The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-05-28

BY order Of the comnandcr.in chief.
Signed, ALLEN {. FULLER,
Adjutant General
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDI.ST.
WAsmSGroN, May. 81.
The speaker Of the house laid before that
body the following message:
10 he Senate and HoHSe Of Representa-.
tires:
The instruction which is yet existing in
the United States, and aimed at the over.
throw OF the federal constitution and union,
was clande-tlnely prepared during the win.
ter Of lsGO-ls6l, and assumed an open organ.
RatiOn, in the form Of treasonnbe
provisional government, nj Montgomery Ala,
on the 18th day Of February lSGl. On the
18th day of April, 1861, the insurgents CON.
United the fragrant act of civil war 10y the
bumhardment and capture of Fort sumter,
which cut Of the hope Of immediate concilia-
ton Immediately afterwards the roads and
avenues Of this city were INSTRUCTED, and the
capital was pu, into Il condition of seige.-
The mails in every direction were stopped
and the lines OF telegraphs cut off by the in.
surgeuts. and military aud naval forces which
had been called out by the government for
the defense OF Washington. were prevented
from rcaching the city by organized and
combined reasonable resistance in the state Of
Maryland. There was no adequate and eff
fective organization for the public defence
Congress had indefinitely adjourned and
there was no time to convene then. 1t was
necessary Tor me to choose whether using only
the existing means agencies and process
which congress bad provided, should let the
government fall into ruin, or whether, avail.
ing myself OF the broader powers conferred
by the constitution III case vi Instruction, |
would make an effort to save it, with all its
! blessings, Tor the present age and for poster
/ ity. ! thcreupOn assembled my constitution
al advisers aud the heads of all the depart
meuts to meet on Sunday, the 10Th day If
! April. 1851, at the office Of the navy depart
mCnt, and then, and there, with their unani.
nous concurrence, ! directed that an armed
revenue cutter should proceed 10 sea, to afford
protection to the commercial marine, espcc.
Ialy to the California treasure ships, then on
their way to this coast. also directed the
cUmmandant Of the navy yard at Boston tC
purchase or charter and arm, ~ quickly as
possible five steam ships for purposes of pub.
lie defence ! directed the cOmmaudant Of
the navy yard at Philadelphia to purchase OF
charter an equal number for the same purpose
! ! directed the commandment at New York tC
purchase or charter and arm an equal number
| directed Com. Giles to purchase or charter
and arm and put to sea, two other vessels
/ Similar directions were given to Com. Dupont
with II view to the opening Of passages by Wa
ter to and from the capital.
| directed the several officers to take the
advice and obtain the aid and efficient scrvi
ccs in the matter Of his Excellcncy, Edwin D.
Morgan, Gov Of \. Y, and in his absence
Geo. u Morgan. VIM Evarts, Il. NJ. Batch.
ford and Moses H. Grinnell, who were by my
direction especially empowered by the secro
tary OF the nayys to act for his department in
| that crisis, III matters pertaining to the for
wardng Of troops and supplies for the public
defence. On the same occasion directed
that Gov. Morgan and Alex. Cummings, of
the city of \. Y, should be authorized by the
secretary of war, Simon Cameron, to make all
/ the necessary arrangements Tor the transpOr-
taton OF troops and munitions Of war in aid
and assistance Of the officers Of the army Of
the L. 5. until communication by mail and
telegraph shall be completely re.establshed
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 ability to consult with the other
On the same occasion | authorized and dl ec
ted the secretary Of the trcasurey to advance
without requiring security, two millions of
dollars of public money to Jno. A. Dix Geo.
Opdyke and Richd NJ. Blachford, of N.Y.. to
be used by them in meeting such requistion
As should be directly consequent upon the
military measures for the defence and supper,
of the government, requiring them only to
act without compensation, and to report their
transactions when duly called upon. The
several departments of the government at
that time contained So large u number Of dis
loyal persons, that it would have been mpos
slble to provide safely through official agents
only for the performance Of the duties thus
conferred
The several orders issued on these occur
rences were transferred 10y private messen-
gers, who pursued a crcultous way to the sea-
board cities inland across the states of Penn
sylyania, OHIO aud the northern lakes. be
lIeve that 10y these ndother similar measures
taken without authority OF law, the govern.
ment was saved from overthrow. | am not
aware that dollar Of the public funds thus
conhded without authority Of law to unofficial
persons, was either lost or stolen. although
such mlsdlrerton or appropriation occurred
TO me as objections to these extraordinary
proceedings, and were necessarily oyerruled.
| recall these transactions now because my
attention has been directed to resolution
which was passed by the house OF representa-
tives on the 3Oth of last month which is in
these words
"Resolre3, That Simon Cameron, late secre-
tary of war, by investing Alexander Cum,
Minis with large sums of public money, and
authority to purchase military supplies with
out restriction. without requiring from him
any guarantee for the faithful performance of
his duties, when the services of competent
pubhc officers were available. and by involv-
Ing the government in vast number of con-
tracts with persons not legitimately in the bus
mess pertaining to the subject matter of such
contracts, especially in the purchase Of arms
Tor future delivery, has adopted policy high
~ injurious TO the public service and deserves
the censure Of this house,
Congress will see that should BE wanting
equally in candor aud justice, if | should
leave the censure expressed in this resolution
to rest exclusively or chiefly on Mr.. Cameron,
The same sentiment is unanimously enter.