The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-11

also surrendered to them. Scores OF vol
nntecr companies fastened to Charleston
and telecraphic offers of aid came every
hour. On the following day the South lar,
dina Commissioner at Washington walted
upon the President to demand a restoration
Of the military status at Charleston IN accor-
dance with the agreement two week LIc-
vious. Mr.. Buchanan replied that MAJ.
Anderson had acted on his own responslblli-
*: but when urged to order his return 70
Moultrie, the willy old Pennsylvania resorteo
to his usual temporizlng and equlvoca'lhs
tactics. He would consult his cabinet, he
had no doubt all could be arranged mean
while the commissioners address Jill ~
writing. and in milder phraseology. De-
ce;ved hv these specious hints, the commits
sion. headed by JAS. L. Orr. "a moderate
man hurried away to moderate the language
of their demand, which was thereupon
formally transmitted to the White House;
The same afternoon it was returned, marked
on the back-"The President declines to
receive" The commissioners, naturally IN
dienant. took the evening train tor Charles
ton. and all negotiations came to an enc.
The arsenal was at once seized, Whlle ehSl-
neers were despatched to erect batteries on
Morris Island, commanding the approaches
to Sumpter. 1t may be noted as a curious
Incl, ent that $50 free negroes volunteered
to throw up these Notifications.
A MUCH-ABUSED IAN.
4 stormy cabinet meeting, wherein Mr..
Buchanan refused to take any decisive &C
ton. either for the return of Anderson, or
his reinforcement, resulted IN the angry
resignation of John B. Floyd, Secretary OF
War. 4 great deal of senselcss abuse has
been heaped upon the head OF the Virginia
Secretary by Northern historians who, we
believe without exception, charge HIM with
plotting treason in the cabinet, scattering
the army, and disarming the North to arm
the Rebels. Even the French and German
writer's repeat the stale lie. Yet the very
fact of his resignation should acquit him OF
the one charge, as the official records do OF
the other. Had he remained In the cabinet,
he might have been of invaluable service to
the South up to the 18th of March. But
instead of assisting his own section, he al
lowed the outbreak of hOstilities to find the
South without even her full share of arms.
The whole story ought to have been put at
rest by the official reports of Republican
committees, appointed by a Republican
House of Representatives, in January and
February, 1861, which brought out the fol-
lowing facts lst, that the regular army mum
bering only about 10, 900 mem had been on the
Western frontier for a dozen years past, and
and were held there by continual warfare
with the Indians. End, that Gen. Twiggs
had not been placed in command in Texas to
betray the army but had held that Post
many years when war was not thought of.
Sd, That while every Northern fort was
bristling with guns, the Southern forts were
in all respects. Fort Sumpter
only half armed; the new forts at Ship
Island and Galveston had never received a
gun. 4th, That during the two months fol-
John Browns Raid in 1859.
while the Democrats held the government.
aud expected to hold it for years to GOMEZ.
Secretary Floyd ordered rs, 900 old, flint
lock, and percussion cap, altered), smooth
bore muskets to be distributed among the
Southern arsenals; lO5, 900 being taken from
armory, which was SO packed
that 1894, 554 stand of arms remained after |
the former were removed. Thus fully three |
OF the National arms were left in |
Northern airs mails Again. in 1860. before |
Llncolns election. 10, ISL rifles and muskcts
were lssuei under a law arming the militia.
Of his number the South was awarded
S,S49, or only about one fourth and as the
Gulf-States seeded early in January: 81
they failed to receive their share of even this !
allowance!
Truly as Mr.. Buchanan declares in b;s
pamphlet published after the war.-s.It IS
to what extent public prejudice NAV
'redttn .tutsehoOd, not only with0w t1un60-
,o", INT "Joinst the ~clcarest official evi-
ITO BE C~ONTTNUED.)
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