Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-06
PRESIDENT BUCHANAN.
The Truth of HistOry-A Radical
CnIumny RefTted.

The Hon. VIM. u. helley, RADICAL
member of Congress from Pennsylvania,
previous to the late election made the
following statement in public speech:
"By the consent of Mr.. Buchanan, and
his Secretary of War, John B. Floyd Gas
is proven by the letter-book of Gen.
Twiggs, now in the possession Of his ex-
ecutOr, Edward Shippon, Esq, of this
city, our army, stationed by Floyd in
Texas and New Mexico, had been sur
rendered to the forces of the Confederacy,
while the forts and arsenals within the
Confederate limits had been gorged with
arms and munitions of war"
Being personal friend of Mr.. Shipper,
the Hon. VIM. B. Reed, of Philadelphia,
(who had been named by Mr.. Buchanan,
before his death, as the custodian Of his
papers, for the purpose of indicating his
memory if assailed,) addressed note to
that gentleman, asking him if Kelley's
statement was made on his authority, and
requesting the proof of the truth of the
assertion. To this Mr.. Shipper replied
ain reply, have to say, that I am not
the executor of Gen. Twiggs, and have
never had his letter. book in my possess
sion; nor have ever authorized any one
to say so. With respect to the residue
of the above extract, have to reply that
l have stated, on several occasions, that
l had seen copy of portions of the cor
respondence of Gen. Twiggs with the late
President Buchanan, written after the
election Of the late President Lincoln, and
many weeks before the surrender of the
army of the State authorities Of Texas,
to the following intent, viz: That In case
the State of Texas should require the
surrender of the army and material, he
(Gen. Twiggs) would feel it his duty to
accede to the demand. l have also stated
that learned, upon inquiry, that the late
| President Buchanan had taken no notice
of these letters until it was too late, and
that, when the successor Of Gen. Twiggs
arrived in Texas, the army had been sur
rendered and paroles taken. | stated,
also, that l learned that Gen. Twiggs
fully expected to be relieved of his COM
nand upon the first communication OF his
intentions to the President, and Easgreat-
ly surprised at the delay. The foregoing
| is the substance of what l have stated,
and perhaps it is the basis of mr.. helley's
| remarks"
Mr.. Shipper concluded by saying that
this was written (Sept. l0,) confiden-
TALLY, and not to be then published;
Not satisfied with this, Mr.. Reed de-
terminod to pursue his inquiries, and so
addressed note to Judge Advocate Holt,
who was Secretary of War for several
months before Mr.. Buchanan retired from
Office, and who was familiar with the
events Of the period, asking to be informed
as to the truth of Kellcy'S and Shippen's
assertions. Here is Judge Hollis reply
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, lS6S.-Hon.
UilIidm B. Reed-SIR | am in re-
ceipt Of your favor of the llth inst,
bringing to my notice a declaration said
to have been made in public speech in
your city, tothe effect that President
Buchanan consented to the surrender by
Gen. Twiggs, of the Federal forces, ETC.,
in 1861 - and you ask me to give you
my recollections on the subject.
Either as Gd interim or permanent
Secretary, I had charge of the War De-
partnent from the 3lst of December,
1860 until the 4th Of March, 1861.
During that period, l had, from day to
day, frequent and free conferences with
| the President in regard to the military
affairs of the country, but in none of these
| interviews did he state, or intimate, that
he had, in any way, given his counte-
| nance or c0nnivance to the surrender by
Twiegs, to which you refer. As is shown
by therecords ofthe Department, Twiggs
| was relieved of his command and his sac-
cessor designated, on the 18th OF January,
| 1861; vet, in defiance Of this, and after he
had received the order relieving him, he,
on the 18th Of February following, by
| formal agreement turned over to the
Rebel enemy, then organizing and taking
the field in Texas, all the military posts
in that State, together. with his military
stores, consisting of guns, cannon, ammu-
milton, horses, forage, moneys, ETC.,
valued at mere than a mllhon
of dollars, and stipulated further
for the immediate departure Of hIs
troops from the country. When intelli-
pepce of the action of this officer reached
Washington, the President appeared to
share fully the general surprise and IN,
| djepation which it excited, and he did
| not hesitate at once to order his dismissal
from the army. This order was drawn
by myself, and when presented to the
President, he promptly approved IT, VIII
the exception, as l now remember IT,
of a single word, which, by his direction
was stricken out. 1t may be added that
months afterwards, / received bitter anc
menacing letter from Twiggs, denouncine
me for the terms in which the order DIS
missing him had been couched; but II
this letter he made no allusion to tht
President as having directly or indirectly
in any degree, yielded his sanction to TN
/ conduct which led to his dismissal. In
5 | conviction is decidedly entertained tina
the declaration which you mention, ant
which is so disparaging to the late Press
+ dent, was made in total misapprehensioI
of the facts.
Very respectfully, your obediGnt ser
= want, D. HOLT
n Mr.. Reed also addressed note to tn
Adiutant General of the army, inquirlnl
if there was anything in the records
the War Department to warrant the as
sertion of Mr.. Kelley. In reply ;h'
: officer says he has caused careful CT
Q animation to be made, and he find
5 nothing of the kind referred to.
Thus is one more calumny against tn
= late President Buchanan reiuted, and thi
Of too on the testimony Of his political en'
mics. The late President may have con
IL mitted mistakes it is evident that
e did not fully comprehend the magnltuC
! Of the crisis at hand but there is n
&c one title Of evidence to show that
W was untrue to his trust or faithless to Il
i'll country, or that he gave any countenun
We to the plans of the secessiOnists. Tin
-, and history will acquit him of all chaTg
ht of faithlessneSs to the cause Of the cou
en- try in that momsntOus crisis of its b
IL tory.
III A FAvORITR OF FoRTUNE.-Gen. Pr
ha the hero of the Spanish revolution, fl
hu nishes another illustration of greatne
an emerging from obscurity. Upon begI
,,;rc, III coraer no was third flute in [