New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-16
REPLY OF JUDGE HOLT TO MONT
GOMRRY ELAIH.
The Charges of the Latter Against th'
Former Considered md Dcnied'

To me Editor Of The Press: 80
/ beg place in your columns while DeStoW-
ing brief notice on certain passages arraGlhug ~!
past official actions which are TO be iound 10 al, %
ate and carefullyprepared speech maze 1y .ie III
Montgomery Blair, late Postmaster az Of
vile Md on the Goth of last month. In inc co'uS oS
severe cepsure of the Secretaries oil stare ana o
War-who from their known ability. loyalty ana
eminent faithful public services certainty neeu Ho uo
fense at nv hqnds-Mr. Blair thus proceeds -,
TIE d,ance of MI Seward with The Confederates and the
Conyenton COMMITTEES from Nr-ina up to tie aI OF ro
sumter as but proongdtion Of the agreement maze tih
f bv order Of Buchdlaa under the signatures o. his sec
,res Of War and OF the Navy that no act OF war would
80 Mace ON the part the United states during his term
This ave the Confederate Gen Beauresard an opportunity to
build batteries under the guns OF Fort sumter wHfh would
,rlItons He (Mr Sianton) apprised Nh Seward OF ms
Treaty the War and Navy DeParmfn,' to make no resist
Again when speaking of myself, Mr.. Blair says;
simultaneously with his refusal to permit sueeor 70 or
Sumter and his sFusce with the hepe' secretary ~
Now. SO far as en- implicated by this language, l
have, of course. personal knowledge ana upon ''ls
knowledge declare myself gutess OF TINS charge, III
the whole and in all Its parts and my convlclon Is
complete that the distinguished gentlemen crimnaied
with me are alike innocent.
pnbhc affairs and in the history Of his country. ana
Who from the high position he has occupied, must be
expected to have an honorable sohelude Tor the pro
,.ction of the fair fame of the public men labor0usy
engaged in administering the Government should,
without provOcation have brought against them an
accusation dshon0ring, and so utterly groundess
sorrow even in circles hitherto most friendly 10 the ac
cuser. But TO make my denial still more explicit and
detailed affirm most soemnly that L never made or
was IN any manner party TO- armistioe with the
Rebel secretary" never signed. was in any way
party 10 an agreement that act Of war would take
place on the part of the United States during Mr..
BuchAnan's term nor do 1 believe that any such
agreement with Davis or with anybody else. signed by
the Secretary of the Navy, was authorized by MI
Buchanan or ever existed. l assert most positively
that there never day. during the period referred
20 who no
form his duty. and bis whole duty. in defense OF
the forts and other property of the United
ever in his Judgment. their safety demanded it,
There never was an hour when the guns of Sumter
we're "muzzled by any agreement or compact on
the part Of the President or lis Secretaries by their
sntborty or either of them That the batteries around
sumter not fired upon while III course OF con-
suctiOn was because the President shrunk from the
dread responsibility of inauguraing civil war, and
deemed fOrbearnnce his duty; not because he was re-
strained by any agreement understanding whatever
Looking at the glorious results of The war, and re-
nembcring how wOnOrOuSly Providence has Ceat with
US in its progress aud how submcly the firing apon,
instead of from, Fort Sumter. served TO arouse IN.
struct and unite the nation and to lnname It's martial
and patriotic spirit, stand awesruck and mute, and
that would be bold indeed who in the presence OF
all that has occurred shonld now venture TO maintain
that the policy OF forbeaanee was not at the moment
the true policy.
