Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-03
Resignation of M. ThouVenal !
English Views upon ReoOgnitiOnl
Privateer8 in the Mediterranean !
JAMES BUCHANAN In HIS OWN
DEFESNE!
EDITOR OF THE DAYTON EN-
PIRE SHOT DEAD
Ex-PR REsIDRNT BUCHANAN,s REPLY.

EX-PR ESlDENT BDCHANAN'S hEfL
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.
Fx-President Buchanan, through the
National InteIligencer, replies at length to
Lieutenant-General Scott, whose recent
publication -he considers an undisguised
eensure of his conduct during the last
months of his Administration in regard to
the seven Cotton States now in rebellion.
In noticing the first and most prominent
among the charges, namely, his refusal to
garrison nine enumerated fortifcations,
scattered over six of the Southern States,
according to Scott's recommendation, he
saws; This refusal is attributed without
the least cause to the influence of Govern
or Floyd. All my Cabinet must bear me
witness that l was President myself and
responsible for all the acts of my Admin
istration. And certain it is, that during
the last six months previous to the 29th Of
December, 1860, the day on which he re-
isQued his office at my request he exer-
cised less influence on the Administration
than any other member of the Cabinet Mr..
Holt was Immediately thereafter trans
ferred from the Postofice Department to
that of the War, so that from this time till
the 4th Of March, 1861, which was by far
the most important period of the Admin
istration, he performed the duties of Secre-
tary of War to my entire satisfaction.
He then proceeds to show that there is
one answer both easy and conclusive, if
other valid reasons did not exist,-namely,
there we're no available troops within
reach which could have been sent to these
Notifications. To have attempted military
operations upon scale 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 3Oth Of October, General Scott
himself seems to have been convinced.
These views, both original and supplement
tary, he says were published by General
Scott in the National Intelligencer on the
18th of January, 1861, at most impor-
tant and critical period of the Administra-
ton. The publication at that time could
do no possible good, and might have done
much harm. To have published thea
/ without the Presidents knowledge end
! 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 il
would have been for the Secretary of WaI
/ to have published the same documents
without authority. What is of more i'm
portance, their publication was calculated
| iniuriously to affect the compromise meas
ures then before Congress and the coun'
try, and to encourage the secessionists il
their mad and wicked attempt to shattel
| the Union into fragments.
From the great respect l then entertain
! i n.,,-o1 CantF I nauoaI - II
silence. Mr.. Buchanan then explains why
he refused to send 300 men to reinforct
Major Anderson at Fort Moultrie. Among
other reasons, he says he believed, as the
events proved, that Major Anderson wa!
then in no danger of an attack indeed h,
and his command were treated with mark
ed kindness by the authorities and people
of Charleston. Under these circumstanc noes
to have sent such q force there WOulI
have been only to impair the hope Of com
promise, to provoke collision, and disap
point the country. Having treated of tn
charges of having kept back reinforce
ments from Pensacola, Mr.. Buchanan re
plies to the charge of having also KEEP
them back from Charleston, saying tha
neither truce nor quasi truce, nor any
thing like it, was ever concluded betweel
the President or any human authority con
cerning Charleston; on the contrary tn
South Carolina commissioners first an
last, and all the time, were informed tina
the President never could, and never woul
surrender Fort Sumter, nor deprive him
self Of the most entire liberty TO send rein
forcements to it whenever it was believe
to be in danger, or whenever it might b
requested by Major Anderson. Mr.. Blu
chanan then slludes to other points i
General SCOTS views, and says that h
can solemnly declare before God and hi
country, that he cannot reproach himsel
with any act of commission or omission t,
endanger its happiness, it's prosperity an
its safety, since the existing troubles CON
menced.