January 1, 1861 Richmond Enquirer
The resignation of Secretary Floyd, which was tendered on Saturday night last, will be deeply regretted by the people of Virginia. Under the circumstances, Secretary Floyd has done only what every high toned gentleman would have done.
The Administration had given an unqualified pledge, to the Representatives from South Carolina, that no reinforcements should be sent to the Forts, and that their status should not be changed, if the authorities and people of South Carolina would make no attempt to seize the Forts. South Carolina gave the pledge, and, what is more, honorably observed it. Under its operation peace was preserved, and the peace commissioners from that State were in to violate that pledge, to change the [….] of the forts, and to hazard the peace of the country. Gov. Floyd considered this action of Maj. Anderson as violating the pledge of the administration, and ruinous to the policy which, under the pledge of the President, had preserved the peace. The reoccupation of Fort Moultrie by Major Anderson, Secretary Floyd considered just and proper, and made it the condition of his longer remaining in the Cabinet. The President admitting the pledge, yet refused to order Major Anderson to Fort Moultrie, and Secretary Floyd would no .longer remain a member of the Administration which would permit its subordinate officer, by violating its pledge, to ruin its policy and involve the country in civil war. He, therefore, resigned; and the people in Virginia, while deeply regretting his loss to the War Department at this time, will yet sustain him in his action. If the rumor be true that Gen. Scott has been appointed to the War Department, with his previous declarations against the South, it will speedily involve the country in civil war – indeed, we should not be surprised if individual action did not precipitate Virginia into collision with the Federal Government.