Our soldiers will
find it healthier and more commodious at Pickens. I'll have the
_Powhatan_ sent there forthwith."
Hereupon Mr. GIDEON WELLES woke up and remarked, in a strain of apology,
that be hadn't read his commission yet, but it was his impression that
he was the head of what was called the Navy Department. Coming from an
inland town, he didn't exactly know whether the Secretary of State or
himself had the ordering about of our national vessels; but he rather
thought he would relieve his friend SEWARD of that burden. He had talked
with several old sea-dogs. They all agreed that the success of the plan
depended on its feasibility. Capt. Fox, a private citizen of
Massachusetts, had been down there with a horse and buggy, and reports
that a squad of marines could do the job up in good style.
Mr. BATES was called upon, and stated that strengthening Sumter, without
giving the Southerners four weeks' notice of our intention, would not,
in his opinion, be unconstitutional.
At this juncture Mr. FLOYD (who, having acquired the habit of attending
BUCHANAN'S cabinet meetings, had not quite got over it) put his head in
for a moment to suggest, that if the Black Republican Government would
evacuate all the forts on Southern territory, remunerate his friends for
their expenses, and execute a quit-claim deed of Washington and the
national property to JEFF.
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