Author of the compromise bill that might have avoided a civil war – but at great cost – John J. Crittenden spoke on behalf of the compromise. He saw wrong on both sides and strongly opposed secession. “I am for the Union; but my friends, I must be also for the equal rights of my state under this great Constitution and in this great Union.” He proclaimed that residents of his state of Kentucky had as much right to take slaves into the territories as those who were opposed had a right to go without them.
Secretary of the Interior Jacob Thompson of Mississippi, last southerner in the Cabinet, resigned because of President Buchanan’s policies. He felt, also, that he had been kept in the dark as to Fort Sumpter plans. But Thompson and others, learning of the sailing of Star of the West, telegraphed Charleston she was coming. Chief Clerk Moses Kelly filled out the term of Acting Secretary of the Interior.
President Buchanan sent a depressing special message to Congress. He felt the present situation was beyond Executive control and he commended the question to Congress, saying, “let us pause at this momentous point and afford the people, both north and south, an opportunity for reflection…Let the question be transferred from the political assemblies to the ballot box,” before the crisis ended in war. He called for prompt action by Congress. He advocated the Comrpomise of Crittenden, dividing the territories along the old Missouri Compromise line.
At Pensacola, Florida, Federal troops fired during the night upon about twenty men who had approached Fort Barrancas. The party fled.
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