Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-19
Important speech Of the Prestdentyfo
the virginia commissioners.

Important Speech of the Prestdentsfo
the virginia Commissioners.
WASHINGTON, April Is, 1861.
The following is the reply of Mr.. Lincoln
10 the Commissioners from the Virginia State
Convention =
To Hon. Messrs PRESTON, STUART and RAN
DoLPH -
GENTLEMEN As committee of the Vir-
ginia Convention, now in session, you present
me a preamble and resolution in these words:
WHEREAS, In the opinion of this Conyen-
ton, the uncertainty which prevails in the
public mind as to the policy which the Fed
eral Executive intends to pursue towards the
seeded States, is extremely injurious to the
Industrial and commercial interests of the
country, tends to keep up an excitement
which is unfavorable to the adjustment of the
pending difficulties, and threatens distur-
bance of the public peace; therefore,
Resolved That committee of three dele
gates be appointed to wait on the President
of the United States, present to him this pre-
amble, and respectfully ask him to COMMUNE
cate TO this Convention the policy which the
federal Executive intends to pursue in re-
gard to the Confederate States.
In answer have to say that having, at the
beginning of my official term. expressed my
intended policy as plainly as was able, it is
| with deep regret and modification 1 now
learn there is great and injurious uncertainty
in the public mind as to what that policy is,
and what course l intend to pursue. Not
having as yet seen occasion to change, it is
now my purpose to pursue the course marked
out In the inaugural address. 1 commend a
careful consideration of the whole document
as the best expression l can give to my pur-
poses. AS then and therein said, now re-
peat, "Tbe power confided in me will be
m N m %
| and places belonging to the government, and
| to collect the duties audi imposts; but beyond
| what is necessary for these objects there will
be no invasion, no using of force against or
among the people anywhere" By the words
property and places belonging TO the gov
ernment," l chiefly allude TO the military
posts and property which were in possession
of the government when it came into my
bands. But, as now appears to be true. in
pursuit of a purpose to drive the United
States authority from these places, an I'M
provoked assault has been made upon Fort
Sumter, l shall hold myself at liberty to re-
posses it, if can, like places which had been
seized before the government was devolved
upon me; and in any event / shall, to the
best of my ability, repel force by force. In
case it proves true that Fort Sumter has been
assaulted, as is reported, l shall, perhaps,
cause the United States mails to be with
drawn from all the States which claim to have
seeded, believing that the commencement of
actual war against the government justifes
and possibly demands it. l scarcely need to
cay that l consider the military posts aud
property situated within the States which
claim to have seeded, as yet belonging to
the government of the United States as much
as they did before the supposed secession
Whatever else / may do for the purpose, l
shall not attempt to collect the duties and
imposts by any armed invasion of any part
of the country; not meaning by this, how
ever, that may not land a force deemed ne
cessary to relieve fort upon the border OF
the country. From the fact that 1 have
quoted part of the inaugural address. it
must not be inferred that 1 repudiate any
other part, the whole of which reaffirm, ex-
cept so far as what l now say of the mails
may be regarded as modification.