Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-07-12
LJNCOLN'S MEssAGE,

" sS'"ee vi L'ncoih 10 the Northern Cons
gress says that at the beginning of the prcrent
Adnnistration the Federal Gov.rnmeut.ws.
found to be suspended in several States, excent
IN regard to its postal functions Tho nn,ion.
al property. except Forts rickcn., TAYLOR,
'rher'on "s,d Sumter. had been scixed, and nut
In an offensive position other f,rts had been
""'i'. an army organized ana being organized
with avowedly hostile intent, and the Fedora,
force il these States bescieged or menaced. A
uislroport'onate amount OF arms and muni-
tons OF war had somehow found its way into
the rebellious States; the Accommodations of the
national revenues within the rebel borders WINS
seized; the Federal Navy wns scattered and
Federal Army aud Navy officers had resigned
IN great numbers. Ordinance declaring their
separation from the United States had been
passed, and these States, under the title of
the Confederate States, were applying to for
eign powers for recognition and assistance.
The incoming Administration believed it to he
an imperative duty to prevent the threatened
dismemberment of the Union. In the choice OF
means towards this Indispensable policy, that
method was chosen which was indicated in tho
Inaugural. The government exhausted all
peaceful measures before it would resort TO
coercion. 1t was seeking only to hold the
public places md property, and to continue the
unresisted collection Of the revenue, relying
upon tine. discussion and the ballot box for the
rest; promising, in the mean time. the continu.
nnce Of the mails. Everything was to he fore
borne compatible with keeping the Govern
ment on foot
On the 4th Of March, letter was received
from Major Anderson, commanding Fort Sum
ter. stating that the place could not be held.
on further consultation. Gen. Scott con-
sidered that the force at the disposal of the
Government was not adequate to the relief of
Fort Sumter, without Immediately victuu ling
il. The duty of the Administration WIS thus
reduced to the safe Withdrawal of the garrison.
twas believed, however, that the abandon
ment of Sumter would be utterly ruinous
that the action would be misunderstood as
discoaraging the friends of tn. Union and
emboldening its enemies, and rs encouraging
the recognition Of the Confederate States n
broad that, in fact, it would be the national
destruction. If this course was unavoidable
previous to Sumter's starvation, Fort Pickcns
might be reinforced, thus indicating the policy
OF Tho Administration, and preparing the pub
lie mind for the evacuation OF Sumter ms a
military necessity. Orders were imme eiiately
issued for the reinforcement of Pickens. aui
ms it was impossible TO transmit these orders by
land, they were sent by sea. The fl rs. return
to this order was received the week before the
fall OF Snmter. The Brooklyn, under Bucha-
mans q"asi nrmistice, refused to land troops
to reinforce Pckens before the crisis should be
relieved at Sumter.
In order to prevent the evacuation of Sum-
ter before Pickens could he reinforced, the Co
vernment planned an expedition to vctual
Sumter, to be used or not, as circumstances
might rcqnire. Contingencies requiring the
contamination of this plan. Governor Pickens
was notified that if the victualing was not re-
sisted, no attempt would DO nlada to throw in
men. arms or ammunition. without giving him
notice. The fort, howeier, was taken without
waiting for the victualing expedition ; thus
the attack on Sumter cnn in no sense lie said
to have been in selfdefeuce. The assaiiants
knew that in no event could Fort Sumter be
mschievous; and they were notified that feed
ing hungry men was the only object that
Government only wiehed to maintain nominal
possession Of the fort, thus preserving the
Union from dissolution, trusting to:time. dis
euss:on and the ballot box for final adjustment.
The fort was assailed for one object: to drive
out the visible Federal authority thus forcing
immediate dissolution. This the Executive
understood, and having inaugurated hostilities
you can have no conflict without being YOUR |
selves the aggressors.
President Lincoln took pains to keep this
declaration good in the circumsta ices surround.
ing the Sumter affnir. Then these Confeder- !
ates began fhe conflict; they have forced upon |
the country the destructive Issue of immediate
dissolution. embracing more than the fate of |
the Union. as it solves the question whether a |
government of tho people can maintain the in
tegrity Of its territory against domestis foes
and whether band of individuals. too few to
control the Administration by organized law
can break up'ths Government, thus ending the
1reest Government on earth. It forces chis
question, must government be too strong for
the liberty of people, or Too weak 10 main
tain its own existence No choice was left I
but to cali ont the war power of the Govern I
ment to resist tho force employed for its de-
struet'on. The response to the call for troops
surpassed tile most sanguine expectations. Del
aware, alone, however, Of all. the slave States
responding. few regiments have been raised
'n-siave States by individual enterprise, and
accepted. -
The Border States were not uniform, ia their
action. The course taken by Virginia is the
most remarkable and important A Conyen-
tlon to consider this question, 10 session when
Fort Sumter fell. with q large Union majority,
Y. went over and carried the State out Of the
Cnlon. They made extensive military preps:
rat'ons' seized the Federal proporss
large bodies of Confederate srosps. e,ter.d: in
TO treaty. with tito Confederats states, sent i
representatives TO the Confederate, Councils,
snd3 permitted .i'e ipsurrectiepary Gyysrn..
ment to be transferred 10 the capital Of Viz.
s'"'a' The Government bss no chdice.itft in I
regard to Yirginis, and. does 40 with the isss
regret from layin0 beep Callsd osr A.. L,,ss1...