Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-04-19
LINCOLN'S REPLY TO
THE NIRGINIANS.

WAsHINGToN, April / 3.
The following is the reply of President Lin
coin to the Virginia Commissioners
To Messrs Preston, Stark and Randolph:
GENTLEMEN AS Committee of the Viz
ginia Convention now in session. you present
me preamble and resolution as follows:
Uhercp. In the opinion Of This Convention the uu-
certainty which prevails in the public mind the po-
Icy which the Federal Executive intends 20 pursue
wards the seeded States is extremely injurious to the
tends TO keep up excitement which il uniayoabe to
the adjustment Of the pending dific Ties
hcSoirca, That Committee Of ihrce delegates be APP
pointed to wait on the President OF the United States
and present to him this preamble and respectfully ask
him 70 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 l was able, it is
with deep regret and modification now learn
there is great and injurious uncertainty in the
public mind to what that policy is, and
what course intend to pursue. Not having
as yet occasion to change it, it is my purpose
to pursue the course marked out in the Inau-
gural Address. / commend careful consid .
Grafton of the whole document as the best ex-
preston can give to my purposes. As |
then and therein said ! now repeat The
potger copfded 10 me l0H be used 10 hold, occu-
py anil possess property and places belonging 10
The Government, and 10 collect The duties on i'm
ports but beyond ,rhat is necessary for these
objects here ,ciH be no iauasion, 40 usnqof force
ogainst he people any,ohere. BY the words
property and places belonging to the Govern
mcnt,' ! chiefly allude to the military posts
aud property which were in possession of the
| Government when it came into my hands
But if, as now appears to be true, in pur-
suit of a purpose to drive the United States
Authority from their places, an unproyoked
assault has been made upon Fort Sumter, /
shalt hoid myself at hJerty to repossess, II ! can,
IKE places Which had been seized bejore The Gov
ernment iOds deUoiued upon me, and IN any epeni
/ shall 10 the best of my ability repd force by
force.
l shall perhaps cause the U. S. mails to be
Withdrawn from all the States which claim to
have seeded believing that actual war against
the government justiGes and possibl demands
il.
scarcely need say that consider the mil
itary forts and property, situated within the
States which claim to have seeded, as yet be-
longing to the u. S. Government, as much as
they did before the supposed secession
Whatever else may do, propose to attempt
to collect the duties and revenues in every
part Of the country, not meaning by this, how
ever, that | may not land force deemed ne
cessary to relieve fort upon the border of
the country. From the fact that have quot
cd a part Of the inaugural address, it must
not be inferred that rcpudiate any other
part, the whole of which ! REAFFIRM, except
so far as what now say of the mails may be
regarded as a modification.
70 A. N. Swain, Esq. editor Of the Bel
lows Falls Times. has been apnointed Post