Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-11-29
Governors Message.


Fsllotc- Cftizfns ofMe Senate and ofhe
House Of Representatives. !;
tt is with unfeigned regret that cannot ad-
dress you with the usual congratulations on
the peace prosperity and happiness of the
country but Notwithstanding it is unfortun-
ately involved in civil war, one of the most
deplorable calamities that can befall any coun-
try, we have great reason to render thanks to
ths Ruler of the Universe, that Delaware is
not the scene of action, and that we are not in
the midst of its horrors and terrible ravages.
Our citizens have acted in Il manner highly
creditable to them and well deserve the quiet
they have enjoyed. Those, if there be any,
and doubtless there are some everywhere,
whose sympathies incline TO the South, are
quiescent, laying no mpediments in the way
Of the Government nor afording its enemies
any sort of aid. Some of the iunumerable
rumors ahoat throughout the country, may,
perhaps, represent different state of things
but were the test OF truth properly applied to
those reports, most Of them would be found
wholly unreliable.
The lamentable condition of the country is
too familiar TO you, and to all others who feel
at all interested in its welfare, to require any
extended remarks by me- either as to the
causes which led to the unfortunate rupture,
or the results that may flow from it, ! shall
therefore content myself with very brief al
lusion to the several matters to which desire
to call your attention. am aware that there
is difference of opinion as to the necessity or
propriety of any legislation on any OF the sub
iects to which shall refer, but sense of duty
constrained me to convene the General As
sembly, which | am authorized to do by the
twelfth section of the third article of the Con-
stitution upon extraordinary occasions. Wne-
ther any and, if any, what legislative action is
proper and necessary, will be matter for the
Legislature, in its wisdom, to determine. My
own official duties are quite arduOus and per-
picking enough without assuming to myself
those of another branch of the government
with which have nothing to do
BY Rn act of Congress- pissed at au extra
session, which commenced on the fourth day
of July last and approved on the fifth day of
August, A. d. 1861, entitled, can act to pro
vide increased revenue from imposts to pay
interest on the public debt, and tor other pur-
poses,n it is provided by the eighth section
thereof that direct tax OF twenty millions of
dollars shall annually be laid, of which the
sum of seventy-four thousand six hundred and
eighty-three dollars and thirty-three cents is
apportioned to and required to he paid by the
State of Delaware and il is further provided
by the hity-thrd section of the said act, that
any State may assume, collect, and pay into
the treasury Of the United States, its quota of
the said tax in its own way, and regulate the
assessment and collection thereof and dc =
duction of fifteen per cent shall be made for
such collection and payment, Whether any
and. if any, what provision can be made by
law for the assessment and collection of the
tax referred to, which will he more conducive
10 the convenience and interest of your con-
stitucuts than for its assessment and collec-
tion to be made by the General Government,
upder the provisions of the act of Congress, is
for YOU, in your wisdom, to consider and de-
termine.
On the seventeenth ultimo, received COM
munication, bearing date the fifteenth from
Brigadier- General Ripley, authorized by the
Secretary of war requesting me to deliver to
Brigadier- General Lockwood, "the ordnance
and ordnance stores, arms and equipments be-
longing to the General Government now in the
State of Delaware This communication
answered, declining to comply with the order,
on the ground that had no authority or con-
troll over the ordnance, ordnance stores, arms
and equipments, which would enable me to
deliver them to the authorities of the Genera
Government, for the reasons set forth in my
answer. The act of Congress OF the 18th O.
April, 1916 provides that the annual sum OF
two hundred thousand dollars shall be appro-
priated :ur the purpose Of providing arms and
military equipments for the whole body o.
militia of the United States, either by purchase
or manufacture, by and on account ofthe United
States and it is further provided, that all thi
arms so procured shall be transmitted to the
several States composing the Union and ter
ritories thereof to each State and Territory
respectively, in proportion to the number o
the effective militia in each State and Terri
tory. and by each State and Territory to b.
distributed TO the militia in such State ant
Territory. under the rules and regaldtionsd as shdt
be Jy lar prescribed by the Legislature Of eae
STATE and Territory. Pursuant to the provision
of the act OF Congress, the Legislature OF Del
aware. being thus specially and exclusivel
authorized TO distribute this States quota O
arms, equipments, ordnance and ordnane
stores, provided by law for the safe keepin
and distribution thereof, not giving the Exc
cutiye any authority or control over them, eX
cent for very special and limited purposes
They are therefore entirely subject to the dis
position of the Legislature, in anywise tha
NAV be conformable to the act of Congress
and the expediency or propriety of returnin
them to the General Government, and wheth6
at the request of the President, or whethe
Congress alone has the power to require thei
return. are matters which do not fall with
the province or duty of the Executive to d
eide, but are peculiar subjects for legislatiN
action. All Of which are respectively submit
ted for your consideration.
| also received, about the same time, con
munication dated the l4th ultimo, from Il
hIeNhNN1
general character and tone of which seem
indicate apprehensions that our country mi
become involved in controversies with Europ
an powers with which, it is very properly sal
every public interest and every interest OF ma
kind require that ii should remain in relation
OF peace, amity and friendship, and althoul
the prospect Of any such disturbance W
thought less serious than at any period sin
the insurrection, il is said dit is neverthele
necessary now, us it has hitherto BEEN to ta
every preCaution that is- possible to avert Il
evils of foreign war to be superinduced up
those of civil commotioL y and to this end
is deemed necessary by the General Cover
ment that our ports and harbors on the Sc
and lakes should be put in a condition of col
plete defense, but it appears from the commu
ication of the Secretary oil State that Congre
being chiefly absorbed during its recent ex
session with other measures, did not provi
az amply as could be wished, for the fortifit
tion Of our sea and lake coasts. Therefore
= ia desired that I should call the attention
The Legislature to the subject, and therefl
submit it to your considerations with the no
however, that as Congress will assemble IN
few davs. that no action on the subject will
necessary on your part but that Congress v
take the necessary steps and adopt pro-
measures for perfecting these desirable q
necessary defences.
In few days after | received the comml
ications referred to, persons believed to be
the United States service, and, l presul
acting under its authority, took from the
senal in Sussex County, all the public al
and accoutrements. And two volunteer &C
panies in Sussex County, and one in X
County, which had been supplied with al
and accoutrements in accordance withthe ?
visions Of the act of Assembly, were in
manner disarmed and recently two six-pol