Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-07-12
Presidents Message.

Constitution, your attention is not Gale
to any ordinary subject of legislation.
THE BEGINNING OF THE REBELLION,
AT the beginning of the present Pres
Dental term, four months ago, the fun,
tons Of the Federal Government wei
found to be generally suspended With
the several States OF South Carolin;
Georgia, Alabama Mississippi, Louisan
and Florida, excepting only those Of til
Post Office Department within thes
States. All the forts, arsenas, dock
yards, custom houses, and the like, in
Guiding the movable and stationary prop
erty in and about them, had been scizeC
and were held in open hostility to thi,
Government, except only Forts Pickens
Taylor, aud jefferson on and near the
Florida coast,and Fort Sumter in Charles.
ton harbor, S. G. The forts thus seized
had been put in improved condition, aud
new ones hal been built, and armed
forces had been organized ayowedly witt
the same hostile purpose.
The forts remaining in the possession
Of the Federal Government in and near
these States were either besieged or me-
naced by warllke preparations, and cs-
pecially Fort Sumter was nearly sur
rounded by well protected hostile batter
les with guns equal in quality to the best
OF its own and outnumbcring the latter as
perhaps ten 10 one. a disproportionate
share of the Federal muskct5 and rifles
had some how found their way into these
States and had been seized to be used
against the Government. Accommodations
of the public revenue lying within them
had been seized for the same object. The
navy was scattered in distant seas, leav-
ing but small pant OF it within the imme-
dato reach of the government. Officers
of the Federal army and navy had re-
signed in great numbers, and of those re-
signing a large proportion had taken up
arms against the government,
Simultaneously and in connection with
all this, the purpose TO sever The Federal
Union was openly avowed. In accord
ance with this purpose, an ordinance had
been adopted in each OF these states de.
claring the states respectively TO be sep.
arated from the National Union. A form
uia for instituting a combined govern
ment Of these states had been promul.
gated, and this illegal organization in the
character Of the Confederate states was
already invoking recognition, aid and in
PREVENTION from foreign powers. Finding
this condition of things, and believing it
to be an imperative duty upon the in
coming Executive to prevent if possible
the consummation of such attempt to de-
stroy the Federal Union, a choice Of
means 10 that end became indispensable.
THB POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
This choice was made and was declared
in the inaugural address. The policy
chosen looked to tho exhaustion of all
peaceful measures before resort to any
stronger ones. 1t sought only to hold the
stronger places and property not already
wrested from the Government, and to col
lect the revenue, rel lying for the rest on
time, discussion, and the ballot-box. IT.
promised the continuance Of the mails at
government expense to the very people
who were resisting the government, and
1t gave repeated pledges against any dis
turbance 10 any of the people or any OF
their rights, of all that which a President
might conStilulionally and justfably do
in such case. Everything was iorborne
without which it was believed possible TO
keep the Government on foot.
THE POSITIONS OF FORTS SUMTER AND rIckGNs
On the 9TH of March, the present IN
cumbeni's first full day in office, letter
Of Major Anderson, commanding at Fort
Sumter, written on the 2Sth of February
and received at the War Department on
duh March, was by that department placed |
in his hands. This letter expressed The
professional opinion Of tho writer that re-
inforcements could not be thrown into
that fort within the time for bis relief
rendered necessary by the limited supply
OF provisions, and with view of holding
possession Of the same, with a force Of
less than 10000 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 en-
enclosures of Major Anderson's letter.
The whole VAS Immediately laid before
Lieut.. Gen. Scott, who at once concurred
with Major Anderson in opinion. On re-
Election, however, he took full time. con- {
suiting with other officers, both Of the a
Army and the Navy, and at the end Of 5
four days, came reluctantly but decidedly Il
to the same conclusion as before. Ii
lie also stated at the same time that L
no such sufficiapt C,ro, ,,,,. 49,, Al ,Ir