Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-04

0tmt l1mcOlns
The journal of yesterday contained let
| ter from Hon. Garrett Davis. of Paris, in
which be gives the particulars of visit to
President Lincoln. The material portion OF
1t. which we copy below. will be found In
teresting. The President promises well. bat
| remembering his course in regard to Fort
| Sumter and in view of his promises to the
Northerners of which the telegraph and
Black Republican papers daily advise us, we
place but little reliance in his statements te
Mr.. Davis
Early last week determined, upon nv
own reflection and impulse, to make a bur.
| RED run to Washington, to take a view oil
| public affairs there, and from there; and to
talk with the President and some of the
members of bis Cabinet in relation to our
National troubles. and how the Administers
| ton intended to treat them.
found the President frank and calm, but
decided and firm. He expressed deep con-
Germ and regret for the existing condition OF
public affairs, and his hope that there would
yet be restoration of the Union, and peace
and amity among all the States. He re-
marked, that neither be, nor any other Presi-
dent. who had been elected by party, could
administer the Government in exact accord
ance with his own opinions and Judgment;
but must make some departure to satisfy
those who had placed him in power. That.
before the Carolinians had made the attack
on Fort Sumter, he had decided not to REIN
force or to attempt TO reinforce the garrison,
but merely, and only, to supply it's handful
OF furnishing men with food; and that he had
distinctly communicated these purposes to
the authorities of the Southern Con.edera-
tlo1. That he had also determined, that. un-
til the meeting of Congress, he would make
no attempt to retake the forts, &C. belonging
to the United States, which had been
uniawfully seized and wrested from their
possession, but would leave the then exist
ing state of things to be considered and acted
upon by Congress, unless he should be con.
strained to depart from that purpose by the
continued military operations of the seeded
States.
The President further said, that events had
now reached point when it must be decided
whether our system of Federal government
was only league of sovereign and indepen-
dent States, from which any State could
withdraw at pleasure, or whether the Consti-
tuition formed government invested with
strength and powers sufficient to uphold its
own authority, and to enforce the execution
of the laws of Congress. That he had no
doubt OF the truth OF the latter proposition.
and be Intended to make it good in the adj
ministration of the Government to the extest
that be should be sustained by the people of
the United States.
States, upon which be had made a reouisi-
ton for military aid. to enable him to eye
cute the laws, to respond to that call: and
particularly the State Of Kentucky. which
had been SO loyal to the Union aud faithful
in the performance of her duties That he
greatly regretted she had not acted nm to
the principle of her great statesman now no
more. aud for which she cast her vote in the
late Presidential election, .'the Union. the
Constitution, and the Enforcement OF the
Laws"
That he intended to make no attack, direct
or indirect, upon the institutions or property
OF any State; but, on the Contrary, would de-
tend them to the full extent with which the
constitution aud laws OF Congress have vest
ed the President with the power. And that
he did not intend to invade, with an armed
force, or make any military or naval move
ment against any State, unless she or her
people should make it necessary by a formi-
daDle resistance of the authority and laws of
the United States. That if Kentucky or her
citizens should seize the post of Newport. it
would become his duty and he might attempt
to retake it; but be contemplated no militia
~ operations that would make it necessary
10 move any troops over her territories
tnough he had the unquestioned right at all
times to march the U. S. troops into and
over any and every State. That if Kentucky
made no demonstration of force against the
United States be would not modest her, That
ne regretted the necessity of marching troops
across Maryland, but forces to protect the
seat oil the United States Government could
not De concentrated there without doing SO;
and he intended to keep open line of COM
munlcatlon through that State to Washing
ton City. at any risk, but in a manner least
calculated to irritate and inf1ame her people.