The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-07-12
synopsis of 1incoln,s Message.

istration of the Federal Government
found suspended in several Southern
States, oil federal laws except postal func-
tons; the national property, except forts
Pickens, Taylor, Jefferson, and Sumter
had been seized and put in an offensive
position, and other forts built. armies or
ganized and being organized avowedly
with q hostile purpose; Federal forts in
the Southern States were besieged or
menaced; disproportionate amount OF
arms and ammunition had somehow
found their way into the rebellious States;
the accumulations of the national reve-
nues within rebel borders seized; the Fed
eral navy was scattered, and navy officers
had resigned in great numbers; ordin-
ances declaring a separation OF States
from the Federal Government had pas
scd, and these States under the title of
Confederate States, were applying to
foreign powers for recognition and assist
ance. The incoming Administration be-
lieved it to be an imperative duty to
prevent the threatened dismemberment.
A choice Of means was Indispensable
The policy chosen was that indicated in
the inaugural--the exhaustion of all
peaceful measures before coercion was re-
sorted TO. The government sought only
to bold tho public places and property
uuwrested, and the collection of the rev.
enue, relying upon time, discussion and
the ballot-box for the rest, promising. in
the meantime, continuance of the mails.
Everything was foreborn which was COM
patible with keeping the government on
foot.
On the 18th March, letter was receiv-
ed from Major Anderson, Mt Fort Sumter,
stating that the place could not be held.
After consultation, in which Gen. Scott
conceded, it was decided that the force
at the disposal of the Government was
not adequate for Sumter's relief without
immediate victualing. The duty of the
Administration was reduced to a safe
Withdrawal of the garrison; but it was
believed, however, that the abandon
ment of Sumter would be utterly ruinous.
That action would be misunderstood as
discouraging to the friends of the Union
and ruinous, and encouraging Confeder-
ate recognition abroad-in fact, it would
be national destruction. This course
was unbelievable.
Previous to Sumters starvation, Pick
ems might be reinforced, thus indicating
the Administration policy, and prepar-
ing the public mind for Sumter's evacua-
ton as military necessity. Orders were
Immediately issued for the reinforce.
ment of Pickens; but orders by land be-
ing impossible, they were sent by sea-
The first return to the order was received
the week previous to the fall of Sumter
The Brooklyn, under Buchanan's quas
armistice, refused to land troops to rein
force Pioliens before the crisis could he
reached at Sumter. 70 prevent Sumter's
evacuation before Pickens was reinforced
Government planned an expedition to
victual Sumter, the plan to be used OIL
not as circumstances might require
Contingencies required the consumation
of the plan. Gov. Pickens was notified
that if vctualing the fort was unresisted
no attempt would be made to throw in
men, arms and ammunition. Without
notice, the fort was taken without await
ing the arrival of the victualing expedi
tion-and thus, the attack on Sumter
was in no sense q matter of self-defense
| The ASSISTANTS knew that in no event
could Sumter be mischievous. and were
notified that the feeding Of hungry men
was the only object, and that Govern
ment only wished to maintain nominal
possession of the fort, thus preserving
the Union from dissolution. The fort
was assaled to drive out the visible
Federal authority, and thus forcing i'm
mediate dissolution. This the executive
undorstood and having inaugurated him
you can have no conflict without bein!
yourselves the aggressors. He took pain
to keep this declaration good in the cir
cumstances surrounding the Sumter at
fair. The Coniederates began the con
flict, and have forced upon the countr.
the destructive issue of an immediat,
dissolution, or blood, embracing NOR
than the fate of the Union. 1t solve
the question whether a peoples govern
ment can maintain its integrity in it
territory against domestic foes-whethe
individuals too few to control the Admin
istration by organic law can break vi
Government, thus ending the freest gov
eminent on earth. 1t forces this ques
ton: must Government be too strong 70
peoples liberty, or too weak to maintain
its own existence? There was no powe
left but to call out the war power of tn
Government to resist force empowered
for its destruction. The response to tn
call surpassed his most sanguine eXpec
tations-Delaware alone, however, o! al
the slave States. responding to the CALL
A few slave State regiments have beef
raised by individual enterprise, and &C
cepted. The border States were not uni
form in their action. The course takel
by Virginia was most remarkable ant
important. The Convention to consde
this question was in session when Sumte
fell. A large Union majority went oveI
and carried the State out of the Union
She made extensive military preparation
seized Federal property, received larg
bodies Of Confederate troops, and enter
ed into q treaty with them. She sen
representatives to the Confederate coun
ellis, and permitted the insurrectionar
Government to be transferred to Vii
ginia's Capital. Government has no 9th
err choice left for Virginia, and does S
with less regret from having been calle
upon to protect loyal citizens whom it
bound to sustain. Other border State
favor armed neutrality. and that armin
to prevent Union and disunion troop
from occupying their soil. This woul
be dsunion complete. Figuratively,
would be building impossible walls alon
the line of separation, and yet under tn
guse of neutrality, would tie the hand
of the Unionists and feed the insured
tlonists, taking all the trouble from Sc
cession hands, except what arises fror
the external blockade, and would Civ
the malcontents disunion, without
struggle of their own.
Recurring to the action of Govern
ment, it first called for rs, 200 men, an
then proclaimed blockade. The insul
rectionists announced privateering.
call for three years troops, and large &C
ditons to the regular army and nav
were measures ventured upon, under poi
ular demand and public necessity, trus
ing to Congressional ratification. 500
after, it was considered duty to author
, ize the commanding General TO suspen
the writ of habeas corpus, where tn
public safety required. This was necel