Mr.Buchanan had in his cabinet two members at least, who were as earnest--to use a mild term--in the cause of secession as Mr.Davis or any Southern statesman.
One of them, Floyd, the Secretary of War, scattered the army so that much of it could be captured when hostilities should commence, and distributed the cannon and small arms from Northern arsenals throughout the South so as to be on hand when treason wanted them.

The navy was scattered in like manner.

The President did not prevent his cabinet preparing for war upon their government, either by destroying its resources or storing them in the South until a de facto government was established with Jefferson Davis as its President, and Montgomery, Alabama, as the Capital.

The secessionists had then to leave the cabinet.

In their own estimation they were aliens in the country which had given them birth.