The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-16
NO 1888


This proposal was carefully considered,
both with view to the safety Of the fort
and to the unhappy effect which an actual
collision either at that or any other point
might produce on the Peace Convention
then about to assemble at Washington.
The result was that joint despatch was
carefully prepared by the Secretaries Of
War and Navy, accepting the proposal,
with important notifications, which was
transmitted by telegraph on the 29th jan
usry to 1t. Slemmer and TO naval coma
maRders near the station. 1t is too long
for transcription; suffice il TO cay IL was
carefully guarded at every point for the
security of the fort and its free communi-
cation with Washington.
The result was highly fortunate. The
| Brooklyn had long passage. Although
she left Fortress Monroe Oh the oath of
January, she did not arrive at Pensacola
until the 9th of February. In the mean
time Fort Pickens, with Lieut.. Slemmer
| (whose conduct deserves high oommen-
dation) and his brave little band, were
| placed by virtue of this arrangement in
perfect security until an adequate force
had arrived 70 defend it against any at
tack. The fort is still in our possess
sion. Well might Gen. Scott have ex-
pressed his satisfaction with this ar
rangement. The General was correct in
the supposition that this arrangement
was to expire on the termination of the
| Peace Convention.
V. But we now come to an important Pc
riod, when duties will be essentially ne
cessary TO disentangle the statement Of
General Scott. The South Carolina Com
missioners were appointed dates on the
22d, and arrived in Washington on the
| 9th of December. The day after arrival
it was announced that Major Anderson
had removed from Fort Moultrie to Fort
Sumter. This made them furious. On
the same day they addressed an angry
letter to the President, demanding the
surrender Of Fort Sumter. The Presi-
dent answered this letter on the Both De-
cember by peremptOry refusal. This
brought forth reply from the Commis-
sioners on the I'd of January, 1861, OF
such an insulting character that the Pres
ident instantly returned it to them
with the following Endorsement: "This
paper, just presented to the President, is
of such q character that he declines to
receive it," From that time forward all
friendly, political, and personal inter-
course finally ceased between the revolu-
tionary Senators and the President, and
he was severely attacked by them in the
Senate, and especially by Mr., Jefferson
Davis. Indeed, their intercourse had
previously been of the coldest character,
, ever since the Presidents anti-secessiOn
message at the commencement of the
session of Congress
/ Under these changed circumstances,
, Gen. Scott, by note on Sunday, the 30th
December addressed the following in
> quiry to the President:
. "Will the President permit Cen Scott,
without reference TO the War Department,
r and otherwise as secretly as possible, TO
. send two hundred and fifty recruits from
: New York harbor 10 reinforce Fort Sum-
8 ter, together with some extra muskets or
a rifles, ammunition, and subsistence? It
} is hoped that sloop-of war and cutter
/ may be ordered for the same purpose to-
| morrow +" -.r-.r. r..I... ..f...f.. a.
0 The General seems not TO have then
I known that Mr. Floyd was out of office.
= Never did request meet more
: prompt compliance. IL was received on
z Sunday evening, December 20. On Mon
4 day morning | gave instructions TO the
4 War and Navy Departments, and on
= Monday evening General Scott came 10
n congratulate me that the Secretaries had
{. issued the necessary orders 10 the army
G and navy officers, and that they were in
: his possession The Brooklyn, with
troops, military stores, and provisions,
4 was to sail forthwith from Fortress Mon
Il roe for Fort Sumter. | am therefore ut
a terly at loss to imagine why the Gem
/ eral, in his statement, should have assert
q ed that "the South Carolina Commission
. ers had already been many days in
n Washington aud no movement Of defence
O. (on the part of the United States) was
. permitted" These Commissioners ar
j. rived in Washington on the 9th Deem
= ber; General Scotts request was made TO
il the President on the 3Oth. II was com
d piled with on the 3lst and a single day
d is all that represents the "many days Of
i the General.
). Again, General Scott asserts, in the
= face Of these facts, that the President re-
IS fused to allow any attempt TO be made
y. 70 reinforce Fort Sumter--because he
IF was holding negotiations with the South
Carolina Commissioners. And still again,
Q, that Afterwards Secretary Holt and my
,r self endeavor in vain, 10 obtain a ship-Oi
h war for the purpose, and were finally
,e obliged to'employ the passenger steamer
IN oStar of the West" Will IL be belieV-
,g ed that the substitution of the Star of
d the West" for the powerful war steamer
= Brooklyn" Of which he now complains,
d was by the advice Of General Scott him
ii self" have never heard this doubted
d until read the statement
n At the interview already referred 10
y between the General and myself, on the
h evening OF Monday, the 3lst December,
Ia suggested to him that, although / had
ln (cnNrInlrrn 90 Enrnlrlir rAnn