National Republican., 1888-02-02

hand before he would eign an order
to send endorsements to the Carolina
forte. Thompson, Secretary Of the Interior,
agreed with him perfectly;n and "the
President consented to suspend his decision
until Gen. Scott could reach Washington
IL was now proposed that Mr.. Trescot call
on the President, and announce his deter.
minatlon to resign, and proceed at once to
Columbia ITO lay the facts before the ex-
ecutive OF South Carolina" should the
determination to re.enforce be insisted on.
~ would be In Columbia, he said,
In thirty six hours, and upon such informa-
ton there could be no earthly doubt that
the forts would be occupied In the follow
Ing twenty -four" before re-enforcements
could reach them. Merely the sending OF
ordinary supplies to Fort Moultrle, he "be::
Fort Sumter in forty. eight hours.h
Under date Of Nov. 10, 1860, ia special
order was Issued by command Of Lieut..
Gen. Scott, directing Maj. Robert Ander-
son, Let artillery, to proceed to Fort
Moultrie and Immediately relieve Brevet
Col. John l.. Gardiner, lieutenant colonel
let artillery, in command thereof" Col.
Gardiner, It appears, had, on the 7th Of
ton-"a matter Of ordinary routine"--
stores, e and 'sa'y to avoid Oh observatory m,iory
1t was thought advisable to put the soldiers
detailed Tor the duty In citizens dress.n
Nevertheless, "the movements Of the men
were watched-information was sent at
once to Charleston" whose authorities pre-
vented the execution OF the order. That
effort OF Col. Gardiner, Gen. Crawford says,
"cost him his position,o but there Is moth
ing to show that even Gen. Scott, through
whom the order for his removal was made,
was advised of its impelling motive; and 1t
lie not at all probable that the President
Tod l. f.,., .l,., o.
Mr.. Trescot was In the secret. The adiutant
general, s. Cooper, was in the interest Of
the secessionists and afterwards filled the
same position under Jefferson Davis. while
Floyd, although still claiming to be uuion
man, ION his arrival at Richmond (our au.
thor states) announced 'that he had, while
Secretary of War, supplied the south with
arms in anticipation Of the approaching re;
bellion'-a confession that he had proved
tieacherous to his former high official trust.
He succeeded. He was taken into favor
and was subsequently appointed to the
rank OF brigadier general in the confederate
army.n
We may add here that on the Goth of
December, without the knowledge or con-
sent Of the President, he ordered to the
forts at Ship Island aud at Galveston-''in
no condition to receive their arm am ents'--
1l3 Columbiads and eleven 3l.pounders
Fortunately, the order was revoked by his
successor, Joseph Holt, before the guns
could be shipped.
on his appointment "Maj. Anderson pro-
ceeded at once to his post, and on the 23d
OF Noyember recommended that Fort Sum-
ter-the key Of entrance to the harbor-
should be garrisoned at once" This was
as quickly communicated to the South
Carolina authorities, for the city was full OF
secession spies, always on the alert, and
there was no possibility OF any movement be-
ing made by the government for protection
against treason without its being immedl.
ately known at Charleston. Col. II. B.
Rhett, ir., prominent and influential citi-
zen OF South Carolina, urged upon the gov
ernor "that large steamer Of the Boston
line should be chartered, 500 rllenen put
on board, and the ship anchored abreast of
the fort tSumter) commanding the entrance
OF the inner harbor."
Instead Of going to the President, as at
first proposed, with notice OF his deter
mination to resign and hasten to Columbia,
should the President determine to re enforce
the garrison at Charleston, 1t was decided
that he should write to Gov. Gist-"tell
him that the President was under very
strong apprehensions that the people
OF Charleston would seize the forts:
that In consequence he felt bound to send
bers Of the Cabinet would resist this policy
to resignation, but they thought that II he
felt authorized to write ltSter assuring
the President that If no reI( iorcemepts
were sent there wGold be no al upt up3 4
the forts before hl1Aeetjngol1 A.E6l
tion," &c. On the Goth OF November, in a
| letter marked "stiictly confidentidl,n he
| proceeds to execute this trust, assuring the
| governor that he wished MIN "dlstinctly to
| understand that there Is no possibility Of
such an order being issued without the dis.
solution OF the Cabinet aid your receiving
ample notice" This, mind, was from the
assistant secretary OF state. The governor
answered Mr.. Trescot November 20: ~
have found great difficulty 10 restraining
the people of Charleston from SELF.
ing the forts, ard have only been able
to restrain them by the assurance that
10 additional troops would be sent to the
| forts, or any munitions OF war; In a let
ter marked ''confidential," Of same date,
Gov. Gist wrote to Mr. Trescot to "ask II
you (he) have any objections, In the event
OF your connection with the federal gov.
ernment ceasiDg, to remain In Washington
and act as confidential agent for this de
psrtment.n lie takes occasion also to re-
mark "If there is any inquiry as to the
course South Carolina will pursue, you
may safely say that she will not permit
any increase of troops or munitions OF war
in the forts or arsena's, and, considering
1t an evidence of intention TO coerce aud
|
1t, and collision must inevitably ensue. "
Gen. Cass's letter of resignation was
handed to the President on the 18th OF
December, "the President (as Mr.. Blu
chanan himself states In bis book, page 1917
having determined not to disturb the
status quo at Charleston as long as our
troops should continue to be Hospitality
treated by the Inhabitants, and remain ia
unmolested possession OF the forts
"Meantime (says Gen. Crawford) dis
patch had arrived from Maj. Anderson
stating that he felt secure In his position
This, in connection with the influence exer
cised by the southern members OF the Cabi
net, induced the President to change his
purpose, and re.enforcements were moi
sent" Maj. Anderson had been Informed
by the adjutant general that 1t WIS "be
lieved from information thought to be re
liable, that an attack will not be made OF
your command. a The increase o
the force under your command, however
much to be desired, would, the Secretary
thinks, judging from recent excitemen
produced on account OF an anticipated In
crease, as mentioned in your letter, bu
add to the excitement, and might lead Il
serious results.n
ON the 9th OF December John Mcqueen
William Porcher Miles, NJ. l.. Bonham, w
W. Boyce, and Lawrence VI. Keitt, mem
bers OF Congress from South Carolina
after conference with the President b.
four Of them, deprecating any attempt a
Ere endorsements, addressed letter to hin
expressing their "strong convictions" tina
the forts would not be either attacked o.
molested "previous to the act Of the cot
vention, and We hope and believe, not unit
an offer has been made through au a.,
credited representative to negotiate for az
amicable arrangement OF all matters be
tween the state aud the federal government
provided that no re.enforcemeRts shall b,
sent into those forts, and their relatIv
military status shall remain as at pres
ent.n The President objected TO tn
word "providcd" in their statement, 'lesi
II he should accept It without remark,
might possibly be construed iuto an agree
ment on his part not to re-euforce the fOrts