Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1861-07-09
Presidents Message

Fsilop Ctti=ens Of tie .Seaate and HLuse
Of Representatives.:
Having been convened on al e1.raordi-
nary occasion, as authorized By tie Con
s.itution, your attention is uot called to
any ordinary sui jsc. of legislation,
At the beginning Of the preseut Presi-
dental term, four months ago, the fanc,
tious of the Federal Government were
found to 10 generally suspended within
the several States Of South Caroliua,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
and Florida, excepting only Of the Post
Office Department.
Within these States, all the forts, arse
nails, dOcky ards, cus,Om-houses, aud the
like, including the movable aud s.stioua-
~ property in and about them, lad been
seized, and were held 10 open hostility to
this Government, excepting ouly Forts
Pickens, Taylor, aud jefferson, on and
near the Florida coast, and Fou Sumter,
in Charleston harbor, South Ca,olipa
The forts thus seized had been pu, in iu-
proved condition, new ones bad been built,
and armed forces had been Orgalized, and
we're organizing, oil avowedly with the
same hostile purpose. TIE forts remain
ing 10 the possession Of the Federal Gov
ernment in and near these States, were
either besieged or menaccd by warl,ke
preparations. Especially, Fort Sumter
was nearly surrounded by well-protec,ed
hostile batteries, with gus equal in quail
ity to the best Of its own, aud outnumber.
ing the latter as perhaps ten to one. A
disproportiouate share Of the Federal mus
ke,s and rifles, had, somehow, found thei,
way into these States, aud had been seized
to be used against the Government. Ac-
cumulations Of the public revenue, lying
within them, had been seized for the same
object. The Navy was scattered in dis.
tant seas, leaving but very small part OF
it within the immediate reach Of the Gov
ernmcnt Officers Of the Federal army
had resigned iu great plumbers, and Of
those resiguiDg . large proportion had ta-
ken up arms against the Government.
simultaneously, and in common with
all this, the purpose to sever the Federal
Union was openly avowed. In accordance
with this purpose, an Ordinance had been
adopted iu each Of these States, declaring
tho States respectively to be separated
from the National Union. A formula for
insti.u,ing q combined Government Of
those States had been promulgated, and
this illegal organization, in the character
of "COufederats States" was already iu.
voking recognition, aid, and intervention
from foreign Powers.
Finding this condition of things, aud
believing it to be an imperative duty upon
the incoming Executive to prevent, if
possible, the cousummatiou Of euch attempt
to destroy the Federal Uuiou, a choice of
means to that end became indispensable
This choice was made, aud was declared,
in the Inaugural Address. Tho policy
chosen, looked to the exhaustion Of all
peaceful measures before . resort to any
stronger oues. 1t sought cnly to hold the
public places aud property not already
wres,ed from the Government, and to col
lect the revenue, relying, for the rest, on
time, discussion, and the ballot. box il
promised q continuance Of tho mails, at
Government expense, to the very people
who were resisting the Government; aud
i: gave repeated pledges against any dis
disturbances to any OF the people or any
of their rights, of all that which q presi-
dent might cOu,titutionally and jus'iiably
do in such case. Everything va, for
borne, without which it was believed pos
sible to keep the Government on foot.
On the 9th Of March, the present in
cumbent's first full day in Office, n letter
from Major Anderson, commanding a.
Fort Sumter, written on the 2Sth Of Feb,
and received at tho War Department Oh
the 4th Of March, was BY that Department:
placed in bis hands. This letter expresses
tho professional opinion Of the writer,
that re-enforcements could not be thrown
into that fort within the time for his re-
lief, rendered necessary BY the limited
supply Of provisions, and with a view Of
holding possession of the same, with q
force Of less than twenty thousand good
and well disciplined men. This opinion
vas concurred in by all the officers of his
command, aud their memoranda on the
subject were made Enclosures of Major
Anderson's letter.
The whole was Immediately laid before
Lieutenant-G General Scott, who at once
concurred with Major Anderson in his
opinion. On reflection, however, he took
full time, consulting with other officers,
both Of the Army aud the Navy, aud at
the end Of four days came reluctantly but
decidedly to the same conclusion as before.
He also stated, at tbs same time, that 10
such sufficient force was then at the COZ
trOl Of the GovsIlmsBt, or could De raised