Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-07-13
Presidents Message
DEMAND FOR FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND
MEN AND FOUR HUNDRED MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS
EcNoD- Csttsens of tie Senate

FeIoU- Citizens Of tie Senate
Gud Of Me Ho"se Of Representatives, I.
Having been convened on an extraordi-
nary occasion, authorized by the Constitu-
ton, your attention is not called to any
, ordinary subject of legislation,
AT the beginning of the present Prcsi.
dental term, four months ago, the func-
tons of the Federal Government were
found to be generally suspended within the
several States of South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Flor
ida, excepting those only of the Postoiicc
Department
Within these States all the forts, arsen-
ais, dockyards, custom houses, and the
like, including the movable and stationary
property in and about them, had been
seized and held in open hostility to this
Government, excepting only Forts Pickcns,
Taylor and Jefferson, on and near the
Florida coast, and Fort Sumpter, in
Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.
The forts thus seized had been put in
improved condition, new ones had been
built, and armed forces had been organi-
zed, and were organizing, all avowedly
with the same hostile purpose. The forts
remaining in the possession of the Federal
Government in and near these States were
either besicged or menaced by warlike
preparations, and especially Fort Sumpter
was nearly surrounded by well protected
hostile batteries, with guns equal in quail
ity to. the best of its own, and outnumber-
| ing the latter, perhaps, two to one
A disproportionate share of the Federal
muskets and rifles had somehow found
their way into these States, and had been
seized to be used against the Government.
| Accumulations of the public revenue lying
within them has been seized for the same
object. The navy was scattered in distant
seas, leaving but small portion of it
within the reach of the Government. Of
| ticers of the Federal army and navy had
resigned in great numbers, and of those
resigning large proportion had taken up
arms against the Government.
| simultaneously, and in connection with
all this, the purpose to sever the Federal
Union was openly avowed. In accordance
with this purpose an ordinance had been
adopted in each of these States, declaring
these States respectively to be separated
from the National Union, A formula for
instituting combined government of these
States had been promulgated, and their
illegal organization in the character of
Confederate States was already invoking
recognition, aid and Intervention from
foreign powers.
Finding this condition of things, and
believing i. to be the imperative duty upon
the incoming Executive to prevent, if poss-
ible, the consumation of such an attempt
to destroy the Federal Union, choice Of
means to that end become indispensable.
This choice was made and declared in
the Inaugural address, The policy chosen
looked to the exhaustion of all peaceable
measures before resort to any stronger
ones. 1t sought only to hold the public
places and property not already wrested
from the Government, and to collect the
revenues, relying on the rest for time, dis
oucc;op opd tho bo1lof how
1t promised continuance of the mails
at Government expense to the very people
who were resisting the Government, and it
gave repeated pledges against any distur-
bance to any of the people or any of their
rights-of all that President might con-
stitutionally and justifably do in such a
case. Everything was forborno without
which it was deemed possible to keep the
Government on foot.
On the 9th of March, the present in
cumbent's first full day in office, letter
from Major Anderson, commanding at
Fort Sumpter, written on the 2sth of Feb
ruary, and received at the War Depart
mcnt on the 4th of March, was by that
Department placed in his hands This
letter profered the professional opinion OF
the writer that reinforcements could not
be thrown into that fort within the time for
his release rendered necessary by the linn
tied supply of provisions, and with view
of holding possession of the same with Q
force of less than 10000 good and well
disciplined men. This opinion was con-
CURED in by all the officers of his COM
mand, and their memorandums on the
subject we're made enclosures of Majol
Anderson's letter.
The whole was Immediately laid befor'
| ;o,,t H., Canlk L. ~ ,non