The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-10-24

Gov. Stewards Proclamation.
We publish below the letter of the
Secretary of State to the Governors Of
loyal States, advising them to recon-
mend to their several Legislatures the
propriety of making some provision for
the Improvement and perfection OF the
defenses of the States over which they
preside. Although the Governor al.
ludes to the efforts of the rebel agents
who are abroad to embroil MS with for
eign powers now friendly, he adds that
the prospect for any such disturbance
is less now than at any time since the
insurrection broke out. But when at
peace is the time to take precaution to
avoid war. Therefore, the Secretary
recommends the most obvious of pre-
cautions-namely, the putting of our
ports and harbors on the lakes and seas
in a condition of complete defense.
The letter is also proclamation to
every foreign power which may be
watching Its chance to interfere to our
dismemberment that we will tolerate
no interference from any quarter under
any circumstances, and that we mean
moreover TO back our words with deeds,
and by fortifying our sea ports and lake
harbors to be as ready to repel aggres-
sion as to suppress rebellion.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
WASHINGTON. October a. 1861
To his Excelleucy the Governor of the State OF
New York:
SIR The present insurrection had
not even revealed itself in arms, when
disloyal citizens fastened to foreign
countries to invoke their intervention
for the overthrow of the Government,
and the destruction of the National
Union. These agents are known to
have made their appeals to some of the
more important States, without sue
cess. 1t is not likely, however, that
they will remain content with such re-
fusals. Indeed, it is understood that
they are industriously endeavoring to
accomplish their disloyal prospects by
degrees and by indirection. Taking
advantage of the embarrassments of
agriculture, manufactures and COM
merce in foreign countries, resulting
from the insurrection they have inau-
gurated at home, they seek to involve
our common country in controversies
with States with which every public in
terest, and every interest of mankind,
require that it shall remain in relations
of peace, amity and friendship. l am
able to state for your satisfaction, that
the prospect for any such disturbance
is now less serious than it has been at
any previous period during the course
of the instruction. 1T is, nevertheless,
necessary now, as it has hitherto been,
to take every precaution that is posi-
BILE, to avoid the evils of foreign war,
to be superinduced upon those of civil
cOmmotion, which we are endeavoring
to cure.
One of the most obvious of such pre-
cautions is, that our ports and harbors
on the seas and lakes should be put in a
condition of complete defense, for any
nation may be said to Involuntary in
cur danger in temptuous seasons when
it fails to show that it has sheltered it.
self on every side from which the storm
might possibly come.
The measures which the Executive
can adopt in the emergency are such
only as Congress has sanctioned, and
for which it has provided.
The President is putting forth the
most diligent efforts to execute these
measures, and we have the great salts
faction of seeing that these efforts are
seconded by the favor, and the support
of loyal patriotic and selfsacrificing
people, and are rapidly bringing the
military and naval forces of the United
States into the highest state of efficien-
ey. But Congress was chiefly absorbed
during its recent extra session with
these measures, and did not provide as
ample as could be wished for the forti-
fcation of our sea and lake coasts. In
previous wars the loyal States have ap-
piled themselves by independent and
separate activity to the support and aid
Of the Federal Government in its ardu.
Gus responsibilities. The same dispo.
sition has been manifested in degree
eminently honorable by all the loyal
States during the present instruction.
In view of this fact, and relying on
the increase and continuance of the
same disposition on the part of the 10y
al States, the President has directed
me to invite your consideration to the
subject of the improvement and perfec.
ton of the defences of the State over
which you preside, and to ask you to
submit the subject to the consideration
of the Legislature, when it shall have
assembled. Such proceedings by the
State would require only temporary
use of its means.
The expenditures ought to be made
the subject of Conference with the
Federal Government. Being thus
made with the concurrence of the Gov.
eminent for general defense, there is
every reason to believe that Congress
would sanction what the State would
do, and would provide for its REIN
bursement.
Should these suggestions be accep