Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-11-15

! Juuge Wnat encouragement these views
proceeding from so distinguished a source,
must have afforded to the secessionists Of
the Cotton States.
trust | have said enough or more than
enough to convince every mind why did
not with force of five companies, attempt
to reinforce Fort jackson and st. Philip
on the Mississippi; Fort Morgan, below
Mobile, Fort Pickens and McCree, in PEN
sacola Harbor, Fort Pulaski, below Sava-
nna; Fort Moutric and Sumpter, Charles
on Harb or, and Fort Monroe, in Virgin
! ia.
These "vicws,' both original and sup.
Elementary, were published by General
Scott in the National Intelligencer of Jan
uary s, 1861, at the most important and
critical period of the Administration.
Their publication, at that time, could do
no possible good, and it might do much
harm. To have published them without
the Presidents knowledge and consent,
was as much in violation of the sacred con-
fidcnce which ought to prevail between the
commanding General Of the army and the
Commanderin. chief as it would have been
for the Secretary Of War to publish the
same document without his authority. -
What is of more Importance, their publ.
cation was calculated injusiously to affect
the compromise measures then pending
before Congress and the country, and to
encourage the secetsionists in their mad
and wicked attempt to shatter the Union
into fragments. For the great respect
which I then entertained for the General,
| passed it over in silence.
1t is worthy Of remark that soon after
the Presidential election representations of
what these views contained, Of more or
less correctness, were unfortunately circu-
lated, especially throughout the South
The editors of the National InteIligeucer'
in assigning reason for their publication
state that both in public prints and
in public speeches illusions had
been made to them, and some misap-
prehensions of their character had got
abroad.
H. and III. General Scott states that
he arrived in Washington on the 10Th and
accompanied by the Secretary of War,
held conversation with the President or
the l5th of December. Whilst | have no
recollection whatever Of lis conversation,
he doubtless states correctly that did re-
fuse to send three hundred men to rein.
force Major Anderson at Fort Moutrie,
who had not then removed to Fort Sum-
ter. The reason for this refusal is mani.
fest to all who recollect the history of the
time. But twelve days before, in the an
nual message of the 3D. December, l had
urged upon Congress the adoption of
amendments to the Constitution of the
same character with those subsequently,
proposed by Mr.. Crittendod, called the
"Crittenden Compromise At that time
high hopes were entertained throughout
the country that these would be adopted.
Besides, believe, and this correctly, as
the event proved, that Major Anderson
was then in no danger of an attack. H.
deed he and his command were then trea,
ted with marked kindness by the authori,
ties and people of Charleston. Under
these circumstance, to have sent such a
force there would have been only to i'm
pair the hope of compromise, to provoke
collision and dsappoint the country.
There are some details of this conver.
sation in regard to which the Generals
memory must be defective. At present I
shall specify only one. 1 could not have
stated that on future contingent occasion
l would telegraph "Major Anderson, of
Fort Moultrie, to hold the Forts iMoutrie
and Sumter) against attack because,
with prudent precaution, this had been
done several days before, through spe-
cial messenger sent to Major Anderson for
this very purpose. l refer to Major Blu.
ell, of the army.
The Generals supplementary note of
the same day, presenting to me General
Jacksop's conduct in 1898, during the Pc
riod Of nullidcation, as an example, re-
quires no special notice. Even ifthe cases
were not entirely different, l had previ-
ously determined upon a policy of my own
as will appear from my annual message.
This was, at every hazard to collect the
customs at Charleston and outside the
port, if need be, in vessel of war. Mr.
Colcock, the existing Collector, as / had
anticipated, resigned his Office about the
end of December and, immeniately there
after, nomina'ed TO the Senate, as his
J l. ok