Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-21

y U.
ed letter from Garrett Davis. one of Ken
tucky's distinguished sons. and request that
yon will in reading substitute in your
minds for Kentucky, whenever it.oee.rrs,
Northwestern Virginia:
RALTiMoHE, April %, 1861.
Geo. ID. Prentice, ESg.-Dear Sir: EARLY
lnst week detpru,incd, upon my own re-
Election and impulse, to make II hurried run
to Washington to take IL view of public
attnirs there, and from there and 10 talk
with the President and some of the mem
bers of his Cabinet in relation to our ma
tional troubles, and how the Administra-
tion intended 10 treat them.
found the President frank and calm
but decided and firm. He expressed deem
concern and regret forthc existing condi-
tion of public nif.frs, and his hope that
there would yet be a restoration of the
Union, and peace and amity among all
the Suites. He remarked that neither
he, nor any other President, who has
been elected by party, could admin
! lister the Government in exnct nccor-
dance with his own opinions and Judge
Inent; but must make some departure to
satisfy those who had placed him in power.
That before the CnroliuiNns had made their
attack on Fort Sumpter, he had decided
not to reinforce or attempt to reinForce its
its handful of furnishing men with food
aud that he had distinctly commissioned
these purposes To the authorities of the
Southern Confederation. That he had ,lI
| so determined that, until the meeting of
Congress, lie would make no atteinpt to
rctake the forts, &c, belonging to the Uni
ted States, which had been uulawfull,.
seized and wrested from their possession.
but would leave the then existing state Of.
things to be considered and acted upon
by Congress, he shOHld he constrained to
depart from that purpose by the continued
military operations OF the seeded States.
| The President further said that events
had now reached IL ptint WHEN it must be
decided whether our system Of Federal
I Government was only n league of sovereign
and Independent Smtes, from which any
Stnte could withdraw ut pleasure. or
whether the Constitution formed a Gov
ernmcnt invested with power aud strength
! sufficient to uphold its own authority. and,
/ to enforce the execution of the laws of
i Congress. That lie hail no donbt of tho
truth ofthe latter proposition, and he it,
itcnded to make it good, in the admins.
/ trdtion of the Government TO the extent
that he slIould he sustained byi tile pen-
pie of the United States.
He remarked, also, that he expected all
/ the States upon which he had made Al re.
I QUESTION for military aid, to enable him to
execute the laws, to respond to that cali.
I and particularly Kentucky which had
\ been so loyal to the Union and faithful
an ithe peff6rmGnce of all her ditieg. That
;Fiie greatly regretted she had not acted I'M
ito the principle of her great Statesman
now no more, and fnr which sAe cast her
li.yote in the late Presidential election, The
!. Union the Constitution, and the enforce.
ment of the laws
That he intended to make no attack, jI-
rect or indltests upon the institution or
I 'lproperty OF any Stdtei but, on tile contra.
rs, would defend them to the full extent
with which the. Gons!itufion and the laws
of Congress have vested the President with
power. Aud thArhe did nut intend to in
wade with an armed force, or make Rny
military or naval movement agaiust anv
State, unless she or her people should
make it necessary by a formidable resist
ance to tue authority and laws of the Uni
ted Sla{es; That IL Kentucky or her citi-
Zens should seize the post of Newport IL
would become his duty aud he might MT
tempt " retake it; bat he contemplated nc
military operations that would make Il
necessary TO move any troops over her Ter.
ritnrles, though he had the unqnestionet
authority at all times 70 march the Unite,
States troops into and over any and ever,
State. That if Kentucky made no demon
slration of force against the United State
he would not molest her. That he regret
ted the necessity Of marching troops ucTos