TO MR. WHARTON, December 16....

Discouraging outlook as to secession-Possible remedy-"I consider secession to

be revolution."

66

MEMORANDUM, December 17....

67

General Cass's desire to withdraw his resignation.

FROM MR. WOODBURY, December 17..

67

Approves Buchanan's course in regard to the situation at Charleston.

68

To GOVERNOR PICKENS, December 18.....

Sending of Caleb Cushing to South Carolina-Effort to prevent contemplated

secession.

To MR. BENNETT, December 20.....

Missouri Compromise and proposed constitutional amendment-False reports in the

press-Mr. Buchanan's health and habits-Attitude of New York merchants.

MEMORANDUM, December 20....

69

70

Governor Pickens's letter demanding the surrender of Fort Sumter-Steps to have
letter withdrawn.

DRAFT OF AN ANSWER TO GOVERNOR PICKENS' DEMAND FOR THE SURRENDER

OF FORT SUMTER, December 20.

71

.....

Refuses demand-Attack on any of the United States forts would be war.

MEMORANDUM, December 21...

Withdrawal of Governor Pickens's letter.

To MR. PHELPS, December 22......

73

Crittenden resolutions-Panic in New York over the political situation.

76

15

Proposed letter respecting Fort Sumter.

.....

FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSIONERS, December 28..........

Secession of South Carolina-Copy of ordinance-Full powers to treat as to delivery

of forts, apportionment of public debt, and other matters.

TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSIONERS, December 31..

Refuses to meet them except as private gentlemen-Congress alone competent to

deal with questions presented-Question as to forts at Charleston-Position in

interview with agents of South Carolina, Dec. 10, reaffirmed-Instructions to

Major Anderson-Editorial note, and letters of the Hon. J. Holt.

79

1861.

MESSAGE ON A TREATY WITH VENEZUELA, January 2.....

Resignation as Secretary of the Interior-Expedition of Star of the West.

To MR. THOMPSON, January 9.

100

Accepts resignation-Reinforcement of Fort Sumter.

FROM THE VIRGINIA SENATORS, January 9.

Inquiry as to alleged removal of arms and munitions from arsenals and as to rein-

forcement of forts in Virginia.

FROM MR. THOMPSON, January 10...........

Reply to the President's acceptance of his resignation-Comments on the order to

reinforce Fort Sumter.

TO MESSRS. MASON AND HUNTER, January 10......

No arms removed from arsenals in Virginia, nor reinforcements sent except to

Harper's Ferry-Orders to the Brooklyn and the Star of the West.

102

102

103

TO MR. THOMPSON, January II...

104

Regrets at separation.

FROM MR. THOMAS, January 11..

105

Resignation as Secretary of the Treasury-Inability to concur in measures adopted

as to South Carolina.

To MR. HOLT, January 12....

105

Invites him to meet the Secretary of the Navy and General Scott in conference.

To MR. THOMAS, January 12.....

106

Accepts his resignation.

106

109

MESSAGE ON The Resignation of MR. FLOYD, January 15.

MEMORANDUM OF A CONVERSATION, January 16.......

Informed Senator Clay of Alabama that under no circumstances would troops be

withdrawn from Fort Sumter--Situation of Major Anderson-Efforts to avoid

a collision.

To MR. HOLT, January 22.

Commissions for military officers.

MESSAGE ON THE ISTHMUS OF CHIRIQUI, January 22.........

MESSAGE ON FOREIGN VESSELS AT CHARLESTON, January 24.

III

112

112

Call of Messrs. Tyler and Bigler-Prepares message on Virginia peace resolutions.

VETO MESSAGE ON A BILL FOR THE RELIEF OF HOCKADAY & LEGGITT,

January 25....

114

MESSAGE ON THE VIRGINIA PEACE RESOLUTIONS, January 28..

116

FROM EX-PRESIDENT TYLER, January 28.....

120

Satisfaction with message-Despatch of the Brooklyn-Reported mounting of

cannon on the land side of Fortress Monroe.

Assumes responsibility for order of Secretary of War removing Beauregard from

West Point.

MESSAGE ON A CONVENTION WITH VENEZUELA, January 30....

122

MESSAGE ON THE KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS, February 5..

MESSAGE ON FORT SUMTER, February 8.

MEMORANDUM, February 8...

Interview with ex-President Tyler-Colonel Hayne and Mr. Holt-Refuses to

promise not to reinforce Fort Sumter.

