Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-03-30
COMMENCEMENT OF The GREAT
kEBELLION.
official Correspoudenc nee between President
Bachanan and Secretary Cass.


The President to-day transmitted to the S'u-
ate, In answer to their resolution Of the 17tn
instlut, copies OF certain correspondence be-
tween President Buchanan and Secretary Cass
regarding the policy to be pursued to avert the
rebellion then thre-rening, which correspond
ence led to the resis nation OF Mr.. CIsS
The trst letter is frsm Mr.. Ciss to the Presi-
dent, dated DsceG ber i2.,iS6o. He ssys ...h-
present alai ming crisis in ou- national affairs
has engaged your serioHs consideration, aud in
your recent message you have expressed to
Congress, and through Conf ress 10 the country,
the views you have formed Respecting the
questions, fraught with the most momentous
consequence. which are now pre- ,ented to the
American people for solution. With the gen.
eral principles laid down in that message l
fuily concur, and appreciate with warm
sympathy its patriotic appeals and Suggestions
What measures IL - competent and proper for
the Executive to adopt under existing circum-
stances II q subject which has fecsived your
most careful attention and with the an xious ope
as well know. from having participated In
the Deliberations, that tranquility and good
ieeLng may De speedily restored to thus agitated
and divided Confed.racy In some points,
which I'm Of vital importance, Il has be an
my misfortune TO differ from you. II has been
my decided opinion, which for some time past
i have urged at various meetings OF the Cabi.
net, that additional troops should be sent to
reinforce the forts in the harbOr Of Charleston,
be attacked. and that an armed vessel should
likewise be ordered there to aid, If necessary,
In the defence, and also, should 1t be re-
qu,red, in the collection of the revenue;
ures should be adopted without the least
delay. i have likewise rrged the expediency
OF immedlafely removing the custom house at
OF making arrangements for the collectiou OF
the duties there by having a collector and other
omcers ready to ard " hon necessary, 90 that
when the ONCE may become vacant, the proper
authority may be there to collect the dutie.''
MI. Cass then says '.whiie the right and
responsibility OF deciding belong TO you
Juncture there should be far as pos
siole unanimity IN your councils. With
lgnation of the ONCE OF Secretary OF State, and
to ask your permission to retire from that OF.
heial association with yourrelf and the men,
bers Of your Cabinet which have enjoyed
during almost four years without the occur.
renee Of single incident to interrupt the per.
sonal Intercourse which has so happily existed
testimony TO the Jealous and earnest devotion
to the best interests Of the country, with
which during . term OF unequallsd trials and
9oa oles you have sought to discharge the
THANKING you for the kindness and conf.
deI CO you have not ceased TO manifest toward
me and with the expression of my warmsst
reg"rd. both for yourself and the gentlemen of
ysur Cabinet, i am, sir, with great respect,
your ooedient servant LEWIS CAss.
To The President Of the Tinted States"
To this letter Mr.. Buchanan replied as
follows:
have received your resignation Of the Office of
Secretary OF State with surprise and regret
AT or we had passed through nearly the whole
term of the administration with mutual and
corGiai friendship and regard, cherished the
earnest hope hat nothing might occur to dis
turb our Official relations until its end. You
have decided differently, and l have no right
TO complain.
must express my qualification at your con-
Gu. renee with the general principles laid down
IN my late mess'ge, and your appreciation,
AID suggestions" This I value very highly,
and rejoice that we concur in the opinion
that Coo cgress does not possess the power,
andfr the Constitution. TO coerce State by
force of arms 10 remain in the confe deracy.
Inc question on which we unfortunately
differ Is that Of ordering detachment Of the
stated In Jour letter of resis natioI. 1 do not
intend to argue this question. Sufficient 20 saw
that your remarks upon the subject Were heard
by NJ yself and the Cabinet with all the respect
due to your high position. your long expert
ence. and your unblemshed character, but
they failed 70 convince Us of the necessity ana
propriety, under existing circumstances. Of
adopting such q measure.
Tne Secretaries Of War and of the Navy.
{ rough whom the orders must have iss ned 10
reinforce the forts. did not concur in your
views: aud whilst the whole responsibility for
the refusal rested upon myself they were the
members Of the Cabinet more directly inter.
esed. You may have Judged correctly on this
important question, and your opinion is en-
titled TO grave consideration; but under my
convictions OF duty, and believing as do that
no present necessity exists for q resort to
force for the protection OF the public property.
IL " as impossible for me to have risked col.
iision of arms In the harbor Of Charleston. and
thereby have defeated the reasonable hopes
which i cherish Of the final triumph of the
Constitution and the Unieu. / nave OILY to
add that you will take with You into retire.
ment my heartfelt wishes that the evening Of
your days may be prosperous and happy.
Very respectfully yours.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
The Hon0rable Lescis Cas-.