The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-16
TIVE sialR.H0LT CONTROVERSY.
The Judge Denies the Charges
of the Politician.
letters from President Buchanan,
General Scott, the Hon. Preston
King and Colonel Trott.
&c. &c. &c.
WASHINGTON. Sept 10. 1865.

ability loyalty and eminent faithful public services
tsniy need no de nee at my hands-Mr Blair thus pro-
The daance of Mr. Seward with the Confederates and
the convent on committees from Virginia. to the fail
of Fort Sumter but prolongation OF the agreement
made with Davis by order Of Buchanan under the sigma
lures OF his Secretaries of War and OF the Navy that
net Of would take place the part of the United
States during his term This gave the Confederate Gen
the guns Of Fort Sumter, which would not have been
done had not its cannon been muzzed by treaty spnla
sistance to tho policy OF dissolving the Union, &c
Again. when speaking Of mysef Mr. Blair says; .,
Fort Sumto and his amistice with the rebel secretary
Now. 30 far as am implicated by this language, I
have, Of course, personal knowledge and upon TINS
Knowledge declare myself guiltess Of this charge N
the whole and in oil its parts and my conviction Is com
pIec that the distinguished gentlemen eliminated with
me alike innocent But, TO make my denial sun
explicit and detailed, affirm most solemnly that
never made, or in any manner a party to, an ar
mistce with the rebel Secretary" never signed, or
act of war would take place onhhe part Of the United
States during Nh. Buchanan's term; " nor DO DcneVe
else signed by the Secretary Navy, authorized
by Mr.. Buchanan, or ever existed assert most posi-
period referred to- VIII, the President was not
PERFECTLY free to perform his duty, and his
whole duty defence OF the forts and other property OF
Tic United States and open fire from the forts when
ever In his Judgment, their safety demanded it, There
never was hour when the guns of sumter were muz
zied by any 'agreement compact the part Of the
President his secretaries, or by their authority, or
Bither of them TnAt tne
not rcd while in course OF construction was D.
cause President shrunk from the dread responsibility
OF inaugIraing civil war, aud emcd iorbcaranco his
duty; not because lac restrained by agreement
understanding what yer Having m AIDE this foil de-
Dal call. and think the country will unite with me in
calling Mr.. Blair TO produce that agreement, that
rmstice with the rebel Secretary, or offer some salts
Factory evidence that it exists or has existed
am quite that among the disioyal men who at
that period had verbal and written communications WIN
the President there three who al'oged-ather by
duplication than directlyhat in sone interchange OF
which had taken place between certain south
(aronians and the President the latter had given "a
pledge that for time-havng relation to the pro-
cecdngs OF the convention Of that Stnc-he would mot
reinforce the forts in Charleston halbo change their
military status" When is borne N mind that the men
making this imputaton then engaged in daily pre-
paraon for tbs overthrow of the government and have
since actively supported the rebellion it is hardly
gary say that their testimony The American people
would be slow to condemn any, even the humblest OF
% The notice of the President hc promptly and decidedly
Iepeed it as wholly untrue, in letter under date OF
James H. Adams and James l.. Orr; and that 1t
true have entertained doubt.
The policy, however, of the President and Of the War
Department this question, not left to conjcc
ture, but was openly announced and published to the
country at the time When Isaac W hayne, ealing q
Washington he sought, through BENJAMIN Fitzpairick,
f. r. Mallory and John Slidcll then United States sena
aorS 10 obtain from tho government pledge that mo
Tontorcemcnts should be sent TO Fort SUMTER and that
>he public should not be disturbed by act OF
hostility towards South Carolina" On The 22d January,
1861 Secretary of War; in reply to this, addressed,
by direction Of the President communication TO thosc
In regard the proposition Colonel Hayne "ha
should be to Fort sumte in the interval
,osiy south csIsa% Is l%nSssSls 70, ne 70
you any such The has 10
~ sse s "dicsf simply pIotsst
,"snfes, vioat on Of his dsy 70 aes mse eng g.
s ne limited peod Sss
" TO nd feels @ bis
ton. should his safety, however REQUIRE renforcemen
IL regard 70 an assurance from President that the
%"pas so%. "" uar "S the answer viii readily occur
~ s. sn S %Sn Go % @ Of see%
the Executive 10 give assurance that Congress would mol
ssfG ~ s % acson sxis may O'
Tho Vows and determination here expressed were
departed from Does this look ike an 'armisticc with
cha rebel Secretary
Mr. Blair, continuing his line of accusation, says
wns In Difference TO him Secretary that General
the 9seers during ne previous had WISHED
Mr.. Holt, Tho Secretary of War.
The following correspondence will show the groundless
ness or This accusation:-
Lieutenant 0encrai WINFIELD scorI.
% gisI on Si ls s n By Hon
was q Difference to him CIT Is, sew war that
@ IT, psvus
"is % Mr. o Ssn Of wsr ST.
@ Sss the s"d q was s q hs 81 n
already slated e rslascac e General oral, scott q rsn,STss
~ s% Tsps p a"r'
win vi r. 20 any 70 sas ss d o the s Question:
%. K. s q e ws 80 %s s
siss. e, NJ. saeaaa.ns sdn'si.iraiion; had q
"si s.'sass's am "s With 'sS
s. n 10 y Ssey wer rs %ae n "s 70 sss
s'r @ e," o hs sFfS % sS c sse Ct s
ordered M'' mnnons and poyscns 70 sumter Sub
.ssSs lis order y Ws he Prs
's s @ sSss sSs%
msae this esr'elaon
ss ss TEAM 81 fs so IND
s he su o 'FG 'ss eiS
ss.t esy m"sr AnS s HS q s c se se be-
i.lelisrnsc which saturday, evening reached
Che sand ils At the enrsnss TO caestSn hsroor ws
70 Fort ,rm,er This Important Information satisfied DE
Teinfcrcei. snd That when they should 80, not
Tiis snsa"s VA. p paSiissci in the y,o,~a J,g.nyy
s" T. sps Tsc & c ssS se ySc
by anybody nsy,,ne knowledge Of Che facts
% ms srs s!smsn and the SomGecaes.
~pecai, mercy yours 'o0 j. ior
Hon Josrya iosy &C. : VEST i"''' ~ - ''P" y TOW"
s iS y'q ss %a o Ies % 3 Psr
sao,ans.'a Is from the moment do.
Wsshoso" General rc2ief Of he army, aud daily
ecioai epIooeni and piS%pi IS Ear as
na %oey ssr ne ss, s Mr. ,s s,n no s "p
M Ps made sec,Gsyy o. The T. about
our SsSs t" Win great ss'ee %%% s@a
A. throushcu, the seventy days that had charge of
the War department General Scott as Couoraln.J h,i
o, tho Army Tho United states ai from cur
and frank communications with each other perfect
knowledge or all my views and wishes in rgard 10 sum.
Ter and tho other prominent military interests Of the
.a,irc ccndat viii lIusi, be acrcpled a. sufcion,
refuaton Of Mr. Blairs calupiniou, iupntoliou While
all the plat urged for the purpose ny patriotic officers
toUt not, Ol course he unrmrtrf n