Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-04-20
Lincoln's Interview with the Virginia Commits
sioners.
POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

We learn from Washington that the Commission
ers appointed by the Virginia Convention had
pheasant interview" with President Lincoln last
Saturday morning. at nine o'clock. The Presidents
reply was given in writing as follows:
Hon. Nessrs. Preston, Stuart and Randolph:
GENTLEMEN AS a committee of the Virginia
Convention, now in session, you present me pre-
amble and resolutions in these words.
WHEREAS, in the opinion of this Convention,
the uncertainty which prevails in the public mind
as to the policy which the Federal Executive intends
to pursue toward the seeded States, is extremely
injurious to the industrial and commercial interests
of the country tends to keep up excitement which
is unavorable to the adjustment of pending difficult
ties, and threatens disturbance of the public peace
Therefore,
Resolred, That committee of three delegates be
appointed to wait on the President of the United
States present to him this preamble and resolution
and respectfully ask him to communicate TO this
Convention the policy which the Federal Executive
intends to pursue in regard to the Confederate
States"
In answer, / have to say that having, at the be-
ginning of my official term, expressed my intended
policy plainly as was able it is with deep regret
and some modification ! now learn that there is
great and injurious uncertainty in the public mind,
to what that policy is, and what course intend
to pursue
Not having as yet seen occasion to change it is
now my purpose to pursue the course marked out
in the Inaugural Address. | commend careful
consideration of the whole document as the best ex
preston | can give of my purposes. AS then and
therein said, | now repeat:
The power copfided to me will be used to hold,
occupy, and possess the property and places belong
ing to the Government and to collect the duties and
impoSts; but beyond what is necessary for these
objects there will be invasion, using of force
against or among the people anywhere"
BY the words property and places belonging to
tha I Az linda to he mill
posts and property which in the possession of
the Government when it came to nay hands.
But if, appears to be true, in pursuit of
purpose to drive the United States authority from
these places, unprovoked assault has been made
upon Fort Sumter, shall hold myself at liberty to
repoSSess, if can, like places which had been seiz-
ed before the Government was devoved upon me.
And, in any event, shall, to the best of my abil-
ity, repel force by force
In case it proves true that Fort Sumter has been
assaulted is reported l shall, perhaps cause the
United States mails to be withdrawn from all the
States which claim to have seeded, believing that
the commencement Of actual war against the Gov
eminent justtes and possibly demands it
| scarcely need to say that | consider the militia
~ posts and property situated within the States
which claim to have seeded as yet belonging to
the Government of the United States, as much as
they did before the supposed secession.
Whatever else | may do for the purpose, shall
not attempt to collect the duties and imposts by any
armed invasion Of any part of the country-not
meaning by this however, that | may not land
force deemed necessary to relieve a fort upon the
border Of the country.
From the fact that have quoted part of the In
augural Address, it must not be inferred that
pudate any other part, the whole of which reairm,
except ~ far as what now say of the mails may
be regarded a modification.
THE RANDOLPH VoTE-The respectable gentle
of lOlp Inr rharol Tho hayo h
liShed to the world that there was something
wrong" in the late vote of Randolph county the
Convention question, but who have taken good care
not to examine at the only place where such a
wrong, if it existed, could be discovered may be
edited by the following from the Sheriff of that
county
AsHEBoRo', April TO- 1861.
MEssRs f. j. HALE & Sous Gents: In reply
to the insnuation in Newbern newspaper, to which
you referred in just terms in late number Of your
paper that illegal votes had been cast in this
ty against Convention on the 2Sth February last,
deem it my duty to say that do not know of any
illegal votes cast nor have any reason to believe
that any such were cast. There are my tax list
1903 taxable white polls The voters over 45 years
of age and those entitled to vote and not listed for
taxation would probably swell the number of legal
voters above 2700.
The people of Randolph believed that all the
warm advocates of Convention wanted it to with
draw this State from the Union, and voted accord
ingly. Not quite all the 45 who voted "Conven-
ton" are disunionists. Every one Of the 2466 are
Union men.
We regarded the question as of infinitely greater
moment than any on which we had ever before
been called upon to vote, and large numbers went
to the polls who often neglect the privilege of voting
The imputation that there was any thing unfair
ness in the election is SANDER the flag Union
county Of the State.
Yours, very respectfully,
j. W. STEED,
Sheriff of Randolph.
The Sheriff of Randolph having reported, above,
the number of taxable white polls on his list We
have obtained from Deputy Sheriff Harde the num-
Der of taxable white polls in this county, as follows:
White Polls in Fayetteville District 237
Rockish 143
Black River 6S
Quwhifie, 73
Seventy first SO
Flea Hill, So
Locks Creek, IS
Cedar Greek, 65