Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-10
DELIVERED JULY 5th 1851, AT AN
EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS.
FelloU citizens Of the Senate and
House of REPRESENTATIVES :

house OF representatives:
| IIving been convened on an extraordi.
nary occasion, as authorized by the Con-
stitution, 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 tc
be generally suspended within the several
States afS09a3 Gag9lip9, GsssrSie,, s o.. Aasa J,3o,
Department. Within these States, the
forts, arsenal9 dccckkyards, custom house
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. exceptinc
only forts Pickens, Taylor and Jefferson
or and near the Florida coast, ard Fort
Sumter in Charleston harbor, South Car
olina. The forts thus seized had been
put in mn improved condition, new ones
had been built, and armed forces had
been organized and were organizing all
avowedly with some hostile purpose The
forts remaining in the possession of the
Federal Government in and near those
States were either bes;eged or menaced
by warlike preparations, and especially
Fort sumter was nearly surrounded by
well protected hostile batteries with guns
equal in quality to the best of its own,
and outnumbering the latter as perhaps
ten to one. A disproportionnte share Of
the Federal muskets and rifles had some~
how found their way into those States,
and has been seized to be used against the
government. Accumulations of the pub.
lie revenue lying within them had been
seized for the same object. The navy vas
scattered in distant seas, leaving but a
very small part of it within the mmedi-
ate reach Of the government. Officers of
the Federal army and navy had resigned
in great numbers, and of those resisning
a large proportion had taken up arms
against the government. simultaneously
and in connection with all this, the pur-
pose to sever the Federal Union was open
ly avowed. In accordance with this pur-
pose an ordinance had been adopted in
each ct these States declaring the States
respectively separated from the Nation
al Union. A formula instituting combi.
ned government of these Stltes had been
promul gated, and this illegal organization
IN the character of the Confederate States,
was already invoking recognition, aid and
intervention from foreign powers. Find
ing this condition of things, and believing
1t to be an imperative duty on the incom,
ing Executive to prevent, if possible, the
consummatlon of such attempts to des-
troy the Federal Union, choice Of means
to that end became indispensable. This
choice was made and wa. declared in the
inaugural address. The policy chosen
looked TO the exhaustation Of all peaceful
measures before n 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
revenue, relying for the rest on time, dis.
cussion and the ballot-box. It promised
a continuance Of the mails at government
expense to the very people who were re-
sisting the government, and it gave res
peated pledges against any disturbance to
any OF the people, or any of their rights,
OF all that which President might con.
stitutionally and justifiably do in such
case. Everything was corborne, without
which it was believed possible to keep
the government on foot.
On the fifth Of March, the present in
cunbents first full day in office, q letter
OF Major Anderson, commanding at Fort
Sumter, written on the 2Sth of February,
and received at the War Department, on
The 4th o. March was, by that department
placed in his hands. This letter express
ed the professional opinion of the writer
that reinfo-cements could not be thrown
into that fort within the time for his re,
lief rendered necessary by the limited
supply of provisions aud with view of