Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-11-20
"a Tnterestlnr. pocumena.

T PTasidant Bsehanau wherein he doea3s lis conduct
during the last months Of his administration The let
ter is Ia reply to General SCOUTS letter recently pub
Jigbed T6a Inteliigeacer says;
Ia the paper now PLACID before our readers the vene
rabe ExPresident shows that he was not unmindul Of
the obligations placed upon him by the trying events
through which he was compelled to pass ID the closing
months of his administration and he clearly states the
considerations OF public duty unG which he acted IS
also the limits within which be had power 10 act at ALL
At the same time he places in ceag light some facts
which, from the commanding position be then had at
the head of affairs he is able 10 present 10 acolocaon
that redeems his conduct from certain mpprabeasols
which may have been entertained 81 the time by OBJ
servers less coguizant of ell The circumstances witch
made up the situation, well civil es military, az the
outbreak Of Secession :"
LETTER FROM Ex-PREsIDEET BUCHANAN.
To the Editors Of the National IntelL7gencg-
On Wednesday last received the National INTEL
gancer containing Gen SCOTS address to the public
This is throughout undisguised censure Of ny cor
duct during the last months of the administration in re-
gard to the seven Cotton States now in rebellion
From our past relations was greatly surprised the
appearance Of such paper In one aspect however,
1t was highly gratifying 1t has Justified me, nay il
has rendered it absolutely necessary that should no
longer remain silent in respect to charges which have
been long vaguely circulating bat arc n0V endorsed by
the responsible name Of Gen Scott.
l. The first and most prominent among these charges
is Ely refusal Immediately to garrison nine enumerated
Notifications scattered six Of tie Southern States
according to the recommendation Of Gen Scott, In his
'yiews' addressed to the War DEPARTMENT On the 20 b
and Both of October 1860 And it has even been
alleged that if this had been done il might have pre-
venfed the civil war
This refusal is attributed without tie least cause to
the influence Of Governor Floyd. All my cabinet must
bear me witness that was the President mvgsf re-
sponsibe for all the Of the administration and
certain it that during the last six months previous 10
the 20lh of December 1860, 1.-The day On which be r.
signed his Office after my requestA he exercised less in
fnence % The administration thar anv other member RI
the cabinet Mr. Holt yes iror,GIia4elt, re.ar.9f.r,
transferred from the Pos.fira Danorlrra+ A. .Ef If
TVar 81 tbat from +biq tfr7a iii 4,- ~ ~ t5oI
1861 which was bv far fine most ir'r~rfrf- lfr4 81
the administration he rprfa~ned tl,a [1tier rf l. t
of War IN ro1, arf; ~, a. tfer;nIi,-
Tuf 1vhv did I not r,7el;sflz ,,-,r;s,, tE,. ;
fortifcatiGnq in sncl ,,,orrcr n 7a tF I f
cen scott /" as 70 make arv 9ftaIr~t IN I-s , r
If them nv SUNRISE or cain de MAN r;l;rqr,
There is one answer both cav arl rIa,,rva lr, ft
other valid reasons did rot exist There were f.1 vsa-
bic troops within REACH which caa.5 T., .r+ H. 81. -.
Qualifications 10 have ateraat.s o. military .t.,,
en- a scale so extensive E, any, rrla ,iI. d.. .srsi-
dents mower woud have hrS4 sr1r,.v absurd a. f.e
Gen Scott himself seems - have hen .g.r..,f An,
on the day after the dase of his FIST views" lie al
dressed fGo fh. 3O.baf D.taaa.l ..rrr, -ar,t - S.,
fbg\War Department in which r, s...rs. s, Lave. !,
ono IreguIar( c7Fr,,no in l,o.,.r ...Ia.. l,+ fl, r
r5f7s1 one al Pittsbqrr one as brr.e.. a.. ..-. rf
Ra,o1 Poura ,-ir a} i've, o..1.a ~, r., ,-.
IN garrison cr rrfrtq.-a .ra t...r -...f-..- F.. w.
q vievzo
T7ia, c..r,,o,..e r.,,. r-,.r.-l ,.. 4,~.-.- p
- .:5r l-.., .,.. . s.... S.s
crn SfafesI NE f.~r, D.. al. r.. rl... " ..., -
S S,ie,,,,-+. f,,t -.,.r
no. @,a bp,,, .'..-... s.- l.. ..
yyglfI e, H. m, , ..r. a,r 3d.. I...5s.5.. .,s -.
I'm. --r.,-.o van. ,., --...-.: l . ...-. s
d.o.s..c, Ii.r II. -.. -..I. I'. - -.-