PRESIDENT BUCHANAN'S MESSAGE.

45

But the right and the duty to use military ficence of nature and Providence in the force defensively against those who resist threatened destruction of the governthe Federal officers in the execution of ment. "The calamity," said he, "would their legal functions, and against those be severe in every portion of the Union, who assail the property of the Federal and would be quite as great, to say the Government, is clear and undeniable." least, in the Southern as in the Northern Recognizing the magnitude of the evils States;" adding,-what was of the utwhich threatened the state-for "the most value as the testimony of an unfact," said he, "cannot be disguised that questionable witness in the case about to we are in the midst of a great revolu- be submitted to the judgment of the tion"-he appealed to Congress, and world-"The greatest aggravation of the cast the entire responsibility of action evil is, as I am firmly convinced, that upon that body. "The Union," was his the secession movement has been chiefly language in words worthy of the occa- based upon a misapprehension at the ion, and the sentiment, though familiar, South of the sentiments of the majority cannot be too often repeated, "is a sa- in several of the Northern States." He cred trust, left by our revolutionary urged peaceful but decided action, and fathers to their descendants; and never advised that the questions at issue should did any other people inherit so rich a be "transferred from political assemblies legacy. It has rendered us prosperous to the ballot box," that the people themin peace and triumphant in war. The selves might redress the grievances which national flag has floated in glory over the South had suffered. "I appeal through every sea. | Under its shadow American you," he said to Congress, "to the peocitizens have found protection and respect in all lands beneath the sun. If we descend to considerations of purely material interest, when, in the history of all time, has a confederacy been bound together by such strong ties of mutual interest? Each portion of it is dependent on all, and all upon each portion, for prosperity and domestic security. Free trade throughout the whole supplies the wants of one portion from the productions of another, and scatters wealth everywhere. The great planting and farming States require the aid of the commercial and navigating States, to send their productions to domestic and foreign markets, and to furnish the naval power to render their transportation secure against all hostile attacks."

ple of the country to declare in their might that the Union must and shall be preserved by all constitutional means. In furtherance of this end, he recommended the compromise line which had been proposed, as though, perhaps, not entirely satisfactory, yet to be preferred by "the patriotism of Congress to the destruction of the Union. After vindicating the action of Major Anderson in transferring his command from Moultrie to Sumter, and promising to preserve peace in the District of Columbia, concerning which there was now a growing uneasiness, he said: "In conclusion, it may be permitted to me to remark, that I have often warned my countrymen of the dangers which now surround us. This may be the last time He turns, then, to the disappointment I shall refer to the subject officially. I of these obvious provisions of the bene-feel that my duty has been faithfully,

though it may be imperfectly, performed; a red Palmetto flag flying, opened fire and, whatever the result may be, I shall upon us at the distance of about fivecarry to my grave the consciousness that eighths of a mile. We had the Ameri I at least meant well for my country." can flag flying at our flagstaff at the time, With the infusion of new life into the and soon after the first shot, hoisted a departments, the Government exhibited large American ensign at the fore. We some signs of action, but it was altogether continued on under the fire of the battoo feeble and uncertain to arrest, in any tery for over ten minutes, several of the considerable degree, the strong tide of shots going clear over us. One shot just rebellion which was now setting in at the passed clear of the pilot house, another South. An effort was made, though passed betwen the smoke stack and walkquite inadequate to the purpose in view, ing beam of the engine, another struck to reinforce and provision Fort Sumter. the ship just abaft the fore-rigging and The commercial steamer Star of the stove in the planking, while another came West was prepared at New York, and within an ace of carrying away the rudon the night of the 5th of January, load- der. At the same time there was a ed with supplies, and with a picked body movement of two steamers from near of two hundred United States troops on Fort Moultrie, one of them towing a board, left the harbor for Charleston. schooner, (I presume an armed schooner,) The preparations were made with secrecy, with the intention of cutting us off. Our Jut not with such privacy as to prevent position now became rather critical, as some friend of the South sending news we had to approach Fort Moultrie to of the movement in advance by the tele- within three-quarters of a mile before graph, which was then uninterrupted, to we could keep away for Fort Sumter. her place of destination. When the ves- A steamer approaching us with an armed sel arrived off the port, early on the schooner in tow, and the battery on the morning of the 9th, she found a steamer island firing at us all the time, and havready to signal her appearance. "The ing no cannon to defend ourselves from soldiers,” to continue the narrative in the the attack of the vessels, we concluded words of the official report of the cap- that to avoid certain capture or destructain of the steamer, John McGowan, tion, we would endeavor to get to sea. "were now all put below, and no one Consequently we wore round and steered allowed on deck except our own crew. down the channel, the battery firing upAs soon as there was light enough to see, on us until the shot fell short."* we crossed the bar, and proceeded on up the channel, (the outer bar buoy having been taken away,) the steamer ahead of us sending off rockets and burning lights until after broad daylight, continuing on her course up nearly two miles ahead of us. When we arrived about two miles from Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter being about the same distance, a masked battery on Morris Island, where there was

Major Anderson, in consequence of the espionage upon his movements by the authorities at Charleston, was not allowed a knowledge of the sailing of the steamer. As she approached, however, beset by the batteries of the harbor, her purpose to render him assistance became evident, and he was prepared to second

* Captain McGowan to M. O. Roberts, Star of the West New York, January 12, 1861.

