Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-28
Night Dispatches.
CONVERSATIONAL.
w AsHINGToN, May q

WASHINGTON, May q.
sen ATE-Mr. Grimes introduced a resolu
ton that the Secretary of " ar inform the Senate
how many officers and men belonging to the reg
ular and volunteer forces in the United States
are now in the Pententary of the District of CO.
lumbia, to what district they belong and by what
cause or authority such commitments were made
Adopted
On motion of Mr. Collamer, the post route bill
taken up and passed.
The resolution suspending payment under the
act providing payment OF troops employed in the
Department OF the West was taken up
Mr.. Henderson offered amendment that the
commissioners provided for report within sixty
days which was adopted.
The bill was then laid over and the tax bill ia
ken up.
HOUSE.-Mr Crisfed, from the Committee
on Public Lands, reported and advocated the bill
granting the State of California the of land
known as the Colorado Desert for the purpose Of
introducing sufficient supply of fresh water from
the same
The bill was referred TO the Committe of the
Whole.
The Speaker laid before the House the follow
Ing message from the President TO the Senate and
House:
The instruction which is yet existing in the
United States and aimed at the overthrow OF the
Federal Constitution and Union clandestine
ly prepared during the winter of 1860 and 1861,
and assumed an open organization in the form of
a reasonable Provisional Government ut Mont
gomery Alabama, 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 capture of Fort Sumter,
which destroyed all hope of immediate concilia-
ton. Immediately afterwards all the roads and
avenues to this city were obstructed and the Cap
ital was put into condition of a siege. The
mails in every direction were stopped and the
lines of telegraph cut, all by the insurgents, and
the military and naval forces which had been
called out by the Government for the defense of
Washington were prevented from reaching the
city by organized and combined reasonable re
sistance in the State of Maryland. There was
no adequate and effective organization for the
public defense. Congress had indefinitely ad
journed There was no time to convene it; il be-
came necessary for me TO choose whether using
only the existing means. agencies and processes
which Congress had provided, should let the
Government fall into ruin, or whether awaiting
myself of the broader powers conferred 10y the
Constitution in case Of Instruction, | would
make an effort to IL, with all its blessings,
for the present age and for posterity.
thereupon summoned my constitutional ad-
viserS, the Heads Of the Departments, to meet on
Sunday, the Doth day of April, 1861, at the of
fee of the Navy Department and then and there
an armed revenue cutter should proceed to at
ford protection to the commercial marine. espe
cially to the California treasure ships then on
their way TO his coast.
I also directed the Commandant of the navy
yard at Boston to purchase or charter and arm
five steamships for purposes of public defence.
| directed the Commandant at the navy yard
at Philade phIa to purchase or charter an equal
number for the same purpose
I directed the Commaudant at New York to
purchase charter and arm an equal number.
| directed Commander Giles TO purchase or
charter and arm and put to sea two other vessels.
Similar directions given to Commander
Dupont with a view TO the opening OF passages
by water to and from the Capitol.
/ directed the several officers TO take the ad-
vice and obtain the aid and efficient services in
the matter. of His Excelency, Edward D. Nor
gan the Governor OF New York. aud in his alb
sence. Geo. ID. Morgan, VIM. Everts, X. NJ.
Batchford and Moses II. Grinnel, who by
my direction especially empowered by the Secre-
tary 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 de-
Tense.
On the same occasion directed tina, Governor
Morgan and Alexander Cummings, Of the city Of
New York. should be authorized by the Secreta-
~ of War, Simon Cameron, to make all the ne
cessary 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 and telegraph sho-ld
be re established between the cities of Washing
ton and New York. No security was required
10 be given by them, aud either of them was au-
thorzed to act and in OF inability TO consult
with the other. On the same occasion | author
lied and directed the Secretary OF the Treasury
10 advance, without requiring security, two mil
lion dollars to John A. Dix, George Opdyke and
81 ofN 70 a ,cai
by them in meeting such acquisitions as should
be directly consequent upon the military and ma.
val measures for the defense and support OF the
Government requiring them only to act without
/ compensation and 10 report their transactions
when duly called upon The several Depart
ments of the Government at that time confined
so large a number of disloyal persons that il
would have been impossible TO provide safel
through official agents only for the performance
of the duties thus confded TO citizens favorably
/ known for their ability, loyalty andpatriotism.
The several orders issued upon these occur
rences were transmitted by private messengers
who pursued a circuItous way 10 the seaboard
cities inland across the States OF Pennsylvania
and Ohio and the Northern lakes / believe tina
by these and other similar measures. taken with
out authority of law, the Government was saved
from overthrow.
am not aware that dollar Of the public
/ funds thus conhded with authority Of Law TO un
official persons was either lost or wasted, al
though appTehensions Of such directions occurret
to me as objections TO this extraordinary proceed
ing. and were necessarily oyerruled ! recall
transactions now because my attention has beer
directed 10 a resolution which was passed by IN,
House Of Representatives on the Both Of las
month, which is in these words:
Resolved, That Simon Cameron, late Secretar'
of War, BY investing Alexander Cummings will