Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-08
Judge Black and the Late War.

GEN. SCOTS FAILURE TO REINFORCE THE
CHARLESTON FORTS.
correspondent Of the Philadelphia Press
publishes an interview recently held with Judge
Jere. S. Black. at his home, near York Pa. the
subject being the late war. Referring to Mr.
Jefferson Davis History Of the Late War;"
Judge Black said he had always regarded the
eN-confederate chieftain las a singuarly truth
full and just man. but that when he says that
MIR. Buchanan was timid because lie did not give
up the Charleston forts, he "said what was not
only inaccurate but absurd" Judge Black saws
the forts at Charleston ought 10 have been re-
mfOrced Immediately after Lincoln's election
or certainly as soon as it became manifest
that South Carolina wanted possession of them
and he submitted much interesting matter TO
the Press interviewer to sustain the claim
that he (Black). then Secretary of State under
President Buchanan. urged such reinforce
ment. Among the proofs i'm the case is IA letter
written by Judge Black to Gen. Scott. January
10. 1861. which begins by asking Gen. Scott three
questions: First-ls it the duty of the govern
ment to reinforce Major Anderson: SecOnd-If
YES how soon is it necessary that those rein
forcements should be there? Thrd-What Oh
stacies exist to prevent the sending of such
relnforcements at any time when it may be
necessary TO do so: Judge Black then pro-
ceeds TO give his own views as to the necessity
ana Feasibility of reinforcing Sumter and urges
the immediate need of prompt action i'm the
matter. In conclusion he invited an answer
either oral or written. from Gen. Scott The
latter answered that he would call on the Secre-
tary OF State. which he did not do Three
weeks afterwards he met Gen. Scott at din
ner party. when the latter said that upon read
ing Blacks letter The reached the conclusion
that had he devoted himself to the law in his
early life he doubtless would have become fitted
to occupy my position, and my letter had i'm
pressed him with the belief that had been edli-
Gated for the military l would have reached a
position to entitle me to almost any command
and, taking it all in ali. he did not know but
that both of us had missed our vOcatiOns Thus
ended my effort to get Gen. Scott to a record
upon this military feature OF the controversy
then going on" Continuing. Judge Black saws
the proposition to President Buchanan by Mr.
Davis, according to the latters history
to evacuate the forts ''dsgraced the
la1ters character for common sense. -
whist his opinion is that the demand
for the evacuation of Fort Sumter and the
surrender into the hands of South Caro-
lima WAS, take it all and all. the most
hnpudent in the history of the world.
1t is impossible to excuse it on any ground
political. legal. moral Or military. 1t belonged
to the United States-was bought and paid for
by them. They had a full and nntiisputed pro-
prietary right to it. which was not impaired in
the slightest degree by the Sonth Carolina act
OF secession. Yet South Carolina insultinyly
insisted upon its surrender to her, avowedly
with intent to use it for hostile purposes against
Mr. Davis complains that this absurd de-
mand was not acceded to-" Judge Black also
comedies that he wrote the paragraph in the
Presidents message OF January s. 1861. which
caused the withdrawal OfMr. Floyd, of Virginia
from the cabinet.