The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FelloW Citizens OF the Senate

occasion, rs authorized by the Constitution,
your attention is not called to any ordinary
subject of Legislation.
At the beginning of the present Presidential
term, four months ago, the functions of the
Federal Government were found to be generally
suspended within the several States Of South
Carolina Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louis
lana and Florida, excepting only those of the
Post Office Department within these States.
All the forts, arsenals, dockyards custom
houses. and the like, including the movable
and stationary property in and about them, had
been seized and were held in open hostility to
this Government, excepting only Forts Pickens,
Taylor and Jefferson on and near the Florida
coast, and For, Sumter in Charleston harbor,
S G. The Forts thus seized had been put in
improved condition, and new ones had been
built, and armed forces had been organizing
avowedly with the same hostile purpose.
The forts remaining in the possession of the
Federal Government in and near these States
were either beseiged Or menacel by warlike
prepare tons, and especially Fort Sumter was
batteries with guns equal in quality to the best
haps ten to one, A disproportionate share of
the Federal muskets and rifles had some how
found their way into these States and had been
seized to be used against the Government Ac.
cumulations of the public revenue lying within
them had been seized for the same object
The navy was scattered in distant seas, leaving
but very small part Of it within the immedi
ate reach of the government. Officers of the
Federal army and navy had resigned in great
numbers. and of those reslgning a large pro-
portion had taken up arms against the govern
ment.
Simultaneously and in connection with all
this, the purpose to sever the Federal Union
was openly ayowed. In accordance with this
purpose, an ordinance had been adopted in each
Of these States declaring the States respectively
To he separated from the National Union
\ formula Tor instituting IL combined govern
ment Of those States had been promulgated
ana this Illegal organization in the character Of
the Confederate States, was already invoking
recognition, aid, aud intervention from foreign
powers.
Finding this condition OF things and bcllev-
ing it to be an imperative duty upon the incom
lng Executive to prevent if possible the con-
summation Of such an attempt to destroy the
Fed, raj Union, Il device of means to that end
became indispensable. This choice was made
and was declared in the inaugural address.
The policy chosen looked to the exhaustion
Of all peacable measures before resort to any
stronger ones. 1t sought only to hold the pub
lie places and property not already wrested
from Government, and 10 collect tlo revenue,
relying for the rest on time, discussion and the
ballot-box 1t promised IL continuance of the
mails at Government expense to the very PEG
pie who were resisting the Government, and it
gave repeated pledges against any disturbances
to any Of the people of any Of their rights and of
all that which Il President might constitutional
ly and justiliably do in such a case. Every
thing was forborne without which it was be-
lieved possible to keep the Government on foot
On the 5th of March, the present ineumbent's
first full day in office, a letter from Maj. An
derson, commanding at Fort Sumter, written ON
the 18th of February, and received at TIE War
Department was placed in his hands The let
ter expressed the professional opinion Of the
writer that reinforcements could not be thrown
into that Fort within time for his relief. rem
dered necessary by u limited supply of proyis-
ions, and with view of holding possession of
the same, with less than force OF 20 900 we'll
disciplined men. This opinion was concurred
in by all the officers of his command and their
memoranda on the subject were made enclosures
Of Maj Anderson's letter. The whole was i'm
medaley laid before Gen. Scott, who at once
concurred with Maj. Anderson in his opinion.
On reflection, however, he took full time, con-
suited with officers both of the Army and Ma
Wy, and at the end of four days communicated
reluctantly but decidedly, the same conclusion
az before. He also stated at the same time that
no such sufficient force was then at the control
of the Fort, or could be raised and brought to
the ground within time when the provisions in
the Fort would lie exhausted. In purely mil.
itary point Of view, this reduced the duty Of
the Adm nistration 10 the case to the mere mat
ter OF getting the garrison safely out OF the
Fort. 1t was believed, however, that to so
abandon that position, under the circumstances,
would be utterly ruinous that the necessity
under which it was to be done, would not be
fully understood that by many it would be
considered as a part of voluntary policy
that at home it would discourage the friends of
the Union, embolden its adversaries, and 90
far to ensure to the latter recognition abroad;
that, in fact, it would be our National destruc
ton consummated This could not be allowed
Starvation was not yet upon the garrison. and
ere it could be reached, Fort Pickens might be
reinforced. This last would be a clear indica-
rion of policy, and would the better enable the
country t. accept the evacuation OF Fort Sum
ter as military necessity, and an order was at
once directed to be sentfor the landing of troops
from the steamship Brooklyn, at Fort Pickens.
This order could not go by land, but must take
the longer and slower route by sea. The first
return news from the order was received just
one week Before the fall of Sumter. The news
itself was that the officer commanding the Sa-
Mne, to which vessel the troops had been trans
ferred from the Brooklyn, acting upon some
quasi armlstice of The late Administration, and
of the existence of which the present Admins
tration, up to the time the order was dispatched,
had only vague and uncertain rumor to fix at
tention and refuse to land the troops, or lc-