The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-07-11
Presidents Message.

Having been convened on an ex.raordi
nary occasion, as authorized by the Con
stitution. your attention is not called t,
any ordinary subject Of legislation.
AT the beginning of the present Presi
Dental term, four months ago the func
tons of the Federal Government wer,
found to be generally suspended withir
the several States of South Carolua, G cor
gia. Alabama, Mississippi, Louisians, and
Florida, excepting only of the Post Ofics
Department.
Within these States, all tho forts, ar,
seuals, doekyards, custom houses and the
like, including the movable and station.
ary property in and about them, had been
seized, and we're held in open hostility to
this Government, excepting only Forts
Pickens, Taylor, and Jefferson, on and
near the Florida coast, and Fort Stunt ter,
in Charleston harbor. South Carolina
The forts thus seized bad been put in i'm
proved condition, new ones had been built
and armed forces had teen organized,
and were organizing, all avowedly with
the same hostile purpose.
The forts remaining in the possession
of the Federal Government in and near
these States were either besieged or men.
aced by warlike preparations, and especi-
ally Fort Sumter was nearly surrounded
BY we'll protected hostile batteries with
guns equal in quality to the best of its
own, and outnumbering the latter as per.
haps ten to one. A disproportionate share
of the Federal muskets and rifles had
somehow found their way into these
States, and had been seized to be used a.
gainst the Government.
Accumulations of the public revenue,
lying within them. had been seized for
the same object. The Navy was scatter.
ed in distant seas, leaving but very
small part of it within the immediate
reach of the Government.
Officers of the Federal army had re.
signed in great numbers, and of those re-
signing large proportion had taken up
arms against the Government. Simulta-
neously and in common with all this, the
purpose to sever the Federal Union was
openly avowed.
In accordance with this purpose, q or
dinance had been adopted in each of
these States, declaring the States respec-
lively to be separated from the National
Union. A formatio for instituting
combined Government of those States had
been promul gated, and in this Illegal or
gsnizatiou, in the Confederate States"
was already invoking recognition. aid,
and Intervention from foreign Powers.
Finding this condition of things, and
believing it to be an imperative duty up
on the incoming Executive to prevent, if
possible, the coDsum alton of such attempt
to destroy the Federal Union, choice
Of means to that end became indispensa-
bic. This choice was made, and declared
in the inaugural address. The policy
chosen looked to the exhaustion of al!
peaceful measures before a resort to any
stronger ones. 1t sought only to hold the
public places and property not already
wrested from the Government, and to COL
lect the revenue, relying for the rest on
time. discussion, and the ballot box; it
promised continuance of the mails, at
expense, to the very people
who we're resisting the Government, and
It gave repeated pledges against any dis
turbances to any of the people or any of
their rights, of all that which q president
might constitutionally and justi6ably do
10 such case; everything was forborne,
without which it was believed possible to
keep the Government on foot.
On the 5th of March, the present in
cum bent's first full day in Office, letter
from Major Anderson, commanding at
Fort Sumter, written on the 2sth of Feb,
and received at the War Department on
the 4th OF March, was by that Depart
ment placed in bis hands.
This letter expresses the professional
opinion of the writer, that re.enforce.
ments could not be thrown into that fort
within the time for bis relief, rendered
necessary BY the limited supply of pro-
visions, and with view Of holding po.
session of the same, with force less than
20, 600 good and we'll disciplined men.
This opinion was concurred in by all
the officers of his command, a0d their
on the subject were made in-
closures Of Major Anderson's letter. The
v hole was im ediately laid before Lieut.
enant. eneral Scott, who at once concur
cd with Major Anderson in bis opinion.
On reflection, however, be took full
lime, consulting with other officers, both
Of the Army and the Navy, and at the
end Of four days came reluctantly but de-
cidedly to the same conclusion as before.
He also stated, at the same time, that no
such sufficient force was then st the con-
troll ofthe Government or could be raised
and brought to the ground within the
time when provisions in the fort would be
exhausted. In purely military point of
view this reduced the duty of the Admin
istration in the case to the mere matter
OF getting the garrison safely out OF the
fort.
1t was believed, however, that to SO a.
bandon that position, under the elreum'
stances, would be utterly ruinousi that the
under which it was to DO done
shat hv