Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-07-27
III president's UesoaSe.

Ths prsside1t's HssssSs.
Below We publish abou. swo-thirds Of the Mes
sage delivered 10 ii. extra session Of Conerrss.
which eouveaed on the 4,h cfJuly. The remain
der had no, beea received up tillthe hour Of going
% psess
FSlioo-eisi1c~s cftAe Senate and House
Of Representatives. Having been con.
vencd on an extraordinary occasion, rs
authorized By the Constitution, your
attention 10 not called to any ordinary
subject IT legislation. At the begin
Mug Of the present Presidential term.
four months ago, the functions Of the
Federal Government were found to be
ge,erullv suspended within the several
States of South Carolina, Georgia. Ala
ba,na, Mississippi, Louisiana. and Flor
ida, excepting only those 1T the Post
Office Department. Within those States
the f;,rts, arsenels, backwards. harbOrs
cust. NJ. houses, and the like, including
the m".veable aud stationary property
in and about them had been seized,
and were held in open hostility to the
Government, excepting only Forts
Pickcms, Taylor and jefferson, on and
near the Florida coast. and Fort Sum-
ter in Charleston Harbor, South Caro-
lima. The forts thus seized have been
nut in depraved condition. New ones
had been bnilt, and armed forces had
been organized and were organizing
all, avowedly, with the same hostile
purpose. The forts remaining in the
possession Of the Federal Government
in and near to these States were either
besicged or menaced by warlike rrepa-
rations, and especially Fort Sumter was
nearly surrounded Ivy well-protected
hostile batteries, with guns equal in
quality to the best of its own, and out
numbering the latter as perhaps ten to
one. A disproportionate share of the
Federal muskets and rifles had some
how found their way into these States,
and had been seized to he used against
tho 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 IL very small part within the
immediate use of the Government.
The officers IF the Federal Army and
Navy had resigned in great numbers;
and IF those resigning, large proper
ton had taken up arms against the Gov.
eminent. simultaneously, aud in con
ncction with all these, the purpose to
sever the Federal Union was openly
avowed. IL accordance with this pur.
rose an ordinance had been adopted in
each of these States, declaring the
States respectively to be separated from
the National Union. and u formula for
combining and instituting combined
Government of these States had hecu
promulgated; and this illegal organiza-
ton. in the character Of Confederate
States, was already invoking recogni-
ton, aid and intervention from foreign
powers.
Finding this condition Of things, and
believing it to be an imperative duty
upon the incoming Executive to pre-.
vent, if possible, the consummation of
such all attempt to destroy the Federal
Union, choice of means to the end
became indispensable. The choice was
made and declared in the Inaugural Ad-
dress. Tie policy chosen looked to
the exhaustion Of all peaceful means
before resort to stronger ones. 1t
sought only to hold the public places
and property not already wrested from
the Government, and to collect the rev.
emues, relying for the res: on time. dis
cussion and the ballot. But it prom.
ised continuance Of tho mails at Gov.
eminent expense to the very people
who were resisting tine Government;
and it gave repeated pledges against
any disturbance to any of tho people
or any Of their rights Of all that which
a President might constitutionally and
instifiably do in such case. Every
thing was f,rbornc without which it was
believed possible to keep the Govern
ment on foot.
On the 5th Of March, the present in
cumbent's first full day in Office, a let
ter IT Major Anderson's, commanding
Mt Fort Sumter. written on the 28th Of
February, and received ut the War De-
partmemt on the 4th Of March. was hy
that Department placed in his hands.
The letter expressed the professional
opinion of the writer that reinforce
ments conld not bc thrown into that
Fort within the time tor his relief, rem.
dered necessary by the limited supply
If provisions, and with view of bold.
ing possession If the same. with forre
If less than 10000 good and well dis
ciplined men. This opinion was con.
cured in by all the officers If his cum.