The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-08-15
The Presidents Message.
1.-The Message being too long for our columns, we
take from it the more important portions Only.l
by Pony Express to :. F. Alta.I

FeI0r-citi-eRS Of the Senate GRd House Of Repre-
~SeHtrtiUcS Having been convened on an extraordi-
nary occasion, as authorized by the Constitution,
your attention Is not called to any ordinary subject
of legislation. At the beginning Of the present Presi-
Dental term, four months ago, the functions OF the
Federal Government were found to be generally sus-
pended within the several States Of South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and tiorI-
ia. excepting only those Of the POst-Oiice Depart
ment. Within those States the forts, arsenals, dock
wards, harbors, custom-houses and the ike, includ-
ing the movable and stationary property IN and
about them, had been seized, and were held IN open
hostility TO the Government excepting only Forts
Pickens, Taylor and jefferson, on and near the Flor
ida coast, and Fort Sumptcr in Charleston harbor,
South Carolina. The forts thus seized had been put
in depraved condition. New ones had been built,
and armed forces had been organized and were or
ganizing-all, avOwedly. with the same hostile pur-
pose. The forts remaining in the possession of the
Federal Government in and near TO these States we're
either besieged or menaced by warlike preparations,
and especially Fort Sumptcr was nearly surrounded
by well protected hostile batteries. with guns equal
in quality TO the best Of its own, and ~outnumberlng
the latter rs perhaps ten 20 one. y disprOportionate
share Of the Federal muskets and rifles had somehow
found their way into these States, and had been
seized 10 lie used against the Government. Accumu-
latiOus Of the public revenue lying within them had
been seized for the anne object. The Navy was scat
tered in distant seas, leaving but n very small part
within the Immediate use of the Government. The
officers Of the Federal Army and Navy had resigned
IN great numbers; and OF those rcSiEnlnE, n large
proportion had taken up arms against the Govern
meut. simultaneously. and IN connection with all
these, the purpose 20 sever the Federal Union was
openly avowed. In accordance with this purpose, an
ordinance had been adopted IN each Of these states,
declaring the States respectively to be separated
from the National Union; and a formula for COM
biuiug and insttuting = combined Government OF
these states had been promulgated; and this Illegal
organization, in the character Of Confederate States,
was already invoking recognition, aid and interven-
ton from foreign powers.
Finding this condition Of things, and believing it to
81 -aaaT-- -a-n~gw
10 prevent, if possible. the Of such
attempt to destroy tie Federal Union. a choice Of
means 10 the end became indispensable. The choice
was made and declared in the Inaugural Address.
The policy chosen looked 10 the exhaustion Of all
peaceful means before a resort to stronger ones. It
sought only 70 hold the public places ard property
not already wrestel from the Government, and TO
collect the revenues, relying for the rest on time, dis
cussiOn and the ballot. But II promised a contnu-
ance Of the mails NJ Government expense TO the very
people who were resisting the Government; and 1t
gave repeated pledges against any disturbance to any
Of the people or any Of their rights Of all that which
a President might c0nstitutionaily and j~ustihab!y DO
in such a case. Everything was ]fOrb0rne, without
which it was believed possible to keep the Govern
ment intact
On the 18th Of March, the present incumbent's
first full day in Office, 4 letter Of Major Anderson's
commanding at Fort Sumpter. written on the 18th
Of February, and received NJ the War Department on
tho 4th Of March, was by that Department placed IN
his hands. The letter expressed the professional Opln-
ion Of the writer that reinforccments could not be
thrown into the Fort within the time for his relief,
rendered necessary by the limited supply Of pro
visions. and with 4 view Of holding possession Of
the same. with 4 force of less than % 900 good and
well disciplined men. This opinion was concurred
in by all the officers Of the command, and their mem
oranda on the subject were made Enclosures Of Major
Anderson's letter. The whole was Immediately laid
before Lieutenant-G General Scott, who at once con-
CURED with Major Anderson IN opinion. On retiec-
ton, however, he took full time FOR consultation with
other officers, both Of the Army and Navy, and at
the end Of four days came, reluctantly but decidedly,
10 the same conclusion as before. He also stated, at
the same time, that such sufficient force was not at
the control Of the Government, or could be raised