The New York herald., 1862-05-28
Special Message OF President
Lincoln.
His Review Of the Origin and
Conduct Of the War.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
THE TAX BILL IN THE SENATE.
Debate in the House on the Financial Manage
ment Of the Government.
SPECIAL MESSAGE OF the PRESIDENT.

SPECIAL MESSAGE Of THE PRESIDENT.
The Causes, Commencement and Conduct
of the Present War for the Integrity ~
the Union nMd the Com sti Il utiOm-The
President Holds Himself ResponslblS
for tho Honesty OF His Administrati0n
or tho Govern ment, SO.
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1852.
Tho following the special message to-day into
the House OF Rcpresen tatives by tho President
To THE SENATE AND House OF REpREs sENrATIvEs:-
The insurrscsion which is yet existing in the Unkea
States and aims at the overthrow Of the federal con-
stitution and the Union, clandestinely pre-
pared during 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, 1851, the Insurgents committed tho
fragrant act Of civil by the bombardment and cap
tre OF Fort SUMTER which cut or the hope Of immediate
conciation. Immediately afterwards all tho roads
to this city obstructed and the capital was
put into the condition of siege. The mails in every
direction stopped and the lines Of telegraph cut on
by the insurgents and military and naval forces which
mad been called out by the for the def
OF Washington were prevented from reaching the
city by organized aud combined reasonable resistance
in the State Of Maryland There adequate and
effective organization for the public defence Congress
had indefinitely adjourned There time to con-
then. 1t became necessary for to choose
whether using only the existing means. agencies and
processes which Congress had provided should let the
government fall into ruin whether availing myself
the broader powers conferred by the constitution in
Of insurreoton, would mako effort to IT,
with all its blessings, for tho present ago
and for posterity. / thereupon summoned my
constitutional advisers, the heads Of all the
departments, to meet Sunday, the goth day
April 1861 at the Office Of the Navy Department and
then and there, with their unanimous concurrence
directed armed should proceed to
to afford protection 10 the commercial marine, espe
ciay the California ships then their way
to this coast also directed the Commandant OF the
Navy Yard at Boston to purchase charter and
quickly possible. Ave Steamships for purposes d
public defence. directed the Ccmmandant Of the Navy
at Philadelphia to purchase or charter, and arm
an equal number for tho Same purpose. directed
the Commandant at New York to purchase
charter, and arm equal number. directed
Commander Gllis to purchase charter, and and
put to sea Two other vessels. Similar directions
given Commodore Dupont, with . view to tho opening
OF passages by water to and from the capital directed
tho several officers to take tho advice and obtain the aid
and efficient services the matter Of his Excellency
Edwin d. Morgan. tho Governor Of New York. or his
absence George D. Morgan, wm NJ Evarts r. M. Bstch-
ford Moses H. Grinnel, who by my directions
especially empowered by the Secretary Of tho Navy
for his department in that crisisi in matters
pertaining tho forwarding Of troops and supplies for
the public defence. On the occasion directed
that Governor Morgan and Alexander Cummings, OF tho
city New York should be authorized by the Secretary
of War; Simon Cameron to mako all necessary arrange
men.s for tho Of troops and munitions Of
war In aid and assistance Of the officers OF tho army Of
he United States, until communication by mail and
telegraph should be completely established between the
cities Of Washington and Now York. No security
required to be given by them aud either Of than was
authorised TO act in case Of inability to consult
with the other. On the occasion authorized and
directed tho Secretary Of the Treasury to advance with
out eurng security two millions Of dollars OF public
money to John A. Dix George Opdyke and Richard n.
Batchord OF New York. to bo used by them In meeting
such requisons should be directly consequent upon
tho military and naval for the deeace sup
port Of the government requiring them only to act with
out compensation, and to report their trans
actions when duly called upon. Tho several
departments OF the government at that time
contained 50 large . number Of disloyal persons
that II would have been impossible TO provide safely
through official agents only for the performance Of tho
duties thus conhdcd 10 citizens favoraby known for
their ability loyalty and patriotism. The several orders
issusi upon these occurrences were transmitted by
to the seaboard cities, inland, the States Of
pennsylyana and Ohio and the Northern lakes. I
believe that by these, and other similar measures
taken in that crisis, somo Of which were with
out any authority OF law, the government was
saved from overthrow. am not aware that .
dollar OF the public funds thus conndsd without authority
Of law to unofficial persons was either lost or wasted,
although apprehsnsions Of such instructions occurred
to me as objections extraordinary proceedings
and were necessarily ovcrrucd recall these transact
tons now because my attention has been directed tos
resolution which passed by the House OF Repressn
tatyes on the 3Oth Of last month"; which is in these
words
Resolved That Simon Cameron late Secretary OF War.
by investing Alexander Cummings with the control OF
large sums OF the public money and authority to pur
chase military supplies withou. rcstriStons ~,noas ,
fornance Of his duties when the services Oh compc'ens
public officers available, and by involving the
government in vast number OF contracts Win rersoes
not lectmdtey engaged in tho business pertaining 20
the subject matter Of such contracts especiaiy ~ inc
purcbase Of arms for future delivery, has adopted
policy highly injurious 10 the puphc se'Vce, "ha u'
/ serves the censure OF the House.
Congress will see that should be wanting equally In
csnaor and in Justice IL should leave the
nressed IA this resolution to rest exclusively or chiefly
ron " Cameron The same sentiment is unanimously
entertained ty tho heads of tho departments who rnr
,,c,na,sd in the proceedings which the House OF Rcpo
have csnsured II Is due TO Mr. Cameron to
saw that although he fully approved the procesings
,bev were not moved suggested by himself aud that
not on,v the President but all the other heads Of do
nartments wore least equally responsible with him
| cor vhatsver error wrong or fault committed in
| the premises. a. LiNooLS.
WASHINGTON, May 20, ls62