The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-11-14


as, or of all the Atlantic States, from the Fo-
tomac south, (the very case which has occur
red,) was not within the scope of General SIS
'provsional remedies !" that is to say, to estab-
lsh by force, if necessary, the continuity of our
territory. In his views he also states as fol-
lows: ''But break this glorious Union by what
ever line or lines that political madness may con-
trive, and there would be no hope of recruiting
the fragments except by the laceration and des-
potism of the sword. To effect such result the
intestine wars of our Mexican neighbors would,
in comparison with ours, sink into mere child's
play" In the Generals opinion, ga smaller
evil (than these intestine wars) would be to al
low the fragment, of the great Republic to form
themselves into new Confederacies, probably
four" then points out what ought to be
the boundaries between the new Unions and
at the end of each goes so far as even to indi-
cate the cities which ought to be capitals of the
three first on this side of the Rocky Mountains,
to wit, '.Columbia, South Carolina" "Alton or
Quincy, Illinois," and ''Albany, New York."
excluding Washington City altogether. This
indication of capitals contained in the original
now in my possession is curiously omitted in the
version published in the National Inteihgencer.
He designates no capital for the fourth Union
on the Pacific. The reader will judge what en-
couragement these views, proceeding from SO
distinguishes source, must have afforded to the
secessionists of the Cotton States.
| trust have said enough, and more than
enough, to convince every mind why did not,
with force of five companies attempt to re-
inforce Forts Jackson an1 ST. Philip, on the
Mississippi Fort Morgan, below Mobile; Forts
Pickens and McCrea, in Pensacola harbor /;
Fort Pulaski below Savannah; Forts Moultrie
and Sumpter, Charleston harbor and Fort Mon
roe, in Virginia.
+, These ''views'' both original and supplement
tary, were published by General Scott in the
National Iatellgcncer of January Is, 1861, at
the most important and critical period of the
Administration. Their publication, at that
time, could do no possible good, and might do
much harm. To have published them, without
] the Presidents knowledge and 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 it would have been for the Secretary
| of War to publish the same documents without
his authority What is of more Importance,
their publication was calculated iniuriously to af
1 feet the compromise measures then pending be-
fore Congress and the country, and to encour-
age the secessionists in their mad and wicked
attempt to shatter the Union into fragments.
For the great respect which 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 ''vews' contained, of more or less cor
rectness, were unfortunately circulated, especial
ly throughout the South The editors of the Ma
t,onal Iel2geacer, in assigning reason for their
publication, state that both in public prints and
i in public speeches illusions had been made to
them, and some misapprchensions Of their char
acter had got abroad.
ii. and Ill General Scott states that he ar.
rived in Washington on the 18th, and, accom-
panied by the Secretary of War, held conver.
sation with the President on the 9th of Decem-
ber. Whilst have no reccoection whatever
of this conversation, he doubtles states cor,ect-
ly that did refuse to send three hundred mer
to reinforce Major Anderson at Fort Moulture,
who had not then removed to Fort Sumter. The
reason for this refusal is manifest to all who
rccollect the history of the time But twelve
days before, in the annual message of the 3D.
December, had urged upon Congress the a.
the same character with those subsequently
proposed by Mr.. Crittenden, called the ''CHt.
tenden Compromise" At that time high hopes
were entertained throughout the country thai
these would be adopted. Besides, l believed
and this correctly, as the event proved, that
Major Anderson was then in no danger of at
tack Indeed he and his command were ther
treated with marked kindness by the authori.
ties and people of Charleston. Under these
circumstances, to have sent such force there
would have been only to impair the hope O
compromise, TO provoke collision, and disappoint
the country.
There are some details of this conversation
in regard to which the Generals memory mus
be defective. At present shall specify only
one. could not have stated that on future
contingent occasion / would telegraph 'Maiol
Anderson, of Fort Moultrie, to hold the forts
(MoulIrie and Sumpter) against attack" be-
cause, with hprudent precaution, this had already
been done several days before, through spe
cial messenger sent to Major Anderson for this
very purpose. ] refer to Major Buell., of the
army. 9f4 ~, flift
The Generals supplementary note of the
same day, presenting to me General Jackson's
conduct in 1888, during the period of nullitica-
tion, as an example, requires no special notice.
:. Even if the cases were not entirely different,
had previously determined upon policy of my
own, as will appear from my annual message.
This was, at every hazard to collect the GUS
toms at Charleston, and outside of the port, il
need be, in vessel of war. Mr.. Colcock, the
existing Collector, as had anticipated, resign
his office about the end of December, and i'm
mediately thereafter nominated to the Senate,
as his successor, suitable person, prepared, at
any personal risk, to do his duty. That body,
however, throughout its entire session, declined
4 To act on this nomination. Thus without a