The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-06-04
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

ON the 2Ith inst, the Speaker laid before the
House of Representatives the following message
from the President to the Senate and House,
"The insurrrcton which is yet existing in the
United States and aimed nj the overthrow vt the
Federal Constitution and Union was cladncStinclv
ppopatrd during tha winter of 1860 and 1861, aud
assumed an open organization, III The torsn of Il
reasonable provisional Government, at Montgum-
cry, Alabama, ON the lSth day of February, 1861.
On the 10Th day of April. 1861 the insurgents com
mitted the lagrant act of civil war by the bonn
bardmcnt and capture of Fort Sumter, which cut
OH the hote 81 Immediate cinton. Immediate
lv afterwards all roads and avenues to this city
wert distracted and the Capital was put into a con-
ditiun of srgr, the mails, In every direction were
stopped and the lines oi telegraph cut of by the
insurgents, and the military and naval forces which
had been called ont by the Government for the de
ftnSe of Washington, were prevented from reach
ing the city by organized and reasonable reSls-
lance In the State of Maryland there was no adC-
ouate and effective organization for the public de-
Tense. Congress had indefinitely adjourned there
was no way t. convene them. Ii became necessary
for me to choose whether, using only the existing
/ means, agencies and pNfesScS wmCh Congress had
provided ! should let the Government fall into ruin
/ or whether, awaiting myself Of the brnader powers
conferred by the Constitution In eases Of nsurrec-
tiOn would make an effort 10 save ii with all its
! blessings for the present age aud for posterty.
, theicupon SUMMONED my constitutional advisers
/ the Head of all the departments, IL mo, on Sunday
the 10th day of April, 1881, at the office of the
| Navy department, and then and there with then
unanimous concurrence directed that an armed
revenue cutter should proceed 10 sea to afford pro-
lection to the commercial marine and especially tC
the California treasure ships then on their way tot this
coast. ] also directed the cdmmandant b!' the Navy
( ward at Boston TO purchase or charter and arm, as
quickly possible, five steamships for purposes o
| public defence. ! directed the commanddnt of the
| Navy ward at Philadelphia purchase or charter
an equal number for the same purpose. directed
the commandant at New York to purchase or char.
| ter and arm equal number. | directed Com
mapder GilNa 10 prrehnaa or charter and arm ant
put 10 sea two CIhCT vesaois, SiWiiar objections
| were given 20 Commander Dupont with view t.
the opening of passages by water To and from the
capta directed the several officers to AXE the
advice and obtain the aid and efficient services in
the matter of his ENcrency Edwin j.. Morgan
Governor Of New York Or IN his absence George
d. Morgan, VIM. Evarts, II. NJ. Blatchford and
Moses II. Grinnell, who were by my direction cs
| pecially empowered by the Secretary of the Navy
to act for his department in that crisis in matter.
pertaining to the forwarding of troops and supplies
for the public d6tenac oh the sane 0JUasOn, di
rected that Governor Morgan and Alex. Cummings
of the city of New York, should be authorized by
| the Secretary of War, Simon Cameron to make al
the necessary arrangements for the transportation
Of troops and munitions Of war, in aid and assist
ance of the officers of the army of the UniteC
States until communication by mail and telegraph
should be completely rp-cstabliShol between th,
cities of Washington and New York. No sccurit,
was required to be given by them. ana either q
them was authorized to act in case of inability Il
consult with the other. On the same occasion
authorized and directed the Secretary of the Treas
urv to advance without requiring security of tw
millions oi dollars oi puolp money Jn". A. Dix
Geo. Opdyke and Richard NJ, Blatchfnrd, of Ncy
York, to be used by them in meeting such requsi
sitons as should be directly consequent upon tn
military and naval measures for the defense an
support of the Government, requiring them only t
act without compensation, aad u report their tran
! sactions when duly called upon, The several DE
partmentS of the Government ut that time contain
ed so large number of diSlUyal persons that
would have been impossible to provide sale
through official agents only, for performance Of tn
duties thus conhded 10 citizens favorabIy known fn
their ability, loyalty and patriotism. The severa
orders ssned upon these occurrences, were trans
mitted by private messengers who pursued circuit
Gus wav 10 the seaboard cities, inland across IN
States of Pennsylvania and Ohio and the n0rther
, lakes, | believe that by these and other simila
measures taken without authority of law, the Gov
ernment saved from overthrow ! am ne
aware that a dollar Of the public funds thus conf
/ ded without authority of law to unofficial person
either lost or wasted, although apprehension
, of such msdirrectiOn occurred TO me as objection
to these extraordinary proceedings and were neces
slrily Oyerrued. | recall those Transactions nov
because my attention has been directed 10 rcs0lu
e ton which was passed by the House of RepreScr
y atives ON the both of last month"; which is in thes
words
RESOLVED That Simon Cameron, late Se-retar
of War, by investing Alex. Cummings, with lare
sums Of public money and authority TO purchas
a military supplies without requiring Of him an
guaranty for the faithful performance of his dutie
when the services Of competent public officers weI
available, and by involving the government in
vast number Of contracts with persons not legt
: mately engaged in the business pertaining TO III
subject matter oi such contracts, especially in ii
4 purchase of arms for future delivery has adopte
policy highly injurious to the public service an
deserves the censure of the House.
: Congress will see that should be wanting eoua
ly in candor and justice, il should leave the Ger
sure expressed in this resolution to rest chiefly
Mr.. Cameron. The same sentiment is unanimous
ly entertained by the heads of the Departmen
who participated in the proceeding which the Hou,
Of Represent Itives has consumed. II is due 10 NJ
Cameron to say that although he fully approved il
! proceedings, they were not moved or suggested b
himself, and that not only the President but tn
:, all the other heads Of the Departments were
least equally responsible with him for whatever
TOR or fault was committed in the premises
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
= WASHINGTON, May 26th, 1862.
1 Two thousand copies of the Presidents messal
were ordered printed and the message was referre
4 to the Committee of the Whole.