New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-11-03
JAyes BUCmANAN's DEFENSE
r,.u,y 20 Gen. SCOTS Lc., cv.

/ wAsBrsorcss. Saturday, Nov. 1. 1852.
Expresident buchanan, through the National
Tutelgencer replies ut length to Lieu-Gen. Scott
whose recent publication be considers an undsguised
cen,ure Of his conduct during the last months oil his
Administration II regard to the seven Cotton states
now in rebellion. In noticing the fret and most
prominent among these charges viz; his refusal I'M
medately to garrison nine enumerated fofuhcauyhf
scattered over six of the Southern States according
10 Scotts recommendations, he says
Tbi. refusal is attributed without the leass cause
70 tho influence Of Gov. Floyd. All my Cabinet
mu,t bear me witness thia was President, myself
respopsble for all the acts of the Administration, and
certain II If. that during the last six months previous
to tbs 18th of December, 1860, the day on which he
resigned his Office after my request, he exercised less
inanencs ON tho Administration than any other men,
DER OF ire CaUiner.
M. Holt was Immediately thereafter transferred
from the Post.OGicc Department TO that OF War; 20
that lroms time til the llh Of March, 1861, which
was by On the most important period OF tie Aan'h'
isirs'ion. he performed the duties oil secretary Of
/ Var with entire Satisfaction.
/ He then proceeds to show there If ops answer,
both easv nrd conclusive if other valid rcasons dd
not exist--namely, there wee 40 available. troop
within reach which could DO rent to tbese foEtiic-
tons.
To have attempted military operations on a scale
20 extensive by any means within the President
rower would have been simply absurd.
OF tai,, lie says, referring TO his supplement- al
views OF tle 30lh Of October, Gen. Scott hmeeli
seems 10 have been convinced. Those views, both
original srdsupplementary, he gays were published
by Gen. Scott in Tie National HteihgcacCr on tie
18th Of January, 1851 at most important and Grill
cal period Of tie Administration. Tie publication
at that time could do 10 possible good, and might
have done much harm.
To lave published them without tic President
knowlcd &c and confent was much in violation Of
the sacred confidence which ought prevail between
the Commanding General Of tie Army aud the Com
mandcrn-Chicf AZ it would have been for the SecIe-
tary Of Var 70 have abli he'd the same documents
without authority.
VIVA, Is Of more importance ileir publication was
calculated hjurousy to AFFECT The eomproaiso meaa-
ures then before Congress nud the country, and to
encourage tie Sece-sopists in their uad and wicked
stemp, to slater tie Union into fragments. From
the great Icfrcct then entertained for Gen. Scott
4
Mr.. buchanan then explains why he refused 70
send tlres HUNDRED men reinforce Major Aader-
ION at Fort Mouliie, and among the reasons saYs lie
believed IT, the events proved. Mtior Anderson
was then IN danger q an attack Inteed hc and
his command were treated with marked kindnes by
The au,hoii,ies and people Of Charleston.
Undor thcfc circumstances, 10 have sent such n
force ia,ro woad have beeen only 10 impair tie
hope If romis, to peovoko collision and to IL
appoint tho country.
Having treated Of the charge OF having kept
back ro-snforccncn's frcm Pensacola,
Sir. buchanan replies to tho charge Of having also
ler, ihem back from Charleston, saying that neither
truce, ior qua. iiuce nor anything Ike il, was
ever oorluicd between tie rre.idenl and any Lu-
man authority concerning Charleston.
On the c1.gry tie South Carolns Commission
or, iirrt and hs, and all he tine, were informed
hsi the President never could and never would suF-
render Fort sumter. deprive himself Of the most
entire Liberty 10 send ro-euforoemcuts 70 it when
ever it Was believed 10 he in danger or Whenever
1t might be requested by Major Anderson.
NJ. Buchauan then ailnteg to other points in Gen.
SCOTS views and says thai he can solcnnly declare
before God and lis country that lie caunot reproaeh
himself with Any tct OF commission or omission TO
encaDger It's happiness ia prosperity, and its safety
since the existing troubles commenced.