The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-09-09

- - - - ~ 49, Y 80 '-F~"~--"+
Considerable surprise and not little
annoyance are manifested b. kcpub-
lican newspapers at the statement II
Judge Bla X. recently maize public. In
reference ~ the attitude 81 c>-lrcSi-
dent Buchanan aud lis Cabinet toward
the secc~s on movement during tbs
period intervening between the meeting
Of Congress Ia December. Is q. and the
ith y; Marrh. 1861. These journals
have been 70 accustomed 10 niSconstrnc
the motives D. the deceased ex-Prcsi-
dent and 20 assidnously engaged IN
msrepreSentIng the views aud actions
oi his Administration in regard 70 the
inclpicnt rebellion that they are as.
founded 10 lind that their distorted and
malignant accounts Of what occurred in
the sessions Of the Cabinet during that
cvontul period are utterly without
foundation in fact Judge Black was
member OF the Buchanan Cabinet dur
ing al that time and Is therefore one Of
the few men yet living. II not the only
one, who is competent historian OF
the views and acts Of the Buchanan Adj
ministration during the last three
months Of its existence. Ex-Governor
Philip Francis Thomas. Of Maryland.
was associated with Judge Black in the
Cabinet a. Secretary OF the Treasury
after the resignation Of Howell Cobb.
and his recollection Of what transpired
in the Cabinet meetings while he was a
member Of the Administration Is also
entitled to belief. He has just added
his testimony to that Of Judge Black
and so far as il goes il corroborates the
statement Of the latter in every partic,
ular.
The marrow Of Judge Blacks state
ment consists in his assertion that he
favored the reinforcement OF Fort Sum-
ter from the beginning. that Floyd. the
Secretary Of War. failed To carry out
the understanding Of the President and
Cabinet 70 that effect, and that after
the reconstruction Of the Cabinet with
Stanton and Holt as members. General
Scott failed to send the necessary rein
forcements. Judge Black was 50 en-
phatic in his expression Of the opinion
that sumter should be reinforced that
during the discussion OF the subject in
Cabinet meeting he declared that
s.there never was time in the history
- tAo -i-t.9A %>~tv.. "nt1 >@o14~s
officer could propose 70 give up tort
capable 81 being defended without
being brought 70 the block. Ex-Goy-
ernor Thomas states that ne was present
when these Impressive words were
spoken. and also declares that Judge
Black used every effort 70 dissuade Jef-
ferson Davis and other secession leaders
from the course they had chosen 70
pursue. 20 lar. therefore, - Judge
Back position on the subject OF ser
cession y IN question, and indeed, 50
lar a. Inc attitude q the bucnanan al
ministrafion toward the proposed rein
forcement 0t Fort sumter y concerned,
the allegations q Judge Back must DC
regarded A. proved.
mat 1eneral scott desired 20 avold
the necessity Of sending re nforeem nts
~ sumter y not ~ aii Incredible nor
a me statement tnst NJ endeavored 70
evaee the responsipi' n tnat regard
- pe taken as ? rencction upon ms
patriotism, when consiucrei ID Inc iignt
q al the circumstances oy winch ne
was surrounded Until me overt act
Of war was committed ~ The Secession
ists 10 hring On sumter there was
strong nope OF ? peacefuI solution 81
the uiincult'es which threatened tne IN
tegrity 81 the Union. a. the very time
when 1eneral scott was expected -
SEND troops 70 Inc reiief q MAJOR An
derson the reace commission was ~
session at washington ana Congress
was Dusty engaged ~ considering the
Cr!ttenden CompromIse a. basis
TOR the settlement q the slavery ques-
ton. II was almost = universal oelIef
then that n war came hnai dissolu-
ton p NE Cnion would certainly ioi.
low. Stephen a. Douglas. n the united
menr when. in the course 81 debate On