East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-01-17

States require the aid of the commercial
and navigating States 10 send their pro-
ductions to domestic and foreign markets
and furnish the naval power to render
their transportation secure against all
hostile attacks.
Should the Union perish in the midst
Of the present excitement, we have al
ready had "a sad foretsste OF the univer
sal suffering which would result from It's
destruction. The calamity would bc Sc
we're in every portion of the Union, and
would be qnite As great, to say the least,
ia the Southern as III the Northern states.
The greatest aggravation OF the evil,
aud that which would place us in the
most umiavorable light, both before the
world and posterlty, Is, a am frin'y
convinced, that the secession movement
ha, been chiefly based upon misappre-
hension at the South, of the sentiments
Of the majority in several of the North
enl states. Let the question he answer
cd from the political assemblies to the
ballot box, and the people then'sel yes
would speedily redress the serious griev
ances which the South have suffered
But, in Heavens name, let the trial be
made before we plunge into an armed
conflict, upon the mere snppoSitlon that
there is no other alternative. Time IN
great conservative power. Let us pause
at the momentous point, and afford the
people, both at the North and South, an
opportunity for reflection. Would that
South Carolina had been convinced OF
this truth before her precipi;ate action.
therefore appeal, through you, to the
people of the country, to declare IN their
uivht that the Union must and shall be
preserved 10y all constitutional means.
most earnestly recommend that you
devote yourselves to the question, how
this can Le accomplished in peace. All
other questions, when compared with
this, sink into insigniiicance. The pres
ent is no time for paliatives. Prompt
action is required. A delay in Congress,
to prescribe or recommend a distinct aud
practical proposition for reconciliation,
may drive us to point from which 1t
would he almost impossible to recede.-
A common ground on which Cancellation
and harmony may be produced, Is surely
not unattainable. The proposition To
compromise by letting the North have
exclusive control of the territory above a
certain line, ami to give Southern insti-
tutiuns protection below that line, oaght
to RECEIVE universal appreciation. In
itself, indeed, II may not be entirely sat
i>iactorv, hut when the alternative Is
between reasonable concession on boti
sides and the destruction OF the Union
il is an imputaton on the patriotism o
Congress To assert that It's members vii
hesitate a moment. Even now the dan
ger is upon us.
Tn several States which have not yet
seeded, the forts, arsenalS and magazine
of the United States have been seized
r This is by far the most serious steI
" hich has been taken since the com
mencement of the troubles. This pub
lie property has long been left wlthou
garrisons and troops for its protection
because no person doubted it's security
under the hag of the country IN an,
State of the Union. Besides, our smaI
army has scarcely been sufficient t
yuarl our remote frontiers against lndia
incur>ions. The seizure of this propert
, from all appearances, has been purel
, aggressive, and not in resistance to an
aitcupt to coerce State or states, I
: remain in the Union. At the beglnnin,
i, of these unhappy troubles, | determine
. that no act of nine should increase tn
/. excitement in either section of TIA
- country. If the political conflict wcr
y to end in civil war, it was my determine
I purpose not to commence it, nor to fu
{ nish an excuse for it, in any act OF tn
Government
/. NV opinion remains unchanged, th'
% Justice as well as sound policy requieS I
+ still to seek a peaceful solution Of IL
4 questions at issue between the North all
|. the South. Entertaining this conviction
;. relrained even from sending re-enforc
e ments to Major Anderson, who comnan'
l. ed the forts Of Charleston harbor, unit
&c an absolute necessity for doing so shou
|. make ITSELF apparent, lest it might be +
5. garlcd as a menace of military coercio
r. aud thus furnish provocation, or.
" Least, a pretcxt, for an outbreak on Il
: part of South Carolina. No ncce-si
re ior these re endorsements seemed to exi'
c. | was assured, by distinguished, uprig
81 gentlemen Of South Carolina, that !
j. attack on Major Anderson was intendc
,e but that, on the contrary, it was the d
G. sire of the State authorities as much
or it was my own to avoid the fatal cons
nv ouences which must eventually follf
he military collision. And here deem
ne proper to submit for your intornsti
ch copies of communication dated 2S
ce December, 1860, addressed to me by
= w. Barnwell, j. II. Adams, aud Jam
he l.. Orr, Commissioners of South Caroil
ed with the accompanying documents, a
,rs copies Of my answer thereto, dated L
nv ccnber 81. In further explanation
1t Major Anderson's removal from F'
MI Moultric to Fort Sumpter, it is proper
state that after my answer To the Sou
Carolina Commissioners, the War |
~ partment received letter from Il
oa valiant officer dated December ~, iS'
,a the day after his movement, from VIII
slv the following is an extract:
of al will add as my opinion that ma
,,,o that tha authOrIi