The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-06-06
' TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
He Reviews the Rebellion.
PAST MEASURES FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY.
G Al ERoN RELIEVED.
THE COUNT saw ID j..

WASHINGTON, May 27.-The following
message from President Lincoln was sent to
the Senate and House today:
THE OUTBREAK OF REBELLION.
The insurrection which is yet existing in
the United States, and aimed at the over
throw of the Federal Constitution and
Union, was clandestine.y prepared dur
ing the winter of 1860 and 1861, and
assumed an open organization in the form
of reasonable provisional government, at
Montgomery, Alabama, on the 18th day OF
February, 1861.
On the 18th day of April, 1861, the in
surgents committed the fragrant act OF ci-
vii war, by the bombardment and capture
of Fort Sumpter, which cut off the hope OF
immediate Cancellation.
THE SIEGE OF THE CAPITAL.
Immediately afterward the roads and
avenues to this city were obstructed, and
the capital was put into condition of a
siege. The mails in every direction were
stopped and the lines of telegraph cut OF
by the insurgents, and the military and ma
vi forces which had been called out by the
government for the defence of Washington,
were prevented from reaching the city by
organized and combined reasonable resist
ance in the State of Maryland.
ORGANIZATION FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENCE.
There was 20 adequate and effective Or
ganization for the puoic defense. Congress
had indefinitely adjourned. There was no
time to convene them. 1t became necessa
~ for me to choose whether, using only the
existing means, agencies and processes
which Congress had provided, l should let
the government fall into ruin, or whether,
availipg myself of the broad powers confer
red by the constitution in cases OF lDsurrec.
ton, would make an effort to save it with
its blessings, for the present age and posd
terity.
MEASURES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
/ therefore summoned my constitutional
advisers, and the heads OF all the Depart
meuts 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 should proceed to sea
to afford protection to the commercial ma~
rine, and especially to the California treas
ure ships then on their way to this coast.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NAVY.
I 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 defense.
I directed the commandant of the Navy
Yard at Philadelphia to purchase or charter
an equal number, for the same purpose. l
directed the commandant at New York to
purchase or charter and arm an equal mum.
Der. I directed Commander GILES to pur-
chase or charter and arm and put to sea
two other vessels. Similar directions were
given to Commander Dupont, with view
to the opening of passages by water to and
and from the capital.
FORWARDING THE WORKS OF DEFENSE.
directed the several officers to take the
advice and efficient services of his Excellen-
cy, Edwin d. Morgan, the Governor of
New York, and in bis absence George D.
Morgan, VIM. Evarts, r. NJ. Blatchford,
and Moses Fl. Grinnell, who were by my
direction especially empowered by the Sc
cretary of the Navy to act for his depart
ment 10 that crisis in matters pertaining to
the forwarding of troops and supplies for
the public defense.
PAR MOBILE FRATRUM.
On the same occasion l 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 necessary
arrangements for the transportation OF
troops and munitions of war 10 aid and as.
sistance of the officers of the army Of the
United States, until communication by mail
and telegraph should be completely reestab-
lished 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.
PLEDGlNG THE PUBLIC CREDIT.
On the same occasion l authorized and
directed the Secretary OF Treasury to ad
vance without security, two millions of dol.
lars of public money to John A. Dix, Geo.
Opdyke, and Richard M. Blatchford of New
York, to be used by them in meeting such
requistions as should be directly consequent
upon the military and naval measures for
the defense and support of the Government,
requiring them only to act without compen-
sation, and to report their transactions when
duly called upon.
THE GOVERNMENT AUGEAN STABLES.
The several departments of the Govern.
ment at that time contained SO large nurl>
Der of disloyal persons that it would have
been impossible to provide safely through
official agents only, for the performance of
the duties thus con6ded to citizens favora-
bly, known for their ability, loyalty and pa
triotism. The several orders issued upon
these occurrences were transferred by pri.
vate messengers who pursued circuitous
way to the seaboard cities, inland across the
States of Pennsylvania and Ohio and the
Northern lakes.
THE COUNTRY SAVED.
I believe that by these and other similar
measures, taken without the authority of
law, the Government was saved from over
throw. am not aware that dollar of
the public funds thus confded without au.
thority of law to unofficial persons was
either lost or wasted, although apprehen-
sions of such misdirections occurred to me