The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-07-12
THE NESSAGR
PRESIDENT LINCOLN
DELIVERED TO THE
SPECIAL SESSION OF CONGRESS
FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1861,

Fsllow Citizens Of the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatiOes:
Having been convened in extraordinary
session as authorized by the Constitution
your attention is not called to any ordinary
subject of legislation.
At the beginning of the present Presi
dental term, four months ago, the functions
of the Federal Government were found to
be generally suspended within the several
States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alaba-
ma, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida, ex.
cepting those only of the Post Office De-
partment Within these States all the
forts, arsenals, dock yards, custom houses,
&C., including all the movable and stationa-
ry property in and about them, had been
seized and held in open hostility to this gov.
eminent, excepting only Forts Pickens,
Taylor and jefferson, on and near the Flor
ida coast, and Fort Sumpter in Charleston
harbor.
The forts thus seized had been put in i'm.
proved condition, new ones had been built
and armed. Other forces had been organs
lied and were organizing, all avowedly for
the same hostile purposes The forts re-
naming in the Federal possession in and
near those states were either besieged or
menaced by warlike preparations. Espe-
cially Fort Sumter was nearly surrounded
by well protected hostile batteries, with
guns equal in quality to the best of its own
and outnumberng the latter as ten to one
A disproportionate share of the Federal
muskets and rifles had somehow found their
way into these states, and had been seized
to be used against the government. Accu.
mutations OF the public revenue 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 resigned a
great portion had taken up arms against
the government. simultaneously and in
connection with all this, purpose to sever
the Federal Union was openly avowed. In
accordance with this purpose, an ordinance
had been reported, in each of these States,
declaring the States respectively to be sep
arated from the Federal Union. The for
mula for institutiDg q combined govern
ment for these States, had been promulga-
ted, and this illegal organization in the
character of the Confederate States, was
already asking recognition, aid, and inter-
vention, from foreign powers.
Finding this condition of means, and be-
lieving it to be an imperative duty upon
the incoming Executive to prevent if posi-.
| BILE, the consummation of such attempt to
destroy the Federal Union, choice OF two
things to the end became indispensable.
! This choice was made and declared in the
| inaugural address. The policy chosen look>
ed to the exhaustion OF all peaceable meas
ures before a resort to any stronger one
1t sought. only to hold the public places
and property not already wrested from the
Government and to collect lhe revenue re.
lying for. the rest on time, discussion and
the ballot box. l promised the continu.
ance of the mails at the governments ex-
pense to the very people who were resisting
|
against any disturbance of any of the PEG
pie of of their rights-of all that which g
President might canstitutionally and justi'
ably do in such case. Everything was
foroorne without which it was believed pos.
sible to keep the government on foot.
THE ATTEMPT TO PROVISION FORT SUMPTER.
On the fifth of March the present incum.
beut's first full day in Office, a letter from
Mi. Anderson. commanding Fort Sumptel
written on the 18th of February, and re-
ceived at the War Department on the 4tt
OF March, was by that Department placed
in bis hands. This letter expressed the pro
iessiOnal opinion of the writer that rein
forcements could not be thrown into tina
fort ip time for his relief, rendered neces
sary by the limited supply of provision
and with a view of holding possession OF tn,
same), with a force of less than 10000 wei
disciplined men. This opinion was concur
red in by all the officers OF bis command ant
their memoranda on the subject were made il
Enclosures of Major Anderson's letter.
The whole was Immediately laid before
Lieutenant General Scott, who at once con
cured with Maj. Anderson ia his decision. Oh
reflection, however, he took full time ia con
sulting with other officers, both of the arm!
and navy, and at the end of four days came
reluctantly but decidedly to the same conclu
sion as before. He also stated at the same TIM
| that no such sufficient force was then at tn
control of the government or could be raiset
md brought to the ground within the TIM
when the provisions of the Fort would be ex
hausted. In purely military point of view
this confined the Administration to the mer
matter of getting the garrison safely out of tn
| Fort,
| 1t was believed, however, that so to abandon
that situation under the circumstances woul'
be utterly ruinous that the necessity unde
which it was to be done would not be full,
understood ; that by many it would be con
| strued as part of voluntary policy; that a
home it would discourage the friends OF IN
| Union. embolden its adversaries and go far t
ensure to the latter recognition abroad, AM
that in fact it would be our national destruc
ton. This could not be allowed. Starvation
was not yet upon the garrison, and ere