Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1861-04-18
Tbe President's Reply TO the Com
Aittee Of the Virginia Convention.

y O'Clock Saturday morning the COMMITS.
s'orprs had an interview with the Presiden, on
the fubject Of their mission. Mr. lincoln made
his fPly in writing follows:
I'm. hesSrs. Preston. Stuart and Raneio!pA
Gcnfemen-As n Committee of the Virginia
Contention, now in session, you present me
preamble and resolution in these words:
hereas, IN the opinion Of thi. Convention.
the sncerininiy which prevails IN the public mind
~ y the policy which the Federal Exccutiy. in.
temp TO pursue towards the seeded States 10
estSmely injurious To the industrial and com.
me1ial interests OF the country, tends To Keen
up n excitement which is unfavorable 10 The
adj stment OF pending difficulties and threaten.
dbturbanee of the public peace Therefore
tfesoIred, That Committee Of three dele.
Gaus be appointed to wait on the Presiden, nj
the nited States, present 10 him this preamble
and resolution, and respectfully ask him 90 com.
mufeAte to this Convention the policy which
the Federal Executive intends to pursue in r..
gard to the Confederate States"
ID answer ] have to say that having n. the he.
ginning OF my official term expressed by intend.
cd Hlicy ~ plainly as was able, IL 10 with
deep regret and some modification now learn
thatthere - great and injurious uncertainty in
the public mind AS 10 what that policy H. and
whf course i intend TO pursue
W. hhNlug ~ YET seen OCCASION to chance
10 npw my purpose to pursue the course mark cd
outin the Inaugural Address | commend
cA7iul consideration Of the whole document. as
th7bes expression can give OF nv purposes
AZ then and therein said. now repeat
fthe power conhd-d To me will be used 10
ho!i occupy and Posscss the property and places
beiDnging TO the Government and TO collect the
df'es and imposts but hey ond what IL peee.
soy for these objects there will be no in,a,;oD
n'us,ng OF force against OF among the people
Re here
i'y the words property and places belonging
u the Government ] chiefly allude 20 the mill,
~. posts and property which were in the nos.
session OF the Government when 70 came 90 nv
hbBds.
Hut IL, ~ now appears 90 be true. in nor,.i,
= purpose 60 drive the United States author.
" itom thess places, an unprOyok ell assault has
ben made upon Fort sumter I shall hold nv
eli NJ liberty 20 repossess " ] can. like pIaecs
thich had been seiEed before the Go,ernmept
cas- devolved upon inc.
[ And, IN any event. l shall to the heat n m,
tb,iiiy, repeI force by force
In case u proves true that Port Sumter has
been assaulted, as reported ! shall, perhaps
tAuse the United States mails to be -ithdrarn
'rotn all the States which claim 60 hay. hen
seceded. believing that the commencement Of
actual var against the Government justi6ss and
possibly demands a.
10Y "" - - ~ 49, tHnNiuef lhe mill
iAry posts and pr, pcTiy situated within ,b.
states which claim 10 have secesled. as We, hs.
longing Co the government Of the Tn,te,l State,
As much A. they Did before the supposed secss-
sion.
whatever siss may do for the purpose I
shall not attempt e. collect the duties asd i'm.
posts BY any armed invasion of any part Of The
country not meaning by this however. thu, 4
m@y not lAndA force deemed necessary to 70.
lieve a fort ufboa The bordrr ~ al. e,,,,st-.
frora the iac s5,,aI .srstrs,hotrd a 81, az
ibs ina,,guu~i AafaS.-k must 90, h. ynfesr.J
thai ! fePudiAie any other part ths Whole n
Which frahrm except 80 fAr hs What I nov
SAY q the mails msy b. regarded as modi6.
cation.