The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-26
MESSAGE,
Gentlemen of Tie Senats


and of he Houis Of Representatives.
Our faithful and patriotic Commonwealth
In the month Of January last, speaking by the
unanimous voice Of her representatives In
both branches of the Legislature, authorized
and requested me "to assure the President o.
the United States Of the loyalty Of the peo'
pie of Maine to the Union and the Govern
ment thereof, and that the entire resources o
the State in men and money" were "pledget
to the administration in defence mud support
Of the Constitution and the Union
The time has come when she 10 called up
on to make good these protestations OF loyalty
to the Government, and TO furnish tor ~
maintenance some portion Of that material
aid which she thus voluntarily and nooly
profered.
Combinations against the laws Of the Unit.
ed States, have been formed in several Of the
Southern States, aud are likely TO be formed
in Others, constituting in the whole MAORI.
ty Of the slaveholdiEg States, too powerful Ia
be suppressed by the ordinary course OF ju.
dicial proceeding, and which. we are not per-
mitred to doubt, have. for their real objec,
aud ultimate purpose. the destruction Of the
Government rs It exists under the Federal
Constitution.
Whether the actual convictions and desires
of majority Of the people Of these mi'guid.
ed and unhappy States are in harmony with
such criminal designs, Is not material for US
now to inquire, inasmuch as IL IL certain that
the policy and organization Of these States,
are controlled ana directed by men Of whose
purpose there can be no question whatever.
Shall the Government Of the United States
interpose, and ehectually, to defeat these
reasonable combinationsi Shall the Gov
eminent be maintained or desuoyedi Shall
il be respected and obeyed. or scofied at and
trampled in the dust
Those to whom It's administration has
been committed by the people under the
forms of the Constitution, and with oil the
solemlities of the simple but august investi.
ture which that instrument les prescribed.
would be guilty of an objectionable crime
against the country and against the civiliza.
ton of the age, shonld they fail to employ all
the means and exert all the power which the
law has placed 1t their hands to prevent the
threatened catastrophe.
That they apprehend the true character
and extent Of their obligations, Is NANTES,
from the prompt and vigorous measures
which they have adopted for the preservation
OF the Government in this hour Of extremes
peril.
The President of the United States In vir.
tue of the authority with which he is clothed
BY the Constitution and laws Of Congress
has called upon all the States tfat were not
in fragrant rebellion, for a portion Of the mi.
li,ia thereof to aid him in suppressing the
existing combinations and In enforcing the
laws OF the United States.
A requisition for regiment to serve as In.
fantry or riaemen, has been made npon me-
as Commander. in. Chief OF the Militia OF this
State, and il can scarcely be doubted thai
other acquisitions will be made hereafter
An early demonstration Of the loyalty, de-
termination and power Of the country may b'
among the most efficient, economical and HUI
name methods OF suppressing the rebellion
which hsgitious men have instigsted and re-
storing the Government TO the peaceful exer.
else OF its legitimate functions.
Upon q careful examination of the laws oi
the State, and after consulting with eminent
legal and military gentlemen, / became salts.
fed that had not sufficient authority Of law
to enable me to respond TO the call Of the
President us the exigency Of the case requir.
ed. Finding mysslf, therefore, under the nc.
ctssity of converting the l. gislature, l ap.
ointed the earliest day for its meeting upon
which a full attendance OF the members
could DO had. thank you for your prompt
response to the summons which IL thus be-
came my duty TO issue.
| I cannot doubt that IL will be the part of
wisdom and duty, or that 1t will be your
pleasure. to make liberal provision. both rs
to men and money, for the emergency, and
such as will enable our loyal and gallant
State to contribute her full proportion OF
what may be necessary Of either to vindicate
the supremacy Of the laws and the integrity
| Of the Union.
SO great is the urgency Of the occasion,
and so deep and peryadng is the patriotism
of our people, that there will be, presume.
| little difficulty in raising by voluntary enlist
ment all the soldiers that will be required
from this State. l would therefore suggest
that, not emitting to amend the existing laws
so as to make them more efficient and readily
available in such contingency as may posi-.
bly, arise, you should regard as Of primary
importance the enactment Of such additional
provisions as will render the organization and
mastering of volunteers into the service Of
the United States, rs essy, speedy, and eff.
cient as may be. Whether any legislation Is
required for the protection and defence Of
our extended coast, Is q question which may
be worthy Of your serious consideration.
An appropriation Of money sufficient TO
defray the expenses Of raising and mastering
into the service of the United States such
quotas Of the Militia Of the State 90 you may
believe will he called for by the President, In
any event likely to occur, and In defence OF
the State, Is duty which need not urge
upon your attention.
How the money which you may appropri.
ate should be raised, is q question which will
be for you to determine but in view Of the
fact that portion OF IL will be required i'm.
mediately, and considering that such Is the
financial strength and credit Of the State,
that IL will be easy TO obtain on It's credit, at
favorable rates Of interest, all the funds that
may be needed for the purposes TO which i
have advertcd. would advise that q loan or
loans upon such time as you may think ex-
pedient, be authorized by the Legislature
And I would recommend that the amount
provided for should be such as will comport
with the magnitude Of the emergency. with
the honor Of the State, and the patriotic dc.
yotion Of its citizens.
Gentlemen QfIs House Of Representatives.:
ALI Of us-cyen the wisest and most hr-sce-
jng-haye failed to perceive clearly the inten-
tions, or TO understand fully the movements,
OF the malgn spirits who have dominated the
policy Of large number ofthe Southern States
for many years. For years, rs recent de,elope-
ments have shown, they have been laboring
with one object and plotting TO one end-.the
subyersion Of the government To accomplish
this cherished purpose, they have made the
election ola President Of the United States In
opposition TO the candidate Of their choice, the
occasion for plunging those States into rebel
lion the most ineIcusable and wicked Of which
the annals Of the race afford any example, be
cause II is an uprising against o government
the most wise. just, benefcent, and the best
adapted TO promote the prosperity and happi-
ness Of the people, that the world has ever
seen. For eighty three years i has been the
defence, the protection. the pride and the glory
Of q people the m,st prosperous, conIsn'ea,
the best governed, the most secure ~ M w
a, -. Ia. .,,...~s and mower were accom-