Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-07-12
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


stSSS, eius
felio,c C7fisens ct The Senate and House Of Reg.
Tesentatices -
Having been convened on an extraordinary oeca-
sion, authorized by the constitution your atten-
ton is not olcd TO any ordinary subjects of egisa
tion.
AT the beginning Of the present presidential term,
-four months ago the functions of the federal gov
crnment were found to be generally suspended with
in the several states of South Carolina, Georgia.
Alabama, Missi.spp Louisiana and Floridaexcept-
ing only those of the post office department within
these states All the forts, arsenals dock wards
custom houses and the like including the movable
aud stationary property in and about them lad been
seized and were held, in open hostility 10 this gov
crninent, excepting only Forts Pickens, Taylor and
Jefferson, ON aud near the Florida eoastand Fort
Sumter in Charleston 1arbor South Carolina.
The Forts thus seized had been put in improved
condition. New ones had been built and armed
forces had been organized and were organizing all
avowedly with the same hostile purpose. The forts
remaining in possession OF the federal government
In and near these states, were either besieged or men
aced by warlikc preparations, and especially Fort
Sumter was nearly surrounded by well protected
hostile batteries, with guns equal in quality 10 the
best of its own, and ontnumbering the latter as per-
haps ten TO one. \ disproportionate share of the
federal muskets and rifles had found their way into
these states and had beeH seized ID be used against
the government. Accommodations of the public
revenue lying within them had been seized for the
same object. The navy was scattered in distant
seas leaving but very small part within the inn
mediate reach of the government, Officers of the
federal army and navy had resigned in great mum
bers, aud of those resiguing, larger portion had
taken up arms against the government
simultaneously and i'll connection with all this
the purpose to sever the federal Union was openly
ayowed In accordance with this purpose an ordi.
nance had been adopted in each OF these states de-
claring the states respectively be separated from
the national Union. A formula for instituting n
combined government OF these states had been pro-
mulgated and this Illegal organization in the char
actcr ofthe confederate states was already invoking
recognition, aid aud Intervention from foreign pow
crs-
Finding this condition Of things, and believing it
to be an imperative duty of the incoming admins
tration to prevent if possible, the consunmaton of
such attempts destroy the federal Union choice
of means to that end became Indispensable.
This choice was made and was declared in the
inaugural address The policy chosen looked to
the exhaustion of all peaceful measures before re-
sort to any stronger oncs 1t sought only to hold
the public places and property not already wrestcd
from the government and TO collect the revenue
relying for the rest time, discussion and the
ballot box 1t promised the continuance of the
mails ut government expense TO the very people
who were resisting the government and it gave re-
pcated pledges against any disturbance 10 any OF
the people any of their rights
ally aud ipstitably do in such case everything
foreborne without which it believed possi-
bic to keep the government on foot
The 5tll of March, the present incumbcnts first
full day in office, letter of Major Anderson com
nlandng at Fort Sumter. written on the 2stll OF
February, and received at the war department
on the 4th of March, was by that department
placed in his hands. This letter expressed the pro-
tes ssional opinion of the writer that reinforce
ments could not be thrown into thai fort within the
time for his relief, rendered necessary by the limit
ed supply of provisions, and with view of holding
possession OF the same, with force of less than
10000 good and well disciplined men. This opin-
ion was coucaured in by all the officers of his com
intnd and their memoranda on the subject we're
made enclosures Of Major Anderson's letter
The whole was Immediately laid before Lieut.
Gen. Scott who at once concurred with Major An.
dersons opinion. On reflection, however, hc took
full time for consultation with the officers both of
the army and navy, aud at the end Of four DAYS
came reluctantly but decidedly to the same concu-
sion before. He also stated at the time that no
such sufficient force then at the control Of the
government, or could be raised aud brought to the
ground within the time when all the provisions in
the fort would be exhausted.
In purely military point Of yicw this reduced
the duty of the administration in the case TO the
mere matter of getting the garrison safely out OF
the fort. 1t WAS believed, however, that TO so
abandon that position, under the circumstances
would be utterly ruinous that the necessity under
which it to be done, would not be fully under
stood that BY many il would be construed as part
Of u voluntary policy; thar at home it would dis
courage the friends Of the Union, emboldcn its en-
enes aud go far to insure TO the latter a recogni-
tion abroad that in fact it would be our national
destruction and this could notbe allowed. Starva-
ton WAS not vet upon the garrison, and that
calamity would be reached, Fort Pickens might be
reinforced. This would be clear indication OF
our policy and would better enable the country 10
Il
~ necessity.
An order was at once directed to be sent FOR the
landing OF the troops from the steamship BROOKLYN
into Fort Pickens This order could not go by I
land, bur take the longer and slower route by I
sea. The first return news from the order WAS ne
ccived just one week before the fall of Fort Sum
ter The news was that the officer cnmmansliss.
The SabiHo--tu which vessel the troops had been
trans fcrrcd from the Brookyn-acting on some /
quasi armistce OF the late administration, and Of
10 the time the order dispatched had only vaslie
and unloanied rumors TO fix It's artention-had re
used to land troops. To now reinforce Fort Pick
ms before a crisis would b reached a Fort Sum
cr By the mere exhaustion Of provisions in the
after port, was impossible.
Against such a conjunction, the government had
few days before commenced preparing an exre-
iiti0n well adapted as might be relieve torE
SUMTER which expedition Intended be ui5i-
natcy used or not, on asceFtaining circumstances.
The strongest anticipated case for using I WAS now
ircsenlet and il was resolved 70 send the cxpcdi-
ion forasud as had heea intendcd-
In this contingency, il also resolved to mott
y the governor &c South Carolina that he might
xpcct al a;ienp, would be made 10 proyisioa the
erf and that il the attempt shonil not lc resisted
icrc weaid be no cfort 10 shnsW in men, arms, u
fnmaniiion, uillnuf futiier notirc. or IN ease q
~ ltiark upon The frt Tbs ueiirc was H-cafd.
Ugly s,sen wlisrcugcn the fost altackcd and