The National Intelligences has published a memorandum which General Scott,
the veteran Commander-in-chief of the United States army, wrote on the 29th of October last. The following extract pos- sesses an almost prophetic character- " From a knowledge of our Southern population, it is my solemn con- viction that there is some danger of an early act of rashness preliminary to secession, viz., I the seizure of some or all of the following posts—Forts Jackson and St. Philip, in the Mississippi, below New Orleans, both with- out garrisons ; Fort Morgan, below Mobile, without a garrison ; Forts Pickens and M'Ree, Pensacola harbour, with an insufficient garrison for one; Fort Pulaski, below Savannah, without a garrison ; Forts Moultrie and Sumter, Charleston harbour, the former with an insufficient garrison, and the latter without any; and Fort Monroe, Hampton Roads, without a sufficient garrison. In my opinion, all these works should be immediately so garrisoned, as to make any attempt to take any one of them by surprise or coup de main ridiculous.
"With the army faithful to its allegiance, and the navy probably equally so, and with a Federal Executive for the next twelve months of firmness and moderation, which the country has a right to expect—moderation being an element of power not less than firmness—there is good reason to hope that the danger of secession may be made to pass away without one conflict of arms, one execution, or one arrest for treason."
Had Mr. Buchanan taken the advice of men like General Scott and General; Wool, he would have been saved from the humiliating position in which he is now placed, and might have stayed secession.
Previous page
