Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-15
Special Message of the President.

measures as believed would have the effect of tranqulz
had been neediessy and most unfortunately involved
Those opinions and recommendations do not propose now
to repeat My convictions upon the whole subject re-
main unchanged
The fact that great calamity was impending The
nation that time acknowledged by every intel
ligent citizen It had already made itself felt throughout
the length and breadth of the land The necessary conse
quences of the alarm thus produced most deporabe
The imports fell off with rapdIty known before,
except in time of war; in the history Of foreign COM
merce the Treasury was unexpectedly left without The
which had reasonably counted upon to meet the
pubic engagements; trade paralyzed manufactures
stopped the best public securities suddenly sunk in
the markets every species of property deprecated more or
less and thousands of who depended upon their
daily labor for their daily bread were turned out of en-
plOyment.
deeply regret that am not able to give you any inor-
nation upon the state OF the Union which is sasac
tory than what then obliged to communicate. On the
contrary, still present than they then
When Congress met, strong hope pervaded the
whole public mind that amicabie adjustment of the
subject would speedily be made by the representatives of
the States and of the people which restore peace be-
tween the conflicting sections of the country That hope
has been dmn shed by every hour Of delay and the
prospect of boodeSs settlement fades away the public
distress becomes more and more aggravated As evidence
of this is only necessary that the Treasury notes
authorized by the of nth seventeenh December last
advertised according to the law and that no RESPONSE
bic bidder offered to- take considerable at par at
lower of interest than twelve per cent From these
facts appears thai in Cove nment organized like
domestic strife, we-grounded fear of civil hOsti
es is destructive to public and private interests
than the most formidable foreign
In my annual message expressed the conviction, which
have long deliberately held and which recent reflection
has only tended deepen and Confirm that Stale has
right by its act To secede from Union to throw
off lis federal obligations at pleasure also declared my
opnin to be- that if that right existed and should
be exercised by any State Of the Conderacy the Executive
department of this government had authority under
the Constitution. To recognize its validity by acknowledge
ing the independence of such State This left alter
native the officer under the Constitution of
the United SaIes but TO collect the public and 10
protect tie public property. far this might be pruct
cable under existing laws Tis is still purpose. My
province is 10 execute, and not TO make the laws.
1t belongs Ia Congress exclusively TO repeal to modify
or to enlarge their provisions meet exgences they
occur i possess dispensing power. ! certainly
bad right to make aggressive upon any State and
am perfectly satisfied that the Constitution has wisely
withheld that puwef from Congress. But the right
ard the duty 10 military force deensvey against thse
who resist the federal officers in the execution of their e
ga functions and against those who assa the property Of
the Federal Government, is clear and undeniable.
But the dangerous and hostile attitude of the States to-
wards each Other has already far transcribed and cast in
the shade the ordinary executive duties already provided
for BY law, and has assumed such vast and alarming pro-
partitions place the subject entirely above and beyond
executive control. The act cannot be disguised that
the midst of a great revolution In all its various
bearings therefore, commend the question TO Congress.
the only human tribunal under Providence possessing
the power 10 meet the existing emergency. To them
cusvey belongs the power to declare 10 authorize
the employment of military force in all contemplated
by the Constitution; and they alone possess the power
grievances which might lead and to
Peace aud Union to this distracted country On them, aud
them alone, rests The responsibility.
The Union is sacred trust left by revolutionary IA
Tiers their descendants and did other people
inherit Sd rich legacy IL has rendered us prosperous
peace and triumphant in The national flag has hua
cd in glory every Under its shadow American
citizens have found protection and respect in all lands be-
Leah the Ii we descend To considerations of purely
material interest, when, in the history of all time, has
cunedcracy been bound together BY such strong Of
mutual INTEREST," Each portion of it is dependent ALL
and all each portion, for prosperity and domestic
cGrity Free trade throughout the whole supplies the
wants of one portion from the productions of another and
scatterS wealth everywhere. The great planting and farm
ing States require the aid Of the commercial and navga
ing States to send their productions 20 domestic and for
cign markets. and To furnish the naval power To render
their transportation against all hostile attacks
Should the Cnn perish in the midst of the present
element We have already had sad foetase of the unyer
sal suffering winch would result from It's destruction The
calamity would DE portion of the Union and
would b. quite great the least in the Southern
The greatest aggrava;Ion Of the evil, and that which
would place in the unfavurabe light bnth before
the wurid and pustcriy, is firmly convinced that
tue secession movement has been chiefly based upon
apprehension at the Suih Of the sentiments of the majo
" in several uf the Northern States.
