My dear Sir: Since parting with you I have been considering your paper dated this day, and entitled ``Some thoughts for the President's consideration.'' The first proposition in it is, ``1st. We are at the end of a month's administration, and yet without a policy, either domestic or foreign.''
At the beginning of that month, in the inaugeral, I said ``The power confided to me will be used to hold, occupy and possess the property and places belonging to the government, and to collect the duties, and imposts.'' This had your distinct approval at the time; and, taken in connection with the order I immediately gave General Scott, directing him to employ every means in his power to strengthen and hold the forts, comprises the exact domestic policy you now urge, with the single exception, that it does not propose to abandon Fort Sumpter.
Again, I do not perceive how the re-inforcement of Fort Sumpter would be done on a slavery, or party issue, while that of Fort Pickens would be on a more national, and patriotic one.
The news received yesterday in regard to St. Domingo, certainly brings a new item within the range of our foreign policy;2Open page but up to that time we have been preparing circulars, and instructions to ministers, and the like, all in perfect harmony, without even a suggestion that we had no foreign policy.
Upon your closing propositions, that ``whatever policy we adopt, there must be an energetic prossecution of it''
``For this purpose it must be somebody's business to pursue and direct it incessantly''
``Either the President must do it himself, and be all the while active in it, or''