Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-17
The NatienaI Defeuees

The following important and interesting Cir
cuiar has been sent to Governor Morgan, and
similar ones have been sent to the Governors OF
al the States on the seaboard and the Lakes:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
Warrington, October Il, 1861
To hfs EIcsHsHcy,
ths Governor of the State of Nsp York
SIR The present insuIrection had not even
revealed itself In arms, when disloyal citizsns
FASTENED to foreign countries to invoke their in
prevention for the overthrow Of the Government
and the destruction Of the Federal Union These
agents are known TO have made their appeals to
some OF the more important States without sue
cess Ii is mt likely, however, that they will
remain content with such refusals Indeed, Il Ia
understood that thet ere industriously endeavor-
ing to accomplish their disloyal purposes by de-
grees and Induction. Taking advantage Of the
embarrassments of agriculture, ma ufactures and
commerce in foreign countries resulting from the
insurrection they have inaugurated at home, they
seek to Involve our common country in controver-
sies with states with which every public interest
and every Interest Of mankind require that IL shall
remain In relations Of pesee amity, and friend
ship.
am able to state for your satisfaction, that the
prospect OF any such disturbance 10 now less seri-
Gus than 1t has been at any previous period during
the course Of the insurrecton. IL is nevertheless
necessary now, as ii has hitherto been, to take
every precauon that 10 possible to avert the evils
sf foreign war, 10 be supernduced upon those Of
civil cOmmotion which We are endeavoring to
cure One Of the most obvious of such prec sutions
Is that our ports and harbors the seas and lakes
should be In condition Of complete defence; for
any nation may be said TO Voluntarily incur
danger In tempestuous seasons when IL falls to
show that II has sheltered Itself on every side
from which the storm migh t possibly come
The measures which the Executive can adopt
In this emergency are such only as Congress has
sanctioned, and for which 1t has provided The
President is putting forth the most dligent eff
forts to execute these measures, and we have the
great satisfaction of seeing that these efforts
d.. a
patriotic, and self.sacrifcing people, are rapidly
bringing the military and naval forces Of the
United States into the highest state Of efficiency
But Congress was chiefly absorbed during Its re-
cent extra session, with those measures, and did
not provide as amply as could be wished for the
fertilization Of our sea and lake coasts In pre-
vious wars loyal States have applied themselves,
by independent and separate activity, to support
ana aid the Federal Government In its arduous
responsibilities. The same disposition has been
manifested in a degree emnently honorable by
all the loyal States during the present insurrec-
ton.
In view of this fact, and RELYING upon the I'm.
crease and continuance Of the same disposition on
the part Of the loyal States, the President has di.
fetted me to invite your consideration to the SUBJ
Jet OF the Importance OF Perfecting the defenses
OF the state over which You preside. and to ask
you TO submit the subject to the consideration Of
the Legislature when Ii shall have assembled
Such proceedings by the State would require only
temporary use OF Its means: The expenditures
ought to be made the subject OF conference with
the Federal Government. Being thus made, with
the concurrence of the Government, for general
Defense there Is every reason To believe that Con
gress would sanction what the State should do
and would provide for its reimbursement should
these suggestions be accepted The President will
direct proper agents Of the Federal Government
TO confer with you, and TO superntend, direct
and conduct the prosecution Of the system of de-
Tense of your State
have the honor to be, sir, your obt servant,
WILLIAM II. SEWARD.