noticing
ths first and most prominent among the charges,
namely: bis refusal Immediately to garrison
nine enumerated fortihcAEions, scattered over
six Of she Southern States. According to Gen.
Scotss recommendation, he says this refusal is
attributed, without tbs least cause, to the infu-
enes Of Governor Floyd Ny CcAbines must bear
me- witness that was President myself respOL-
sible for all ths acts Of the admins iratCn and
certain it IS that during the sst siI msnths pre-
viOus to the 29th Of December, 1860, the day on
which he resigned his Chise, after my request, he
exercised less influence on the administration
than any othsr msmber Of the Cabi. et
Dir. Hols was Immediately thereafter trans
feTred from the Post0fice Department to the
War ID pErtmsnE, so tbst from this time until
the fourth Of Msrch, 1861, which was by far
the most important period Of the administration,
be performed the duties OF Secretary Of War to
my entire satisfaction Hs then proceeds to
show there IS one answer both easy and conclusive
if other valid reasons did not exist namely {:
There. were no svalsble troops within reach
which could bs ssnl to these flrti6cstions. To
have attempted military operations on scale
so extensive, by any m .aHs within the Presi-
dents power, would have been simply absurd.
Of this he refers 10 bis supplemental views Of
the 30th Of October General Scott, himself
seems 10 have been convinced. These views,
both original aud supplementary, he says, were
published by General Scott in tho National In
tsLhgsBesT on the 18Th Of January, 1851, 1t a
moss important and critical period OF the admin
istratIoa. The publication at lhst tine, could
do no possible good, aud might have done much
harm 70 publish thsm without the Pre5i-
dents knowledge and consent, was ss much in
violation Of the sacred confidence which ought
TO prevail between the commanding general Of
the army and the commander in-chlef as it
would have been for the Secretary of War to
have published the same document without su-
thoIiiy. Whist is Of more Importance, the pub
licatOn wss calculated injUuOssly to affect the
conpToniss measures then before Congress and
the country, and TO encourage the secessionisis
in their mad and wicked attempt to shatter the
Union into fragments.
From shs great respect I then entertained fer
General Scott, passed it over in silence.
MIR. Buchanan then explains why he refused
to send three hundred men to reinforce Major
Anderson at Fort Moultrie.
Among other reasons be believed, as ths
events proved, that Msjor Anderson was then in
no danger Of attack. Indeed, ne or his c. m
mand were treated with marked kindness by the
authorities and people Of Charleston. UndsE
these circumstances to have sent such force
there would have been only 70 impair the hope
of compromise, to provoke collision aud disap-
point the country.
Having treated of the charge of having kept
back reinfoIcements from Pensacola, Mr. Buch-
anan replies to the chuge of hEviag also kept
them back from Charleston, saying that neither
truce nor uything like il was ever concluded
between the President or any human authority
concerning Charleston.
~ Onthe contrary, the South Carolina commits
sioners, fTst and last and all the time, were ia.
formed that the President never could and
would never sure ier Fort Sumter, nor depliye
himself of the most entire liberty to send REIN
foTcenlents to l. wherever it was believed to be
in danger, or whenever it might be requested
by Msjor Anderson.
Dir. Buchanan then aludss to other points in
General SCOTS views, and then says be can
solemAly declare before God and his country
that he cannot Teproach himself with any act Of
commission or omission 80 endsngsr It's hsppi
ness, lis prosperity and its safety since the ex
isting troubles commenced.