Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-04-23
NO. XVII.
Reply to the Committee of the Virginia
= O.Gx C0nVenfinn.

At 8 o'clock, Saturday morning, the Commits
sioners Lad an interview with the President on
4 the subject of their mission. Mr.. Lincoln made
his reply in writing as follows:
i Hon. Messrs Preston, Stuart, and Randolph: !:
! Gentlemen :AAs committee of the Virginia
Convention, now in session, you present me q
preamble and resolution in these words:
le"W hereas, in the opinion of this Convention,
the uncertainty which prevails in the public mind
as to the policy which the Federal Executive in
tends to pursue towards the seeded States is
extremely injurious to the industrial and COM
mercia interests of the country, tends to keep up
an excitement which is unfavorable to the ad-
justment of pending difficulties, and threatens
disturbance of the public peace: Therefore,
Resolved, That's committee of three delegates
be appointed to wait on the President of the
United States, present to him this preamble and
resolution, and respectfully ask him to commu-
nicate to this Convention the policy which the
Federal Executive intends to pursue in regard
to the Confederate States.'
In answer, have to say, that having at the
beginning of my official term expressed my in
tended policy as plainly as was able, it is with
deep regret and some modification / now learn
that there is great and injurious uncertainty in
the public mind as to what that policy is, and
what course intend to pursue.
!. Not having as yet seen occasion to change, it
is now my purpose to pursue the course marked
out in the Inaugural Address. l commend a
careful consideration of the whole document, as
the best expression can give of my purposes
AS | then and therein said, l now repeat:
'The power con6ded to me will be used to
hold, occupy and possess the property and places
belonging to the Government, and to collect the
duties and imposts but beyond what is necessa-
ry for these objects there will be no invasion, no
IN of for fbo IL
where"
By the words property and places belonging
to the Government" chiefly alude to the mil
ltary posts and property which were in the pos
session OF the Government when it came to my
hands.
But if, as now appears to be true, in pursuit
OF purpose to drive the United States authority
from these places an unprovoked assault has
been made upon Fort Sumter, shall hold my
self at liberty to repossess, if can, like places
which had been seized before the Government
was devolved upon me.
And, IN any event, shall, to the best of my
ability, repel force by force.
In case it proves true that Fort Sumter has
been assaulted, as reported, | shall, perhaps,
cause the United States mails to be withdrawn
from all the States which claim to have been se-
ceded, believing that the commencement Of act
ual war against the Government justifes and
possibly demands it, s- ai t8t
scarcely need to say that / consider the mil
ltary posts and property situated within the
States which claim to have seeded, as yet be-
longing to the government of the United States,
as much as they did before the supposed seces-
sion. .as5 oi bs
Whatever else may dc for the purpose, /
shall not attempt to collect the duties and inn
posts by any armed invasion of any part of the
country-not meaning by this, however, that
may not land force deemed necessary to relieve
a fort upon the border of the country.
From the fact that have quoted part of the
Inaugural Address, it must not be inferred that
| repudiate any other part, the whole of which
| reaffrln, except so far as what now say of
the mails, may be regarded as a modification.