The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-07-10
svnonsis of Lincoln's Message.


cept postal functions. The national property, eXcep
Pickens TAYLOR Jefferson and Sumter had been seizet
and put in an offensive position other forts built, arne
organised avoweely hostile federal forts OF the United
States beseged nlenaced; diSpoftonate amount
arms and mutations had somehow found its way into tin
rebeiouS borders were seized the federal navy at
tached, army and navy officers had resigned in grea
numbers; ordinances declaring separation had passed
These States under the title of the Confederate States
applying to foreign powers for recognition and as
sistance. The incoming administration believed it t
be its imperative duty prevent the threatened dis
memberment The choice of the means indispensable
to the policy chosen in the inaugural indicated the ex
hauston of all peaceable before resort to eoerc
ion the seeking only to hold the pubcpla
and property unwrested and the collection of the reve
nue. relying time, discussion and the ballot box for thu
rest; promising, meantime continuance OF the NAILS
Everything torborne compatible with keeping the
government on foot On March the 4th, letter
ceved from major Anderson, at fort Sumter stating that
the fort could not be held Aiterc0nsuaton Scott coin
cded The force at the disposal ofthe government
ADEQUATE to Sumters relief without instantly vctualg
The administrations duty reduced to the safe with
drawa of the garrison believing, however, the abandon
ment of Sumter utterly ruinous that action would be
misunderstood discoTaging friends OF the Union, and
embedding Unions enemies and encouraging Canteder
ate recognition abroad-in fact be national destruction
this course unavoidable.
Previous to Sumters starvation, Pckens mightbe re-
Notwithstanding the administrations policg, and
preparing tie public mind OF Sumters evacuation as
military neeessiIy-orders Immediately issued for
the reinforcement of Pickcns-ordeIs impossible by
land sent by sea- The first return to the order
ceived the week before Sumters fall. The Brooklyn,
under Bucanan quasi armisce refused to land troops
to reinforce Pckens before the crisis would be reached
at Sumter. Governor Pickens was notified that if the
yicualling unressted, atemp would be made to
throw in men, arms or ammunition Without notice the
fort was taken without waiting for the gctuaing expedi
ton Thus the attack fort Sumter was III no scnsein
selfdeence the assaants knew in no event could fort
Sumter be mschieYOus; they notified that feeding
hungrm the only obectof the government; that
the government only wished maintain nominal posses
thus preserving the Union from dissolution
trusting to time discussion and the balot-box for
final adjustment The fort was assaulted for the object
of driving out visible federal MISUNDERSTANDING mmedi
ate dissolution.
This the executive understood and having been in
augurated said YOU have conflict without your
selves being the aggressors Lincoln took pains to keep
this declaration good in the circumstances surrounding
the Sumter affair." The Confederaes began the conflict;
they have forced upon the country the destructive issue
of immediate dissolution, the shedding of blood en-
bracng more than the fate of the Union IfoIces the
question whether peoples government maintain the
integrity of its territory against domestic foes whether
individuals; too few to control administration by orig
nal law can break up the gOvernEpent-thus ending
free government earth. 1t forces thsnestisn-must
government be too strong for peoples liberty too
weak to maintain its existence No chance is left but
to call out the powers OF government to resist the
forces employed for its destruc ton. The response
calls for troops has supassedthe most expec
iaenc however, of the slave States re-
spending few slave State regiments have been raised
by individual enterprises and have been accepted The
border States not uniform in their action.
The course taken by Virginia was most remarkable |
and important. Her convention proceeded to consider
this question in session. when Sumter fell, with large
Union majority went over and carried the State out OF
the Union, made extensive military preparations seized
federal property received large bodies of Confederate
troops entered treaty with the Confederates sent
representatives to Confederate councils and permitted
government to be transferred to Yir
gEias capital The government has choicGeft but
Virginia and does with less regret from having
been called to protect loyal citizens whom it was bound
to sustain.
Other border States favored armed ncutlaty-that
lrming being prevent Union and dsunon troops occu-
pying their soil This would be disuuon complete. Fig
lrativev it would be huildin@ impossible walls along
the line of separation yet under the guise of neutrality
would tie the hands of the Unionts and feed nsurrec
onists taking all the trouble from secession hands
;ept what arises from external blockade and would be
giving maconeuts diSunon without struggle of their
own. 1t recognises fidelity to the Constitution, no
obligation to maintain Union, while many oyalists
avor it. 1t is very injurious.
Recurringt to the action of the governmental first
,alled for $1,000 man and then proclaimed blockade
The nsurrectoniSts announced privateerng d call was
made to the army and navy These measures were ven
ured upon under popular demand and public necessity
rustng to congressional ratification Soon after it was
considered duty to authorize the commanding general
suspend habeas corpus where public safety required
This was necessary to the execution of the laws
The continuance OF this law, made in such extreme
to the citizens liberty practically relieved
of the guilty than the innocent. To the queS
ion directly Are all the laws but Que to be I'M
xecuted, and government go to pieces lest enc he VIC
9tpl9 But believed that the of tho
abeas corpus unconstitutional orbearance has
een extraordinary and so long continued as induced
oreign nations to shape their actions supposition
# an carly dissolution.
The administration were concerned but are now happy
state the sovereignty Of the Union is everywhere
practically respected. Sympathy for the governments
manifested through the world. Secretaries will give de-
allied information to the executive, and departments
eady to supply omissions necessary guide DELHI
fations The adoption of measures is recommended to
make the contest short and decisive that YOU place at
he governmnts disposalat least AGO. 900 and $780,
10000 Of that number of men 100 900 are now avail
bic. Within the wiling region that sum is but twenty
bird of the wealth OF men who willing devote
heir ALL Six hundred million is less per head than the
evolutionary proportion. Surely the motive now is as
trong then; right result now will be worth to the
-orld ten times the men, and ten times the money The
legislative sanction only is necessary; material for work
abundant The greatest government perplexity the
yoidancc of receiving men faster than prepared.
The people will the government if the govern
lent will but DO its duty. Whilehere is perceptibilty
ute difference betwG secession and oution the
ators knew they could raise their treason to the
espectability of revolution by implying VIC
alton of law they could advance indirectly in the teeth
the noble sentiments of the people, they commenced
1sdiousy to debauch public sentiments, invented in
enious sophsInot which if considered logically fol-
owed incidents to a destruction of the Union.
Their sophsm legal peaceful Withdrawal without
he Unions consent, thus sugar coating rebellion the
ubc mind has been drugged during thirty years. and
God men are in arms against the government Their
ophism derives currency from the assumption of some
supremacy belonging State. States are
more norless than reserved powers, of them
eng aPower out of the Union; the Original ones passed
1to the Union before casting off British colonial Deepen
ence new ones came in from conditional dependence
ven Texas during temporary Independence was never
esgned State the word sovereign State is not in the
nor believed in any State constitution
fits questioned whether the people of every State
ept South Carolina, do not favor the Union-the cen
rary has not been demonstrated Our adversares have
dopted some declarations ofndepcndence wherein all
zen are created equal have been omitted; then eons
uon instead of 1--WE the people" has eve the deputies"
the sovereign and ndependcntStates. Whygnorc the
ights ofnaqn-the authority of the people,
This is essentially peoples contest. am happy to
eleve that.the plain, common people understand and