Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-07-06
Presidents Message.
R.l,o,, citizsns Of lie Senate


tuition. YOUR attention. is'not called 10 any
ordinary subject of legislation.
al the Beginning Of the present Preai-
dentinI term. fonr moaths ago, the inne'
tjnns Of thu. Fsda-s;J suspended WITHIN
me several States OF South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
and Florida, excepting only those of the
Post Office Department. Within these
States the forts, arsenais, dock yHris, GUS
tom houses. and tue like, including the
movable aud stationary property in and
about them, had been seized, and were
held Ia open hostility to the Government.
excepting only Forts Pickens, Taylor and
Jefferson, on and near the Florida coast, and
Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, s. G..
TIE forts thus seized, had been put in
an improved condition, new ones had been
built, and armed forces had been organized
and were organizing, all avowcdiy with
some hostile purpose. The forts remaining
10 the possession of the Federal Govern
ment, in and near these States, were either
besciged or menaced by warlike prepara-
tions, and especislly Fort Sumter was near.
IL surrounded BY we'll protected hostile
batteries. with guns equal in quality 10 the
best of our own, and outnumbering the lat
ter as perhaps ten to one. A dispropor-
tiOnate shHrO of the Federal muskets and
rifles had somehow found their way into
these States, and had been seized to DO
need against the government. Accumul"-
tons 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 immediate reach of the government.
Officers Of tue Federal army and navy had
resigned in great Members. OF those re-
signing II large proportion had taken up
arms against the government simultaneous
j.. and in connection with all this the pnr-
pose to sever the Federal Union was open
~ Avowod. In accordance with this Pur-
pose an ordinance had been adopted il
each of these States, declaring the States re-
spectively to be separated from the Nation
al Union. formula for iustituting COM
bined government of these States has been
promulgated, and this Illegal organization
In toe character of Confederate States was
already iavokiugT ecognition. aid and inter-
Vention from foreign powers. Finding this
condition Of things, aud believing il to be
an imperative duty upon the incoming Ex-
ecutive TO prevent If possible the CONSUME
nation Of such an attempt to destroy the
Federal Union, a choice of means to that
end became indispensable.
This choice was made and was declared
In my inaugural address. The policy cho-
seq looked to the exhaustion of all peace
ful measures before resort to any strong
ones. It sought only to bold the public
places and property not already wrested
from tho government, and to collect the
revenue, relying for the rest on time, dis
cussion, and the bHllot-box. 1t promised
a continuance Of the mails at government
expense to the very people who were re-
-
ed pledges against any disturbance TO any
Of the people, aud any of their rights, of all
that which President might constitution
ally aud justifiNbly do in such case
Every thing was forborne. without which
It was believed possible to keep the Gov
eminent on foot. On the fifth of March,
the present iucumben8s first full day in
office, letter Of Major Anderson, COM
mauding Mt Fort Sumter, written on tho
the 2sth OF February, and recorded at the
War Department on the 4th of March. WAS
by that Department placed in his hands
This letter expressed the professional opin-
ion Of the writer that reinfnrcements could
not be thrown into that Fort within the
time fer his relief, rendered necessary by
the limited supply of provisions and with
q view of holding possession OF tho same
with force Of less than 30. 600 good and
well disciplined men. This opinion was con-
CURED 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 Immediately laid before
Lieut.. Gen. Scott, who NJ once eoncurred
With Mai. Anderson IN opinion. On re-
Election, however hstOok full time in con-
sultlaE With other officers, both OF the arr
my and naVy, aud az the end or the four
days, came rcluciantly, hut decidedly, TO
the same conclusion az before. He also
stated at the same time, 90 such sufficient
force WAS then at the control Of the Coy
ernment or could be raised and brought IN
the ground within the tiue when the pro-
visions 10 the fort would DO exhausted.
In purely military point OF view, this re-
duced the duty Of the Administration in
the case, 70 the mere matter Of getting the
garrison safely out of the fort. 1t was be-
lieIed, however, that 10 so abandon that
position, under tho circumstances, would
be utterly ruin0us; that the necessity un-
der which Il was to be doue, would not be
Iuliy uudersto6di that By many It would
be construed as a part OF voluntary Poll-
ey; tnat at home It would discourage the
friends Of the Union, embolden Its adver-
saries, aud 90 far TO insure the latter
reeoRnItion abroad; that, In fact, IL would
This could not be allowed. Starvation
vss not yet upon the garrison, aud ere It
would he reached, Fort Piekens might Be
reinforced. This last would be clear in.
dieation Of policy, and would better enable
the country 10 accept the evacuation Of
Fort Sumter as military necessity
An order was 1t once directed to be sent
for the landing Of the troops from the
steamship Brooklyn into Fort Pickles.
This orler could not be sent BY land, but
must take the longer and slower route BY
sea. The srst return news from the order
was resolved hut one week before the tall
OF Fort Sumter The news itself Was that
me officers commanding the Sabine, to
which vessel the troops had been trspsFeF-
red from the BroOklyn, acting upon some
ssiasi armisliSs Of the late Naturalization,