Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-04-15
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY TO THE
VIRGINIA COMMISSIONERS

WASHINGTON, April 13.-The following is
the reply of MIR. Lincoln to the commissioners
from Virginia =
"To the Hon. Messrs Preston, Stuart, and
Randolph, Gentlemen: AS a committee of the
Virginia convention now in session, you pre-.
sent to me preamble and resolution in these
words -
Whereas, in the opinion OF this conven
ton, the uncertainty which prevails in the
public mind as to the policy which the federal
executive intends to pursue towards the seeed
ed states, is extremely injurious to the indus
trial and commercial interests of the country
and tends to keep up an excitement which is
untavorable to the adjustment OF the pending
difficulties, and threatens disturbance of the
public peace, therefore,
Resolved, That a committee of three dele
gates be appointed to wait on the president OF
the United States, present to him this pream.
able and respectfully ask him to communicate
to this convention the policy which the
federal executive intends to pursue in regard
to the confederate states.
| answer, have 10 say that having at the
beginning of my official term expressed my
intended policy as plainly as l was able, it is
with deep regret and modification now learn
there is great and injurious uncertainty in the
public mind as to what that policy is, and
what course | intend TO pursue. Not having
as yet seen occasion to change, it is now my
purpose to pursue the course marked out in
the inaugural address. l commend a careful
consideration of the whole document as the
best expression l can give to my purposes.
AS / then and therein said, | now repeat,
the power cOnfided to me will be used to
hold, occupy, and possess the property and
the places belonging to the government,
and to collect the duties and imports
Rnt Inf ic fop nh
jects, there will be no invasion, no using of
force against or among the people anywhere.
BY the words, property and places belonging
to the government" / chiefly alluded to the
military posts and property which were in
possession OF the government when it came
into my hands. But if, as now appears to be
true, in pursuit Of a purpose to drive the Uni
ted States authority from these places, an un-
provoked assault has been made upon Fort
Sumter, shall hold myself at liberty to re-
possess it, if | can, like places which had
been seized before the government was devolv
ed upon me. And, in any event, shall to the
best of my ability repel force by force. In case
it proves true that Fort Sumter has been as.
saulted as is reported, shall perhaps cause
the United States mails to be withdrawn from
all the states which claim to have seeded be-
lieving that the commencement of actual war
against the government justtes and possibly
demands it.
scarcely need to say that l consider the
military posts and property situated within
the states which claim to have seeded as yet
belonging to the government of the United
States, as much as they did before the sup
posed secession. Whatever else | may do for
the purpose, shall not attempt to collect the
duties and impoets by an armed invasion of
any part of the country; not meaning, by this,
however, that may not land force deemed
necessary to relieve a fort upon the border of
the country. From the fact that have quoted
part of the inaugural address, it must not be
inferred that l repudate any other part, the
whole of which | re-affirm, except so far as
what now say of the mails may be regarded
as a modification"