Having made this full denial call and I think the
country will unite with me in calling MIR Blair TO
produce that agreement" that "armistce with the
that it exists has existed. The charge that he
makes is one OF such extreme gravity that exalted as
has been his official position he can scarcely expect the
American people to pass Judgment upon il against pub
lie long tried and honOred in the National service
solely his unsupported declaration-especiaya that
declaration does not profess to rest on any personal
knowledge.
an quite aware that among the disloyal men who at
THAT period had verbal and written communications
with the President. there were three who alleged
irather by implication than drecty-hat in some inter
lehange Of assurances which had taken place between
Ieertain South CarOnans and the President the latter
had given "a pledge that, for time-having relation
Ito the proceedings of the convention Of that Statehe
would not reinforce the ort in Charleston harbor or
lchange their military status" When II IS borne In
mind that the men making this inputaton were then
Engaged IN daily preparation ior the overthrow OF ihe
GOvernment and have since actively supported the Re
belOn hardly necessary to say that on their test
mUuy the American people would be slow to condemn
any even the humblest, of their officers. When. how
lever this charge brought 10 the notice OF the Pres
dent be promptly and decidedly repealed II as wholly
untrue, IN letter under date OF JOth OF December
1860 addressed 10 Robert W. Barnwen, james Ii.
Adams ana James L. Orr; and that it was untrue
have never entertained doubt.
The policy however, Of the President and OF the
War Department on this question not left TO con
lecture but openly announced and published TO the
country. at the time. When Isaac w kayne' GAZING
himself a Commissioner from South Carolina arrived
al Washington. he sought, through Benz amin fiz.
patrick S. K. Mallory. and John slide then United
States Senator'S TO obtain from The Government q
pledge that re6niorcements should be sent to Fort
Sumter and that the public peace should not be us
turbed by any act of hostility toward South Carolina
On the 22d OF January le6l as Secretary OF War in
reply TO this addressed by direction OF the President
communication TO those Senator'S from which the FOL
lowing Is extract:
enoTcemen.s should be sen, Fort Sumter in the interval
and that tie public peace viii not be disturbed by any act Of
hostility toward South Carolina" 1t Is impossible ioI me TO
give you any such The President has authority
10 enter any tuch agreement understanding As an
executive officer be is SIM bound to protect the public
property this may be practicable and would be-
manifest violation Of his duty TO place himself under
definite limited period. At the present moment not
deemed necessary reinforce Major Anderson because be
makes such request and feels quite secure IN his position
Should his safety however require reenioEcenents
1 effort viii be made to supply them.
I'm regard to an assurance from the President that the
pobic peace win not be disturbed by any Of hostility To-
ward South Carolina the answer viii readily occur 10 your
uover TO make war and Il would be act Of uTEaton fo
the Executive give any that Congres would no
exercise this power, however strongly II may Do convinced
The views and determination here expressed wert
4 never departed from Does this look Ike an arms
| tee with the Rebel Secretaryf
| Mr. Blair. continuing bis line Of accusation, says
II was deereuce him Secretary seward that Gen
Scott recommended the surrender Of fo sumter becau"
the General during the previous Administration, had wihc
reinforce sndhad teen refused eTni'son 10 do 20 by Mr.
4 Kyit. then Secretary Of UGr.
The following correspondence will show the ground
WAsHIyGToS, Augusta 1865.
1 lieutenant General WINFIELD SCOTT.
GENERAL In speech c.ivered blythe Hon Montgomery
Hair at Csrksve Nd on the -oth lnt ne i2Iony len
Cen Scott recommended the surrender Of tue fort Sumter
lecsuse the General during the previous Adm Illustration ha
wished 10 reinforce Il, and hed ben rcjUed permon 20 d
Dby Dir. Holt, then Secre1yy # Har MI Holt now tx
lead Of the Bureau Military Justice, then also pOwe
Washington. Viii Secretary Of Wax OF already stated
b reiued to let Gen scott reinforce Sumter &C. As 81
that you would be unwilling for tie authority Of you
te4i used IN the intcon OF injustice any Iar
public private ask that you vi be 80 good as TO 'tae me
tat bore the question Of reinforcing and pTOyisioun
Sumter which much occupied the attention Of the Govern
nen and country toward the close OF M buchanans Cd
utlis'ration had almost daily conferences with you the
I'D hndred subjects and certain that With all my whe
nd purposes you made well acquainted was gratihec
nsn 10 believe as am now 20 remember that upon tins sb
tioug question perfectly agreed No man relocec
Lore tL-u ia a