Private.
Wheatland, March
18,1861.
my Dear Sir, —
Many thanks for your kind letter of the 14th instant. I shall ever recollect
with pleasure and satisfaction your brief sojourn with us at the White House — and
with gratitude the able and successful manner in which you performed the duties
of your arduous and responsible office.
You might envy me the quiet of Wheatland were my thoughts
not constantly disturbed by the unfortunate condition of our country. The
question of the withdrawal of the troops from Fort Sumter at first agitated the
public mind in this vicinity, but my impression is that the people are now
becoming gradually reconciled to it. There is a general desire for peace. As a
military movement General Scott's name will go far to sustain Mr. Lincoln.
After Major Anderson's letter received on the 4th of March it was very doubtful
whether he could be re-enforced by all the means within the power of the government.
The only alternative would have been to let the Confederate States commence the
war on him, and if the force had been so superior as to render successful
resistance impossible after the honor of the flag had been maintained, then to
authorize him to capitulate. Indeed, I presume, such or nearly such was the
purport of our instructions.
It is possible an attempt will be made, as you suggest, to
rest the responsibility on me. But I always refused to surrender the fort, and
was ever ready to send re-enforcements on the request of Major Anderson. I
thank God that the revolution has as yet been bloodless; notwithstanding, my
duty as prescribed in my Annual Message has been performed as far as this was
practicable.
With my kindest regards to Mrs. Dix, I remain always,
sincerely and respectfully, your friend,
James Buchanan.
General Dix.
SOURCE: Morgan Dix, Memoirs
of John Adams Dix, Volume 2, p. 3-4
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