CHAPTER X THE NATIONAL DEFENSE THE HE conspirators had good reason to sound the note of alarm and show symptoms of dismay at the beginning of the Cabinet régime on December 31, 1860. Henceforth the sway they had exercised over President Buchanan would be to a great extent lost to them. Hitherto, not alone in shaping a policy of non-coercion, and preventing reënforcements, but in numerous minor matters as well, the complicity of Cobb, Floyd, and Thompson had enabled them to turn the varied agencies of the Government against its own life; while active caucuses to inaugurate rebellion had been going on in at least three of the executive departments at Washington. Floyd, especially, lost no opportunity to favor the conspirators. He sold the Virginia Board of Army Commissioners 5000 muskets; delivered 10,000 others from the Watervliet arsenal, New York, to an agent of South Carolina; and still 5000 others from the Baton Rouge arsenal to the Governor of Alabama. He ordered advanced quotas of arms to a number of Southern States. He sent a Government inspector to inspect a purchase of arms for the Governor of Mississippi. He CHAP. X. СНАР. Х. allowed Virginia to have a model musket made at While Floyd, openly professing loyalty, was thus covertly playing into the hands of secession, his two colleagues were similarly busy. Thompson deemed it consistent with his government duties to go personally to Raleigh as a commissioner of the State of Mississippi to induce the State of North Carolina to secede, and a few days later to publish an open letter in the same behalf. Cobb had likewise employed his official time in writing a six-column secession address, finished and dated two days before his resignation, and printed a few days after. Under the new dispensation these practices instantly came to an end. For the moment Mr. Buchanan was in a patriotic mood, and, under the urgent solicitations of Black, Holt, and Stanton, yielded consent to a number of measures he had for two months obstinately resisted. For the first time since his arrival in Washington, General Scott was permitted to notify commanders of forts and garrisons to be on the alert against surprise; and though this admonition came too late to inspirit and reassure many a wavering officer, it had the direct effect of saving one of the most important military posts in the Gulf. Reënforcements were resolved upon. The policy of defending the national capital was, on Holt's proposal, discussed and adopted. At least one member of the Cabinet placed himself in confidential communication with the leading Republicans and Unionists in Congress, and counsel and warning in behalf of the Government were freely interchanged and faithfully observed. Secessionists began to leave the departments, and conspirators no longer exclusively patrolled the corridors and antechambers of the Executive Mansion. Loyal men might again grasp the President's hand, and by cheering words nerve his feeble courage and despairing faith. VOL. III.-9 СНАР. Х. Dec. 6, 1860. "Washing ton consti tution." Dec. 13,1860. |