Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-07-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
TO Congress, July 5. 1901.

At the beginning OF the present presidential
term, four months ago, the functions Of the fed
eral government were found to be generally
suspended within the several seates of South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Lou
isiana and Florida, excepting only those of the
post Office department within these states. All
the forts, arsenals, dock-yards, custom houses,
and the like, including the movable and station
airy property in and about them, had been
seized and were held, in open hostility to this
government, excepting only Forts Pickens,
Taylor and Jefferson, on and near the Florida
coast and Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor,
South Carolina.
The forts thus seized had been put in i'm
proved condition. New ones had been butt,
and armed forces had been organized and were
organizing, all avowedly with the same hostile
purpose. The forts remaining in the possession
of the federal government i'll and near these
states, were either beseiged or menaced by war
like preparations, and especially 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 per-
haps ten to one. A disproportionate share of
the federal muskets and rifles had found their
way into these states, and had been seized to
use against the government. Accumulations Of
the public revenue lying within them had been
seized for the same object. The navy was scat
terad in distant seas, leaving but very small
part of it within the immediate reach of the
government. Officers of the federal army and
navy had resigiied in great numbers and OF
those rcsigning, 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 accordance with this pur-
pose, an ordinance had been adopted in each of
these states, declaring the states respectively to
be separated from the national Union. A for
mula for instituting a combined government of
those states had been promulgated, and this il
legal organizations in the character of confed-
crate states, was already invoking recognition,
aid and intervention from foreign powers
Finding this condition of things, and believ-
ing it to be an imperative duty of the incoming
administration to prevent, il possible the con-
summation of such attempts to destroy the fed
eral Union, choice of means to that end be-
came Indispensable.
This choice was made, and was declared in
the inaugural address. The policy chosen
looked to the exhaustion of all peaceful meas
ures before resort to any stronger ones. 1t
sought only to hold the public places and prop
erty not already wrested from the government
and to collect the revenue, relying for the rest
on time, discussion, and the ballot box. 1t
promised a continuance of the mails at govern
ment expense to the very people who were re-
sisting the government, and it gave repeated
pledges against any disturbance to any of the
people or any of their rights.
OF all that which president might constitu-
tionally and justiiably do in such a case every
thing was foreborne without which it was be-
lieved possible to keep the government on foot.
The 9TH of March, the present incumbent s
/ fret ftll do in ntiin Loft OF nj Aplpr-
son, commanding at Fort Sumter, written on
the 2Sth of February, and received at the war
department on the 4th of March, was by that
department placed in his hands. This letter
expressed the professional opinion of the wri-
ter, that reinioreements could not be thrown
into the fort within the time for his relief. rem
dered necessary by the limited supply of pro-
visions, and with view of holding possession
of the same with force of less than 10000
good and well disciplined men. This opinion
was concurrel in by all the officers of his com,
mand, and their memoranda on the subject were
made enclosures of Major Anderson's litter.
The whole was Immediately laid before Lieut.
Gen Scott who at once concurred with Major
Andcrson's opinion. On reflection, however,
he took full time for consultation with the Off
GERS both Of the army and navy, and at the
end of four days, came reluctantly but decided
stated at the time, that no such sufficient force
was then AT the control of the government or
could be raised and brought to the ground
within the time when all the provisions in tire
fort would be exhausted.
In purely military point of view, this re
duced the duty of the administration in the
case to the mere matter of getting the garrison
safely out of the fort. 1t was believed, how
ever, that to so abandon that position, under
the circumstances, would be utterly ruinous
that the necessity under which it was to be
done, would not be fully understood; that by
many it would be construed as part of a vol
untary policy; that at home it would discour-
age the friends of the Union, embolden its en-
emies, and so far to insure to the latter a re-
cogniton abroad that, in fact, it would be our
nationh destruction, and this could not be al
lowed. Starvation was not yet upon the garri
son, and ere that calamity would be reached
Fort Pickens might be reinforced. This would
be clear indication of our policy, and would
better enable the country to accept the evacu-
alton of Fort Sumter as a military necessity.
An order was at once directed to be sent for
the landing of the troops from the eamship
Brooklyn into Fort Pickens. This order could
not 20 by land, but must take the longer and
slower route by sea- The first return news from
the order was received Just one week before the
fall of Fort Sumter. The news was that tn,
officer commanding the Sabine-to which yes
sci the troops had been transferred from the
ooklyn-acting on some quasi armistice O
the late administration, and OF the existence o
which the present administration, up to tn,
time the order was dispatched, had only vagu,
and uniformed rumors to fix its attention-haC
Iuefused to land troops To now reinforce For
~Pickens before crisis would be reached a
Fort Sumter, by the mere exhaustion of provis
ions in the latter port, was impossible.
Against such a con junction, the governmen
had few days before commenced preparing al
expedition to Fort Sumter, as well adapted a.
might be to relieve Fort Sumter, which expedl
ton was intended to be ultimately used or not
on ascertaining the circumstances. The stronges
anticipated case for using it was now presented
and il was resolved to send the expedition for
ward as had been intended
In this contingency, it was also resolved L
notify the governor of South Carolina that h
might expect an attempt would be made L
provision the fort, and that if the Gttemp
should not be resisted, there would be no eiior
TO throw in men, arms or ammunition, wilhou
further notice, or in case of an attack upon tn
fort. This notice was accordingly given, where
upon the fort was attacked and bombarded t
, its fall, without even awaiting the arrival of tn
provisioning expedition.
1t is thus that the assault upon and reduetio
OF Fort Sumter was in no sense matter G
self-defense ON the part of the assailants. The
well knew that the garrison in the fort could b