Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-29
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

To the Senate and House OF Representa-
tives
The insurrection which is yet existing in
the United States, and aims at the overthrow
of the Federal Constitution and the Union,
was clandestinely prepared during the winter
of 1860 and 1861, and assumed an open OF
ganization, in the form of a reasonable pro-
visional government at Montgomery, Ala,
on the 18th day of February, 1861. On
the 18th day Of April, 1861, the insurgents
committed the fragrant act Of civil war by
the bombardment and capture Of Fort Sump-
ter, which cut off the hope of immediate con-
cilation.
Immediately afterwards all the roads and
avenues to this city were obstructed, and the
Capital was put into the condition of siege.
The mails in every direction were stopped,
and the lines of telegraph cut off by the in.
surgents, and the military and naval forces
which had been called out by the Govern
mept for the defence OF Washington were
prevented from reaching the city by organ
lied and combined reasonable resistance In
the state of Maryland. There was no ade-
quate and effective organization for the public
defence. Congress had indefinitely adjourn
ed There was no time to convene then. 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, availing myself Of the broader pow
ers conferred by the Constitution in cases of
insurrection, l would make an effort to save
it with all its blessings for the present aoe,
and for pnsferity. l thereupon summoned
my constitutional advisers, the heads of all
the departments, to meet on Sunday, the
goth day OF Aprn, 1861, at the office of the
Navy department, and then and there, with
their unanimous concurrence, directed that
an armed revenue cutter should proceed to
sea, to afford protection to the CONNIE rcial
marine, especially to the California treasure
ships then on their way to this coast. | also
directed the commandant of the navy yard
at Boston to purchase or charter and arm as
| quick as possible five steamships for purposes
| of public defence | directed the command
ant OF the navy yard at Philadelphia to pur-
chase or charter and arm an equal number for
the same purpose. | directed the command
ant at New York TO purchase or charter and
arm an equal lumber. / directed Comman-
der Mills to purchase or charter and arm
| and put to sea two other vessels. Similar
directions were given to Commodore Dupont
with view TO opening of passages by water
to and from the capital. directed the sew
eral officers to take the advice and obtain the
aid and efficient services in the matter of His
Excellency Edwin N. Morgan, the Governor
Of New York, or in his absence, Geo. d.
Morgan, VIM. M. Evar S, r. M. Blatchford
and Moses H. Grinnell, who were, by my
direction, especially empowered by the Sec
retary of the Navy. to act for his Department
in that crisis in matters pertaining &c me for
warding of troops and supplies for the pubic
defence. On the same occasion, directed
that Gov Morgan and Alexander Cumming
of the city of New York, shoald be authoriz
ed by the Secretary Of War. Simon Gamer
on, to make all necessary arl rlangements TO
the transportation of troops and munitions o
, war, in aid and assistance of the officer
of the army of the United States, unit
communication by mails and telegraph shoul'
be completely re-established between tn
: cities of Washington and New York. N
e security was required to be given by then
and either of them was authorized to act IL
. case of inability consult with the othel
On the same occasion / authorized and di
e rected the Secretary of the Treasury to ad
q | vance WlluOut oOOuiAhy wv AAAAAiioNN
of dollars of public money to John A. Dl1
,. Geo. Opdyke and Richard M. Blatchford {
y New York, to be used by them in meetln
+ such acquisitions as should be directly conse
:. quent upon the military and naval measure
70 for the defence and support of the govern
IS ment, requiring them only to at witho'
o compensation, and to report their transaction
"a when duly called upon. The several d.
partments of the government at that time col
= tanned 90 large number of disloyal persons
y that it would have been impossible to provit
= safely through Official agents only for tt
performance of the duties thus confded
. citizens favorably known for their abilit.
'e Loyalty and patriotism. The several orde
le issued upon these occurrences were tran
IS mitted by private messengers, who pursued
circuitous way to the sea board cities, inlan
'e across the States OF Pennsylvania and Obi
and the Northern Lakes, l believe that b
#, those and other similar measures taken
that crisis, some of which were without al
- authority OF law, the government was saw
D. from overthrow.
r am not aware that a dollar of the publ
Il fluids thus confided without authority of la
to unofficial persons, was either lost or waste
D" Although apprehensions OF such misdirecho
ut occurred to me as objections to these extr
il ordinary proceedings, and were necessari
overruled, recall these, transactions now