of Charleston, and, on the refusal of the President to
consent to this, had tendered his resignation, which was promptly
accepted.[118]

This is believed to be a correct outline of the earlier facts with
regard to the Charleston forts, and in giving it I have done so, as far
as possible, without prejudice, or any expression of opinion upon the
motives of the actors.

The kind relations, both personal and political, which had long existed
between Mr. Buchanan and myself, had led him, occasionally, during his
presidency, to send for me to confer with him on subjects that caused
him anxiety, and warranted me in sometimes calling upon him to offer my
opinion on matters of special interest or importance. Thus it was that I
had communicated with him freely in regard to the threatening aspect of
events in the earlier part of the winter of 1860-'61. When he told me of
the work that had been done, or was doing, at Fort Moultrie--that is,
the elevation of its parapet by crowning it with barrels of sand--I
pointed out to him the impolicy as well as inefficiency of the measure.
It seemed to me impolitic to make ostensible preparations for defense,
when no attack was threatened; and the means adopted were inefficient,
because any ordinary field-piece would knock the barrels off the
parapet, and thus to render them only hurtful to the defenders. He
inquired whether the expedient had not been successful at Fort Brown, on
the Rio Grande, in the beginning of the Mexican war, and was answered
that the attack on Fort Brown had been made with small-arms, or at great
distance.

After the removal of the garrison to the stronger and safer position of
Fort Sumter, I called upon him again to represent, from my knowledge of
the people and the circumstances of the case, how productive the
movement would be of discontent, and how likely to lead to collision.
One of the vexed questions of the day was, by what authority the
collector of the port should be appointed, and the rumor was, that
instructions had been given to the commanding officer at Fort Sumter not
to allow vessels to pass, unless under clearance from the United States
collector. It was easy to understand that, if a vessel were fired upon
under such circumstances, it would be accepted as the beginning of
hostilities--a result which both he and I desired to avert, as the
greatest calamity that could be foreseen or imagined. My opinion was,
that the wisest and best course would be to w