membrance of your kindness, and that of Miss Lane, will always be among my brightest retrospections. Nothing would afford me so much gratification as to be able to do something in return for your contributions to my happiness and comfort. With my kind regards to her, I am, dear sir, Sincerely and faithfully yours, JOHN A. DIX. FROM MR. STANTON.1 WASHINGTON, March 14, 1861. DEAR SIR: Your favor was received last evening. I shall take care of it so that when required it may be returned. There is no doubt of Sumter being evacuated. Reports say the order has gone, but that, I think, is doubtful. You will have noticed the resolution introduced yesterday by Mr. Douglas in the Senate. That looks like a comprehensive platform for relinquishing everything in the seceded States and even those that sympathize with them. To me it seems like the first step towards a strictly Northern non-slaveholding confederacy. In the last two days nothing has occurred here to my knowledge but what you will see in the newspapers. There has been no further action in respect to the Supreme Judgeship. It is generally understood that Crittenden will not be nominated. Judge Campbell has reconsidered his resignation, and will not resign immediately. The Court adjourns to-day. I am now writing in the Supreme Court room. If the Court ever reassembles, there will be considerable change in its organization. Judge Grier went home sick two days ago. Judge McLean is reported to be quite ill. Lincoln will probably (if his administration continues four years) make a change that will affect the constitutional doctrines of the Court. The pressure for office continues unabated. Every department is overrun and by the time that all the patronage is distributed the Republican party will be dissolved. I hope that peace and tranquillity, with cessation from your intense labors, will long preserve you in health & happiness. Yours truly, EDWIN M. STANTON. P. S. The Supreme Court have just decided Mrs. Gaines' case in her favor-four judges to three, the Chief Justice, Grier, and Catron dissenting. They have also decided that the Federal Government has no power to coerce the Governor of a State to return a fugitive from justice, although it is his duty to comply with the demand. Yrs. &c. E. M. S. 1 Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 534. FROM MR. STANTON.1 WASHINGTON, March 16, 1861. DEAR SIR: Notwithstanding what has been said in the papers and the universal reports here during the last week, the order for the removal of the troops from Sumter has not, as I am assured, yet been given. Yesterday it was still under debate. Every day affords proof of the absence of any settled policy, or harmonious concert of action, in the administration. Seward, Bates, & Cameron form one wing, Chase, Miller, Blair, the opposite wing. Smith is on both sides, and Lincoln sometimes on one, sometimes on the other. There has been agreement in nothing. Lincoln, it is complained in the streets, has undertaken to distribute the whole patronage small & great, leaving nothing to the Chiefs of Departments. Growls about Scott's "imbecility" are growing frequent. The Republicans are beginning to think that a monstrous blunder was made in the tariff bill; and that it will cut off the trade of New York, build up New Orleans and the Southern ports, and leave the Government no revenue they see before them the prospect of soon being without money and without credit. But with all this, it is certain that Anderson will be withdrawn. I do not believe there will be much further effort to assail you. Mr. Sumner told me yesterday that Scott's proposed order was based upon purely military reasons and the limited military resources of the Government. The embarrassments that surrounded you they now feel; and whatever may be said against you must recoil as an argument against them. And in giving reasons for their action, they must exhibit the facts that controlled you in respect to Sumter. Mr. Holt has gone to New York. I have not seen him. When he called on me I happened to be from home & when I called he was absent. Judge Black is here, & I suppose intends to remain for some time. He is staying at Harrison's. I hope to be able to procure a copy of Mr. Holt's letter and General Scott's comments next week, and I intend to call and see the General & have a talk with him. With sincere regard, I remain yours truly, HIS EX. JAMES BUCHANAN. EDWIN M. STANTON. 'Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 534. DEAR SIR: FROM MR. STANTON.1 WASHINGTON, 16 March, 1861. Yours of yesterday was received this morning and its arrival telegraphed. I do not think there will be any serious effort to assail your administration in respect to Fort Sumter. That would imply a coercive policy on their part, and hostility to your pacific measures. The tendency of General Scott's remarks was rather to impute blame to Mr. Toucey than to any one else; and as Mr. Holt & the General concurred in everything done or omitted, their concurrence will defend you. I will procure the papers you desire, & forward them, and will also make you a visit as soon as