The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-07-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Esilose- Cgtizens of the Senate
and House Of Representatives.:

= -stS
Eslloso- CstiSens of the Senate s,
and House Of Representatives.:
Having been convened on an extraordinary
occasion, as authorized by the Constitution,
your attention is not called to any ordinary
subject Of legislation.
Atthe beginning of the present Presidential
term, four months ago, the functions of the
Federal Government were found to be gener-
ally suspended within the several States Of
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana and Florida, excepting only those
Of the Post ONCE Department. Within these
States the forts, arsenals, dock yards, custom
houses, and the like, including the movable
ana stationary property in and about them,
had been seized, and were held in open hostil-
itv;to the Government, excepting only Forts
Pickens Taylor and jefferson, on and near the
Florida coast, and Fort Sumter, in Charleston
harbor, s. g. ~ EaS
The forts thus seized, had been put in an
improved condition, new ones had been built,
and armed forces had been organized and were
osgsnising, all avowedly with. some hostile
purpose. The forts remaining in the possess
sion Of the Federal Government, in and near
these States, were either besieged or menaced
by warlike preparations, and especially Fort
Bupter was nearly surrounded by well pro-
tected hostile batteries, with guns equal in
oualftv to the best of our own, and outRum-
berine the latter as perhaps ten to one. A
aispropertionate share of the Federal muskets
and rides had somehow found their way into
these States, and had been seized to be USED
against the government. ACCOMMODATIONS oI
the public revenue lying within them bad been
seized for the same object. Phey navy was
scattered in distant seas, leaving but very
ANAL part of it within the immediate reach OF
the government. Officers of the Federal army
and navy had resigned in great numbers of
those resigning large proportion had taken
mn arms against the government simultaneous
" and in connection with all this the purpose
to sever the Federal Union was openly avow-
cd. In accordance with this purpose an ordi-
nance had been adopted in each of these States,
declaring the States respectively to be sepa-
rated from the National Union. A formula for
instituting combined Gsvernment of these
States has been promulgated, and thisillegal
organization in the character of Confederate
States was already invoking recognition, aid
and intervention from foreign powers. Find
ing this condition of things, and believing it
toll an imperative duty upon the incoming
Executiye to prevent if possible the consum-
nation OF such an attemptto destroy the Fed
eral Union, choice Of means to that end be-
cams indispensable.
This choice was made, and WAS declared
In my inaugural address. The policy
chosen looked to the exhaustion of all
peaceful measures before resortto any
strong ones. 1t sought only to hold the
pablo places and property not already
wsested from The government, and to col.
lect tae revenue. relying for the rest on
time. discussion. and the ballot-box. II
Dromised continuance of ths mails at
Rogernment Expense to the very people
Who were resisting the government, and
It gave repeated pledges against any dis
turbance to any of the re ,ple, apd any o
their rights, of ell that which Presiden'
might constitntionally and judicially do il
such case. Everything was forborne
without which it wgs believed possible t
keep the Government on foot. On tn,
5.n Of March, the present incumbent'
frst full day in Office, letter of Majo
Anderson. commanding at Fort Sumter
written on the 2Sih of February, and re
corded at the War Department ou th
4sh Of March. was by that Department
placed in his hands, This letter expresse
the professional opinion of the wiiter tba
reinforcements could not be thrown int
that Fort within the time for his relief
rendered necessary by the limited suppl
Of provisions, and with q view of holdin
possession Of the same, with q force c
less than 20, 900 good and well discipline
men. This opiuion was concurred in b
all the officers of his command, and thei
memoranda on the subject were made en-
,closures of Major Anderson's letter
The whole was immediately laid befor
Lieut.. General Scott, who at once cor
CURED with Major Anderson in opinion
On reflection, however. he took full tim
Ia consulting with other officers, both {
the army and navy. and at the end of tf
four days, came reluctantly, bat decided
". to the same conclusion as before. q
also stated at the same time. no such su
icient force was then a. the control
the Government, or could be raised an
brought to the ground within the tin
when the provisions 10 the fsrt would
exhausted. Ina purely military point
view. this reduced the duty of the Admi
istration in the case, to the mere matt
of getting the garrison safely out Of Il
fort. It was believed, however, that to
abandon that position, under tae circur
stances, would be utterly ruincus; th
the necessity under which it was to
s. done, would not be fully understood; tn
6y many it would construed as pc
Of voluntary policy; that at home it wor
discourage the friends Of the Union, e