Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-07-12
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Felloac Ctti2eas Of the Senate
and House of REPRESENTATIVES

and House Of Representatives;
Having been convened on an extraordi-
nary occasion, as authorized by the Con-
stitution, your attention is not called to
any ordinary subject of Legislation.
At the beginning of the present Presi-
dental term, four months ago, the func-
lions of the Federal Government were
found to be generally suspended within
the several states of South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
and Florida, excepting only those of the
Post Office Department within these states.
All the forts, arseuals, dockyards, Gus
tom houses, and the like, including the
movable and stationary property in and
about them, had been seized and were
held in open hostility to this Government,
excepting only forts Pickens, Taylor and
jefferson on and near the Florida coast,
and fort Sumter in Charleston harbor, S.
c. The forts thus seized had been put in
improved condition, and new ones had
been built, and armed forces had been Or
ganizing avowedly with the same hostile
purpose.
The forts remaining in the possession OF
the Federal Government in and near these
states were either beseigcd or nenaced by
warlike preparations, and especially fort
Sumter was nearly surrounded by 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 disproportlonate share OF the
Federal muskets and rifles had somehow
found their way into these states and had
been seized to be used against the Gov
crnment. Accumulations of the public
revenue lying within them had been seiz-
ed for the same object.
The navy was scattered in distant seas,
leaving but very small part of it within
the immediate reach of the government
Officers of the Federal army and navy had
resigned in great numbers, and of those
resiguing large proportion had taken up
arms against the government.
simultaneously and in connection with
all this, the purpose to sever the Federal
Union was openly avowed In accordance
with this purpose, an ordinance had been
adopted in each of the states declaring the
states respectively to be separated from
the National Union.
A formula for instituting combined
government of those states had been pro-
mulgated. and this illegal organization in
the character of the Confederate States,
already invoking recognition, aid, and in
terveution from foreign powers
Finding this condition of things and
believing it to be an imperative duty
upon the incoming Executive to prevent if
possible the consummation of such an at
tempt to destroy the Federal Union, a de-
vice of means to that end became indis-
pensable. This choice was made and was
declared in the inaugural address.
The policy chosen looked to the ex-
haustion of all peaceable measures before
"a resort to any stronger ones. 1t sought
only to hold the public places and prop
erty not already wrested from Government,
and to collect the revenue relying for the
rest on time, discussion and the ballot
box. 1t promised continuance OF the
mails at Government expense to the very
people who were resisting the Government,
and it gave repeated pledges against any
disturbances to any of the people of any
Of their rights and of all that which a
President might constitutionally and JUS
tifably do in such case. Everything
was forborne without which it was believ-
ed possible to keep the Government on
foot.
ON the 9TH Of March, the present in
cumbent's first full day in Office a letter
from Maj. Anderson, commanding at fort
Sumter, written on the 28th of February
and received at the War Department was
placed in his hands. The letter expressed
the professional opinion Of the writer thai
reinforcements could not be thrown int
that fort within time for his relief, rem
dered necessary by limited supply o.