Carolina's claim to independence, and a misdemeanor meriting
impeachment.

The Commissioners, strange to say, were either too stupid or too timid
to perceive the advantage of this concession. Fortunately for the
country, their indifference lost to Rebellion its only possible chance
of peaceful success.

The Commissioners evidently believed that the President was within the
control of the cabinet cabal, for they made an angry complaint against
Anderson, and imperiously demanded "explanations." For two days the
President wavered. An outside complication tended to open his eyes. On
the 31st of December Floyd resigned the portfolio of war; and, on the
same day, the President sent to the Commissioners a definite answer
that, "whatever might have been his first inclination, the Governor of
South Carolina had, since Anderson's movement, forcibly seized Fort
Moultrie, Castle Pinckney, and the Charleston arsenal, custom-house, and
post-office, and covered them with the palmetto flag; that under such
circumstances he could not, and would not, withdraw the Federal troops
from Sumter." The angry Commissioners returned home, leaving behind them
an insolent rejoinder, charging the President "with tacit consent to the
scheme of peaceable secession!"


IV.

The crisis of December 31st changed the attitude of the Government
toward Rebellion. Joseph Holt, of Kentucky, was appointed Secretary of
War. General Scott was placed in military control.