The national Republican., 1861-04-15
the United States. They will doubtless vel.
come the return Of the old authority.
The PRESIDENTS REPLY TO THE
VIRGINIA COMMIJTEE

NlNbiNlA COMMl lee.
The committee of the Virginia Convention
had second interview with the President, on
Saturday morning at nine o'clock when they
received from him in writing the following re.
ply to their communications:
Hon. Messrs. Preston, Stuart, and Randolph:
Gentlemen AS q committee Of the Virginia
Convention, now in session, you present me q
preamble and resolution in these words:
Whereas, in the opinion OF this Convention,
mind as to the policy which the Federal Exec.
utive intends to pursue towards the seeded
States is extremely injurious to the industrial
and commercial interests OF the country, tends
to keep up an excitement which is unfa yorable
to the adj justment of pending difficulties, and
threatens disturbance Of the public peace:
therefore,
Resoired, That a committee of three dele.
gates be appointed to wait on the President of
the United states, present to him this preamble
and resolution, aud respectfully ask him to
communicate 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
intended policy as plainly as l was able, it
is with deep regret and some modification
now learn that there is great and injurious un.
certainty 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. com.
mend a careful consideration of the whole doc.
ument, as the best expression l can give Of my
purposes. AS then and therein said, now re.
peat:
THE power confded 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 necessary for these objects, there will
be no invasion, no using Of force, against or
among the people anywhere"
By the words property and places belong.
ing 10 the Government chiefly alude 10 the
military posts and property which were in the
possession OF the Government when it came
to my hands,
But il, as now appears to be true, in pursuit
of purpose to drive the United States author
ity from these places, an unprovoked assault
has been made upon Fort Sumter, shall hold
myself at liberty to repossess, if can, like
places which had been seized before the Gov.
eminent was devolved upon me.
And, in any event, l shall, to the best of my
ability, repel force by force.
In case it proves true that Fort Sumter has
been assaulted, as has been reported, shall,
perhaps cause the United States mails to be
Withdrawn from all the States which claim to
have seeded believing that the commence
ment Of actual war against the Government
justifes and possibly demands it.
scarcely need to say that l consider the
military 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.
Whatever else may do for the purpose I
shall not attempt to collect the duties and i'm
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 fort upon the border Of the country.
From the fact that have quoted part OF
the Inaugural Address, it must not be inferred
that l repudate any other part, the whole OF
which | reafirm, except so for as what now
say of the mails may be regarded as a modi6-
\ cation