The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1861-07-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Feiior citizens Of the Senate and House
Of Representatives.:
u-~:"s S.." vv"-o"us ia ~eArfaordrna- :
ry session as authorized by the Constitu- |
ton, your attention is not called to any
ordinary subject Of legislation. At the ]
beginning of the present Presidential !
term, four months ago, TIE functions Of
the Federal Government were found to !
be generally suspended within the several
States of South Carolina, Georgia, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida,
excepting those only of the Postofhce
Department Within these States all
the forts, arsenals, dock yards, custom
houses, &c, including all the movable
and stationary property in and about
them, had been seized aud held in open
hostility to this Government, excepting
only Forts Pickcns Taylor and Jefferson,
on and near the Florida coast, and Fort
Sumter in Charleston harbor. The forts
thus seized had been put in improved
condition, new ones had teen built ADD
armed. Other forces had been organized
and were organizing, all avowedly for the
same hostile purpose. The forts remain
! ing in the Federal possession in and near
those States were either bcseiged or
menaced by warlike preparations Espe
cially Fort Sumter was nearly surrounded
by well protected hostile batteries, with
guns equal in quality to the best of its
own, and outnumbering the latter as ten
to one. 4 disproportionate share Of the
Federal muskcts and rifles had somehow
found their way into these States, md
had been seized to be used against the
Government. Accommodations of the pub
lie revenue had been seized for the same
object. The navy was scattered 10 dis
tant seas, leaving but very small part
of it within the immediate reach of the
Government. Officers in the Federal
army had resigned in great numbers aud
of those resi- gned great number had
taken up arms against the Government
simultaneously and in connection with
all this, purpose to sever the Fedora
: Union was openly avowed. In accord
| auce with the purpose, an ordinance had
, been reported, in each of these States
= declaring the Statcs respectively to be
separated from the Federal Union. The
formula for iustituting a combined Coy
c eminent for these States had been pro
mulgated, and this illegal organization
in the character of the Confederate States
was arcad y asking recognition, aid and
Intervention from foreign powers. Find
) irg this condition of means, aud bclicv
ing it to BE- an imperative duty upon tn,
incoming Executive to prevent if posi-
bic, the consummation of such attemp
to destroy the Federal Union, choice 0
two things to the end became indispeps
able. This choice was made and declared
in the inaugural address The policy
chosen, looked to the exhaustion of al
peaceablc measures before resort to an,
stronger one. 1t sought only to hold
the public places and property not already
wrcsted from the Government and TO
collect the revenue, relying for the rest
on time, discussion and the ballot box.
| promised the continuance of the mails
at the governments expense to the very
people who were resisting the govern
eminent, and gave repeated pledges
against any disturbance of any Of tho
people or any Of their rishts-of all that
which President might constitu'ionally
and jnsti6ably do in such case Eve
ry,hi' was forborne without which it