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. DAVIS and other Southern leaders, the
proposition might possibly be accepted, and trouble avoided.

Mr. SEWARD rose to add only a word, and that word was "Pickens."

The Secretary of the Interior observed, that as Charleston harbor wasn't
in his department, he would say nothing.

Mr. BATES urged that the people of his section were loyal to the flag;
in fact, they not only wanted the flag but the Capitol itself, and the
national buildings (except the monument), removed to St. Louis; if they
couldn't get that, they might be satisfied if Fort Sumter were towed
around there, up the Mississippi. It would certainly be a good deal
safer there.

Mr. GIDEON WELLES wanted it distinctly understood that Gen. SCOTT, Gen.