Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1861-07-11
.SlDENTS MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON, July 4,

having OSeH coNsSntu on gu SAtItOIul'
nary occasion, as authorized by the consti.
tuition, your aite niion is not called 10 any
ordinary subject OF Legislation. AT the be
ginning ,f,be present presidential term
l"ur months ago, the functions Of the FEEDER.
al government were found to be generally
suspended within the several States o.
South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama, Missis.
pi, Louisiana aud Florida, excepting onl,
those Of the Post Office Department
Within those Sta,es the forts, srsenals
dock yards, custom houses and the like,
including ths movable and stationary prop
-erty IN and about them, had beel seized
and were held in open hostility TO the gov
eminent excepting only For, PIckens, Tay-
Tor. and Jefferson on and near the Florida
coast, and Fort Sumter, in Charleston Har-
Dor, 5. C. The forts thus seized had been
put in a deprsved condition; new ones had
been bu.lt and armed forces had been or
ganized, AMI were organizing, all avowed-
Iy with the same hostile purpose. The
forts remaining in possession Of the Fed
eral Cover amsnt in and near these States
were either besieged or menaced by war
like preparations. and especially Fort Sum
ter was nearly surrounded by well proiec-
ted hostile batteries, with guns equal In
quality to the best of IFS own, and outnam,
boring the latter as perhaps ten TO one
A disproportionate share Of the Federal
mu,k.ls AMI rifles have somehow found
their way into these States, and had been
seized Ia be used against the Government
Accumula,ions of the public revenue lying
within them had been seized for the same
object. The navy was scattered in distan,
seas, leaving but very small part within
the imnedials use OF the government. The
officers OF the Federal army ard navy had
resigned in great numbers, and of those
resigning large proportion had taken up
arms against the government. SImultane'
ensly, and in connection with all these, the
purpose 10 preserve the Federal Union
was openly avowed. In accordance with
this purpose an ordinance had been adopt
ed in each Of these States declaring the
States respectively 10 he separated from the
national Union, and a formula for combin.
ing and iDstituiing combined Govern.
ment Of these States had been promulgated
and this Illegal organization in The charac-
ter OF Confederate States was already in
voking recognition, aid and Intervention
from foreign powers. Finding this condi'
tion of things, and believing it TO be ar
imperative duty upon the incoming execu.
tive to prevent if possible. the consuma.
lion of such attempt 10 destroy the federal
Union, choice of mea4s TO that end be-
come indispensable. The choice was made
and declared in the inaugural address
The policy chosen looked 10 the exhaustion
Of oil peaceful means, before a resort to
stronger ones. II sought only TO hold the
public places and property not already
wrested irem the government and TO col
lsct the revenues, relying for the rest on
time, discussion and the ballot But il
promised a continuance Of the mails at
government expense TO the very people
who were resisting the Government. end
j, gave repeated pledges against any dis.
turbance TO any OF the people or any Of
their rights; of all that which President
might cOnstitutionally and justi6sbly do in
such a case; everything was forborne,
without which il was believed possibly to
keep the government on foot. On
the 9th Of March, The present incumbent's
first full day in Office, letter Of Major
Anderson's commanding at Fort Sumter
written on the 28rh of February, and re-
ceived at the War Department on the 18th
of March, was by that Department placed
IL his hands. The Letter expressed the
professional opinion OF the writer that re-
endorsements could moi be thrown INTO that
fort within the lime Tor 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 90 |
600 good and well disciplined men. This
opinion was concurred in by all the officers
OF his commend, and their memoranda on |
the subject were made Enclosures CT Major |
Anderson's letter. The whole was imme |
distely laid before Lieutenant General
Scott, who at oDoe coneurred with Major
Anderson in opinion. On reflection how
ever. he took full time for consultation with
other officers. both of the army and the ma
W, and at the end OF four Days, eav----<
luctantly but decidedly 10 the same
sion as before. He also stated at til
time that such sufficient force wa
The control Of be-goyernment, or 4
raised and brof5ht TO the ground
the lime when The provissionsI !.
haustsd: Il purely 10y
view. this rs.ucsd ,hs.
istration in y
taking The
Y was bsiiS