Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-11-02
(Signed) JOSEPH STEWART,
Lieut.. Col. commanding 10th ILL., cav.
Ex-PresIdent Buchanan,s Reply TO
Gen. Scott.

EX-Presidept Buchanan'S Reply to
Gen. Scott.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Eek President Buchau-
an, through the National Inteligencer, replies
at length to Lieut. Gen. Scott, whose recent
publication he considers an undisguised censure
Of his conduct during the last months Of his
Administration, in regard to the seven cotton
States now in rebellion. In noting the first and
most prominent among the charges named, are
the refusal Immediately to garrison nine forti-
fcations, scattered over six of the Southern
States, according to Scott's recommendation
He saye: This refusal Is attributed without
the least cause to the inefficiency of Governor
Floyd. All my Cabinet must bear me Wit
ness that was President, myself respon.
sible for all the acts of the Admins
tration. And certain 1t is that during the
last elk months previous to the 29tb
of December, 1860, the day on which
he resigned his office, after my request, he ex.
eroieed leas influence on the Administraticn
than any other member of the Congress. Mr..
Holt was Immediately thereafter transferred
from the Postoffice Department to that of the
war: so that from this time till the 4th of
March, 1861, which was by far the most import.
ant period of the Administration, he performed
the duties of Secretary of War to my entire
satisfaction.
He then proceeds to show there s one answer,
both easy and conclusive, 1t other valid reasons
did not exist, namely, there was no available
troops within reach which could be sent to
these ortifcations To have attempted military
operations on ecale so extensive by any means,
within the Presidents power, would have been
simply absurd. OF this he says, referring to
his supplemental views of the 30th of October,
Gen. Scott himself seems to have been con-
UinOad T1haon riauya hath f0in al
mentary, he says, were published by Gen. Scott
in the National Intelligeneer on the 18th OF
January, 1861, at most important and critical
period of the Administration. Publication at
that time could do no possible good, and might
have done much harm To have published
them without the Presidents knowledge and
consent was as much in violation of the sacred
confidence which ought to prevail between the
commanding General Of the army and the
Commander-in. Chief as It would have been for
the Secretary Of War to have published the
same document without authority. What is OF
moro Importance, their publication was oalou.
lated ipjuriously to affect compromise measures
then before Congress and the country, and to
encourage the secessionists in their mad and
wicked attempt to shatter tho Union into frag-
ments. For the great respect | then enter
tained for Gen. Scott, passed 1t over in al.
lence.
Mr.. Buchanan then explains why be refused
to send three thousand men to reinforce Maj
Anderson at Fort Moultrie, Among other
reasons he says he believed, ss the events
proved, that Msj Anderson was then in no dan
ger of attack. Indeed he and his command
were treated with marked kindness by the au.
thorities and people Of Charleston. Under
these circumstances to have sent such force
there would have been only to impair the hope
OF compromise, to provoke collision and TO
disappoint the country.
Having treated OF the charge of having kept
back reinforcements from Pensacola, Mr.. Bach-
anan replies to the charge of having also kept
them back from Charleston, saying,that neither
q truce nor quasi truce, nor anything like it,
was ever concluded between the President or
any human authority, concerning Charleston.
On the contrary, the s. C. Commissioners first
and last, and all the time, were informed that
the President never could and would never sur.
render Fort Sumter, nor deprive himself
OF the most entire liberty to send reinforce
ments TO it whenever IL was believed 10 be in
danger or whenever it might be requested by
Maj. Anderson.
Mr.. Buchanan then alludes to other points in
Gen. Scott's views, and Gays that he can sol
emnly DECLARE before God and bis country, that
he cannot reproach himself with any act of
commission or omission to endanger it's happi-
ness, its prosperity or it's safety, since the ex-
listing troubles commenced.