Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-07-12
ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S MESSAGE.
Demand for 100000 Men and Four
Hundred Millions of Dollars!

binary occasion, as authorized by the
constitution, your attention is not called
to any ordinary subject of legislation.
At the beginning of the present pre-
sideutial term, four months ago, the func-
tons of the federal government were
found to be generally suspended within
The several States of South Carolina,
Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi, Louisi-
ana, Id Florida, excepting those only
Of toe post Office department.
Within these States all the forts, ar
senals, dock-yards, eustom-houscs, and
the like, including the movable and sta
tionary property in and about them, had
been seized and 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, South Carolina.
The forts thus seized had been put in
improved condition, new ones had been
built, and armed forces had been orga-
nized, and were organizing, all avowedly
with the same hostile purpose. The forts
remaining in the possession of the fede-
raj government in and near these States
were either besieged or menaced by war
like preparations; and especially Fort
Sumter was nearly surrounded BY we'll
protected hostile batteries, with guns
equal in quality to the best Of its own
and outuumbcring the latter as, perhaps,
ten to one
A disproportionate share Of the fede-
raj muskets aud rifles had somehow found
their way into these States, and had been
seized to be used against the government
Accdnulations of the public revenue ly-
ing within them had been seized for the
same object The navy was scattered in
different seas, leaving but a 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 resigning a 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 ayowcd. In accord
ance with this purpose on ordinance had
been adopted II each Of these States, de-
claring these States peetively 70 be se-
pafated lfam The Naloual MON a
formula foE instituting combined GO
vernment Of these States had been pro-
muIgated, and this illegal organization
in the character of Confederate States,
was already invoking recognition, aid
and intervention from foreign powers.
Finding this condition of things, and
believing it to be an imperative duty up
on the incoming Executive to prevent,
if possible, the consummation of such an
attempt to destroy the Federal Union, a
choice Of means to that end become in
dispensable.
This choice was made and declared in
the inaugural address Tue policy chos-
en- looked to the exhaustion Of all peace
full measures before a resort to any strong
er ones 1t sought only to hold the pub
lie places and property not already wrest-
ed from the government and to collect
the revenues, relying on the rest for time,
discussion and the ballot-box.
1t promised continuance Of the mails
at government expense to the very peo-
pie who were resisting the government
and it gave repeated pledges against any
disturbance to any Of the people or any
of their rights OF all that President
might constitutionally or justfably do
in such case, everything was foreborne
without which it was deemed 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 Major Anderson, commanding at
Fort Sumter, written on the 2Sth Of Feb
ruary, aud received at the War Depart
ment on the 4th OF March, was BY that
department placed in bis hands This
letter expressed the professional opinion
of the writer that reinforcenpnts could
not be thrown into that fort within the
time for bis relief rendered necessary by
the limited supply of provisions, and
with a view ot hoisiug possession Of the
same. with force Of less than 20, 600
good and weil-discpliued men. This
opinion was eoncurred in by all the Off
GERS of this command, and their memo
randa on the subject we're made cnclo-
sures of Major Anderson's letter.
The whole was Immediately laid before
Lieut.. Gen. Scott, who at once concur
red with Maj Anderson in opinion. On
reflection, however, he took full time,
consulting with officers both Of the army
and navy, aud at the end Of four days
came reluctantly. but decidedly, to the
same conclusion as before. lie also stat
ed. at the same time, that no sufficient
force was then at the control Of the 60
yernment, or could be raised and brought
on the ground within the time when the
provisions in the fort would be exhausted.
In purely military point Of view,
this reduced the duty Of tie adminlstra-
ton in the case to the mere matter Of
getting the garrison safely out Of the
fort. IL was believed, however, that 70
so abandon that position, under the cir
cumstances, would be utterly fuinous ;
that the necessity under which it was done
could no. be fully understood; that by
many il would be construed as part o.
voluntary policy; that at home it
would disorganize the friends Of the
Union ombolden it's adversaries, and 60
far to ensure to the latter a recognition
abroad. That in fact, it would be our