The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-07-11
RESIDENTS NEEsSAGE.

Fellom citizens ct tie Senate and House Of Repre-
Se33tat3yes:
Having been convened iii extraordinary session
as authorized by the Constitution your attention is
not called 10 any ordinary subject OF egislation.-
AT the beginning OF the present Presidential term
four months ago, the functions OfIhe Federal Gov
eminent were found to begenerally suspended with
in the several States OF South Carolina GEORGIA
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida, ex
cepting those only Of the POst-Ofice Department
Within those States all the forts, arsenals dock
yards, custom houses, &c. including all the NOV
able and stationary property in and about them,
had been seized and held in open hostility to this
Government excepting only Forts PicBens, Tay-
Tor and Jefferson, on ana near the Florida coast
and Fort Sumter IN Charleston harbut. The forts
thus seized had been put in improved condition,
new ones had been built and armed. Other
forces had been organized and were organizing,
all aVowedly for the same hostile purposes. Tie
forts remaining in the Federal possession in and
near those States We're either beseiged or mena0ed
by Warllke preparations. Especially Fort sum
ter was nearly surrounded by well protected hos
tile batteries, with guns equal il quantity 10 The
best Of its own, and OutnumbeTing tho latter as ten
to one. A disproportIonate share OF the Federal
muskets and rifles had somehow found their way
INTO these states, ana had been seized to he used
against the Government. Accommodations Of the
public revenue had been seized for the same OBJ
J5ct. The navy scattered in distant seas leaY-
ing but a very small part OF it within the mime
diate reach OF the Government. Officers Of the
federal army had resigned in great numbers and
ofthose resigned great portion had taken up arms
against the Government simultaneously and III
connection with all this, purpose to sever the
Federal Union was openly aYoWed In accord
ance with this purpose, an ordinance had been re-
ported, III each of these States, declaring the
states respectively TO be separated from the Fed
erat Union. The formula for instituting q COM
bined Government for these states had DGen pro-
mulgated ,ad this illegal organization in the char
acter OF the Confederate States, was already ask
ing recognition, aid, and Intervention from
foreign powers. Finding this condition of means,
and believing it to be an imperative duty upon
the incoming Executive to prevent II possible, the
contamination OF such attempt to destroy tic ed
eral Union, choice of two things to TIE end be
came indispensable. This choice was made and
declared III the inaugural address. The policy chos
en-, looked to the exhaustion Of al peaceable
measures before resort to any stronger one. II
sought only to hold the public places and proper
ty not already wrested from the Government and
to collect the revenue relying for the rest on ine
discussion and the ballot box promised the con
tinuauce OF the mails at the government expense
to the very people who were resisting the govern
ment, ana gave repeated pledges against any dis
urbance Of any OF the people any OF their rights
of all that which President might constitution
ally and justIhably do in such q case. Everything
torDorn without which it WAS believed posi-
BILE to keep the government on foot.
On the fifth Of March, the present incumbCnts
first full day ia Office, letter from Major Anter-
son, commanding at Fort Sumter, written IN tie
II
partment on the 4th Of March. was by that De-
partment placed in his hands, The letter express
ed the professional opinion of the writer that
reiniorcements could not be thrown into that fort
in time for his relief, rendered necessary by the
limited supply OF provisions and with WOW OF
holding possession Of the same) with force ofless
than 2O,0U0 well disciplined men. This opinion
was cOncurred in by all the officers OF his com
mand and their memoranda the subject were
made Enclosures of Major AndersOn's letter. The
,boIa
Scott, who at once c0ncuTed with Major Ander-
son in his decision. On reflection, however, he
took full time in consulting with other officers,
both of the army and navy, and at the end OF four
| DAYS came reluctantly but decidedly TO the same
conclusion as before. lie also stated at the same
time that no such sufficient force then ut the
control Of the Government or could be raised and
| brought to the ground within the time when me
provisions in the Fort would be exhausted ~ d
| purely military point of view, this conhned Inc
| Administration to the mere matter Ct getting the
garrison safely out Of the Fort. II was peheVed,
however, that to SO abandon thar SltuaJl0h under
the circumstances would be utterly ruluousi that
the necessity under which 1t was 10 be done would
NOT no IN !, understood that by many it would be
| construed as q part OF a voluntary policy that
at home it would discourage the friends Of the
| Union. emboden its adyersaries and 90 far tC
insure to the latter recognition obroad and thai
| in fact it would De our nation obstruction. 4nh
1 could not be allowed.
1 Starvation was not yet upon the garrison, ans
ere it would be reached, Fort PIckens might bi
| reinforced This last would be clear indication
Of policy, and would better enable the country t.
accept the evacuation Of Sumpter as mllitar,
necessity. Then an order was al once directed t
/ be sent for the landing of the troops from tn
steamship Brooklyn into Fort Pickens. The orde
could not go by land, but must take the surer ant
slower route by sea. The first returning new
from the order was received just one week betor
the fail of Sumpter. The news itself was that tn
officer commanding the Sabine, TO winch Yesse
the troops had been transferred from the Brook
Ign, acting upon arnistice ofthe late admin
stration and of the existence of which the presen
, administration, up to the time the order was dis
, patched had only too vague and uncertain rum0r
TO fix attention, had refused to land the troops.