Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-06-07

tativcs, and the President of the Senate,
Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, laid respectively
before those bodies the following special
message from the President of the United
States:
WAsHINGToN, May &c, 1862.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.
The insurrcction which is yet existing in
the United States, and aims ut the overthrow
of the Federal Constitution and the Union,
was clandcstincly prepared during the win
ter of 1860 and 1861, and assumed an open
organization i'll the form of u reasonable
provisional government at Montgomery, in
Alabama, on the 18th day of February, 1861.
On the 18th day of April, 1861, the insur-
gents committed the fragrant act of civil war
10y the bombardmcnt and capture of Fort
Sumter, which cut off the hope of immcdi-
ate Cancellation.
Immediately afterward all the roads and
avenues to this city were obstructed, and the
capital was put into the condition of siege
The mails i'll every direction were stopped
and the lines of telegraph cut off by the in
surgcnts, and military and naval forces
which had been called out by the Govern
ment for the defence of Washington were
prevented from reaching the city by orga-
nizcd and combined reasonable resistance in
the State of Maryland. There was no ade
quate and effective organization for the
public defence. 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 process which Congress had
provided, should let the Government fall
at once into ruin, or whether, availing my
self of the broader powers conferred by the
Constitution in cases of insurrccction, /
would make an effort to save it with all its
blessings, for the present age and for pos
terity. | therefore summoned my constitu-
tional advisers, the Heads of all the Depart
ments, to meet on Sunday, the Goth day of
April, 1861, at the Office of the Navy De
partment, and then and there, with their
unanimous concurrence, directed that an
armed revenue cutter shoul proceed to sea to
afford protection to the commercial marine,
and especially the California treasure ships,
then on their way to this coast. l also di-
rccted the commandant of the navy-yard, at
Boston, to purchase or charter, and arm, as
quickly as possible, five steamships for pur-
poses of public defence l directed the
commandant of the navy-yard at Philadel-
phia to purchase or charter, and arm an
equal number for the same purpose. l di-
rected the commandant at New York to
purchase or charter and arm an equal num-
Der. j directed commander Gills to pur-
chase or charter and arm, and put to sea two
other vessels. Similar directions were given
to Commodore Dupont, with view TO the
opening passages by water to and from the
capital. directed the several officers to
take the advice, and obtain the aid and
efficient services i'll the matter, of his Excel
lency Edwin ID. Morgan, the Governor of
New York, or, in his absence, George ID.
Morgan, VIM. NJ. Evarts, II. NJ. Blatchford,
and Moses III. Grinnell, who were, by my
directions, especially empowered by the
Secretary of the Navy to act for his depart
ment in that crisis, in matters pertaining to
the forwarding of troops and supplies for
the public defence. On the same OccasOn /
directed that Gov. Morgan and Alexander
Cummings. of the city of New York, should
be authorized by the Secretary of War, Gen.
Cameron, to make all the necessary arrange
ments 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 mails and telegraph
should be completely re-established between
the cities of Washington 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 Treasury
to advance, without requiring security, two
millions of public money to John A. Dix.
George Opdyke, and Richard Nj. Blatchford
of New York, to be used by them in meeting
! such acquisitions as should be directed CON
sequent upon the military and naval measures
necessary for the defence and support of the
Government, requiring them only to act
without compensation and to report their
transactions when duly called upon.
The several departments of the Govern
ment at that time contained so large a num-
Der of disloyal persons, that it would have
been impossible safely, through official agents
only for the performance of the duties thus
contided TO citizens favorably known for
their ability loyalty and patriotism. The
several orders issued upon these occurrences
were transmitted by private messengers who
pursued curcuitous way 10 the seaboard
cities inland across the State of Pennsylvania
| and Ohio and the Northern Lakes. Ibelieve
that, by these and other similar measures
taken In that crisis, some Of which were
without an! authority OF law, the Govern