The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-10-31
HISTORICAL CORRESPONDENCE.

- IA
November contains startling chapter
of our secret political history, in the
shape of letters written by Edwin M.
Stanton to ex-President James Buch-
anan during the early months of Lin
coins administration. Theletter were
found among Buchanan's private pa
pers after his death. At the time they
were written Stanton was bitterly OPP
posed to Lincoln's administration, al
though few months later, in January,
1862, he became Lincoln's Secretary OF
War. A few extracts from these letters
will show their tendency.
On March IA Mr.. SANTOS writes to
the ex-President
There is no doubt OF Sumter being evacuat-
ed; report SAYS the order is gone, but that
think is doubtful You will have noticed the
resolution introduced yesterday by Mr.. Doug
las in the Senate. That looks like a compre-
hensive platform for relinquishing everything
ia the seeded Staies, and even those who sym
pathize with them. Te me it seems like the
first steps toward strictly Northern non
slave-holdng confederacy.
On April he writes
The first month of the administration seems
to have furnished an ample vindication OF your
policy, and to have rendered all occasion OF
other defense needless.
On April IL he writes:
We have the war upon u.s. The impression
here is held by many: /. That the effort to
reinforce will be failure. 2 That in less than
twenty four hours Anderson will have surren-
dered. 3. That in less than thirty days Davis
will be in possession of Washington.
Again, under date of May IL, Mr..
Stanton writes:
The negotiations carried on by Mr. Seward
with the Confederate CommssiJ ners through
Judge Campbell and Judge Nelson will some
day, perhaps, be brought to light, and, If they
were az has been represented to me, Mr.. Sew
ard and the Lincoln administration will not be
in a position to make sne ering observations re-
speeding any negotiations during your admins
tratlon IL was III reference 70 there that JET
ferson Davis, in his message, spoke with so
much severity. You 10 doubt observed his
allusion to informal negotiations through
person holding high station III the Govern
ment of the United States, and which were
participated in by other persons holding sta
tons equally high. l have understood that
Judge Campbell was the person ALLUDED to,
and that Judge Nelson and perhaps Catron
were the other persons cognizaut OF Mr. Sew
ards ass frances respecting the evacuation OF
Fort Sumter.
Abiding to these negotiations Mr..
Stanton writes on May 10:
Mr.. Stewards silence will not relieve him
from the imputaton of deceit and double
dealing in the minds of many, although l do
not believe il can justly be imputed TO him.
L have no doubt he believed that Sumter would
be evacuated, as he stated it would be. But
tho war party overruled him with Lincoln, and
he was forced to give up, but could not give
up his Office. That Is a sacrifice no Repub-
lican will be apt to make. But this CORE
spondence shows that Mr.. Frederick Seward
was not in the line of truth when he said that
negotiations ceased on the 4th of March. Moth
ing new has transpired here since my first let
ter. / am perfectly convinced that an attack
will be made and battle fought for this city
before long
On June he writes:
have not written to you for some time, be-
cause there was nothing to communicate that
would cheer or crafty you While every
patriot has rejoiced at the enthusiastic spirit
with which the nation has aroused to maintain
its existence and honor, the population and
fraud that Immediately spring up, to prey upon
the volunteers and grasp the public money as
plumber and spoil, have created strong feel
ing of loathing and disgust. And 10 sooner
had the appearance of imminent danger passed
away, and the administration recovered from
its panic than determination became mani
fest to give strict party direction, as far as
possible, to the great national movement At
ter a few Democratic appointments, az Butler
and DIX everything else has been exclusively
devoted to black-Republcan interests. This
has already excited strong reactionary feeling
not only in New York, but in the Western
States. Gen. Dix informs me that he has been
so badly treated by Cameron, and so Disguised
by the general course of the administration,
that he intends Immediately to resign. This
will be followed by withdrawal of financial
confidence and support to a very great extent.
Indeed, the course OF things for the last four
weeks mas been such as to excite distrust in
every department of the Government. The
military movements, or rather inaction, also
excite great apprehension. IL Is believed that
Davis and Beauregard are both in the vicinity
one at Harpers Ferry, the other at Manassas
Gap-and that they can concentrate 1000
troops Our whole force does not exceed A.
000. 1t is also reported that discCrd exists be-
tween the Cabnet and Gen. Scott in respect to
important points of strategy.
Our condition, therefore, seems to be one of
even greater danger than at any former PERIOD
for the consequence of success by the seces-
sionists would be far more extensive and ir-
remediable than If the Capitol had been seized
weeks ago. Ould is reported as having gone
off and joined the secessionists. Harvey, tho
new Minister to Spain, it is discovered, was a.
correspondent with the secessionists and COM
muncated the designs and operations OF the
Government to Judge McGrdth. 1t is supposed
he will be recalled. Cassius Clay has been
playing the fool in London by writing letters to
the Times, which that paper treats with ridi-
cule and contempt The impression here is
support of the British Government will be Civ
en- TO the Southern Confederacy.
Again, on July Is he writes:
Speaking OF the order to the Brooklyn not TO
disembark the forces sent to Pckens, unless
that fort were attacked, you mention it as hav-
ing been made with the entire unanimity of
your Cabinet and the approval of Gen. Scott
That he approved 1t is clearly shown by Mr..
Hollis note to you but our recollection is that
in the Cabinet it was opposed by Judge Black
Gen. DIX and myself l dc not know that there
is now any reason 10 question the wisdom of
the measure. 1t may have saved P.ckens from
immediate attack at that time; and / have un-
derstood that Gen. Scott says that Pickens
could not have been successfully defended if
il had then been attacked, and that he speaks
OF this az blunder OF the Confederates. In
this view, the wisdom of the measure is fully
indicated, and at the time it was supported by
the Secretary of War and Secretary OF the Ma
Wy, TO whose departments the subject apper-
tanned. So far, however, a. your adminstra-
ton is concerned, its policy in reference to
both Sumter and Picke us is fully INDICATED
by the course of the present administration for
forty days after the inauguration of Lincoln.
No use was made Of the means that had been
prepared for reinforcing Sumter Rapubli-
can Senator informed me, short time ago.
that Gen. Scott personally urged him to con-
sent TO the evacuation of both Sumter and Pick
ems; and it is a fact of general notoriety, pub
lshed in all the papers at the time and never
Al -