FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   273   274   275   276   277   278   279   280   281   282   283   284   285   286   287   288   289   290   291   292   293   294   295   296   297  
>>  
the 27th of December, 1860, the day after this movement, from which the following is an extract: I will add as my opinion that many things convinced me that the authorities of the State designed to proceed to a hostile act. Evidently referring to the orders, dated December 11, of the late Secretary of War. Under this impression I could not hesitate that it was my solemn duty to move my command from a fort which we could not probably have held longer than forty-eight or sixty hours to this one, where my power of resistance is increased to a very great degree. It will be recollected that the concluding part of these orders was in the following terms: The smallness of your force will not permit you, perhaps, to occupy more than one of the three forts, but an attack on or attempt to take possession of either one of them will be regarded as an act of hostility, and you may then put your command into either of them which you may deem most proper to increase its power of resistance. You are also authorized to take similar defensive steps whenever you have tangible evidence of a design to proceed to a hostile act. It is said that serious apprehensions are to some extent entertained (in which I do not share) that the peace of this District may be disturbed before the 4th of March next. In any event, it will be my duty to preserve it, and this duty shall be performed. 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 I shall refer to the subject officially. I feel that my duty has been faithfully, though it may be imperfectly, performed, and, whatever the result may be, I shall carry to my grave the consciousness that I at least meant well for my country. JAMES BUCHANAN. WASHINGTON, _January 15, 1861_. _To the Senate of the United States_: In compliance with the resolution of the Senate passed on the 10th instant, requesting me to inform that body, if not incompatible with the public interest, "whether John B. Floyd, whose appointment as Secretary of War was confirmed by the Senate on the 6th of March, 1857, still continues to hold said office, and, if not, when and how said office became vacant; and, further, to inform the Senate how and by whom the duties of said office are now discharged, and, if an appointment of an acting or provisional Secretary of War has been made, how, when, and by what auth
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   273   274   275   276   277   278   279   280   281   282   283   284   285   286   287   288   289   290   291   292   293   294   295   296   297  
>>  



Top keywords:

Senate

 

Secretary

 
office
 

inform

 
performed
 

resistance

 

appointment

 

proceed

 

December

 

hostile


orders

 
command
 

subject

 

officially

 
acting
 
imperfectly
 
discharged
 

duties

 

consciousness

 
result

faithfully
 

conclusion

 

permitted

 

remark

 
preserve
 
warned
 

surround

 

provisional

 

countrymen

 

dangers


instant
 

passed

 

continues

 

resolution

 

requesting

 

confirmed

 

interest

 

public

 

incompatible

 
compliance

States

 
country
 
vacant
 

BUCHANAN

 

United

 
WASHINGTON
 

January

 
longer
 

solemn

 
concluding