Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-07
From The Louisville Courier
HON. GARRETT DAVIS VISIT TO PRESIDENT

The Journal of Yesterday contained letter from Hon.
Carr Davis OF Paris in which he gives the particulars
of yis, to President Lincoln The material portion OF
it. which We copy below, will be found interesting. The
President promises ws but remembering his in
regard TO Fort Sumter and in view OF bis promises 10
the Northerrers OF which the telegraph and Black Re-
publican papers daily advise us, place but little reli-
ance in his statements to Mr.. Davis:
Early last week determined upon my reflection
and impulse, to make hurried to Washington, to
take view Of public affairs there and from there and
10 talk with the President and of the members OF
his Cabinet 10 relation National troubles and how
the Administration intend to treat them.
found the President frank aud calm bu. decided aud
firm He expressed deep and regret for the
st np condition of public airs and his hope that there
would vet be restoration of the Union and peace and
amity among all the States He remarked that neither
he nor any other President, who had been elected by
party could administer the Government in strict Accord
ance with his own opinions and judgment; but NUT
Ike some departure TO satisfy those who had placed
him power That before the Carolinians had made the
attack on Fort Sumter he bad decided reinforce
the garrison but merely and only, to supply its handful
of furnishing with food aud that he rad distinctly
Communicated these purposes to the authorities oil the
South, rn Coufrderlcy That be had also determined,
that until the meeting OF Congress, be would make no
attempt retake the FORTS a., belonging to the United
States which had been unawiully seized and wrested
from their possession, but would leave the then existing
STATE of things considered and acted upon by Con-
greSS urltsS ne blOul1 De ucpdfb
iha, purpose by the continued military operations OF the
seeded States
The President further said, that events had now
reached point when il must be decided whether our
system OF Federal government only league OF SOY.
eregn and Independent States from which any State
could withdraw pleasure whether the Constitution
formed q government invested with strength and power
sufficient uphold its authority, and 10 enforce the
execution Of tie laws Of Congress. That he had no
doubt CT the truth Of the latter proposition, and he in-
tended to make it good in the administration OF the
Government the extent that he should be sustained by
the pie Of the United States.
lie remarked also that he expected all the States,
upon which he bad made requston for military aid
T. enable him to execute the laws TO respond to that
call and particularly the State OF Kentucky, which bad
beel so loyal the ULon aud faithful in the perform
OF her dutiei That he greatly regretted she had
acted up the principle Of her great statesman now
no more and for which she cast her vote in the late
Presidents. election the Union the Constitution, and
the enforcement Of the Laws"
That be intended to make attack direct indirect
upon the institutions property Of any State but on
The contrary would defend them the full with
which the Constitution and laws Of Congress have vested
the President with power. And that he did not intend
invade with armed force make any military or
laval against any State, unless she her peo
pie should make il Necessary by formidable resistance
of the authority and laws of the United States Tha; If
Kentucky her citizens should the post OF New
port it would become his duty and he might attempt 10
retake it, but he contemplated military operations that
would make it necessary to move any troops over he
terrtories-thouyh he had the uuquesoned right at all
times to march the o. troops into aud any and
every State Tnat il Kentucky made demonsra.
ton o. force sgainst United States be would not
modest her. Tnat be regretted the necessity Of march
ing troops Maryland, but forces to protect the
seat of the United States Government could not be
ceutrated there without doing SO; and he intended to
keep open line OF communication through that Safe
to Washug'o City, any risk, but in least
calculated 20 irrate aud niame her people.