The National tribune., 1907-01-10

tional advisers was Gen. Lewis Cass, of
Michigan, the Secretaryoof State. The
Secretary of War was, ,the notorious
John b. Floyd, of Virginia. who. with
the Secretary of the Interior, Jacob
Thompson. of Mississippi, 5was impli-
Gated in the shameful sequestration of
the Indian bonds. The Secretary OF
the Navy, Isaac Touceys was a Con-
necticut "doughface"; the Secretary of
Georgia, later q Major General, c. S.
A. Upon the death of Aaron B. Brown.
of Tennessee, the Postmaster General,
Joseph Holt, of Kentucky. was ap-
pointed his successor, and the Cabinet
gained another loyal man. The noted
jeremiah S. Black, of Pennsylvania, one
of the ablest lawyers of the day, was
Attorney-General. He was a loyal man
at heart, but in the discussions prior
to the outbreak of the war ne so en-
tangled himself in the sophistry of
States Rights" that his influence really
counted for secession. 1t was he prob
ably who was responsible for
Buchanan's declaration that while Sc
cession was wrong, coercion was, if any
thing, more so. The Vice President,
John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky,
professed to be Union man, but that
he was a Secessionist at heart was gen.
orally known, and this had given him
the Presidential nomination of the Pro-
Slavery Democrats. Never was Presi-
dent so "perpleXed In the extreme" as
James Buchanan during the momentous
weeks following the election of Abra-
ham Lincoln as President of the United
States. DESTROYS above all things of
ending his Administration in peace, and
passing into honored retirement with
that which should accompany old
age, as love, obedience,
Troops of friends"
he was at all times willing to go further,
even, than his conscience actually war
ranted, to conciliate. Floyd. Toucey
and Cobb took advantage of this to de-
coy him into giving far greater coun-
tenance to the schemes of the con-
spirators than he really intended to. and
Black, with his fine-spun political
theories. gave him little support Sturdy
old Lewis Cass. who had begun his
career fighting not merely for q State
but for the United States and who was
Secretary of War during the
Notification troubles, became disgusted
at Buchanan's pliancy and resigned. to
be succeeded by Jerry Black, whose
backbone began to stiffen as the con-
grew more arrogant ana eN-
acting. He, Joseph Holt and Edward
NJ. Stanton, who had succeeded Black
as Attorney General, effected such a
of Buchanan's loyalty that
Cobb and Floyd had to retire from the
but Toucey stuck on to the
end, like the fungus on a decayed wall.
Col. Charles p. stones Good Work.
After Dec. 20, 1860, wher Edwin M.
ton at1t Col
Scott found his recon-
listened to with more atten-
ton. Owing to the difficulty of assem-
bling any force of Regulars at the
Capital and the probability that such Il
course might have a prejudicial effect
upon the public temper at that delicate
time, it was determined to see what
could be done with the militia forces
Of the District of Columbia, and by, a
happy thought Lieut.. Charles p Stone,
one Of the, worst abused men, in the his
tory of the war, was called in. Lieut.,
Stone was a Massachusetts man who
had graduated from the Military Acad-
emy in the class of 1845 with bril-
liant standing. He was appointed inl
The Ordnance Bureau, but served a
-erm as Assistant Professor of Geog-
raphy. History and Ethics. at West
Point, and then went to Mexico, where
ne received brevet of First Lieutenant
Tor Molino del Rey and of Captain for
He was Chief of Ord
nance for the Pacific Division when he
in 1856 to become a banker in
San Francisco. Next heswas Chief ofI
he Scientific Commission IN the employ
,f the Mexican Government for the ex-l
of Sonora and Lower Califor-
lia. Lieut.. Stone came to Washington
n the latter part of December, and on
ooking over the ground found that the
I'D militia system had been abandoned,
With the only--armed volunteer organ
cations in the District being one COM
BAY, the Potomac Light Infantry at
Georgetown; the National Rifles, one
company, in Washington; the Washing
on Light Infantry of about 16O,men,
md another small organization called
he National Guard Battalion. inter-t
,iewing the feading men in the Distriet,I
Lieut.. Stone. came to the conclusion
hat two-thirds of the fighting stock of
he District could be relied upon to sas-
ain the Government and defend the |
capital. Jan. 2 the President commits
iioned him Colonel in the Staff and In
of the District of CO.
umbia, and he claimed to be the first
;oldier enlisted for r'the war of the re-
'ellion. He found the Potomac Light |
infantry of Georgetown fairly drilled, |
and as a whole reliable |
or the defense of the Capital. He was
lot so fortunate with the National
Rifles then the crack organization of |
he city. 1t was commanded by Capt. |
who was an outspoken Sc |
and did not mince matters
n saying that he expected his first SER
ice would be to march to the Mary
and line to resist an Invasion from
he North. Schaeffer was constantly |
ecruiting his company, and was able |
o provide each recruit, as soon as he |
with good rifle and 20OI
ounds of cartridges. He had, beside. |
wo mountain howitZers fully equipped |
nd supply of sabers, revolvers and |
Inquiry at the Ordnance
office revealed that Secretary Floyd had
.iven Schaeffer general order for all |
he ordnance and ordnance stores that /
lie might require. Stones first stepI
vas to stop this. and he obtained from
secretary Holt an order on the Chiefl
If Ordnance to issue no arms to any
militia or volunteers except upon a |
equisition countersigned by Stone The
Light Infantry and the
National Guard We're good men, and |
faithful to the Government. |
The ranking officers of the militia were
daj.-Gen. Weightman and Mai
'orce, both loyal men, but quite aged |
md infirm. Brig.-Gens Bacon and |
were young, active and
oyal. but Brig.-Gen. Robert Ould, the |
district Attorney-General, was q Seces- |
ionist, was President Buchana's most
friend, and soon left the city
o receive commission in the Confed- |