Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-07-12
gIlatcbman & State JuurnaI
MoNrpELIER. JuLY u. 1sel.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
by RP. WALTON.

we lay before our readers to-day the Pres
ident's message delivered to the extra session
Of Congress on Friday. 1t is clear and
succinct statement Of the position Of our ma
tional affairs at the time the present Admin
istration came into power. The history oil
the proceedings preceding the bombarment
and evacuation of Fort Sumter will be read
with especial interest as it is the first official
account Of them that has been published, and
places the responsibility Of the present war
where the whole civilized world. as the true
position Of affairs in this country became bot
ter understood, was destined to place it,
with those traitorous and rebellous discon-
tents whose treason eliminated with an open
attack upon a small body of defonseless men
who had been placed by Government in the
Inflated Fort Sumter for the sole purpose of
protecting and defending that Southern port
from invasion from abroad or instruction at
home. The assurances of the Administration
that no efforts would be made TO reinforce the
garrison, but only TO supply the forces already
there with the provisions necessary for their
snstinenoe, were of no avail but were only
made prctext on the part Of the assailants
Of the Government for commencing precon-
certed fratricidal warfare, thus forcing upon
the country the issue Of immcdcdiatc disolu-
ton or a bloody resistance to their rcasona-
bic demand This ISSUE the administration
accepted by calling out the forces necessary
to maintain the integrity and perpctuity of
the governments call which has been re-
sponded to by the loyal States in d manner
that has already sent terror to the hearts Of
the rebels
The position taken by the border States.
their pretended neutrality and the precipitate
ha- to in which they have been hurried on in
the niquitcus work Of secession and rebel
lion-by whatever name it be callcd-is illus
tratcd by the President in the case Of Virgin
a, whose position to-day is the most unenvi-
able Of any state in the Union. Here the
Government found the rebels in arms, and
here it proposes to meet them. the while rec
osniling and protecting those whose loyalty
TO the Union has led them to ask OF the Gov
eminent its protec'iop against the rebel inya-
dcrs
The Inconsistency ofwhot is called armed
neutrality, the President places before the
world ia its true lIshl-tuat Of doing for the
rebels what they can not in any other contin-
scncy do for themselves or have done for them.
1t divides the North from the South with a
wall of iron or a rope Of sand as best suits
the wishes or necessities of the traitors, and
Is position not at all beneficial to the border
states themselves, or admissible by the Gov
ornment.
The power of the President in am emorgen-
cy like the present, to suspend the writ of
d7beas corpus, is iorcibly argued. and the con-
illusions arrived at will meet hearty response
from loyal men throughout the country.
1t is recommended that Congress empower
the President to call out 100000 men. and
place at his disposal 500, 100000, with the
assurance that ii ja4ssas amount Of material
is abundant in hcoounry, and that all that is
necessary to bring it to the aid Of the Govern
ment is the sanction Of Congress
The soPhistry with which the traitors have
CLOSED over their reasonable work is ex-
posed with a mastery hand and the uncon-
stiutionality and impractcability of .ccc. sion
is portrayed in light that must be ANYTHING
but satisfactory to the participants in the re-
beIlious schemes of designing leaders.
But we iorboar further comm nts. None
will be satisfied short Of reading the whole
message, and when read, all will Join with
us in pronouncing it one Of the most concise
and able documents that has ever emanated
from the Chief Executive of this nation
There is in it no ALTERING or shrinking from
duty, no parleying with the enemies Of the
country and no disposition to relax the firm
hand with which, thus far, the President has
held the reins of Government All he asks
is to be sustained by those whom the people
have placed in authority with him, and peace
and prosperity shall again speedily dawn upon
Jur whole country. God speed the day.