Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-06-07
Message from the President.

ne Speaker i2lO 0ctOF0 t1e 11OUSc
the following message from the Presi-
dent to the Senate and House:
The insasseetion which is yet exist
ing in the United States, and aimed at
the overthrow of the Federal Constitu-
ton and Union, was clandestinely pre-
pared during the winter of 186o-8l,
and assumed an open organization in
the form of a reasonable provisional
government at Montgomery, Ala, on
the 18th day Of February, 1851. On
the 18th day Of February, 1851, the In
snrgents committed the fagrant act of
civil war by the bembardment and
capture Of Fort Sumter, which cut off
the hope of immediate conciliation.
Immediately afterwards all the roads
and avenues TO the city were obstruct-
ed, aud the capital was put into con-
dition Of siege. The mails in every
direction were stopped, and the lines
of telegraph cut off by the insurgents; !;
the military and naval forces, which
had been called out by the government
for che defense of Washington, were
prevented from reaching the city by
organized and combined reasonable
resistance in the State of Maryland.-
There was no adequate and effective
organization for the public Defense
Congress had indefinitely adjourned.
There Was no time to convene them.
1t became necessary for me to choose,
whether using only the existing means,
agencies and powers which Congress
had provided, I should let the govern
ment fall into ruin, or whether, avail
ing myself Of the broader powers con-
ferred by the constitution in cases Of
insurrection, / would make an effort to
save it, with all its blessings, for the
present age and for posterity.
therefore summoned my constitu-
tional advisers, the heads of all ths De-
partments, to meet on Sunday, the
Goth day of April, 1861, at the Office
of the Navy Department., and then and
there, with their unanimous concur
renee, directed that an armed reve-
nue. cutter should proceed to sea, to af.
ford protection to the commercial ma
rine, and especially to the California
treasure ships then on their way to this
coast. I also directed the Command
er of the Navy Yard at Boston to pur-
chase, or charter, and commission, as
quickly as possible, FIVE steamships for
purposes Of public defense. Ilirected
the Commandant Of the Navy Yard at
Philadelphia to purchase or charter an
equal number for the same purpose
| directed the Conlmaudant at New
York to purchase or charter an equel
number. recommended Commando
GILES to purchase or charter and arm
two other vessels. Similar directions
were given to Commander Dupont,
with a view to opening passages by
water to and from the Capital.
I directed the several officers to take
the advice and obtain the efficient aid
and services in the matter, of His Ex-
cellency, Edwin d. Morgan, the Gov
ernor Of New York, Or, in his absence,
Geo. D. Morgan, VIM. Everats, VIM.
Blatchford and Moses H. Grinnel, who
were, by my direction, especially en-
powered by the Secretary of the Navy
to act for his Department, in that cri-
sis, in matters pertaining to the for
wardins of troops and supplies for the
public defense.
On the same occasion, / directed
that Gov. Morgan and Alexander Cum
mings, OF the city of New York, should
be authorized by the Secretary of War,
Simon Cameron, to make all the neces-
sary arrangements for the transporta-
ton of troops and munitions of war, in
| aid and assistance of the officers Of the
| United States, until communication bv
mail and telegraph should be complete
ly re-established between the cities Of
Washington and New York. No Sc
curity was required to be given by
them, and either of them was authoriz-
ed to act, in case of inability to consult
with the other. On that occasion au-
thorized and directed the Secretary Of
the Treasury to advance, without re-
quiring security, two millions of dol
lars of public money to John A. Dix,
Geo. Opdyke and Richard NJ. Blatch-
ford, Of New York, to be used by them
in meeting such acquisitions as should
be directly consequent upon the militia
ry and naval measures for the defense
and support of the government, requir-
ing them only to act without compen-
sation, and to report their transactions
when duly called upon.
The several departments Of the gov
ernment at that time contained so ls-r.
number Of disloyal persons that it
would have been impossible to provide
safely through official agents only for
the performances of the duties thus CON-
6ded to citizens favoraoly known for
their ability, loyalty and patriotism
The several orders issued upon these