The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1861-05-15


Garrett Davis Of Kentucky. recently had
an Interview with President Lincoln, the re
sun Of which he communicates in letter to
the Louisville Journal says:
found the President frank and calm. but
decided and hrm. He expressed deep con
cern and regret for the exciting c0ndifiOn OF
the public affairs, and his hope that there
wouhs yet be a restoration OF the Union, and
peace and amity among all the States. lie
remarked. that neither be, nor any other
President. who had been elected by party,
could administer the Government Ia exact &C
c0rdAnce with his own opinions and judgment;
but must make come departure 10 satisfy
those who had placed him IN power. That,
before the Carolinians had made their attack
on Fort Sumter, hs had decided not to rein
force or 20 attempt 10 reinforce its garrison.
but merely, only, 10 supply its handful OF fam
ishing men with food; and that he had de
tinctly communicated these purposes 10 the
authorities Of the Southern Confederation
That he had also determined that, until the
meeting Of Congress. he would make no al.
tempt 10 retake the forts. &c, belonging -
the United States. which had been unlawlully
seized and wrested from their possession, but
would leave the then existing state OF things
% be considered and acted upon by Congress
unless be should be constrained % depart from
that purpose by the continued military opera
tons OF the seeded States.
The President further sill, that events had
now reached point when IL must be decided
whether our system OF federal government
was only league Of sovereign and indepen
dent States. from which any State could with
draw at pleasure. or whether the Constitution
forming government invested with .rength
and powers sufficient 10 uphold its own au-
thoriiy, and 10 enforce the execution OF the
laws OF Congress. That be had no doubt Of
the truth OF the latter proposition. and he Ia
tended TO make il good Ia the administration
o. the Government 10 the extent that he
should be sustained b. the people Of the I'M
ted States
he remarked also, that he had expected all
the States. upon which he had made "A requi
slti0n for military aid, 20 enable him TO exc
cute the Laws. 20 respond 20 that call and
particularly the State of Kentucky, which
had been so loyal 10 the Union and faithful
in the performance of all her duties. That
he greatly regretted she had not acted up to
the principle of her great statesman now no
/ MORE, and the principle for which she has
Fcsst her vote in the last Presidential election,
''the Union. the. Constitution. and the In
forcement of the Laws.
That he intended 10 make no attack, direct
or Indirect, upon the institutions or property
OF any State; but. on the contrary, would de
fend them TO the full extent with which the
Constitution and laws of Congress have vest
ed the President with the power And that
he did not intend 10 invade with an armed
force, or make any military or naval move
ment against any State, unless she or her poo
pie should make IL necessary by formidable
resistance Of the authority and laws of the
United States That if Kentucky or her
citizens should seize the post of Newport, il
would become his duty and he might attempt
10 retake IL; but he contemplated no military
operations that would make il necessary TO
move any troops over her territsries--though
he had the unqucstioned right at all times to
march the United States troops into and over
any and every State. That If Kentucky
made no demonstration OF force against the
United States he would not modest her
That he regretted the necessity Of marching
troops across Maryland. bat forces 10 protect
the seat Of the United States Government
could not be concentrated there without doing
So and he intended 10 keep open line Of
communication through that State TO Wash.
ington City, at any risk, but in manner least
calculated to irritase and infame her PEG.
pie