Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-07-11
From the South CarOIinian.
LINCOLN'S MESSAGE.

WASHINGTON, July 4, (via Mobile, Ju
ly 5.)-The message of Lincoln to the
Northern Congress says that at the begin
ming of the present Administration, the
Federal Government was found to be sus
pended in several States, except in regard
to its postal functions. The national prop
erty, except Fort Pickens, Taylor, Jeffer.
son and Sumter, had been seized, and put
in an offensive position; other forts had
been built, an army organized and being
organized with avowedly hostile intent, and
the Federal force in these States beseiged
or meuaced. A disproportionate amount
of arms and munitions of war had somehow
found its way into the rebellious States
the accumuations of the national revenues
within the rebel borders was seized the
Federal Navy was scattered and Fedora
Army and Navy officers had resigned ir
great numbers. Ordinances declaring theil
separation from the United States had beer
passed, and these States, we're applying tt
foreign powers for recognition and assist
ance. The incoming Administration be-
lieved it to be an imperitave duty to pre-
vent the threatened dismemberment of the
Union. In the choice of means toward:
this indispensable policy, that method wa:
chosen which was indicated in the Inaugu
ral The Government exhausted all peace
ful measures before it would resort to coer
cion. 1t was seeking only to hold the pub
lie places and property, and to continue
the unresisted collection of the revenue
relying upon time, discussion and the bal
lot box for the rest; promising, in th'
mean rime, the continuance of the mails
Everything was to be foreborne compatible
with keeping the Government on foot.
On the 4th of March, letter was received
from Major Anderson, commanding For
Sumter, stating that the place could no
be held. On further consultation, Gen
Scott considered that the force at the dis
posal of the Government was not adequate
to the relief of Fort Sumter, without imme
diately victualing it. The duty Of th
! Administration was thus reduced to tn
safe withdrawal of the garrison. 1t was be
lieved, however, that the abandonment o
Sumter would be utterly ruinous; that tb
action would be misunderstood as discour
aging the friends of the Union and embold
ening its enemies, and as encouraging th
recognition of the Confederate States a
broad; that, in fact, it would be the nation
al destruction. IF this course was unavoid
able, previous to Sumter's starvation, For
Pickeps might be reinforced, thus indica
ting the policy of the Administration, ant
preparing the public mind for the evacua
tion of Sumter as military necessity. Or
ders were Immediately issued for the rein
fcrcement of Pickens, and as it was impos
sible to transmit these orders by land, the
were sent by sea. The first return to thi
order was received the week before the fal
of Sumter. The Brooklyn, under Buchan
ans qnusi armistice, refused to land troop
to reinforce Pickeus before the crisis shoul
be relieved at Sumter.
In order to prevent the evacuation c
Sumter before Pickeus could be reinforced
the Government planned an expeditio
to victual Sumter, to be used or not, a
circumstationes might require. Coutinger
cies requiring the consumlnation of thi
plan, Governor Pickcns was notified that
the victualing was not resisted, no attemp
would be made to throw in men, arms {
ammunition, without giving him notice
The fort, however, was taken without wal
ing for the victualing expedition thus tn
attack on Sumter can in no sense be said
have been in elf.defence. The assailant
knew that in no event could Fort Sumter b
mischievous ; and they were notified tha
feeding hungry men was the only object
that Government only wished to maintai
nominal possession Of the fort, thus pre-
serving thC Union from dissolution, trus
ing to time, discussion and the ballet box fc
final adjustment The fort was assailed fo
one object to drive out the visible Feders
authority, thus forcing immediate dissolu
ton. This the Executive understood, an
having inaugurated hostilities, you can hav
20 conflict without being yourselves the ag
gressor.
! President Lincoln took pains to kee
this declaration good IN the circumstance