Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-07-12

Se!itdktpeS
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 Presidential term, foul
months ago, the functions of the Fedora
Government were found to be generally
suspended within the several States oil
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana and Florida, excepting
those only of the Post Office Department
Within these States all the forts, arsenals
dock yards, custom houses, &C., including
all the movable and stationary property il
and about them, had been seized and held
in open hostility to this Government, ex.
cepting only Forts Pickens, Taylor and
Jefferson, on and near the Florida coast
and Fort Sumter 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 organ
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 beseiged or
menaced by warlike preparations. Especi-
ally Fort Sumter was nearly surrounded
! 81 well protected hostile batteries, with
guns 9quai in quality to The best of its
own, and outnGmbering the latter as ten
to one. A disproporti0nate share of the
| Federal muskets and rifles had somehow
found their way into these States, and had
/ been seized to be used against the Govern
ment. Accumulations of the public
revenue had been seized for the same
object. The navy was scattered IN dis
tant seas, leaving but a very small part of
/ it within the immediate reach of the Gov
ernment Officers of the federal army
had resigned in great numbers, and of
those resigned great portion had taken
up arms against the Government. Stimuli
1 taneously and in connection with all this,
a 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 separated from
| the Federal Union. The formula for in
stituting a combined Government for these
States had been promulgated, and this il
legal organization in the character Of the
Confederate States. was already asking
recognition, aid, and intervention trom
| foreign powers. Finding this condition
of affairs, and believing it to be an I'M
perative duty upon the incoming Exeeu-
tive to prevent if possible, the consum-
nation of such attempt to destroy the
Federal Union, a choice of two things to
the end became indispensable. This
choice was made and declared in the in
augural address. The policy chosen,
| looked to the exhaustion of all peaceable
measures before a resort to any stronger
one. 1t sought only to hold the public
places and property not already wrasted
| from the Government and to collect the
revenue relying for the rest on time, discus
sion and the ballot box. promised the
continuance of the mails at the Govern
ment's expense to the very people who
were resisting the Government, and
gave repeated pledges against any dis
turbance of any of the people or any of
| their rights-of all that which Presi
dent might constitutionally and justifably
do in such case. Everything was for
borne without which it was believed pos
sible to keep the Government on foot.
| On the fifth of March. the present in
cumbent's first full day in office, letter
| from Major Anderson, commanding at
Fort Sumter, written on the 28th of Feb
ruary and received at the War Depart
ment on the 4th of March, was by that
Department placed in his hands. This let
ter expressed the professional opinion of
the writer that reinforcements could not
/ be thrown into that fort in time for his
relief, (rendeied necessary by the limited
supply of provisions and with view OF
| holding possession Of the same, with a
force Of less than 10000 we'll disciplined
men. This opinion was concurred IN by
| all the officers of his command and their
memoranda on the subject were made in
closures of Major Anderson's letter. The
whole was Immediately laid before Lieut..
Gen. Scott, who at once concurred with
Major Anderson in his decision. On re-
Election, however, he took full timein con-
sulting with other officers, both of the
army and navy, and at the end OF four
DAYS came reluctantly but decidedly to
| the same conclusion as before. He also
stated at the same time that no such sutfi-
| cient force was then at the control OF the
+! Government or could be raised and brought
to the ground within the time when the
provisions in the Fort would be exhaust
ed. In a purely military point Of view,
this confined the Administration to the
mere matter of getting the garrison safely
out of the Fort It was believed, how
ever, that to so abandon that situation IN
der the circumstances would be utterly
ruinous that the necessity under which
it was to be done would not be fully un-
derstood that by many it you'd be con-
strued as part of voluntary policy; that
at home it would discourage the friends
Of the Union, embolden its adversaries and
go far to insure to the latter recognition
abroad, and that in fact it would be our
national destruction. This could not be
allowed. Starvation was not yet upon the
garrison, and ere it would be reached.
Fort Piekens might be reinforced. This
last would be clear indication of policy,
and would better enable the country to
accept the evacuation of Sumter as a mill
tarv necessity. Then an order was at
once directed to be sent for the landing oi
the troops from the steamship Brooklyn
| into Fort Pickens. This order could not
60 by land but must take the suTer and
slower route by sea. The first returning
news from the order was received just one
week before the fall of Sumter. The news
itsalf was thai the officer commanding the