The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-07-12
Presidents Message.


Horse Of Representatives,
Having boon convened in IN extraordinary
convention, az authorized by tho Constitu-
ton, your attention is not called TO any or
dinary subject of legislation. AT tho be-
ginning of tho prosont Presidential term
four months ago, the functions Of the Fed
eral Government wore found TO be generally
suspended within tho several States OF
South Carolina, Georgin. Alabama, Missis-
sippi, Louisiana and Florida, excepting
those only Of tho Post-oflce Department
Within these States all tho forts, arsenals,
dock yards, custem houses, &c., including oil
the moveablo and stationary property in
and about them, had been seized and held
in open hostility to this Government, sx.
cepting only Forts Pi:kens, Taylor and
Jefferson, on and near the Florida
Coast, and Fort Sumter in Charleston
barber. The forts thus seized had been
put in improved condition new ones had
been built, and armed forces had organ
lied and were organizing, all ayowediy
for the same hostile purposes. The forts
remaining in the Federal possession in
and near those States, were either be-
sieged or menaced by warlike preparations;
especially For; Sumter was nearly sur
rounded by well protected hostile batter
les, with guns equal in quality to the best
4 of it's own, and outnumbering the latter
as perhaps ten to one. A disproportion-
ale share Of the Federal muskets and
rifles had somehow found their way into
these States, and had been seized 20 be
used against the Government, Accu-
mutations Of the public revenue lying
within them had been seized for the same
object. The navy was scattered in dis
8 tsnt seas, leaving but very small par! Of
0 il within the immediate reach Of the Gov
0 ernmeni. Officers Of the Federal army
had resigned in great numbers and OF
those resigned great portion had taken
up arms against the Government. Sim
uitaneously and in connection with all this
the purpose to sever the Federal Union
was openly avowed.
In accordance with this purpose ar
ordinance had been adopted in each o
these States declaring the States, respect
le lively, TO be separated from the Naiiona
il Union. The formula for instituting
ID combined government for these States hs'
been promulgated, and this illegal or
al panization, in the character Of the Con
10 10 iederate States, was already invokin
i. IL recognition, aid and Intervention fror
he foreign powers. Finding this conditio
% of things. and believing it to be an i'm
,n peratiye duty upon the incoming Execu
to tive 10 prevent, If possible, the consum
ne nation of such attempt 10 destroy th
10 Federal Union, choice Of means to tina
70 end became indispensable. This choic
~ was made and was declared in the in
augural address. The policy chosel
~ looked to the exhaustion OF all peaceabl
" measures before resort to any stronge
Of ones. II sough. only to hold the publ
I'd places and property not already arreste
n from the Government, aud to collect tn
e. revenue, relying for the rest on time
Ms discussion and the ballot box. II prom
~ ised the continuance Of the mails at th
q. governments expense to the very peop
di' who were resisting .he government, al
roc gave repeated pledges against any dl
re-. turbance to any Of the people or any
ss't their rights Of all that which Preside
,ed might constitutionally and justi6ably
in such case everything was forebor
be without which it was believed possible
us- keep the government on. foot.
,;o ,;". On the 9th OF March, the present
ave cumbeni's first full day in office, let
,n,s from Major Anderson, commanding
,raI Fort Sumter, written on the 2Sth OF Fe
aid ruary, and received at the War Depa
ment on the Fourth Of March, was
ov. tina; Department placed in bis han'
taft This letter expressed the profession
uA, opinion of the writer that reinforcemer
'uu could not be thrown into that fort in til
Of for his relief. rendered necessary BY I
md limited supply Of provisions. and with
int view OF holding possession OF the san
ing with a force Of less than 10000 W
dc. disciplined men. This opinion was CT
'oV- Cured in by all the officers Of his CO
mand and their memoranda on the subj
um sna were made Enclosures Of Major Anderso
, ~ letter. The whole was Immediately Il
siee before Lieut.. Gen. Scott, who at OF
lion concurred with Maj. Anderson in
II, opinion. On reflection, however, he to
full time in consulting with other office
both Of the army and navy, and at
!, end Of four days came reluctantly,
decidedly, to the same conclusion as
J. fore. He also stated at the same til
that no such sufficient force was then
the control of the government, or COY
be raised and brought to the ground wi
in the time when the provisions f
Acts Sumter would he exhausted. In pur
oS' military point of view this reduced
duty OF the Administration to the m
u matter of getting the garrison safely
. Of the Fort. 1t was believed, howeN
that to so abandon that position under
'oak circumstances would be utterly ruino
was that the necessity under which il was
ago' be done would not Oe fully understo
%ois ,UT' that by many it would be construed
ann nm part of voluntary policy that at h'
fas. il would discourage the friends OF
DIST Union, embolden its adversaries. and
igns far TO insure to the latter a recogni
abroad that in fact it would be our
tional destruction consummaied.
flag This could not be allowed. Starys
1ine: was not yet upon the garrison, ana g
nav would be reached Fort Pickens might b
M in.oreed. This last would be clear in
,a ton Of policy. end would better enab!'
country TO accept the evacuation OF
:. Sumter as o military necessity The
Qohu ordar wAa at onoa difected TO be sent 10