Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-11-03
8g 0eleqraph.
AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
President Buchanan's Reply to
Gen. SCOTS Letter.

Gen. SCOTS Letter.
| WAsHISGToH, Nov. l.-EE- President b.
chauau, through the National LnteiIi9eHeer,
replies at length to Lit. Gen. Scott, whose
recent publication he considers an undis-
guised censure ofhis conduct during the last
months OF his Administration 10 regard to
the seven cotton States now in rebellion.
In noticing the first and most prominent
among the charges, viz: his refusal to i'm
mediately garrison nine enumerated forti6-
cations scattered over six of the Southern
States. According to Gen Seotts recon-
mendatiOn, he says, this refusal is attribu-
ted without the least cause TO the influence
of Gov. Floyd. All my Cabinet must bear
me witness that l was, as President, re-
| sponsible for all the acts of the Admins
traIiou, and certain it is, that during the
last six months previous to the goth of De-
cember, 1880, the day on which he resigned
his Office after my request, he exercised less
influence on the administration than any
other member of my Cabinet.
MI. Holt was Immediately thereafter
transferred from the Postoffice Department
to that of the War Department.; so that
from this time until the 4th OF March, 1861,
which was by far the most important peri
cd of the Administration, be performed
the duties of Secretary of War to my en-
tire satisfaction. He proceeds to show that
there 10 one answer. both easy and conelu-
sive, if other valid reasons did not
exist, namely: There were no available
troops within reach which could be sent
TO these Notifications. To have attempted
military operation on a scale so extern
sive by any means within the Presidents
power, would have been simply absurd.
OF this he says, referring to the supple
mented views of the Both of Oct General
IL L.
those views, both original and supplement.
tary, (he says in the National Intelligencer
on the 18th of January, 1861, at most
important and critical period of the ad.
ministrntion,J 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, ms it
would have been for the Secretary Of Wac
to publish the same documents without
his authority.
What is of more importance their publi-
cation was calculated injuriously to effect
the compromise measures then pending be-
fore Congress, and the country and to en-
courage SecessiOnists in their mad and
wicked attempt to shatter the Uuion into
fragments. From the great respect then
entertained for the General, l passed it
over in silence. Mr.. Buchanan then ex-
plains why he refused to send 800 men to
reinforce Major Anderson, because he
believed; as the event proved, that
Major Anderson was then in no danger of
attack, indeed, he and his command were
then treated with marked Kindness by the
authorities and people of Charleston.
Under these circumstances to have sent
such force there would have been only to
impair the hope of compromise to pro-
woke a collision and disappoint the coun-
try; and having treated of the charge of
having kept back reinforcemeuts from PEN
sacola; he replies to the charge of haV
ing kept them back from Charleston, say
ing that neither truce nor quasi truce
nor anything like twas ever concluded be-
tween the president and any human au'
thority concerning Charleston
On the contrary, the South Carolina
Commissioners, first and last and all the
time. were informed that the President
could never surrender Fort Sumter, nor
deprive himself of the most entire liberty
TO send reinfOrcemeuts to it whenever il
was believed to be in danger or requested
by Major Anderson.
He alludes to other points in Scotts
views, aud says he can solemnly declare be-
fore God and his country that he cannot re-
proach himself with any act of commission
OF omission since the existing troubles COM
meuced.