Let the question be transferred from political assemblies
To the bI"bnX and the people themselves would speed y
redress the grievances which the South have suffer
ell But, in heaven c is trial be made befpre
plunge into armed conflict up"n the assumption that
there other alternative. Time great conservative
power Let pause at THIS p'ni and afford
the people both Nrih aud South opportunity for reiiec
ton. Would that South Carolina had been cCnrinced Of
this truth before her prcrp'ate dcriun therefore APP
peal through yu {" The people OF the country To declare
their might that the Unun and shall be preserved by
all constitutional means most earnestly recommend That
devote yourselves exclusively the question h-w THIS
be accomplished peace. All other queStiuns when
compared with this sink into insgnicunce. The present
is no time for pa'liaionS Action, prompt action is
qured. delay in Congress u prescribe To recommend
distinct and practical proposition for Cancellation may
drive to point from which it will be almost impossible
To rCcede.
A commnn ground which Cancellation and harm nv
b. produced surely unattanable The proposition
compromise by letting the North have exclusive cnrn
OF the Territory ab1Te Certain line and In give Southern
institutions protection below that line ought
universal approb"2n In itself indeed may not be en-
rely satisfactory but when the alternative is between
reasonable concession b"h sides and destruction of
the UNI 1t impntaiinn upor the patriotism of Com
grcSS 10 assert that lis members will hesitate for
Even the danger upon In several p the States
which have not seeded the frS arSenalS and maya
zines of the United States have been seized
This is by far the most step which has been taken
since the of the troubles This public prop
crty has been garrsnns and troops TO- It's proec.
tOn because person doubted its security under the m
of the country in any State of the Union.
Besides small army has scarcely been sufficient to
guard remote frontiers against Indian ncurSonI. The
seizure ct this property from all appearances has been
purely aggressive and in any attempt to
coerce II State or States Ia remain in the Union.
At the beginning of these unhappy troubles dctermu-
ed that action of mine should excitement in
either section OF the country II the political conflict
To end in civil war 1t was my determined purpose not to
commence it. even to furnish for it by
act of thus government. Ny opinion remans unchanged
that justice well SOUND policy requires still seek
peaceful solution of the questions issue between the
North and the South. Entertaining this conviction re-
Trained from sending reiuorcenents Mai Anderson
who commanded the forts in Charleston har6,r until an
absolute necessity for doing should make itself apparent
lest might unisty be regarded as menace of military
coercion and thus furnish If not prUvocati0u least
pretext for outbreak the part of South Carolina No
necessity for these renfrccentS seemed exist wasu
sured by distinguished and upright gentlemen of South
Carolina that no attack upon Major Anderson intended
but that the contrary it the desire the State a
thoriteS much it my avoid the fatal con-
sequences which must eventually follow military collision
Aud here deem proper TO submit for your information
copies OF communication dated 18th December 1861 ad.
dressed to me by r. w BarnweI J. H. Adams and James
L. Orr commissioners" from South Carolina and the &C.
cOmpanyng documents and copies my answer thereto
dated 3lst December
In further explanation of Major AndersOns removal from
Fort Moulirie TO Fort Sumter is proper state that m
Ter my answer to the South Carolina cnmmissoner the
War Department recrved letter from that gallant officer
dated the 9th December $780, the day after this move
Inent, from which the following is extract:
will add as my opinion that things convinced
hostile act, evidently referring the orders dated De-
cemoer OF the late Secretary OF War; Under this I'M
PRECISION, could not hesitate il was nv snlemn dnv