Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-19
The Vir ina Commissioners.
From the Richmond Wig, ApriII5.

/
/ These gentlemen returned from Washington YES
| terday. They saw Mr.. Lincoln and received from
| him written answer-which we COPY from a
| Washington paper. It is war-unversal and deter
! mined war. The labors of Virginia in behalf Of
peace are treated with scOrD and eontempt The
forts and arsenas in the seeded States are to be
captured: the revenue to be collected by force Of
arms, and absolute and unlimited power claimed in
| substance for the Executive over the people and
| States of the COnfederacy. The question IS
| moved from the forum Of argument to tine field Of
| battle. Il is Liberty or DEATH
The commissioners will make their report this
morning. If the Convention is equal to the Occa-
sion-and we do not doubt it-this day viii be the
gravest in the annals of the Commonwealth On no
occasion since her existencence-nOt even when
Tory Governor was driven TO his ships from the old
Capitol at Williamsburg-did this old Stats so mach
need the united hearts and hands Of all her children
We fervently trust for her present welfare and f-
ture glory that al her sons may cluster around her
TO shield and defend her. While she has been pom
dering schemes of peace. her enemies have been 81
lently planning campaigns and organizing armies for
her subjugatiOn and ruin. But with Unioa-LaiOa
among ourselyes-we car safely defy the invading
b. sts-
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY TO THE COMMITTEE or rHr
VIRGINIA CONVENTION
At o'clock Saturday morning the Commission
ers had interview with the President on the sub
ject Of their mission. Mr.. Lincoln made his reply
in writing as follows:
Hon. Msssrs Preston Stuart, and RGadolDh.-yen-
tlemen-Ass Committee of the Virginia Conven-
ton now IN session, you present me preamble and
resolution in these words:
"Whereas in the opinion of this Convention. the
uncertainty which prevails in the public mind a.
to the poncy which the Federal Executive intends
to pursue towards the seeded States is extremely
injurious to the industrial and commercial interests
of the country, tet ds to keep up an excitement
which is unfavorable to the adjustment of pending
difficulties, and threatens disturbance Of the pab-
lie peace: Therefore
- esolred That committee Of three delegates be
appointed to wait the President of the United
States present TO him tins preamble and resolution
and respectfully ask him TO communicates to this
Convention the policy which the Federal Executive
intends to pursue In regard to the Confederate
States"
Ia answer have to say that having At the begin
ming Of my official term expressed my intended pol
icy as plainly as was able, it is with deep regret
and some modification | now learn that there is
great and injurious uncertainty ia the public
mind TO what that policy Is and what course in
tend to pursue.
Not having as vet seen occasion to change. il ia
now my purpose to pursue the course marked out
in the Inaugural address. / commend careful
consideration Of the whole document as the best ex
preston can give to my purposes. As then and
therein said, / now repeat:
The power eoni1ed to me viii be used to hold
occupy and possess the property and places belong
ing the Government and 70 collect the duties and
imposts; but beyond what - necessary for these
objects there viii be no invasion using of force
against or among the people anywhere
By the words property and places belonging To
the Government" / chiefly allude to the rniitsrv
posts and property which were in the possession Of
the Government when it came to my hands
But IT, rs it now appears 20 be true in puranit Of
purpose 70 drive the United States AUTHORIZE froD,
these places, an unpFOToked assault has bao3 r,sSa
upon Fort Sumter, shall hold myself AZ hbsrtv M
repossess. if can. like places which hal bssn
seized before the Government was devolved upon
me.
And, in any event. shall, to the best of INV abil.
ity repel force by force.
In case it proves true that Fort Sumter has beeu
assaulted, as reported, SHALL perhaps. cause the
United States mails to be withdravn from the
States which claim to have seeded beIieving that
the commencement of actual war AGAINST the Gov
eminent Justifes and actually demands II.
scarcely need to say that consider the military
posts and property situated within the States which
claim to have seeded as yet belonging to tie Gov
eminent of the United States as much as they did
before the supposed secession.
Whatever else may do for the purpose. ] shall
not attempt to collect the duties and mposts oy any
armed invasion Of any part Of the couniry-nos
meaning BY this, however, that | may not land =
force deemed necessary TO relieve Tort upon the
border of the country.
From the fact that have quoted part Of the
Inaugural Address, it must not be inferred that
rePndiate any other part, the whole Of which re
affirm, except so tar as what ! may now say Of
the mails may be regulated as amodlheanon-