East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-07-11
TIE PRysIpyNTs MESSAGE

occasion, as authorized by the Constitution,
your attention Is not called to any ordinary sub
ject Of legislation. At the beginning of the
present Presidential term, four months ago, the
functions of the Federal Government were found
10 be generally suspended within the several
States Of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, ard Florida, excepting
those only of the Postofhcc Department.
Within these States all the forts, arsenals dock
yards, custom houses, &c, including the NOV L.
able and stationary property in and about them,
had been seized and held in open hostility to
this government, excepting only Forts Dickens,
Taylor, and Jefferson on and near the Florida
coast, and Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor.
The forts thus seized had beep put in improved
condition; new ones had been built and armed
forces had been organized and were organizing,
all uyowcdly with the same hostile purpose
The forts remaining in the federal possession iu
and near those States were either beseged or
menaced by Yarlike preparations, especially
Fort Sumtcr, which was nearly surrounded by
well protected hostile batteries, with guns equal
in quality with the best of its own, and out
numbering the latter, as perhaps ten TO one
\ disproportlonato share Of the federal mus
kcts and rifles had somehow found their way
into these States, and had been seized to be
used against the 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 a very
small part Of it within the immediate reach of
the government; officers Of the federal army
had resigned in great numbers, and of those re-
signing a great portion had taken up arms
against the government Simultaneously, and
in connection with all this, the purpose to sever
the Federal Union was openly ayo led.
In accordance with this purpose an ordinance
had been adopted in each of these States, de-
claring the States respectively to be separated
! from the National Union. Tho formula for IN
stituting combined government of these States
had been promulgated, and this illegal organ
ization, in the character of the Confederate
States, was already invoking recognition, aid
and Intervention from foreign Powers. Finding
this the condition of things, and believing it to
be an imperative duty upon the incoming Ex-
ccutiyo to prevent if possible, the consumma-
tion of such an attempt to destroy the Federal
! Union, choice of means to that end became
indispensable. This choice was made, and was
declared in the inaugural address The policy
chosen looked to the exhaustion of all peaceful
measures before resort to any stronger ones.
1t sought only to hold the public places and
property not already wrested from the govern
nent, and to collect the revenue, relying for the
rest on time, discussion, and the ballot box
1t promised the continuance Of the mails at the
governments expense to the very people who
were resisting the government, and gave re-
peated pledges against any disturbance to any
of the people or any of their rights, of all
that which President might constitutionally
and iustifably do in such case. Everything
was forborne, without which it was believed i'm
possible to keep the government on foot
On the 9th of March, the present incum
bent's first full day in office, letter from Major
Anderson, commanding at Fort Sumter, written
on the Goth of February, and received at the
War Department on the 4th of March, was by
that Department placed in his hands. This let
ter expressed the professional opinion of the
writer that reinforccments could not be thrown
into that fort in time for his relief rendered ne
cossary by the limited supply of provisions, and
with view Of holding possession of the same
with force of less than 10000 well disciplined
men, This opinion was concurred in by all the
officers of his command and their memorand;
on the subject were made enclosures of Major
Anderson's letter. The whole was Immediately
laid before Lieut.. Gen. Scott, who at once con
Cured with Major Anderson in bis OPINION
On reflection, however, he took full time il
consulting with other officers, both of the army
and navy, and at the end of four days came re
luctantly, but decidedly, to the same conclusion
as before. He also stated at the same time
that no such sufficient force was then at tn,
control of the government, or could be RAISED
and brought to the ground within the time whel
; the provisions of the fort would be exhausted
In purely military point of view this reduced
the duty Of the Administration to the mer,
matter of getting the garrison safely out of thu
fort. 1t was believed, however, that to so aban
don that position, under the circumstances
wonld be utterly ruinous; that the ncccssit,
under which it was to be done would not b.
fully understood, and by many would be con
strued as part of II voluntary policy; that a
homo it would discourage the friends of tn
Union, embolden its adversares, and go far 4
insure to the latter recognition abroad that
7 in fact, it would be our national destruction
| consummated. This could not be allowed
Starvation was not yet upon the garrison, ant
ere it would be reached Fort Pickcns might b
reinforced. This last would be a clear indica
ton of policy, and would better enable tn
country to accept the evacuation of Fort Sum
ter as a military necessity. An order was a
once directed to be sent for the landing of tn
troops from the steamship Brooklyn into For
Pickens. This order could not go by land, bu
' must take the longer and slower route by SEE
The first return news from the order was re
ccived just one week before the fall of Sumter
, The news itself was, that the officer command
ing the Sabine, to which vessel the troops ha
/ been transferred from the Brooklyn, acting upo
some quasi armsticc of the late Administrator
. and of the existence of which the present Ad
, ministration, up to the time the order was dis
patched, had only too vague and uncertain ri
mors to fix attention--had refused to land tn
troops. To now re inforce Fort Pickens bcfor
a crisis would be reached at Fort Sumter wa
:, imnossihle rnnlercd so BIZ the moro cxhnnstin