The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-04-27
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

and one which all patriots and lovers of lib
erty throughout the world had fondly hoped
would never occur. Civil war, that has
ever been the bane of Republics, has been
inaugurated by certain rebellious States,
which, unmindfnl Of their constitutional OBJ
legations, and regarding not our common
history, blood, interests and institutions, are
seeking to dishonor the Nation and over
throw the Federal Government, SO wisely,
and, as we had hoped, permanently estab-
lished by our fathers.
The origin of this most wicked rebellion
dates back more than thirty years. 1t is
well known that distinguished Southern
statesmen, as early as 1920, cherished the
dream of a vast Southern Slaveholding Con-
federacy, comprehending the conquest of
Cuba, Mexico and Central America. The
determination was then formed to break
our Republic into pieces by any available
pretext. The first one seized upon by
South Carolina was the Tariff question, and
had not the Nation had for its Executor a
man greatly distinguished for patriotism,
courage, and decision of character, wide
spreading and disastrous consequences
might have followed. By prompt and
energetic action the rebellion was crushed
out for the time, to be revived, as subseqent
events have shown, on new features and in
another form.
The election of a President of the United
States, through the forms of the COnstitu
ton, entertaining opinions obnoxious to
certain States oil Tue Uuufederacy, is boldly
published to the world as just cause for the
dissolutionsof the Union, and bringing on,
if necessary for hatpurRose, all the horrors
of bloody revolution. 1t would be an in
suit to your intelligence to argue that the
admission of this pretense as justi6ca-
ton would be clearly fatal to all Republi-
can Government-that popular institutions
can only be sustained by submission to the
will of the people as expressed through the
forms of the Constitution, trusting to the
peaceful remedy of the ballot box for the
redress of grievances. And tue wickedness
of this pretence is greatly aggravated by
the reflection that it is utterly hypocritical,
that was only put forward in furtherance Of
schemes entertained for years and supported
by VIGOROUSLY false assumptions of fact
and logic. When we read the history of
the late Democratic Convention at Charles
ton by the light of subsequent events, can
we fail to see that the scheme of secession
and ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Onion was one
of the steps towards its contamination. If
confirmation of this opinion were needed,
it will be found in the fact that certain
traitorOus members of Mr.. Buchanan s
cabinet, were Systematically engaged for
many months before the late Presidential
election, in placing the arms and defences
of the nation in a position to be readily
seized by the seeding states.
Secession was at first argued as a right
springing from the Constitution itself, but
as the government gained strength, the finn
sy pretext was abandoned, and ceased to be
a subject of discussion, and what in an hour
of weakness was claimed by feeble argu-
ment, is now boldly asserted by military
power.
The North conscious of her strength, and
the recttude of her intentions, has hitherto
remained quiet, making no preparations
whatever for a conflict of arms. Her for
hearance has been construed into cowardice,
and her efforts to keep the peace have but
provoked increased insolence and aggression.
The secession movement has from its begin
ming been an act of war. Ordinances of Sc
cession have been Immediately followed and
sometimes preceded by the violent seizure
and plumber of National property, aud the
forcible expulsion of the agents and officers
of the Federal Government. From the very
first, and at every step in its progress, it
has been distinguished by acts Of hostility
and outrage, alike injurious to the Nation
and Insulting to the people Of the loyal
States.
The secessionists were profoundly con-
WINGED that the cooperation of the border
slave States could not be procured without
a conflict of arms between them and the
Federal Government, and hence have Ia
bored assiduousIy to place the Government
in position that a collision could not be
avoided except by the most abject submits
sion and humiliation. The intention to
force conflict has been most apparent, and
delay was suffered only that they might
complete their preparations; and when at
last their preparations were complete, and
wearied by the long forbearance of the gov
ern ment, they inaugurated hostilities by as
saulting and reducing Fort Sumter.
The place where Fort Sumter is situated
had been regularly coded by the State of
South Carolina to the Federal Government
and by an express provision of the Constitu-
tion was under the exclusive jurisdiction of
the United States. 1t was unfinished and
held by garrison of less than one hundred
men, and while in this condition was in
vested by large army, cutting off all ap-
proach to it by sea or land. The stock Of
provisions was almost exhausted, and the
immediate prospect was presented to the
feeble garrison of starvation, a yielding up
into the hands of an armed and avowed en-
envy fortress of the United States. At this
juncture the Federal Government, which
had waited long, perhaps too long, declared
its determination to send provisions to the
feeble garrison. Before this attempt could
be made, and before a single sail of the feet
was seen off the harbor, powerful cannon
ade was opened upon Sumpter, which re-
suited in its destruction and surrender.
Every day brings us intelligence of new
outrages and assaults. Throughout the re-
bellious States is heard the note of prepa-
ration for an extensive and aggressive cam
paign. The National Capital is menaced,
and every avenue of approach for Federal
troops and provisions is attempted to be cut
off. The free navigation of the Mississippi
River, the great artery of commerce of the
Northwest, is DISTRACTED, and the usurping
government Of the rebellous States has is
sued proclamation inviting the freebooters
of all the world to prey upon our national
commerce.
We have passed from the field Of argu-
ment to the solemn fact of war which exists
by the act of the seeding States. The is