The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-05-30
spECTAL mEssAGF. q

Tue following message from the Presi-
dent was laid before the House Of Repre-
sentafives on Tuesday last:
To the Senate and House of RepressntotiUes
Tue instruction which is yet existing in
the United States, and aimed at the over
throw ofthe Federal Conslitu lion aud I'm.
ion, was clandestineiy prepared during the
winter of 1860 and 1861, and assumed an
open organ nz4'i IN in the form of treasoua-
bic provisional government, at Montgom-
cry, AlA., on the 18th day of February,
1861. On the 18th day of April, 1861, tue
insurgents Committed the hagrane act of
civil war by the bombardment aud capture
of Fort Sumter, which destroyed all hope
of Immediate coEc.hation. Immediately
afterwards all the roads and avenues to this
city were obstructed, aud the Capital was
put into cohdlLion of a siege. The mails
In every Direction were stopped, and the
lines OF telegraph cut-all by the insuTg-
ents; and the military and naval forces
which had been called cut by the Gov
eminent for The defence of Washington
were prevented from reaching the city by
organized and combined treasonable resist
ance in the State OF Maryland. There was
no adequate and effective organization for
the public defense. Congress had indcf-
nitey Adjourned, aud there was no time to
convene 1t. 1t became necessary for me to
choose whether using the existing means,
agencies and processes which Congress had
provided, | should let the Government fall
into rain, or whether, awaiting myself of
the broader powers conferred by the Con-
stitution, | should make an effort 10 save it,
with ali Its blessings, after the present age,
aud for posterty.
thereupon summound my constitutional
advisers, the heads of Departments, to meet
on Sunday, the 20th day of April, 1861, at
the Office OF the Navy Department, and then
nd there, with their unanimous concur
renee, | directed that an armed revenue
cutter should proct ed TO sea, to afford pro-
lection to the CONNIE cial marine, especially
to the Cailftr Ia treasure ships then on
their way to this coast. l also directed the
cUmmandant cf the navy yard at Boston to
purchase or churieE, al arm as quickly as
possible, five steamships for purposes of
pubic defense. directed the Commandant
at the Navy Yard at Philadelphia to pur-
chase or charter an equal number for the
same purpose. | directed the Cemmandant
at New York 10 purchase or charter and
arm an equal number. l directed Com
mander Giliis TO purchase or charter and
arm and put to sea two other vessels. Sim.
A4oA 0HOOIObo "OIC given 10 OOGmaQQ6T
Dupont, with a view to the opening of pas
sages by water TO and from the Capital.
directed ihe several officers to take the
advice aud obtain the aid aud efficient ser
vices in the matter of his Excellency Ed
ward d. Morgan, the Governor of New
York, and in his absence, Geo. D. Morgan,
VIM. EVert's, r. Nj. Blatchford and Moses
II. Grinnell, who were, by my direction,
especially empowered by the Secretary of
the Navy to act for his department in that
crisis in matters pertaining TO the forward
ing of troops and supplies for the public
defense.
On the same occasion | directed that
Gov. Morgan and Alex. Cummings, of the
City of New ork, should be authorized by
the Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, to
make all the necessary arrangements for
the transportation of troops and munitions
of war IN aid aud assistance of he officers
of. the army OF the United States, until |
Communication by mail and telegraph |
should be completely re-established between |
the cities of Washington and New York. |
No security was required to be given by |
them, and either of them was authorized TO /
act in case Of inability to consult with the |
other. On the same occasion / authorized |
and directed the Secretary of the Treasury
to advance without requiring security, two
million dollars of public money to John A.
Dix, Gen. Opdyke and Richard NJ. BIatch-
ford, to be used by them in meeting suc1
requisitious as should be directly consequent
upon he military aud naval measures for
the defence and support of the government,
requiring them only to act without COM
pensation and to report their transactions
when duly called npon.
The several departments of the Govern
ment at that time contained SO large a
number of disloyal persons that it would
have been impossible to provide safely
through official agents only for the per-
formance of the duties confded to citizens
favorably known for their ability, loyalty,
and patriotism. The several orders Issued