The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-26

gate number of seveWy fue thousand, in
order to suppress said combinations, and to
cause the laws to be duly executed.
The details for this object will be imme-
diately communicated to the State authori-
ties through the War Department. ap-
peal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate
and aid this effort to maintain the honor,
the integrity, and the existence OF our Ma
tional Union, and the perpetuity Of popular
government, and to redress wrongs already
long enough endured.
deem it proper to say that the first
service assigned to the forces hereby called
forth will probably be to repossess the forts,
places and property which have been seized
from the Union and in every event the
utmost care will be observed, consistently
with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any
destruction Of, or interference with, property,
or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in
any part of the country and hereby com.
mand the persons composing the combina-
lions aforesaid to dispense and retire peace
ably to their respective ab0des within
twenty days from this date.
Deeming that the present condition OF
public affairs presents an extraordinary
occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the
power in me vested by the Constitution,
convene both Houses of Congress. The
Senators and Representatives are therefore
summoned to assemble at their respective
chambers at twelve o'clock, noon on Thurs
day, the fourth day of July next, then and
there to consider and determine such meas
ures, as, in their wisdom, the public safety
and interest may seem to demand.
t. nptn
my hand, and caused the seal Of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this fif>
tenth day of April, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-one, and of the independence of the
United States the eighty-ifth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President
VIM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
THE VIRGINIA COMMISSIONERS.
The Virginia Commissioners, Messrs.
PRESTON, STUART and RANDOLPH, appointed
by the Convention to wait upon and ascer.
tain the policy of President LINCOLN, were
formally received on Saturday last. In
reply to the Commissioners, the President
said:
GENTLEMEN-As committee of the Vir-
ginia Convention, now in session, you pre-
sent me preamble and resolution in these
words:
Whereas, in the opinion of this Convention,
the uncertainty which prevails in the public
mind as to the policy which the federal Exec
utive intends to pursue towards the seeded
States, is extremely injurious to the industry
and commercial interests of the country, tends
to keep up an excitement which is unfavOrable
to the adjustment of the pending difficulties,
and threatens disturbance of the public peace
therefore, @'.t'N
Resolved, That committee of three dele
gates be appOin ed to wait on the President of
the United States, present to him this pream-
BILE, and respectfully ask him to communicate
to this Convention the policy which the FEEDER.
al 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 was able,
it is with deep regret and modification
now learn there is great and injurious I'm.
certainty in the public mind as to what
that policy is. and what course 1 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 ad-
dress. commend careful consideration
OF the whole document as the best expires.
sion can give to my purposes. AS then
and therein said, now repeat, "The power
con6ded in me will be used to hold, occupy
and possess property and places belonging
| to the government, and to collect the duties
and imports; bat 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, "prop>
erty and places belonging to the govern
ment," chiefly allude to the military posts
and property which were in possession of
the government when it came into my
hands. But if, as now appears true, in
pursuit of a purpose to drive the United
States authority from these places, an un-
provoked assault has been made upon Fort
Sumpter, shall hold myself at liberty to
repoSsess it, if I can, and also like places
which had been seized before the govern
ment was devolved upon me; and in any
event l shall, to the best of my ability, re-
pei force by force. In case it proves true
that Fort Sumpter has been assaulted,
as is reported, shall, perhaps, cause the
United States mails to be Withdrawn from
Oil tuO oeoVSo WhiSA S.uluA W u0VC 0CCCuCOs
believing that the commencement of actual
war against the government justifes and
possibly demands it. 1 scarcely need to
say that consider the military posts and
property situated within the states which
claim to have seeded, as yet belonging to
the government of the United States as
much as they did before the supposed seces-
sion. Whatever else l may do for the pur-
pose, shall not attempt to collect the du-
ties and imposts 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 ad.
dress, it must not be inferred that repu-
diate any other part, the whole of which 4
reafirm, except so far as what now say
of the mails may be regarded as a modi6ca.
ton.
INCIDENTS OF THE B0MBARDMENT OF SUMTER.