RESIGNATIONS FROM THE CABINET.

47

her alvance by opening fire upon the was attended by further withdrawals assailants, when she was driven back. from the Cabinet of members whose His interpretation of the act was shown Southern sympathies or political scruin a letter which he immediately ad- ples would not permit them to acquiesce dressed to Governor Pickens, asking if in this exercise of authority. Mr. Jacob the firing of the batteries "upon an un- Thompson, of Mississippi, the Secretary armed vessel bearing the flag of my Gov- of the Interior, resigned on the 8th of ernment," was authorized, and notifying January, while the Star of the West was the Governor, that if it were not dis- yet on her way, and three days after, claimed "he must regard it as an act of when ner mission had proved unsuccesswar, and that he should not, after a rea-ful, Mr. Thomas abandoned his post as sonable time for the return of his mes- Secretary of the Treasury. Greatly to senger, permit any vessel to pass within range of the guns of his fort."* To this menace, Governor Pickens replied with assertions of the Independence of South Carolina, an interpretation of the visit of the Star of the West, as evidence of a desire to coerce the State by the armed forces of the United States, and his consequent approval of the firing from the batteries. "The act," he wrote, "is perfectly justified by me. In regard to your threat in regard to vessels in the harbor, | it is only necessary to say, that you must judge of your responsibility. Your position in this harbor has been tolerated by the authorities of the State; and while the act of which you complain is in perfect consistency with the rights and duties of the States, it is not perceived how far the conduct which you propose to adopt, can find a parallel in the history of any country, or be reconciled with any other purpose of your Governof your Government, than that of imposing upon this State the condition of a conquered province."*

the satisfaction of the mercantile and financial classes, the place of the latter was occupied by the Hon. John A. Dix, of New York. This spirited citizen, a member of the Democratic party, who had made every exertion to maintain the revolted States in the Union, entered vigorously on the work of repairing the disasters which had been incurred, or at least, of preserving what could be maintained of the rights of the nation. The entire property of the Union at the South was being pillaged or destroyed. The commercial, no less than the military operations, were suspended by the occu pation of harbors, the plundering of custom houses, the desertion of their officers and the seizure of the public vessels. Two revenue cutters at New Orleans and Mobile, which were in especial danger, it was thought, if vigilantly looked after, might yet be preserved. On the 19th of January, four days after Secretary Dix took charge of his Department, he sent Mr. William Hemphill Jones, Chief Clerk in the First Comptroller's Office, to save this property. Arriving at New Orleans, this officer, according to his instructions, ordered Captain BreshWood, in command of the cutter Robert McClelland, to proceed with her to New York; to which the summary answer was

jury and defiance on the part of the South Carolinians.

In spite of the deliberate avowal by Governor Pickens of the firing on the Star of the West, Major Anderson, from humane and kindly motives, with the hope of the so long-deferred interposition of peaceful counsels, still hesitated, unwilling to assume the responsibility which his judgment dictated, and pursue the course which he had marked out for himself. Resolving to seek further instruction from the Government, he asked and obtained from Governor Pickens his consent to the passage of Lieutenant Talbot, an officer of the garrison, on the errand. The messenger was permitted to depart, and only two days afterward, before he could return, on the 11th of January, a formal application was made by Governor Pickens to Major Anderson for the surrender of the fort. This, of course, he refused, but again expressed his desire to refer the matter to Washington. Governor Pickens, in consequence, im

returned, "I refuse to obey the order." Upon this, Jones telegraphed to Secretary Dix for further instructions. The answer sent by telegraph, ordered the arrest of Breshwood, with this pithy injunction :-"If any one attempts to haui down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." The message did not at once reach its destination; it was intercepted at the telegraph offices of the South, and was too late to oe put in execution. But it did not fail in another direction. It was accepted as the first energetic utterance 1 the powers of government, and was echoed by thousands of tongues, glad to give voice to one burst of indignant feeling at the gross and repeated insults to the national ensign. The few emphatic words were not forgotten by the public. They helped to make Secretary Dix, Major-General of the United States armies. The people wanted a watchword, and in the midst of the prevailing despondency, were thankful that it proceeded from a high officer of the Government. The deliberate act of hostility and as-mediately deputed the Hon. J. W sault upon the national flag, in the attack Hayne, Attorney-General of the State, upon the Star of the West, strange to to proceed to the National Capital as the say, was attended with no immediate bearer of a letter to the President, in important consequences, though it no which he renewed the demand for the doubt had its influence in bringing the surrender. "The demand," was its lanpublic mind toward the conclusion, that guage, "I have made of Major Anderson the rebellion was something more than a and which I now make of you, is sugwordy altercation to be settled at leisure gested because of my earnest desire to by conventions, resolutions, and debates. avoid the bloodshed which a persistance The Administration, indeed, and the peo-in your attempt to retain the possession ple of the North generally, were reluctant to accept any other than a peaceful interpretation of whatever might occur. Had they not been indisposed to admit an unfriendly conclusion, the assault on the Star of the West would in its effects have anticipated that on Sumter. Certainly, nothing was wanting in it of in- 1861.

of that fort will cause, and which will be unavailing to secure you that possession, but induce a calamity most deeply to be deplored."* An interval of about three weeks occurred after Colonel Hayne's arrival in Washington, while an effort

* Governor Pickens to President Buchanan, January 11,