The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-08-20

SECRET HISTORY OF FORT SUMTER.-A
correspondent of the New York Times has late
~ comeinto the possession of important docu-
ments ielating to the earlier hiskory OF the re-
bsllion in South Carolina. RSo- far as disclosed
the most interesting matter presented is a let
ter from Gov Pickens to President Buchanan,
dated three DAVIS before the ordinance Of se-
cessop was passed by the South Carolina con-
vention, in which he demands possession of
Fort SUMTER The letter was sent by "a pri-
vate and confidential gentleman,"D H. Ham
ilton, who was to confer with Mr.. W. H. Tres
colt, South Carolinian and secessionist, who
was at that time acting as Assistant Secre-
tary OF State. An interview with the Old
Public Functionary was had on the 10th of
December, and reply was promised on the
list. But meanwhile Mr.. Prescott and Gems
MCQUEEN and Bonham became alarmed and
withdrew Gov. Pickens communication. Mr..
Trescott's letter to Gov Pickens, after Stating
that the withdrawal was "most opportune,"
gives the following reasons for that action:
That President Buchanan had removed Col.
Gardiner (the predecessor of Major Anderson)
from command at Fort MOultrle, for carry
ing ammunition from the arsenal at charles
ton" -y-afasaf s.q5
That Buchanan had "refused to send rein
forcenents to the garrison there" That he had
accepted the resignation of the Oldest, most
eminent and highest member of his Cabinet
(Gen. Cass) rather than consent to send addi-
tiondl force. f.E s.-- ~ n
That the writer felt assured that Sat the
moment Buchanan could not have gone to the
extent of action you desired, ITO wit. the Civ
ing up of Fort Sumter) and that if forced to
answer the letter then, he would have taken
such ground as would have prevented his even
approaching it hereafter"
That the withdrawal Of the letter twas a
great relief to the President, who is most ear
nestly anxious to avoid an issue with the State
OF Its authorities, and think has encouraged
ms disposition to go far as he can in this mat
ter" Inns ana
OF all this Mr.. Buchanan says not word
in-the history of his Administration on the
Eve of the War" The communication OF
Gov. Pickens having been Withdrawn, it. did
not appear on the official records and Mr.. BE-
chanan affects to have forgotten it. Otherwise
he could not even attempt to Justify his tenn
porizing policy by declaring that he was in ut
ter ignorance of the purposes of the Southern
people up to the time of his interview with the
South Carolina commissioners ON the 2Sth Of
December. He could not have said in his
book that sit was difficult to imagine that
South Carolina would be guilty of the base
perfdy of attacking any of these forts and
that she had always styesauously denied thai
such wos her intention" when he knew that
the Governor of that State had demanded the
surrender of Fort Sumter, and had enforced
his demand by the statement that such was
the excitement of the masses of the people
that of somethup of tho kind ba uot dopa hn
(the Governor) aoould not anssoer for the conse.
qaences."
1T would perhaps lbe charitable to believe
that the last Of the Democratic Presidents diG
forget; but the American people will not for
get that it is unsafe to elevate men of his char
acter and of his politics to the Chief Magis
tracy. After Buchanan and johnson we shall
have nobler race of Presidents, as after the
race of Stuarts came the good William and