The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-06-05

Proclamation by the President.
To the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatiUes
The instruction which is yet exist
ing in the United States, and aimed at
the overthrow Of the Federal Consti-
tuition and Union, was clandestinely
prepared during the winter of 1860 and
1861, and assumed an open organiza-
ton in the form of a reasonable provi-
SIGNAL government at Montgomery,
Ala, on the 18th day of February, 1861.
On the 18th day of April, 1861, the in
surgents committed the fragrant act of
civil war by the bombardment and cap
ture of Fort Sumter, which cut off the
hope of immediate Cancellation. I'm
mediately afterwards all the roads and
avenues OF this city were obstructcd,
and the Capital was put into condi-
ton of siege. The mails in every d.
rection were stopped, and the lines OF
telegraph cut off by the insurgents, and
military and naval forces which had
been called out by our Government for
the defense of Washington, were pre-
vented from reaching this city by or
ganized aud combined reasonable re-
sistance in the State of Maryland.
There was no adequate and effective
organization for the public defense.
Congress had indefinitely adjourned,
and there was no time to convene them.
1t became necessary for me to choose
whether using only the existing means,
agencies and processes which Congress
had provided, | should let the Govern
ment fall into ruin, or whether availinc
myself of the broader powers conferred
by the Constitution i'm cases of insur-
rection, | would make an effort to save
it with all its blessings, for the present
age and for posterity. i, thereupon,
summoned my constitutional advisers.
the heads of the Departments. and
then and there, with their unanimous
concurrence, | directed that an armed
revenue cutter should proceed to sea 10
afford protection TO the commercial
marine, especially to The California
treasure ships then Oh their way to this
coast. also directed the Comman.
dant of the Navy Yard at Boston to
purchase or charter, and arm, rs quick
ly as possible, five steamships for pur-
poses of public defense. directed the
commandant of the Navy Yard at Phil
adelphia to purchase or charter an
equal number for the same purpose.
directed the commandant at New York
to purchase or charter and arm an
equal number. / directed commander
ellis to purchase or charter and arm
and put to sea two other vessels. Sim
liar directions were given t. comman-
der Dupont, with a view to the opening
of passages by water to and from the
Capital.
directed the several officers to take
the advice, and obtain the aid and eff.
cient services in the matter, of his Elk.
cellency Edwin ID. Morgan, Governor
of New York: or in his absence, Geo.
ID. Morgan, VIM. Evarts, r. M. Blatch.
ford and Moses III. 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 forwarding 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
army of the United States, until COM
munication by mail and telegraph
should be completely rc-established be-
tween the cities of Washington aud
New York. No security was required
to be given by them, and either of them
was authorized to act in case of inahil-
ity to consult with the other. On the
same occasion authorized and directed
the Secretary of the Treasury to adj
vance, without requiring security, two
millions of dollars of public money to
John A. Dix, Geo. Opdyke, and Rich
ard Nj. Blatchford, of New York, to be
used by them in meeting such rcquisi-
tons as should be directly consequent
upon the military and naval measures
for the defense aud support of the Gov
eminent, and requiring them only to
act without compensation, and to re.
port their transactions when duly called
upon. The several departments of the
Government at tina: time contained so
large a number of disloyal persons that
it would have been impossible to pro-
vide safely through official agents only
for the performance of the duties thus
confded to citizens favorahly known
for their ability, loyalty and patriotism.
The several orders issued upon these
occurrences were transmitted by pri-
vate messengers, who pursued a cir
euitons way to the seaboard cities, in