Buchanan Vacillates While Wise Burns

Joseph Holt: Secretary of War just trying to do his job

From The New-York Times January 30, 1861:

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Jan. 29.

The joint application of Gen. SCOTT and Secretary HOLT to the President, to permit three additional companies of artillery to be ordered to this city, was granted, but before the orders could be made out and forwarded, the permission was withdrawn. So indecisive appears the President on all matters of public importance, that the belief is that his Cabinet generally act without his knowledge.

Gen. SCOTT is said to be very indignant at the vacillating course of Mr. BUCHANAN.

LATER. — It is now understood that the President has receded from his refusal to allow Gen. SCOTT to order more troops here, and that three additional companies will now come.

Ex-President TYLER left this morning, having, however, addressed a note to the President, asking if it was true that guns were being mounted at Fort Monroe and pointing “inland.” The President replied that he would make the necessary inquiries to obtain the information sought, and communicate the same. Mr. TYLER considered the act as inconsistent with the high compliment paid to the loyalty of Virginia in the President’s late special message. …

Virginia's ex-governor: aggression upon the capital or public property

The Intentions of Gov. Wise.

A letter from HENRY A. WISE to a gentleman of this city, announces that Virginia has one hundred and twenty-five thousand men equipped and ready to bear arms. Of these, however, there are many well known to be strong in Union sentiments, who will never join a rebel force to overturn the Constitution and the Government. This boastful letter from Gov. WISE, just at this time, is regarded as indicative of a disposition on his part and those who follow his lead, to engage in any enterprise of aggression upon the capital or public property which the secession leaders may suggest as good policy. It should be borne in mind that Harper’s Ferry is in that State, and is familiar to Gov. WISE as a field of military operations. The fact, then, assumes importance, that the Arsenal at that place is protected by only a single company, and is under the command of Capt. BARBOUR, who is committed to the fortunes of Virginia, and who, on a recent visit to Washington, as the Administration knows, openly stated to certain Secessionists that the defences at Harper’s Ferry would not be at all in their way; and yet the Administration retains BARBOUR in command.

View of Harpers Ferry in 1854: Captain Barbour says its Virginia's for the taking

1) Joseph Holt became Secretary of War on January 18, 1861 after his predecessor, John B. Floyd was forced to resign.

2) Henry A. Wise was Virginia’s governor in 1859 when John Brown raided Harpers Ferry. Wise signed Brown’s death warrant. Alfred Madison Barbour was in charge of Harpers Ferry Armory during Brown’s raid.

3) President Buchanan’s got a tough job during this crisis. I think even Abraham Lincoln is going to have to grapple with whether to use force, or at least how much force to use and when to use it. Buchanan sure comes across as wishy-washy and just trying to put out fires in this story. He can’t decide whether to reinforce Washington D.C.; he’s got to mollify his fellow doughface, ex-President John Tyler, a Virginian, by figuring out which way the guns are pointing at Fort Monroe. All the while other Virginians like Henry Wise just want to get Virginia to secede. And people like Captain Barbour are ready to let the secessionists have federal property.

Inauguration of James Buchanan, March 4, 1857: did he have any idea what he was getting into?