The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-25


TIoN-AN APPEAL TO THE STATES. oAIs
The following important circular has just
been sent to Gov. Morgan of New York,
and similar ones to the Governors Of all the
States on the seaboard and the lakes:
.r DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
WASHINGTON, Oct. IA, 1861.
To bis Excellency the Governor of the
State of New York :-SIR-The present
insurrection had not revealed itself In arms,
when disloyal citizens FASTENED to foreign
countries TO invoke their Intervention for
the overthrow of the Government and the
destruction of the Federal Union.
These agents are known to have made
their appeals to some of the more impor.
tant States without success.
1t is not likely, however, that they will
remain content with such refusals. Indeed
it is understood that they are industriousy
endeavoring to accomplish their disoyal
purposes by degrees and by indirection.
Taking advantage of the embarrassment of
agriculture, manufacture and commerce in
foreign countries, resulting from the insur-
rection they have inaugurated at home, they
seek to involve our common country in
controversy with States with which every
public interest and every interest Of man.
kind, require that it should remain in rela.
tions of peace, amity and friendship.
am able to state for your satisfaction,
that the prospect OF any such disturbance is
now less serious than it has been at any
previous period during the course'of the in
surrection. 1t is, nevertheless, necessary
now, as it has hitherto been, to take every
precaution that is possible to avoid the
evils of foreign war, to be supernduced
upon those of civil commotion which we
are endeavoring to cure.
One OF the most obvious of such precau.
tions is. that our ports and harbors on the
seas and lakes should be put in condition
of complete defence. For any nation may
be said to involuntarily incur danger in
tempestuous seasons when it fails to show
that it has sheltered itself on every side
from which the storm might possibly come.
The measures which the Executive can
adopt in this emergency, are such only as
Congress has sanctioned, and for which it
has provided. The President is putting
forth the most diiligent efforts to execute
these measures, and we have the great sat.
isfaction of seeing these efforts, seconded by
the favor, aid and support OF loyal, pairs
otto and self sacrificing people, are rapidly
bringing the military and naval forces OF
tie United States into the highest state Of
efficiency. But Congress was chiefly alb
sorbed, during its recent extra session, with
those measures, and did not provide as ann
ply as could be wished for the forti-
ficatious OF our sea and lake coasts.
In previous wars loyal State have sup
piled themselves by independent and sepa.
rate action to support and aid the Federal
Government in its arduOus responsibility.
The same disposition has been manifested in
a degree eminently honorable, by all the
loyal States during the present instruction.
In view of this fact and relying upon the
increase and continuance of the same dis.
position on the part of the loyal States, the
President has directed me to invite your
consideration to the subject of improvement
and perfection of the defences of the State
over which you preside, and to ask you to
submit the subject to the consideration of
the Legislature when it shall have assems
bled. Such proceedings By the State would
require only temporary use of its means,
and the expenditures ought to be made the
subject of conference with the Federal
Government.
Being thus made with the concurrence
of the Governm snt for, the general defence,
there is every reason to believe that Con.
gress would sanction what the State should
do, and would provide for its reimburse
ment. Should these suggestions be accept
ed, the President will direct the proper
agents of the Federal Government to con.
fer with you, and to superintend, direct and
conduct the prosecution of the system OF
defence of your State.
Ihave the honor to be, sir.
Your obedent servant,
fSiuupdN WILLIAM II SEW ARh t