East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-12-13

: had assumed formidable aspect, and
when his sinister predictions appeared
to be in the course OF fulfilment, he
read tho original draft in his own
handwriting, TO a friend. This gen.
tleman, whilst extolling the far-seeing
sagacity and prophetic spirit it dis
played, begged for the draft as an in
valuable keepsake. This appeal to
the General proved irresistible. The
manuscript was delivered to the friend,
who soon thereafter read it, amidst
great applause, at a public meeting in
the city of New York, and whilst
highly excited political canvass was
depending for the Office of Governor.
The letter thus published, implying a
direct censure on President Lincoln
for not having followed the advice it
had given, created no little astonish-
ment, because of the prevalent belief
at the time that the General was under
many obligations to the administration
| for liberal and indulgent treatment in
the face and discontinue Of defeat
The letter having been thus published
by his friend, it was soon thereafter
republished in the National Inteiigenccr
of the 2lst of October, 1862, under
the Generals own authority, and in
addition, copy of his report to Pres
ident Lincoln. Why he thus con-
nected these two documents, so dis
tinct and even opposite in character,
it would be difficult to decide. 1t has
been conjectured he may have thought
| that tho cnnsnra of M. Duohanan IN
the report might prove an antidote to
that against Mr.. Lincoln in the Seward
letter. Whatever may have caused
the publication of this report, Mr..
Buchanan has cause to rejoice that it
was brought to light during his life
time. 1t might otherwise have slum-
bered on the secret files of the Execu-
tive Department until after his death,
and then been revealed to posterity as
authentic history.
MR.. DUcHAYAN's REPLY TO THE REPORT.
And here it is proper to mention,
that few days after the publication
of the report, Mr.. Buchanan replied
to it in letter published in the Ma
t'oHal Iatell,gcncer of tho LIST Of Novem-
Der, 1862 This gave rise to a cores
pondence between himself and General
Scott, which, on both sides, was for
mally addressed to tho editors of that
Journal, and was published by them
in successive numbers. This contin-
ued throughout the autumn. 1t might
at first be supposed that the errors in
the report had been sufficiently ex-
posed in the course of this correspond
ence; but in the present historical
sketch of President Buchanan's con-
duct, it is impossible to pass over the
structures made upon it by General
Scott. The two are inseparably joined
together.
GENERAL scoTT's STATEMENT OF AN IN
TEKvIEw WITH THE PRESIDENT.
The General, in his report, prefaces
tho statement Of his conversation with
President Buchanan, by saying, that
on the 18th of December he had "per-
sonally urged upon the Secretary of
War the same 'views Those of the
previous October, viz, strong garri-
sons in the Southern forts those of
Charleston and Pensacola harbors at
once; those on Mobile Bay and the
Mississippi below New Orleans next,
&c. again pointed out the organized
companies, and the 1900 recruits at
the principal depots available for the
purpose. The Secretary did not concur
in my views" This, indeed, he could
not have dono so early as the 18th of
December, without placing himself in
direct opposition to the well defined
policy of the President. An interview
was, therefore, appointed for the 10Th
of December, between the President
and the General "By appointment"
says the General, "the Secretary ac-
companied me to the President, De-
cember 18th, when the same topics,
secessionism, &c, were again pretty
fully discussed" He does not furnish
the Presidents answer to the PROPOSE
ton to send strong garrisons to the
Southern forts. This must unques-
tionably have referred to the topics of
which his mind was then full, viz, the
promising aspect of compromise at the
moment; the certain effect of such q
measure in defeating it; the made
quacy Of the force at command for so
extended an operation and the policy
which had been laid down in his annual
message. Not word of all this
But the Generals memory seems to
have improved with the lapse of years
and the progress Of the rebellion. In
his report to President Lincoln, he
speaks of but one conversation with
President Buchanan, that of the 18th |
of December, whilst in his letter of
the Sth of November, 1862, to the
National nteligneer, portion of the
correspondence to which we have re-
ferred, he alleges he had on the 2Sth |
and Both of the same December, re-
peated the recommendation to garrison
all the Southern forts. In this state
ment, if material, it would he easy to
prove he was mistaken. Indeed, Pres !
ident Buchanan has in his possession
note from the General himself, dated
on Sunday, Both of December, stating
that by indisposition he was confined
to the house on that day, and could
not therefore call upon him. OF this
hereafter.
According to the report, he merely
mentions in general terms the recruits
he had obtained for the expedition,
without allotting them among the sew
eral forts. According to the letter, he
informed President Buchanan that the
number of recruits at Now York and
Carlisle barracks was about six hun
dred, "besides the five companies of
regulars near at hand, making about
one thousand men," And he also
\ a.