The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1861-07-17
Abstract Of eresident's Message.

reiiow Cifiz ne OF the Senate and House
Representatives: Having been convened Z
10 an extraordinary occasion. a. authorized !
me Constitution, your attention is not cslls
70 any ordinary subject Of legislation. A
ne beginning OF the present PRESIDENT.
0l'efm, four months ago, the functions Of III
Q Federal Government were found 10 be rene
fsliy suspended within the several States q
South Caroline, Georgis. Alabama, Missi.
''sipPi, Louisisns, and Florida. exec pting oul
|. those u the Post, Office Department. With
10 the States The forts. arse mails &c. had bee,
: seized. and were held 10 open hostility 10 ~
GovsrnMent. excepting only Forts Pickens
Taylor. and Jefersoa. Oh and near the Flor
! de- coast. and Fort Sum?,er, ia Chsrles,o.
hsibor. 5. g.
The ioris remaining in the possession q
J 'he Federal Government in and near thoss
States were either beseigrd Or mensced by
"srsike Preparations. aud e,pscially For,
Sumt~r was nearly surrounded by well pro
'ectei hostile batteries with guns equal 10
q"ii'y to the best of is own, and outnum-
oerlng the latter perhaps ten to one. A
disProporiionsts share OF the Federal mus-
ke'r aud fifrs had somehow found their wsv
INTO these States. and had been Sc zsd 10 Be
us'd ngsinsi the Government. Accumula.
Tons Of the public revenue 5inc within
'h'r' had been sr'zed for the same officer.
Inc navy was scattered 10 distant seas.
less'ng but very small part within the i'm.
mediate use OF The Government. The off-
GERS of the Federal srmy and navy had 70.
signed IN great numbers and Of those resign.
ings large proportion had taken up arms
sgslnst the Government. Simultaneously
and 10 connection with all these q purpose
to sever The Federal Unicn was openly
avowed. In accordance with thi. purpose
an ordinance had been adopted in each Of
the States declaring the States respectively
10 be separated from The national Union. AL,
formula for combining and institu,ing . CON-
binstion u these States had been promuI-
gated.
Finding this condition or thinrs snd BE-
ieving !, 20 be an impressive duty upon the !
ncomirg Executive to prevent. II possible.
he consnnma'ion of such attempts 10 de- 9
'roy 'he Federal Union. choice OF means u
Q 'hst end became indispensable. a
The policy chosen looked TO the exhsus. b
ion Of all peaceful measures before Z resort
0 sny stronger ones. Il sought only 10 :
old Tho public places and properly no, a. i
eady ~res,ed from the government, and 10 !,
oI'ee' The revenue. relying for the rest on II
me, discussion aud the ballo'-box. II u
rcm'sed q continuance OF The mails at rov. :.
Fnment expense % The very people who 81
ere resisting the government. and il gave d
'pes'ed pledges against any disturbance Of Il
'e people or any Of their rights. Every. a,
ing was fcrbvrne without which il wss be liz
sssd possible 70 keep the government on r
o. On the 5ih Of March. the present q,
cumbenrs first full day Of Office, letter n
Major Anderson. commanding at Fort "a
inter. written on the 2sth or February, ca
ID received at the War Department on the sc
b o. March. was BY that department placed 10
bis hsnds. This letter expressed the az
opinion Of the writer that rein H.,
reemenls could not be thrown into ths, mi
r in time fos bic relief. rendered necessary So
the limited supply Of provisions. snd with ,h
view Of holding possession Of the sane ,h,
sh force Of less than 2C.OO0 good snd CO
'ciplined men; this opinion wac con ncurredlin
BY all the officers Of his command, and the IN,
smoranda on the subject we're made en- bel
osures u Major Anderson's letter, and the wa
hole was imm ediateiy laid before Lieufen- The
t-Genersl Scctt. who on consultation with tru
her officers. both Of the army aud navy bio
me reluctantly, but decidedly, to the same ,hs
ncIusion. He also stated at The same 10
10 that such sufficient force was not q, vi
} control Of the Government ct could beIrsc
sed and brought 10 the ground within the en-
. ~hsn the provisions IN the fort would Iri,c
exhausted. In purely military point of|foe
", this reduced the duty Of the Admins. pus
tion in the case to the mere matter Of M
ing the garrison safely ou, Of the fort. s.re
Z ~ss believed. however, 70 abandon shattoo