The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-05-04
The Presidents Position.

The Hon. Garrett Davis of Kentucky,
prompted by a commendable desire to as
certain what was going on in the mind of
Mr.. Lincoln and his cabinet made jour
ney to Washington on his own hook and
for his own satisfaction. He publishes the
impressions made on him by his interview
with the Chief Magistrate, in the Louisville /
Journal from which we copy:
l found the President frank and calm, but
decided and firm. He expressed deep con-
Germ and regret for the existing condition of
public affairs. and his hope that there would /
yet be restoration of the Union, aud peace
and amity among all the States. He re-
marked, that neither he, nor any other
President, who had been elected by party,
could administer the Government in exact
accordance with his own opinions and judg-
ment but must make some departure to
satisfy those who had placed him in power.
That, before the Carolinians had made their
attack on Fort Sumter, he had decided not
to reinforce or to attempt to reinforce its
garrison, but merely, and only, to supply its
handful of furnishing men with food; and
that he had distinctly communicated these
purposes to the authorities of the Southern
! Confederation. That he had also deter
mined, that, until the meeting of Congress,
| he would make no attempt to retake the
forts, &C., belonging to the United States,
which had been unlawfully seized and
wrested from their possession, but would
leave the then existing state of things to be
considered and acted upon by Congress- I'M
less be should be constrained to depart from
that purpose by the continued military
operations of the seeded States.
The President further said that events
had now reached point when it must be
decided whether our ystem of federal gov
eminent was only a league of sovereign
and independent States, from which any
State could withdraw at pleasure, or
whether the Constitution formed a govern
ment invested with strength and powers
sufficient to uphold its own authority, and
to enforce the execution of the laws of
Congress. That he had no doubt of the
truth of the latter proposition, and he in
tended to make it good in the ADMINISTRATION
Of the Government to the extent that he
should be sustained by the people of tine
United States.
He remarked ALSO that be had expected
J all the States, upon which he had made d
z requisition for military aid, 10 enable him
to execute the laws, to respond to that call
and particularly the State of Kentucky
which had been so loyal to the Union anC
faithful in the performance of all hei
: duties. That he greatly regretted she haC
/, not acted up to the principle of her grea
a statesman now no more, and for which sh,
!, cast her vote in the late Presidential elec
u ton, d" the Union, the Constitution, and tn
: Enforcement of the Laws"
d That he intended to make no attack di
n rect or indirect, upon the institutions o
6 property of any State but, on the contrary
would defend them to the full extent wit
= which the Constitution and laws of Con
n gress have vested the President with th
er power. And that he did not intend to IL
wade with an armed force, or make an
military or naval movement against an
. State, unless she or her people should max
- it necessary by formidable resistance
to the authorities and laws of the Unite
ay States. That if Kentucky or her either
ut should seize the post of Newport it woul
become his duty, and be might attempt
W operations that would make 1t necessary
ut move any troops over her territories
ar though he had the unquestioned right at a
l. times TO march the u S. troops into, an
- over, any and every State. That if Kei
er lucky made no demonstration of force again
er the United States he would not modest he
is That be regretted the necessity of marchiu
troops across Maryland, but forces to pr,
A0 tect the seat of the United States Govern
ar ment could not be concentrated there will
of out doing so; and he intended to keep ope
A. line of communication through that Sta
-. to Washington City, at any risk, but in
W manner least calculated to irritate and il
OF flame her people.