Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-05-02
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gtniler.sn ofae Sonar an Hou.. Of Rep

Genaenssn of ne Senafs a,,@ House Of Rep
resenfafisFs:-
You have been summoned together un-
der circumstances of tho most grave and
important character. Our country is placed
ia 4 condition hitherto unknown in her
history, and one which all patriots and
lovers Of liberty throughout the world had
fondly hoped would never occur. Civil
war which has ever been the bane of Re-
publics. has been inaugurated by certain
rebellious States. which. unmindfn oil
their constitutional obligations. and re-
sarding not our common history. blood in
terests and institutions. are seeking to dis
honor the Nation and overthrow the Fed
eral Government, so wisely, and, as we
had hoped. permanently adopted by our
fathers.
The origin Of this most wicket rebellion
dates back more than thirty years. 1t is
well known that distinguished Southern
statesman, rs early as 1920. cherished the
dream OF a vast slsveholling Confederacy
comprehending the conquest Of Cuba.
Mexico and Central America. The deter
minalioa was then formed to break our Re-
public into pieces by any available pretext.
The first one seized npon by South Caro-
lima was the Tariff question. and had not
the Nation had for its Executor n man
greatly distinguished for patriotism. cour.
age and decision of character. wide spread
ing and disastrous consequences might
have followed. By promp and energetic
action the rebellion was crushed for the
time. to be revived. as subsequent events
have shown. with new features and in an
other form.
The election Of the President Of the Uni
ted States, through the forms Of the Con-
stitution. entertaining opinions obnoxious
to certain States Of the Confederacy. is
boldly published to the world as Just cause
for the dissolution Of the Union. and bring
ing on il necessary for that purpose all the
horrors ola bloody revolution. 1t would
be an Insult to your intelligence to argue
that the admission Of this prctense as a
justification would be clearly fatal to all
Republican Government; that popular in
stitutions can only be sustained by sub
mission TO the will of the people as express
ed through the forms of the Constitution.
trusting to the peaceful remedy of tie bal
lot box for the redress Of grievances
And the wickedness of this prctence is
greatly aggravated by the reflection that i,
is utterly hypocritical. that it was only put
forward in fnrtherance Of schemes enter
tanned for years and supported by notori-
onsIy false assumptions OF fact and logic
When we read the history of the late Dem.
ocratic Convention at Charleston by the
light Of subsequent events. can we fail 10
see that the scheme of secession and dis
memberment of the Union was one Of the
steps towards its contamination. IL con-
formation Of this opinion were needed. il
will be found in the fact that certain trai.
t0rons members of Mr. Buchanan's cabine,
Systematically engaged for many months
before the late Presidential election, in
placing the arms and lefcnces of the nation
IN position to be readily seizel by the
Fsecctling States.
Secession was at FIRST arguel as right
springing from the Constitution itself. but
as the movement gained strength. the film
sy pretext was abandoned. anil ceasel to be
a subject OF discussion. and what in an
hour of weakness was claimed by feeble ar
gument is now boldly asserted by militar y
power.
The North. conscious of her strength
and the rectitude of her intentions. ha.
hitherto remained quiet. making no prep.
aration whatever for a conflict of arms
Her forbearance has been construed into
cowarlice. and her Efforts to keep the peace
have but provoked increased insolcnce
and aggression. The secession movement
has from its beginning been an act of war
Ordinances of secession have been imme
diately followed anil sometimes proceeded
by the violent, seizure and plundsr o.
National property. and the forcible expnl-
sion of the agents and officers OF the Fed
eral Government. From the very FIRST
and at every step in its progress. it ha'
been distinguished by acts of hostility an
outrage. alike injurious to the Nation anC
Insulting to the people of the loyal States
The secessionists were profoundly con
WINGED that the cooperation OF the horde
slave States could not be procurcd,withou
conflict Of arms between them AMI tn.
Federal Government, and hence have la
bored assiduously to place the Government
in such a position collision could not b
avoided except by the most affect submis
sion and humiliation. The intention t.
force conflict has been most apparent
and delay was suffered only that they nigh
complete their reparations; and wheI
at last their preparations were complete
wearied by tho long forbearance of ia
government, they inaugurated hostilitie
by assaulting and reducing Fort Sumter
The place where Fort Sumter is situate
had been regularly ceisd by the State o
South Carolina to the Federal Govern
ment, and by On express provision OF tn
Constituiion was nnler the exclusive in
risdiction of the United States. 1t was I'm
finish d and held by . garrison Of less tina
one hundred men. and while in this con
ditiou ss-invested by . large army. cut
ting off all approach to il by sea or land
The stock If provisions was almost ex
hausted and the immediate prospect wa
presented to the feeble garrison of .starva
ton. or yielding up into the hands OF a
armed and avowcd enemy fortress Of tn
United States. At this .juncturel the Fed
eral G Government. which had waitefi long
perhaps too long. .dselarei it's determine
EtionI to send provisions to the feeble CARR
son n Before this attempt conld be made
Il II IN