The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-07-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE!
FelloaO citizens Of the Senate /
and Horse of RepreaentQtives:

Having been convened on an extraordi-
nary occasion, as authorized By tie Con-
stitution. your attention is not called to any
ordinary subject of legislation at the begin
Ming of the present Presidential term.
-Four months ago, the functions of the
Federal Government were found to be gen.
orally suspended within the several States
of South Carolina. Georgia. Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana and Florida, excepting
only those of the Postofice Department
within these States. The forts, arsenals,
docks, harbols. custom house, and the like,
including the movable and stationary prop
erty in and about them had been seized, and
were held i'll open hostility TO the Govern
ment excepting only Forts Pickens. Taylor
and Jefferson on ard near the Florida coast,
and Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor,
South Carolina. Tie forts thus seized had
been put in depraved condition, new ones
had been built. and armed forces had been
organized and were organizing, all avowed
ly with the same hostile purpose; the forts
remaining in the possession of the Federal
Government in and near these States were
either besieged or menaced by warlike prep
arations, and especially Fort Sumter was
nearly surrounded by well protected hostile
batteries. with guns equal in quality to the
best of its own, and outnumbering the lat
ter as perhaps ten to one; disproportionate
share of the Federal muskets and rifles had
somehow found their way into these States,
and had been seized to he used against the
| Government; accumulations of the public
revenue lying within them had been seized
| for the same object; the navy was scattered
in distant seas, leaving but very small part
within the immediate use of the Govern
ment; the officers of the Federal army and
navy had resigned in gieat numbers, and
of those resiSuing. a large proportion had
taken up arms against the Government ST.
mui aneously, and in connection with all
these the purpose to sever the Federal IN
ion was openly avowed. In accordance with
this purpose an ordinance had been adopted
in each of these States, declaring the States
respectively to be separated from the Ma
tional Union, and formulae for combining
and insttuting a combined Government OF
these States had been promulgated, and this
illegal organization in the character of Con
federate States was already invoking recog-
milton and Intervention from foreign powers.
Finding this condition of things, and be-
lieving it to be the imperative duty upon
the incoming Executive to prevent, if pos
sible, the contamination of such attempt to
destroy the Federal Union, a choice OF
means to that end became Indispensable
This choice was made and declared in the
inaugural address. The policy chosen look
ed TO the exhaustion of all peaceful meas
ures before resort to any stronner ones; it
sought only to hold the public places and
property not already wrested from the Gov
eminent, and to collect the revenue, relying
for the rest on time. discussion and the bal
lol-box. 1t promised continuance of the
mails at Government expense to the very
people who were resisting the Government,
and it gave repeated pledges against any
disturbance to any of the people or any OF
their rights of all that which a President
might constitutionally and justfiably do in
such a case. Everything was forborne
without which it was believed possible to
keep the Government ON foot.
On the 9Th of March the present incum-
bent's first full day in Office, letter of Ma
! ior Anderson, commanding at Fort Sumter,
written on the 28th of February, and re-
ceiyed at the War Department on the 4th
OF March, was hJ mat Department placed
in his hands. This letter expressed the
professional opinion of the writer, that re
Inducements could not be thrown into that
fort within the time for his relief, rendered
necessary by the limited supply of provis-
ions and with view of holding possession
of the same, with force of less than CO.
600 good and well disciplined men. This
opinion was concurred in by all the officers
of his command, and their memoranda on
the subject were made Enclosures of Major
Anderson's letter. The whole was imme-
diately laid before Lieut.. General Scott, who
at once concurred with Major Anderson in
lopinion. On reflection, however, he took
full time and consultation with other officers.
both of the army and navy, and at the end
at the end of four days came reluctantly
but decidedly to the same conclusion as be-
fore. He also stated at the same time, thai
such sufficient force was not at the control
CT the Government, or could be raised and
brought to the ground within the time,
when the provisions in the fort would be
exhausted. In purely military point oil
view, this reduced the duty of the Admin
istration in the case TO the mere matter OF
taking the garrison safely out of the fort.
Il was believed. hewever. 10 abandon that
position under the circumstances would be
utterly ruinous; that the necessity under
which it was to be done would not be fully
understood; tibet by this means it would be
construed as a part of a voluntary policy;
that at home it would discourage the friends
Iof the Union, embolden its adversaries,
and 60 far to insure to the latter a recogui-
lion abroad; that in fact it would be our
national destruction consumated. This
could not be allowed. Starvation was not
yet upon the garrison, and ere it would be
reached Fort Pickens might be reinforced.
This last would be clear indication Of pol
icy, and would better enable the country to
accept the evacuation of Fort Sumter as a
military necessity. An order was at once
directed to be sent for the landing of the
troops from the steamship Brooklyn into
Fort Pickens. This order could not go by
land. but must take the longer and slower
route by sea. The first return news from
| the order was read but one week before the