The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-06

The PrsAfdent's Message.
The Message of President Lincoln to the two
houses Of Congress, setting forth the reasons
and tie necessities controlling him in conven-
ing this extraordinary session, is before our
readers. 1t is highly interesting, instructive
frank, unpretendirg and straightforward expo
stion Of the acts, opinions and policy of his adj
ministration, and it will command universal a.
tenton at home and abroad. 1t makes plain
many things which have been considered mys-
FERROUS and unsatisfactory, and removes every
vestige of doubt as to Mr.. Lincoln's purposes
in regard to this Southern rebellion.
In the outset the proceedings of the govern
ment in the matter of relieving Fort Sumter,
considered somewhat vacillating at the time,
are now explained as perfectly consistent with
the objects in view throughout Ia this recita-
ticn of facts we have also the reason why
James L. Harvey has not been recalled from his
Portuguese mission since the discovery of his
Geographic information to the South Carolina
secessionists of the purpose of the government
to relieve Fort Sumter. Mr.. Lincoln says that
in certain contingency sit was resolved to
notify the Governor of South Carolina that
he might expect an attempt would be made to
provision the fort" and the information of
this purpose was 50 carefully limited to the
simple object of provisioning furnishing gar.
rison that it is thus seen that the assault upon
and reduction of Fort Sumter were In no sense q
matter of self defence on the part of the assail-
ants" Thus Mr.. Lincoln contends that the
declaration Of his inaugural address to the So
cesslonNts, that "yon can have no conflict
without being yourselves the aggressors," is
vindicated before the world. And here, in truth,
lies the secret Of the instantaneous and terrible
uprising of the loyal States at his call to MAIN
tain "the integrity Of the Union" 1t is due to
Fort Sumter.
The Message next proceeds to justification
Of the responsibilities assumed By the Execu-
tive in calling out volunteer army, in declar-
ing and establishing blockade Of the ports
Of the revolted States, and in suspending, in
certain cases, the writ of habeas corpus. In all
these proceedings the President, in anticipating
the authority of Congress, had no doubt of its
approval, nor do we suppose that any one else
has had the slightest doubt upon the subject
The country and it's representatives will always
endorse the man who, in great emergency, in
behalf Of the country, assumes the RESPONSE
bility of action.
Mr. Lincoln next calls npnn the taa ho~sos
to place at the control of the government, for
the work of suppressing this Southern rebel
lion, g four hundred thousand men, and four
hundred millions Of dollars and shows that
there supplies of men and money can be raised
without exhaustipg the resources of the loyal
States and people of the Union. This recon-
mendation, too,' embodies in nutshell the
solt of compromise that is aimed at by the I'D.
ministration. II needs not another word of
explanation.
In closing up, Mr.. Lincoln devotes a con-
siderable portion of his Message to learned
argument, pointed and pungent wi,hal, against
the beresy of secession, and graphically pre-
senting the endless consequences of disintegra-
tion, revolution and chaos to which this fatal
doctrine must inevitably lead, If once admitted
as right. But we have no space for further
remarks to day upon this official exposition of
the state Of the country and the policy and the
wants of the government at this crisis. Let it
suffice for the present that Mr.. Lincoln calls
for vigorous prosecution of the war, to the
extent of four hundred thousand men and four
hundred millions of dollars.