The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-07-11
The Presidents Message.

Atthc beginning of the present Presidential
term, four months ago, the functions CT the
Federal Government were found to be gener
ally suspended within the several States OF
South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama, Mississip
ri, Louisiana, end Florida, excepting only Of
the Post-Office Department.
Within these States, all the forts, arscnals,
dock yards, custom houses, and the like, IN
gliding the movable and stationary property
in and about them, had been seized, and were
held in open hostility to this Government, eX
eepting only Forts Pickens, Taylor, and JEFF
ferson. on and near the Florida coast, and
Fort Sumter, IN Charleston harbor, South Car
olina. The forts thus seized had been put in
improved condition, new ones had been built,
and armed forces had been organized, and
were organizing, all ayowenly with the same
hostile purpose.
The forts remaining in the possession Of the
Federal Goycrnment'in and near these States
were either besieged or lncnaccd by Warlike
preparations, and especially Fort Sumter was
nearly surrounded by well protected hostile
batteries with guns equal III quality to the
best Of its own and outnnmbering the latter
MS ten to one. \ disproportionate share Of
the Federal muskets and rifles had somehow
found their way into these States, and had
been seized to be used against the Government.
!
within them, had been seized for the same
object The Navy was scattered in distant
seas leaving bat a very small part Of it with
in the immediate reach OF the Government.
Officers Of the Federal army had resigned
in great numbers, and Of those reSigning
large proportion had taken up arms against
The Government. Simultaneously aud in com.
anon with all this, the purpose to sever the
Federal Tn on was openly aYOwed.
Iu accordance with this purpose, an ordi-
nance had been adopted in each Of these
States, declaring the States respectively to be
separated from the National Union. a for
mula for instituting combined Government
of those States had been promulgated, and
this Illegal organization, in the character Of
rhc "Coufederate States" was already in
vyking recognition, aid, and intervention from
foreign Powers.
Finding this condition of things and be-
Tcying it to be an imperative duty upon the
incoming Executive to prevent, if possible,
the consummation Of such attempt to destroy
the Federal Union, choice Of means to that
end became Indispensable This choice was
made and was declared in the inaugural ad-
dress. The policy chosen looked TO the ex-
haustion Of all peaceful meas Tres before q re-
sort to any stronger one. 1t sought only to
hold the public places and property net al
ready Wrested from the Government, and to
collect the revenue, relying for the rest on
tilnc, discussion, and the ballot box it prom
ised Il continuance Of the mails at Govern
ment expense, to the very people who were
resisting the Government, and it gave repeat
ed pledges against any disturbances TO any Of
the pcople or any of their rights, Of all that
which a President might conStitutonally and
jUStifably 60 in such Gaze everything was
forbornc, without which it was believed i'm
possible to keep the Government on foot
On the 5th Of March, the present incum-
bcnts first full day in Office, a letter from Ma
ior Anderson, commanding at Fort Sumter,
written on the 29th Of February, and received
at the War Department on the 4th Of March,
was by that Department placed in his hands.
This letter expresses the professional opin-
ion of the writer that reGuforcementS could
not be thrown into that fort within the time
for his relief rendered necessary by the lin
ted supply Of provisions, and with a view Of
Holding possession of the same, with Il force
Of less than 20, 0,O00 good and well disciplined
lHcn.
This opinion was concurred in by all the
uf.iccrs Of his command, and their memoranda
rn the subject were made Enclosures of Major
&ndcrSons letter. The whole was immeG-
Ately laid before Lieutcnant-General Scott.
who at once concured with Major Anderson
IN his opinion.
On reflection, however, he took full time.
consul ing with other officers, both Of the Ar
my and the Navy, and at the end of four days
came reluctantly but decidedly to the same
conclusion as before. He also stated, at the
same time, that no such sufficient force was
then Mt the control Of the Government or could
beraiscl and broughtto the ground within
the time when the provisions in the fort would
1,a lo,r tod In for riv Of
view this reduced the duty Of the Administra-
ton in the case to the mere matter of getting
The garrison safely out of the fort.
1t was believed, howeyed, that to so aban-
don that position, under the circumstances,
would be utterly ruinous that the necessity
under which it was to be done would not be
fully understood that by many it would be
construed as a part Of voluntary policy
thHt at home it would discourage the friends
of the Union, embolden its adycrsaries, and
g far to insure the latter recognition
abroad that, in fact, it would be our nation
u destruction consummated.
This could not be allowed. Starvation was
not yet upon the garrison, and, ere it would
be reached, Fort Pickens might be e-euforc-
cd. This last would be a clear indication Of
nolicy. and would enable the country to ac-
cept the evacuation of Fort Sumpter as q mil
itary necessity. An order was at once direct
cl to be sent for the landing Of the troops
from the steamship Brooklyn into Fort.Pick-
eng. This ordsrgcould not go by land, but
must take the longer and surer route by sea.
The first return news from the order was
received just one week Before the fail Of Sum
ter The news itself was that the officer COM
raanding the Sabine, to which vessel the
troops had been transferred from the Brook
lyn, acting upon some quasi srmistice Of the
late Administration, and of the existence of
which the present Administration, up to the
time the order was dispatched, had only too
vague and uncertain rumors to fix his atten-
tention, had refused to land the troops. To
now re-enforce Fort Pickens before crisis
,rnnld be rna cL ed at Enrt S.,r,tar in,rcs-