Nebraska advertiser., 1862-06-05

PRESIDENT 70 tne OeuotO -"
Representatives:
The insurrecsion which is ye: existing
in the United States. and aimed at the
overthrow Of The Federal Constitution
ard Union. was clandestinely purposed
during the winter Of 1850 and 1861, and
assumed an, open organization in the form
of a reasonable provisional government
at Montgomery, Ala, on the 18Th day OF
February, 1861.
On the 18th day Of April, 1861. the
insurgents committed the fragrant act OF
civil war. by the bombardment and cap
ture of Fort Sumter, which cut OF the
hope OF immediate Cancellation. lmme-
diately afterwaFd the roads and avenues
to this civ were obstructed and the CAPT
tai was put into the condition Of a siege.
The mails in every direction were stopped
and the lines of telegraph cut off by the
insurgents, and The military and naval
forces which had been called out by the
Government for the defense of Washing
ton, were prevented from reaching the
city by organized and combined treason
able resistance IN the State of Maryland.
There was. no adequate and effective or
g~anization for the public defence. Con-
gress had indefinitely adjourned, and there
was no time to commence then.
1t became necessary for me to choose
whether using only the existing means,
agencies and process which Congress bad
provided, I should let the government fall
into ruin, or whether, availing myself Of
the broader powers conferred by the Con-
stilution in cases OF insufrection, I would
make an effort to save it with all its
blessings, for the present age and for
poslerity, ,- ei,
Therefore summoned my constitutional
advisers, the heads Of all the Departments,
to meet on. Sunday. the ooh day Of April,
at the Office of the Navy Department and
then and there. with their unanimous
concurrence, / directed that an armed
revenue cutter should proceed to sea, TO
afford protection to the commercial ma
rine, and especially to the California
treasure ships then on their way to this
coast.
| also directed the commandant of the
navy yard at Boston to purchase or char
ter and arm as quickly as possible five
steamships, for purposes Of public de-
fence. l directed the commandment of the
navy yard at Philadelphia to purchase or
charter an equal number for the same
purpose. I directed the commandant at
New York 10 purchase or charter and
arm an equal number. / directed Com
mander Giles to purchase or charter and
arm and put to sea Two others vessels
Similar directions were given to Com
mander Depot, with a view to the opening
of a passage by water to and from the
capital. 10 5el5 Iaof 5.
| directed the several officers to take
the advice, and obtain the aid and eff
cient service in the matter, of his excel
lency, Edwin D. Morgan. the Governor
of New York. and, in his absence, Geo.
d. Morgan, William Everets, r. NJ
Blatchford and Moses H, Grinnell, who
were by my directions especially empow-
cred by the Secretary Of the Navy to act
for his Department 10 that crisis, in mat
tiers pertaining to the forwarding of troops
and supplies for the public defense.
On the same occasion directed that
Governor 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-
sorry arrangements for the transportation
of troops and munitions of war, in aid and
assistance of the officers Of the army of
the United States, until communication
by mail or telegraph should be completely
established between the cities of Wash
ington 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 Treasuryto
advance without requiring security, So
000,0 Of public money, to John A. Dix,
Geo. Opydke and Richard M. Batchford,
of New York. TO be used by them in
meeting such acquisitions as SHOULD be
directly consequent upon the military and
naval measures for the defense and sup
port of the government, requiring them
only to act without compensation, and 10
report their. transactions when duly called
upon. gs5 al D..
Several departments of the Govern
ment, at that time, contained so large a
number Of dislcyal persons that it would
have been impossible to provide safely
through official agents, only for the per-
Torrance of duties thus con6ded to citi-
zens favorably known for their ability,
loyalty and patriotism.
The several orders issued upon these
occurrences were transferred by private
messengers, who pursued a Circuitous way
to the seaboard cities, inland across the
States of Pennsylvania and Ohio and the
northern lakes. / believe that, by these
and other measures, taken without au.
thority Of law, the government was saved
from overthrow.
am not aware that a dollar Of the
public funds thus conided, without au.
thority of law, TO unofficial persons, wa;
lost or wasted, although apprehensions Of
such misdireetion occurred TO me as OBJ.
j~ections to this extraordinary proceeding,
and were necessarially overruled.
Irecall these transactions now because
my attention has been directed to a reso-
luton which was passed by the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES, IN tho 90th IF last month