Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-07-05
THE GREAT REBELLION,
FIRST MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AN ARMY OF 4Oe 600 MEN
RECOMMENDED.
s4OO, 900, 600 In Money asked For

EtOiD citizens ofe Senate and House Of Rep saiiees
Having been convened on extraordinary occasion,
authorised by the Constitution your attention Is not
called TO any ordinary subject Of legislation. At the
beginning Of the Presidential torn four months ago. the
functions Of the Federal oyefnment were found 70 be
generally suspended within the snveral states OF South
CAronA, Georga, Alabama, Mi5sasippi Louisiana and
Florlda, excepting only those 81 tho post oee Depart
ment Within these statos all the urt arsenas dock
yards custom houses aud the like, had been seized and
were held in open hostility to his Government excepting
emily forts pekens Taylor and Jefferson and near the
Florida coast and Fort Sumpter in Charleston harbor
South Carolina These forts thus seized had been put In
improved condition, ones had been built and armed
had been organized and organizing all avow
edy with the hostile purpose. The forts remaining
IN the possession the Federal Government In and
these States either hesoged menaced by warliks
preparations and especially Fort Sumper, which was
nearly surrounded 6y weprljected hostile batteries
with guns equal in quality to the best of tsown, and
nortIopate share OF the Federal muses and rifles had
somehow found their way these States and had been
seized 10 be used against the Government Aecumula-
tons Of the public revenue lying within them had been
seized for the object The navy was scattered In
distant seas leaving but very small part Of It within
the immediate reach of the Government Officers Of the
Federal army and navy had resigned in great numbers
and Of those esignng large proportion had takeu up
arms against the Government
simultaneously, and in connection with all this the
purpose to sever the Federal Union was openly ayowed
In accordance with this purpose ordinance had been
adopted in each Of these ST tos declaring the states
bpeevely 10 be separated from the National Union.
formula for insiitutng combined Government for these
States had been promulgated and this illegal organza
ion tho character Of Confederate States already
invoking recognition AID aud Intervention from foreign
powers
an imperative duty upon the incoming Executive pre-
vent If possible, the contamination Of such attempt to
destroy the Federal Union choice of TO that end
beeame Indispensable. This choice made and was
declared In the Inaugural Address. The policy chosen
looked to the exhaustion Of all peaceful measures before
resort to any stronger II sought only hold
public places and property not already wTested from the
Goyernent and to collect the revenue, relying for the
rast on time discussion aud the baloboN. 1t promised
a continuance Of the malls at the Government expense
Il ina very people who resisting the Government
snd IL gaye repeaed pledges against any disturbance Ia
any Of tie people any Of their rights Ofa that which
Presdept might cOnsituonally and justihahly do In
Euch a case everything iorborne, without which \
Was believed possible to keep the Government on foot
day in office letter Of Major Anderson commanding al
Fort sumter written tho 18th Of February and re
bv mai Deparmenl placed In his hands This letter
pressed the professional opinion Of the writer that rein
orcemens could not be thrown into that fort within tn
ply OF PROVISIONS with view Of holding possession
Of the same, with force Of less than twenty thousand