The Civil War News & Views Open Discussion Forum - Archive

Re: What if you were Major Anderson?

Floyd was not charged with treason....

Harpers Weekly, JANUARY 12, 1861

------------------------

On 30th Secretary Floyd resigned his position as the head of the War Department. He says that the movement of Major Anderson in evacuating Fort Moultrie and occupying Fort Sumter was directly contrary to the spirit of assurances which had been given by Secretary Floyd to the authorities of South Carolina, that no change should be made in the disposition of the Government forces in the fortifications in Charleston harbor, until the State Commissioners could arrive in Washington and have a hearing. As soon as the action of Major Anderson became known, the Commissioners called upon Secretary Floyd for explanations. Mr. Floyd disavowed the act, but the Commissioners would not be satisfied with any thing short of the withdrawal of the troops from Fort Sumter. This, it appears, Secretary Floyd was willing to agree to, and he accordingly asked the permission of the President to issue the necessary order. The Cabinet had a very long discussion on the subject; but, finally, the weight of the Cabinet being against complying with the demand of the Commissioners, Secretary Floyd felt himself called upon to resign.

WHY GOVERNOR FIOYD RESIGNED.

In his letter of resignation he says: "I then considered the honor of the Administration pledged to maintain the troops in the position they occupied, for such had been the assurances given to the gentlemen of South Carolina who had a right to speak for her. South Carolina, on the other hand, gave reciprocal pledges that no force should be brought by them against the troops or against the property of the United States. The sole object of both parties in these reciprocal pledges was to prevent a collision and the effusion of blood, in the hope that some means might be found for a peaceful accommodation of the existing troubles, the two Houses of Congress having both raised Committees looking to that object. Thus affairs stood until the action of Major Anderson, taken unfortunately while the Commissioners were on their way to this Capital on a peaceful mission looking to the avoidance of bloodshed, has complicated matters in the existing manner. Our refusal or even delay to place affairs back as they stood under our agreement invites a collisions and must inevitably inaugurate civil war. I can not consent to be the agent of such calamity. I deeply regret that I feel myself under the necessity of tendering to you my resignation as Secretary of War, because I can no longer hold it under my convictions of patriotism nor with honor, subjected as I am to a violation of solemn pledges and plighted faith."
---------------------------
Harper's Weekly February 19, 1861

Ex-Secretary Floyd has been indicted by the Grand Jury at Washington, for conspiracy to defraud the Government.

---------------------------

Harper's Weekly March 16, 1861

Ex-Secretary of War Floyd arrived in Washington on 7th, for the purpose of appearing before the Criminal Court to answer the indictment found against him by the Grand Jury in connection with the stolen Indian Trust.

---------------------------
Harper's Weekly
MARCH 30, 1861

THE INDICTMENTS AGAINST FLOYD QUASHED

The indictments against Ex-Secretary Floyd have been quashed in the Court at Washington, on the ground—first, that there was no evidence of fraud on his part; and second, that the charge of malfeasance in the matter of the Indian bonds was precluded from trial by the act of 1857, which forbids a prosecution when the party implicated has testified before a Committee of Congress touching the matter.

_________________________
David Upton

Messages In This Thread

What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
John Floyd I mean *NM*
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
So your agreeing with me?
nope
Where's the beef?
Re: Where's the beef?
Re: Where's the beef?
Re: Where's the beef?
Re: Where's the beef?
Northern Economy part 2...
Re: Where's the beef?
Re: Where's the beef?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Lincoln / Anderson connection?
Re: Lincoln / Anderson connection?
Re: Lincoln / Anderson connection?
Re: Lincoln / Anderson connection?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
The forty guns issue
Re: The forty guns issue
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?
Re: What if you were Major Anderson?