The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-06-07
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
ID fT7'I. - WAsHINGToN, May p.
III c,..rro LII L No. - y--.Hr 4, II


T. s-j ral. -.2 WASHINGTON, May 27.
The SPEAKER laid before tie House The
ri following message form the President:
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
The insurrection which is vet, existing
in the United States, and aimed at the
overthrow OF the Federal constitution and
Union, was clandestinely prepared during
the winter oi 1860 and 1861, and assumed
al. open organization in the form of trea
sonable provisional government at Mont
gomery, Ala, on the 18th day of Februa-
ry, 1861. On the 18th day of April, 1861,
the insurgents committed the fragrant act
! OF civil war by the bombardment and
capture of Fort Sumpter, which cut Off he
hope ofimmediate Cancellation. Immedi-
! ately atterward the roads and avenues 10
! this city were OBJ tructed and the capital
was put into condition of siege The
mails in every direction were stopped
and the lines Of telegraph cut off by the
insurgents, 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 or.
ganiLed and combined reasonable resist
ance in the State of Maryland
| There was no adequate or effective Or
! ganization for the public defence Con
! gress had indefinitely adjourned. There
was no time co convene them. 1t became
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, ayailing myself of the border
/ powers conferred by the constitution in
cases OF insurrection, l would make an
/ effort to save it, with all its blessings, for
J the present age, and for posterity !,
/ therefore, summoned my constitutional
advisers, the heads Of all the Departments
to meet on Sunday, the Goth day Of april
1861, at the office Of the Navy Department.
and then and their, with unanimous CON
currence, ! directed that an armed reve-
( nue. cutter should proceed to see to afford
protection to the commercial marine, and
especially TO the California treasure ships.
; then on their way TO this coast. | al os di-
rected the Commandant Of the Navy
Yard at Boston TO purchase or charter and
arm, as quickly a possible, FIVE steamships
! for purpose of public defence directed
the Commandant at the Navy-Ya ard a.
Philadelphia TO purchase or charter an
equal number for the same purpose di-
rected the Commandant at New York to
I purchase or charter and arm an equal
number ] directed Commander Gilles to
I purchase or charter and arm and put 10
/ sea two other vessels. Similar directions
! were given TO Commander Dupont, with
: a view of the opening of passage By water
! to and from the capital
/ | directed the several officers TO take
the advice and obtain the aid and efficient
services in the matter Of his Exccllencv
Edwin u Morgan, the Governor Of New
! \ ork, and in his absence, Geo y Morsan.
!
Moses II. Grrnell, who were by nv direc
( tion, especially empowered by the Secre-
tary of the Navy TO act for bis department
/ in that crisis in matters pertaining TO the
/ forwarding Of troops and supplies for the
/ public defence. On the same occasion
directed that Gov Morgan and Alexander
( Cummings, of the city of New York.
/ should be authorized by the Secretary of
War, Simon Cameron, To make all the
/ necessary arrar. rcrIcTIts for the transpOr-
tation OF troops and munitions Of war in
aid and assistance of the officers of the
army Of the United States, until commu-
nication by mail and telegraph should be
completely re-estab!ished between the
cities Of Washington and New York No
security was required 10 be given bv them.
and either of them was authorized 10 act
/ in case OF inability 10 consult with the
/ and directed the Secretary of the Treasury
/ 70 advance, without requiring security, two
millions OF dollars Of public money TO Jno.
/ \ Dix, Geo Gpdyke, and Rchatd II
! Blatch'ord Of y. Y, 10 be used by them
in meeting such requsitons as should be
directly consequent upon the military aud
naval measures for the defence and sup
port of the government, requiring them
only 10 act without conlpersitI and TO
report their transactions when duly called
upon. The several departments Of the
government at that time contained so
large number of dsloyal persons that it
would have been impossible To provide
safely through official agents only for The
er!ormaEce ofthe duties thus confided to
citizens favor;.bly known for their ability.
loyalty and patriotism. The several or
ders issued upon these occurrences were
tranported by private messengers. who
pursued circuitOus way to the seaboard
cities, inland. across the States of Pennsvl-
vania and Ohio, and the northern lakes
| believe that by these and other similar
measures taken without authority of law.
the government was saved from over
throw | am not aware that q dollar of
the public funds thus confided without
authority OF law, to unofficial persons, was
either lost or wasted, although apprehen-
slOns of such nlisdrection occurred 10 me
as objections to these extraordinary pro-
ceedlngs, and were necessarily overruled.
/ recall these transactions now because my
attention has been directed to resolu-
ton which was passed by the House of
Representatives. on the goth of the last
month, which is in these words:
"Res0fUed, That Simon Cameron, late
Secretary of War, by investing Alex.
Cummings with large sums of public
money and authority to purchase military
supplies without restriction, without re-
struction, without requiring of him any
guarantee for the faithful performance e of
his duties when the services ofcompetenti
public officers were available, and by
involving the government IN vast num-
bers of contracts with persons not legiti1E
mately engaged in the business pertaining
to the subject matter of such contracts,
especially in the purchase of arms fol
future delivery, has adopted a policy hi ighly
injurious to the public service, and de kerv-
! es the censure OF the House."
Congress will see that should be want
ing equally in candor and justice if Ii
should leave the censure expressed in this
resolution to rest exclusively or chiefly onl
Mr. Cameron. The same sentiment isl
unanimously entertained by the heads of
the departments who participated in the
proceedings which the House Of Represen
tatlves have centured. 1t is due to Mrl
Cameron to say that although he fully
approved the proceedings, they were notI
moved or suggested by himself, and thati
III