The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-06-03

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that President Lincoln was quite justified 10
not entirely consulting William Howard Rus
sell as TO the policy Of the NOR, or less United
States Of America. Loud cheers.
Presidents Message.
To the Senate and House of Represeatatives:
The insureciion which is yet existing in
the United States, and aimed at the overthrow
Of the Federal Constitution and Union, was
clandestiuey prepared during the winter Of
1860 and 1851, and assumed an open orgaui-
zation 10 the form of reasonable provision
al government at Montgomery, Ala, 90 the
18th day Of FEBRUARY, 1851. On the 18th
dav Of April. 1851 the insurgents committed
the fragrant act Of civil war by the lombard
ment and capture of Fort Sumpter, which
cut off tho hope Of immediate couciliation.-
Immediately afterwards all the roads and ave-
nues 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 off by the insur-
gents, and military and naval forces which
Fad been called out by the Government for
the defense Of Washington. wero prevented
from reaching the city by organized and com.
bined reasonable resistance in the State Of
Maryland. There was no adequate aud ef
fective organization for the public defense. -
Congress had indefoitely adjourned, and
there waa no time to convene them. 1t be
came necessary for me to choose whether
using only the existing means, agencies ana
processes which Congress bad provided,
should let the Government fall into ruin, or
hal fhara i'm elf ~ tha Aar
conferred Ivy the Constitution in cases Of in.
surrecton, would make an effort to save it
with all its blessings, for the present age aud
for postcrity. l, thereupon, summoned my
constitutional advisers, the heads Of the De.
partments, to meet on Sunday, the 20th day
Of April, 1861, at the Office of the Navy De-
partments, and then and there, with their
unanimous concurrence, / directed that an
armed revenue cutter should proceed to sea
to afford protection 10 the commercial marine,
especially 10 the California treasure ships then
on their way to tn coast. also directed
the Commandsnt Of the Navy Yard at Boston
to purchase or chatter, and arm, as quickly as
possible, fvc steamships for purposes Of pub
lie defense. I directed the commaodant at
the Navy Yard at Philadelphia to purchase
or charter an equal number for the same pur
pose. 1 directed the commandant at New
York to purchase or charter and arm an eqr al
number. I directed commander Gillis to pur-
chase or charter and arm aud put to sea two
other vessels Similar directions were given
to commander Dupont, with view to the
opening OF passages by water to and from the
Capital.
directed the several officers to take the
advice, and obtain tn, aid and efficient ser
vices in the matter, Of his Excellency Edwin
D. Morgan, the Governor Of Nav York or in
bis absence, Geo. d. Morgan, VIM. Evarls
r. NJ. Blstchford and Moses II. Griunell, who
were, by my direction, especially empowered
by the Secretary of the Navy to act for his
department in that crisis, in matters pertain
ing to the forwarding Of troops aud supplies
for the public defense.
On e. Q same occasion directed that Gov.
Morgan aud Alexander Cummings, Of the city
Of New York, should be authorized by the
Secretary Of War. Simon Cameron, to make
Sll the necessary arrangements for the trans
porta,ion Of troops and munitions Of war, in
aid aud assistance of the officers of the army
Of the United States, until communication by
mail and telegraph should be completely re.
established between the cities Of Washington
and New York. No security was required TO
be given by them, and either Of them was au.
thorized to act in case OF inability to consult
with the other. On the came occasion au
thorized and directed the Secretary Of the
Treasury to advance, without requiring secu-
rily, two millions Of dollars Of public money
to John A. Dix, George Opdyke, and Rich.
ard NJ. Blatcbford, Of New York, TO be used
by them in meeting such acquisitions as should
naval measures for the de.ence and support Of
the Government, aud requiring them only to
act without compensation, and to report their
transactions when duI! called upon. The sew
eral departments Of the Government at that
time contained so large a number Of disloyal
persons that it would have been impossible to
provide safely through offic al agents My for
the performance Of the duties thus conided to
citizens favorably known for their ability, 10y.
atty and patriotism. The several orders is
sued upon these occurrences were transmitted
by private messengers, who pursued cir
cuitous way to the seaboard cities, inland
across the States Of Pennsylvania aud Ohio,
and the Northern lakes. believe that by
these, and other similar measures, taken with
out authority OF law, the Government was
saved from overthrow. l am not aware that
dollar of the public funds thus confiled
without authority Of law to unofficial persons,
was ther lost or wasted, although appreben-
sions Of such misdirecliops occurred to me as
objection to these extraordinary proceedings,
and we-e necessarily overruled recall these
transactions now, because my attention has
been direrted TO resolution which was passed
by the House Of Representatives on the 30tb
OF last month, which is in these words:
Resolyed, That Simon Cameron, late Sec
rstary of War, by investing Alexander Cum.
mines with large sums Of public mouey, aud
au hority 10 purchase military supplies, with
out restriction, without requiring Of him any
guarantee for the faithful performance Of his
duties, when the services Of competent public
officers wore available, and by Involving the
Government in a vast number Of contracts
with persons not legtimately engaged in the
business pertaining to the subject matter Of
such contracts, especially in the purchase Of
arms for future delivery, has adopted policy
A