the illness of my child will suffer me to leave home. In the meantime, I shall write to you often and apprise you of what is going on. Yours truly, TO MR. HOLT.2 EDWIN M. STANTON. WHEATLAND 16 March 1861. MY DEAR SIR I have received yours of the 14th Instant and it has afforded me much gratification. The rumors to which I referred were that you had said Fort Sumter could and would have been reinforced thirty days before the end of my administration, but I had prevented, &c. &c. &c. Both Judge Black and Mr. Stanton have written me that Mr. Seward had shewn them written comments on your note to Mr. Lincoln accompanying Major Anderson's Despatches. If their memory be correct, the General has placed himself in an awkward position, as papers in my possession will prove as well as your letter concerning Thompson. I wish you could occasionally see the members of the old Cabinet and converse with them. I have never swerved to the right or to the left from the policy enunciated in my last annual Message. Soon after I 1 Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 535. Holt Papers, Library of Congress. learned that the Collector at Charleston had resigned, I nominated a successor; but no action was taken upon the nomination. Intensely anxious that no collision should occur at Charleston which might precipitate the Country into Civil War, I was yet ever ready and willing to send reinforcements to Major Anderson had he requested them. Indeed I did this without his request, on the suggestion of General Scott at what was deemed a critical moment. The Star of the West was only happy in one respect, and that is that she was not sunk and no blood was shed. Then came the peace Convention and the earnest appeal of the Legislature of Virginia to me and to the authorities of the Seceding States "to agree to abstain, pending the proceedings contemplated by the action of the General Assembly, from any and all acts calculated to produce a collision of arms between the States and the Government of the United States." This agreement I refused peremptorily to enter into; notwithstanding Mr. Tyler said, in his report to the Governor of Virginia, "that her efforts to reconstruct or to preserve depended for their success on her being permitted to conduct them undisturbed by outside collision." "He (I) replied that he (I) had in no manner changed his views as presented in his annual Message, & that he could give no pledges; that it was his duty to enforce the laws, and the whole power rested with Congress." In truth, at all times and under all circumstances and to all persons I kept myself entirely free to reinforce Major Anderson whenever the exigency might require. In your letters to Col: Hayne of the 26 January and 6 February you tell him explicitly that "At the present moment it is not deemed necessary to reinforce Major Anderson because he makes no such request and feels quite secure in his position. Should his safety, however, require reinforcements, every effort will be made to supply them." In your letter of the 6 Feb: you are still more explicit on this subject. General Scott, to my knowledge, never submitted any plan on paper for the reinforcement of Fort Sumter. Indeed, he told me at a late period that he had never read Major Anderson's Despatches; and I advised him by all means to do so. His note to me on Sunday the 30th December to send the 250 recruits from New York, which resulted in the expedition of the Star of the West, is a curiosity, which I shall preserve, both for defence and as a memento. The expedition prepared at New York under his auspices to be ready in case of emergency I know little of in detail. Of course it was blown up by Major Anderson's Despatches received on the 4th March. I would thank you to send me a copy of your communication to President Lincoln of the 5th March. We are living here in peace and quiet, where we should be most happy to see you. I have no trouble except that I may be called upon to defend myself against an assault from General Scott and Mr. Lincoln's administration. I am glad with all my heart that its policy seems to be pacific; because I believe that no other policy can preserve and restore the Union. Mr. Lincoln may now make an enviable name for himself and perhaps restore the Union. Miss Lane desires to be kindly remembered to you. From your friend very respect fully HON: JOSEPH HOLT. JAMES BUCHANAN. P. S. I find among my papers the enclosed copy of a letter from Gov: Pickens to Major Anderson of the 11th Jan: together with the Major's answer of the same date; and also Major Anderson's letter of the 12th June. They belong to the War Department, and ought to be returned there. They have been long since published. I do not know how they came into my possession. MY DEAR SIR: TO GENERAL DIX.1 WASHINGTON, March 18, 1861. Many thanks for your kind letter of the 14th instant. I shall ever recollect with pleasure and satisfaction your brief sojourn with us at the White House, and with gratitude the able and successful manner in which you performed the duties of your arduous and responsible office. 'Curtis's Buchanan, II. 535. |