The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-05-14
INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT
LINCOLN

The Hon. Garrett Davis, Of Kentucky, who re-
Gently visited Washington for the purpose OF
consulting with the President and other members
of the Government, in reference to the National
troubles, furnishes the Louisville Journalw with a
lengthy account of his interview with President
Lincoln, from which we make the subjoined
EXTRACTS:
decided and firm. He expressed deep concern
and regret for the existing condition of public af
fairs, and his hope that there would yet be a
restoration of the Union, and peace and amity
among all the States He remarked that neither
he nor any other President who had been elected
BY party, could administer the Government in
accordance with his own opinions and judgment,
but must make some departure to satisfy those
who had placed him in power. That before the
Carolnans had made their attack on Fort Sumter,
he had decided not to reinforce or attempt to
reinforce its garrison, but merely, and only, to
supply its handful of furnishing men with food, and
that he had distinctly communicated these pur-
poses to the authorities of the Southern Confedera-
ton That he had also determined that, until the
meeting of Congress, he would make no attempt
to retake the forts, &c belonging to the United
States, which had been unlawfully seized and
wrested from their possession, but would leave the
then existing state of things to be considered and
acted upon by Congress, unless he should be
constrained 10 Uep1Ft IrOul purpose Dy tIc
continued military operations of the seeded
States.
The President further said that events had now
reached point when it must be decided whether
our system of Federal Government was only a
league of sovereign and independent States, from
which any State could withdraw at pleasure, or
whether the Constitution formed Government
invested with strength and powers sufficient to up
hold its authority and to enforce the execution
of the laws of Congress That he had no doubt
of the truth of the latter proposition, and he nten
Ged to make it good in the administration of the
Government to the extent that he should be sus-
tanned by the people of the United States.
He remarked, also, that he had expected all the
States uron which he had made requisition for
military aid to enable him to execute the laws to
respond to that call and particularly the State of
Kentucky, which had been so loyal to the Union
and faithful in the performance of all her duties.
That he greatly regretted that she had not acted
up to the principles of her great statesmen now no
more, and for which she cast her vote in the late
Presidential election "tbe Union, the Constitution,
and the Enforcement of the Laws"
That he intended to make no attack, direct or
indirect, upon the institutions property of any
State but, on the contrary, would defend them to
the full extent with which the Constitution and
laws of Congress have vested the President with
the power. And that he did not intend to invade
with armed force, or make any naval movement
against any State, unless she her people should
make it necessary by a formidable resistance of the
authority and the laws Of the United States.