The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-11-14

ne reason iOt III. refusal - manifest TO all Il
who recollect the history Of the time" This /
Is Mr.. Bnchanan's own statement. Gen. Scott /
also mentions the facto OF his calling on Pres \
idenf Buchanan on the 18th Of December, and |
SAYS that the President. in "reply 10 HE arcu-
ments for reinforcing Fort Moultrie." said |
The time has not vet arrived for doing so:
that ho should wait the action OF the Conyen-
ton of South Carolina. in the expectation
shat commission would DO appointed 20 ne.
g0tiate with him aud Congress respecting
the secession OF the State aud the property
OF the United states held within ia limits"
On the day of this conversation. aud after
this remarkable declaration ul the President
IA declaration We declare 10 be trcasona-
bie-Gen. Cass resigned The Presidents
own organ, the Washington CoasffsfioH. an
nouueed that sislesmsn's resignation by sat.
ing that he had resigned beceu.e "he advi4-
Cd that the military force should bc sent i'm
medalely to Charleston 20 reinforce the forts
Ia that harbof. snd that the President was
Of the opinion that there was no necessity
Tor Any such measure. Ia order Ia secure the
fort against attack" Here. then. l. tho
whole evidence. We have quoted Mr. llu-
chanan General Scott. Mr Duchsnana
own organ. and General Cas-. The shame
ful and humillsiiug fact i uudeulable that
upon the lsth day Of December. 1850, whom
South Carolina was debating GA ordinance
Of secession within Eve DAYS Of the passage
Of that ordnance. while tho whole North was
sal aud ss'k ~ heart, the President Of the
United States refused 10 say the word that
would have saved the republic. he refused t.
listen 90 The prayers Of General Scott, who
assured him on the honor OF the fret soldier
Of the age ths, the Southern forts nigh, bc
rain 81. II
refused 10 hear the sntrsaliea OF the mpst
venerable and beloved statesman Ia hi-
Csblnet lie preferred o. follow the bid
ding ol hts Mephistophlcs. Floyd. who WAS
At hts side. lie preferred 90 10 the bidding
Of a Southern masters Tho time had
not yet arrived. He should await the action
OF the Convention OF South Carolina" lie
expected a commission of traitors II Il any
wonder that General Scott retired almost
heart broken from the Presidential prcscncey
IL IL any wonder that Lewis Cass threw up
his portfolio la disgust. and retired from a
Cabinet where treason Was deliberately tax
ing the lfc OF the republicg
The President was true 10 hi. word tie
did wait the action Of South Carolina. -
On the 25th of December the ordinance of
secession WAS passed. and treason held its
Satumalia in Charleston city. The city was
| Illuminated guns were fired. rockets were
sent mp into the reverb, ting air. The South
was In an ecstacy of Joy. Wcread that guns
were fired lin honor of the secession OF
Sonth Caroline. at Noble. Wilmington
y. c.. New Orleans. Savannah. and Au-
gusta. Conventions were being held IN
other States There was every evidence
that man could want 10 show the purpose
and determination ot the South. We ask
any intelligent man who reads this sentence
| TO turn back To the dreary memories OF that
fearful time. aud inquire il he had any doubt
as TO the determination OF these wild recless
men. James buchanan is intelligent
man. and he knew in his heart OF hearts,
just "a well as he knew that death was com
ing and that God would be his Judge. that
the Southern leaders determined to destroy
this Republic. and that prominent among
those leaders was John II. Floyd. his Secre-
tary of the Interior. Finally, the sentiment
| of the North was TOO intense 10 he endured.
Our people had waited anc prayed. passing
through humiliation. and grief and anxiety
and despair. until men began to say that this
conduct could be endured no longer. De.
cesber 2sth approached. Two weeks had
passed since the last interview. one ,reek
since South Carolina had seeded. General
Scott again applied to the President Floyd
had served his purpose. and had resigned
Major Anderson had thrilled the nation, 10y
taking possession of Fort Sumter. Tn,
Southern cabal demanded his evacuation o
that fort. aud the return 10 Fort Monltrie
The President at once disavowed the act
major Anderson" he said. "acted upon hi
own responsibility, and without authority
and my first promptings were 10 order hin
back" The country stifled these "firs
promptngs, and then came the first sign o
courage he had shown He actually con
scented to allow a vessel TO be sent To Charles
ton. but in the meantime waited to receive
communication from the traitor Commission
era. IL suggested 10 General Scott" say
he. "that although had not received Tia
South Carolina Commissioners in their othcia
capacity but merely as private gentlemen We
il might he considered m improper act 10 sen
ihe Brooklyn with achievements TO For
Sumter until had received an answer iron
them To my letter of the preceding day
The delay could not continue more tia
forty eight hours" Discriminating, kim
attentive Buchanan What was delay {
l. him lie would wait. What il the coun
try was on the rack What If the rehe
were mounting cannon in Charleston bay
!, no had waited two months, and two day
were nLthin so he waited. The "priyai
gentlemen" ircm South Carolina sent hin
an insulting cpistlc, and returned TO Charles
ton, and finally the Star of the West saiie'
The remainder of the story isknown. Aii.
= our flag had been insulted, the President ,
+ tho United States actually consented to
truce with the rebels, in order that the
might complete their arrangements for opeI
V ing fire on Fort Sumpter. The Prcsider
: throws the blame on Major Anderson. au
Q SAYS IL was more fortunate" the expedite
did not sail on February 9Th, as 1.-The va,
Inadequacy of the force provided 10 accom-
plish the object was demonstrated by info
nation received from Major Anderson. n
, the War Department. on the last da
= of the Administration Tins we al
. told by the President OF the United State
who had tho whole country At his command
!. that four months alter he bad been warne
OF the danger to the country from tic atiac
on Fort Sumter. this great Republic bad .
vast inadequacy Of force, compared wit
: South Carolina. that while ho had been wal
ing. and trembling. and holding intercours
with traitors. the great rebellion assume
form and strength, and mensced IA Wit
bloody and persistent MAJ Then he lied I
his home in Lancaster. leaving to Mr. LA
coin the task OF wading through sea {
blood 10 The restoration OF the Union. whic
: he might have saved 10y siugic word. q
obeying the first obligation II hi oiiici'
+ oath.
I. We nov dismiss James buchanan N
r | announces tho intention 81 publishing yer
, soon "a historical review, prepared yes
{ ago" lie had better burn BIZ sheets an
{ saw no more. Ills last defense has OIL
= dragged him deeper IN the slough OF sham,
Let him beg Tor mercy At the hands 81 =
outraged country. and from the men 10 com