Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-07-11
Presidents Message.

FeLtOlc- ClttzenS Of the Senate and House of
Representatives. Having been convened on
an extraordinary occasion, as 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 gener
ally suspended within the several States Of
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississip.
pi, Louisiana, and Florida, excepting only
those of the Post. office Department. Within
these States all the forts, arSenals, dock yards,
custom-houses, and the like, including the
movable and stationary property in and about
them, had been seized, aud were held in open
hostility to this Government, excepting only
Forts Pickens Taylor and Jefferson, on and
near the Florida coast, and Fort Sumter, in
Charleston Harbor, S. C.
The forts thus seized had been put in i'm.
proved condition, new ones had been built,
and armed forces had been organized and were
organizing, all avowedly with the same hostile
purpose. The forts remaining in the posses
sion of the Federal Government in and near
these States we're either beseiged or mcnaced
by warlike preparations, and especially Fort
Sumter was nearly surrounded by well-protec-
ted hostile batteries, with guns equal in quail
ty to the best of her own, and out-numberng
the latter perhaps ten to one-a disproportion-
ate share of the Federal muskets and rifles
had somehow found their way in these States,
and had been seized to be used against the
Government. Accommodations 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 Gov
ernment.
Officers OF the Federal Army had resigned
in great numbers, and of those resigning
large proportion had taken up arms against
the Government. simultaneously, and in con-
nection with all this, the purpose of Severing
the Federal UHion was openly avowed In
accordance with this purpose, an ordinance
had been adopted in each of these States de.
clariDg the States respectively to be separated
from the Federal Union. A formula for in.
stituting a combined Government of these
States had been promulgated. and this illegal
organization in the character of the Confed-
crate States" was already invoking recogni
tion, aid and Intervention from Foreign Pow
ers.
Finding this condition of things, and be-
lieving it to be an imperative duty upon the
incoming Executive to prevent, if possible, the
cOnsummation of such attempt to destroy the
Federal Union, q choice of means to that end
became indispensable. This choice was made,
and was declared 10 the Inaugural Address.
The policy chosen looked to the exhaustation
OF all peaceful measures before resort to any
stronger ones. 1t sought only to hold the
public places and property not already wrest-
ed from the Government, and to collect the
revenue, relying for the rest on time, discus
sion, and the ballot-box it promised a con-
tinuance of the mails, at Government expense
to the very people who were resisting the Gov
ernment, and it gave repeated pledges against
any disturbances to any of the people or any
of their rights, of all that which President
might constitutionally and justifably do in
such a case. Everything was forborne, with
out which it was believed possible to keep the
Government on foot.
On the 9TH Of March, the present incum-
bent's first day in Office, letter from Major
Anderson, commanding at Fort Sumter, writ
ten on the 28th of February, and received at
the War Department on the 4th of March,
was by that Department placed in bis hands.
The letter expressed the professional opinion
of the writer, that reinforcements could not
be thrown into that fort within the time for
his relief rendered necessary by the limited
supply of provisions, and with q view of holding
possession Of the same, with a force of less than
20, 600 good and 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 Major Ander-
sous letter The whole was Immediately laid
before Lieut. Gen. Scott who at once concur.
red with Major Anderson in his opinion On
reflection, however, he took full time, consult.
ing with other officers, both of the Army and
Navy, and at the end of four days came re.
luctaDtly but decidedly to the same conclusion
as before. He also stated, at the same time,