Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-08
G)e Obio 6tatesmra,r
T K 3 II . .
President Llncoln's Policy-A Letter from Gar
5l,io5 ret Davis to Geo. D. Prentice.
BALTIMORE, April 2s, 1856

,i.jsi ret Davis to Geo. D. Prentice.
bt9 5l1tio5, BALTIMORE, April 28, 1861.
Gro. d. PRENTioE, E, O., Dear Sir: Early lasl
week i determined, upon my own reflection ant
impulse, to make hurried run to Washington
to take a view of public affairs there, and from
there; and to talk with the Presidents and some
of the members of the Cabinet in relation to our
national troubles, and how the administration
intended to treat them.
!, i found the President frank and calm, but de.
cided and firm. He expressed deep concern
and regret for the existing condition of public
affairs, and his hope that there would yet be a
restoration of the Union, and peace and amity
among all the States, tie remarked that neith-
or he, nor any, other President, who had been
elected by o party, could administer the Gov
ernment In exact accordance with his own opin-
Ions and judgement; but must make some de
parture to safety those who bad placed him in
power. That, before the Carolinans bad made
their attack on Fort Sumter, he had decided not
to reinforce or attempt 10 reinforce its garrison
but merely, and only, to supply its handful Of
famishing men with food; and that he had dis
tinctly communicated these purposes to the au-
thorities OF the Southern Confederation. That
he also had determined that, until the meet
Ing Of Congress, he would make no attempt to
retake the forts, &c., belonging to the United
States, which had been unlawfully seized and
wrested from their possession, but would leave
the then existing state of things to be consider
ed and acted uponby Congress, unless he should
be constrained TO depart from that purpose by
the continued military operations OF the seced-
ed States. i5r ae
The President further said that events had
now reached point where it must be decided
whether our system of federal government was
only league of sovereign and independent
States, from which any State could withdraw at
pleasure, or whether the constitution formed
government invested with strength and powers
sufficient to uphold its own authority and to en-
force the execution Of the laws of Congress. -
That he had no doubt of the truth of the latter
proposition, and he intended to make il good in
the administration Of the government to the
extent that he should be sustained by the peo-
pie Of the United States. .r.tt - ...
He remarked, also, that he had expected all
the States, upon which he had made a requis-
tion for military aid to enable him to execute
the laws, TO respond to that call, and particular.
ly the State of Kentucky, which had been 80
loyal to the Union and faithful in the perform
ance Of all her duties. That he greatly regret.
ted she had not acted up to the principles OF her
great statesman, now no more, and for which
she cast her vote n the late Presidential election
"the Union, the Constitution, and the enforce
ment Of the Laws"
That he intended to make no attack, direct
or indirect, upon the institutions or proper.
ty Of any State; but, on the contrary, would
defend them to the full extent with which
the constitution and the laws of Congress
have vested him with the power. And that be
did not intend to invade with an armed force, or
IN NM mil tkan An
any State, unless she or her people should make
1t necessary by formidable resistance of the
authority and laws Of the United States. That
If Kentucky or her citizens should seize the
Fort of Newport, IL would become his duty, and
he might attempt to retake it; but he contem-
plated no military operations that would make
it necessary to move any troops over her terri
tories, though he had the unquestionable right
at all times to march the United States troops
into and over any and every State. That III
Kentucky made no demonstration of force O.
yainst the United States, he would not molest
her. That he regretted the necessity of march
ng troops across Maryland, but forces to protect
The seat Of the United States government could
not be concentrated there without doing so, and
be intended TO keep open line of communities
lion through that State to Washington City, at
my risk, but in manner least calculated to ir.
'itate or inAame her people. .t.
In this time of gloom and danger, when the
,ation ID being rocked to its base, and go many
States are leaping headlong into the abyss Of
evolution, il is the paramount duty of every
rue son Of Kentucky to give all his efforts to
ave her from the fatal plunge, and thus keep
away from her borders the most terrible of ali |
'courges,a civil and servile war. Let her not be.
,ome party to this most unnecessary unnatural,
Ind reEolting sectional strife. She had neither
part nor lot in bringing 1t on. It was precpi-
lated by Its arr ogant authors without conde. |
'cending to consult her, against her earnest re-
and to put in peril all her inter-
ssts, every hearthstone within her borders, and
vi her women and children. Its flashes and |
hunders are cleaning and breaking in the
Southern horizon over the guilty heads of those |
Who dared II, would have it, and there let Il |
age and waste its fury. There is no call of
interest, Of honor, or Of duty upon US to rush |
nto 1t and avert it from the South, and bring
lown Its fury upon ourselves. Will we permit
,ur sympathies for those who had none
or us, or our reckless knight. to
intervene at the cost of having our fair and
,eaceful land ravaged with fire and sword2 Let
Kentucky look to herself and her own self-pre-
'ervation In this dread hour. Let her stand
mmoyable as rock peering above the tenn.
,est toat ocean, and as the red waves of war, |
rem North or South. beat against her firm base,
ct her roll them back with all their desolation.
TO enable her to perform this difficult and peril. |
Jus duty, let her clothe herself in full papoply.
Let all her men and all her youths procure for
themselves the most effective arms, and then
themselves form an independent organization
# companies, regiments and divisions. Let
hem drill thoroughly, and always be ready to
lefend their homes and their State. from all
,nemies, within or without. Let them put
themselves under the command of brave and
aithful men who are known to have no object
'ut the defence and preservation of our Com
nonwealth and the reconstruction Of the Union.
Let us husband oil our resources and perfect
'ur military organization, and When the con-
ending parties become worn and wasted by
'rolonged and bloody war. we can then sffeot-
vely interfere to command general peace.
Faithfully yours,
ifaa sa aal'ai GARRETT DAVIS.
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