TO MR. HOLT, February II.

List of cadets.

144

PROCLAMATION CALLING AN EXTRA SESSION OF THE SENATE, February II 144

MESSAGE ON CLAIMS AGAINST PARAGUAY, February 12.....

MESSAGE ON THE SAN JUAN WATER BOUNDARY, February 21.

To EX-PRESIDENT TYLER, February 22.

Presence of Federal troops in the procession on Washington's Birthday.

MESSAGE ON AVES ISLAND, February 23......

145

148

150

150

MESSAGE ON A TREATY WITH THE DELAWARE INDIANS, February 23..

MESSAGE ON The Seizure of THE NEW ORLEANS MINT, February 23...

MESSAGE ON ANDERSON'S EXTRADITION, February 26...

MESSAGE ON TROOPS IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, March 1.

MESSAGE ON A TREATY WITH COSTA RICA, March 2....

151

151

152

. 152

155

156

MEMORANDUM, March 4-9........

Despatches from Major Anderson-Question of reinforcing Fort Sumter-Letter of

Mr. Holt to President Lincoln,

MR. BUCHANAN'S RETURN TO WHEATLAND, March 4-6..

FROM MR. STANTON, March 10.

Political incidents at Washington-Errors of General Scott as to the reinforcement

of Fort Sumter-Whereabouts of members of the late Cabinet-Scramble for

office.

Thanks for support-General success of the late administration.

FROM MR. STANTON, March 12............

.... 166

Political situation-Growth of secession feeling in Virginia-Course of Douglas.

FROM MR. HOLT, March 14...

Loyalty to Mr. Buchanan-Calumnies in the Northern press-Policy of the new

administration.

FROM GENERAL DIX, March 14......

168

Major Anderson-Excitement as to Fort Sumter-Six happy weeks in Buchanan's

Cabinet.

FROM MR. STANTON, March 14....

169

Belief that Sumter will be evacuated-Situation in the Supreme Court.

FROM MR. STANTON, March 16....

170

Absence of any settled policy at Washington-The tariff-Belief that Major Anderson

will be withdrawn.

Fort Sumter-Situation in Kentucky-Probable recognition of the Confederacy

General Scott's "Views"-Armed collision expected soon-Rumored attack on

Fort Sumter.

FROM MR. STANTON, April II......

179

Case of General Twiggs-Military activity-Want of confidence in the administra-

Case of General Twiggs-The war, and the policy of the late administration-War

begun by the South will be sustained by the North.

FROM GENERAL DIX, April 24....

181

184

Request for permission to use declaration in foregoing letter in favor of sustaining

the war.

TO GENERAL DIX, April 25...

184

Approves General Dix's remarks at a Union meeting-Request in preceding letter of

Seward's negotiations with Confederate Commissioners-Baltimore riot-Military

TO MR. HOLT, May 21..

.....

194

Convalescence-Purpose to prepare an authentic statement of the events of the late

Proposals for a biography of Mr. Buchanan-Comments on certain phases.

FROM MR. STANTON, June 8..

203

Political situation-Partisan acts-Military inaction.

FROM MR. STANTON, June 12.

204

Army appointments-Military reverses-Dissatisfaction of General Dix.

Vindication of late administration-General Scott's "Views"-Reasons why troops
were not sent to Southern forts.

To MR. KING, July 13.

209

Assault on Fort Sumter.

FROM MR. STANTON, July 16......

210

Delay advisable in publication of the "historical sketch" of the late administration-
Course as to Southern forts already vindicated.

Military disaster-The "imbecility" of the administration-Washington unguarded

-General Dix.

FROM MR. TOUCEY, July 31.

214

.....

Military and naval forces and their disposition prior to March 4, 1861.

The Civil War-Causes and effects-Relations with England-Declaration of Paris.

TO DR. BLAKE, September 12.

219

Arrestation of Floyd's order for transfer of arms-Prosecution of the war-General

Twiggs.

To MR. KING, September 18......

220

Holt-Thompson correspondence-Attitude of Southern leaders-Inaction of Senate
on nomination of a collector of the port at Charleston-Removal of Beauregard
from West Point-Duty to prosecute the war.

TO A COMMITTEE of the Citizens of Chester and Lancaster Counties,

September 28......

Letter to a Union meeting-Duty to support the President in prosecuting the war.

222