The re-organization of the Cabinet came as a matter of necessity.

Mr.John B.Floyd resigned from the War Department, making loud proclamation that his action was based on the President's refusal to surrender the national forts in Charleston Harbor to the Secession government of South Carolina.
This manifesto was not necessary to establish Floyd's treasonable intentions toward the government; but, in point of truth, the plea was undoubtedly a pretense, to cover reasons of a more personal character which would at once deprive him of Mr.Buchanan's confidence.

There had been irregularities in the War Department tending to compromise Mr.Floyd, for which he was afterwards indicted in the District of Columbia.

Mr.Floyd well knew that the first knowledge of these shortcomings would lead to his dismissal from the Cabinet.

Whatever Mr.Buchanan's faults as an Executive may have been, his honor in all transactions, both personal and public, was unquestionable, and he was the last man to tolerate the slightest deviation from the path of rigid integrity.
Mr.Thompson, the Secretary of the Interior, followed Mr.Floyd after a short interval.