Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-06-06
Message from the Praaidsnt-


The insurrection which is yet existing il
the United States, and aimed at the overthrow
Of the Federal Constitution and Union. wa
clandestinely prepared during the winter O
1860 and 1861, and assumed an open organi
zation in the form of a reasonable Provisiona
Government at Montgomery, Ala, on the ISL
day of February. 1861. On the 18th day o
April, 1861, the insurgents committed the ill
grant act Of civil var by the bombar,lment an,
capture Of Fort Sumter, which cnt off tn,
hope Of immediate cancellation. Izlmediatel,
atieiward all the roads and avenues to thf
city we're obStructed, and The Capital was pu
into condition of siege. The mails in ev-
cry direction were stopped and the lines o
telegraph cnt off by the insurgents, and Mill
tary aud Naval forces which had been called
out by the Government for the defense o
Washington, were prevented from reaching
the city by organized and combined treasona
ble resistance in the State of Maryland
There was no adequate and effective organ
izaIion for the public defense Congress, had
indefinitely adjourned; there was no time to
convene: it became necessary for me to choose
whether using only the existing means. arep-
cies and processes which Congress had provi-
ded, should let the Government fall into ruin.
or whether avaiing myself of the broader pow.
ers conferred by the Constitution in case of
insurreciion, would make an eff ,rs to sare il
with all its blessings for the present age and
/ for posteriiy.
! ihereuPon summoned my constitutional ad-
visers, the heads of the departments, to meet on
Sunday, the 20th of April, 1861, at tie office
/ r N n Al
with their una1imous concurrence, [ directed
that an arm'i revenue cutter should proceed
to sea, to afr,r,l protection to the commercial
marine, especially to the California treasure
ships then or their way 10 this coast. / also
directed the commandant of the navy-yartl al
Boston TO purchase or charter and arm as
quickly as possible five steamships, for purnose
of public defense. directed the comman,lant
at the navy-yar'l at Philadelphia to purchase
or charter an cqual number for the same n'ir-
pose. l directed the con mandlrt at New
York to purchase or charter and arm an eq.lal
number. Idirected Commander Giles to
purchase or charter and arm and put TO sea
two other vessels. Similar directions were
given to Co ninan'ler pnpont. with view to
the opening of passages by water to and from
the capital.
directed the several Off ;ers to take the adj
vice and obtain the al anl efIi.ient services in
the tier, of his ExceIIenry Edwin Morgan.
the Governor of New York, or, in his ab-elc..
of Geo. ID. Morgan, Wm. Evarts r. VI. & atch-
ford and Moses IT, GrinnelI, who were by my
directions. eSpecia ly empowered by The Sec
rotary Of the Navy to act for his department
in the crisis in matters pertaining to the for
warding of troops AMI supplies for the public
d,f.nse
On the sam occasion, | directed that Cover
nor Morgan anil Alexander Cummings of The
city Of New York shond be authorized by
the Secretary of War, Simln Cameron, to
make all the necessary arrangements for the
transportation Of rr-enEorcemenis and supnlies
for the army of the United States, until com
munication by mail and telegraph should b..
completely rc-cstablished between the cities of
Washington and New York No securi
was required to be given by them, aud either
OF them was authorized u act in case OF ina
bility to consult with the other.
On the same occasion l auIhorizel and di- |
rectcd the Secretary of the Treasury to all
vance, without requiring security, two mil |
lions OF dollars of public money TO John A. !
DIX. George Opedyke and Richard NJ Batch-
ford, of New Y ork, to be used by them in meet
ing such acquisitions as should be directly |
consequent upon the military and naval mas
ures for the defense and support of the Gov
ernment 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 a number of
d 'sloyal persons, that it would have been i'm.
possible to provide safely, through official
gents only, for the performance of the duties
thus confded to ciliz ms favOrably known for
their ability, loyalty, and patriotism The
several orders issued upon these occurrences,
were transmitted by private messengers, who
pursued eircuitouS way to the seaboard cit
les, inland across the States of Pennsylvania
and Ohio and the Northern Lakes.
believe that by these, and other similar
measures taken without authority of law, the
Government was saved from overthrow.
l am not aware that dollar of the public
funds thus confded without authority of law
TO unofficial persons was either lost or wasted,
although apprehensions of such instructions
occurred 10 me as objections to these extraor-
liuary proceedings, and were necessarily over
ruled.
llecall these transactions now because nv
attention has been directed TO "a resolution,
which was passed by the House of Representa-
ives on the Both of last month, which is in {
these words: 5
"Resolrsd, Thai Simon Cameron, late Secre-
AIRY Of War, by investing Alex Cummings i
With large sums of public m nney, and author
ty to purchase military supplies without re-
'tricuion, and without requiring of him anv S
saranee for the faithful performance of his dn- {
les, when the services of competent public
,licers were available, and by involving the
Government iT vast number of contracts d
with persons not legitimatey engaged in the l
business pertaining to the subject matters of I
ueh contracts, especially in the purchase Of l
rms for future delivery, has adopted a policy i
rightly injurious to the public serv ice and |
deserves the censure of the House L
Congress viii see that shond be wanting t
qualy in candor and jus ice if | should leave i
lie censure expressed in this resolution to rest |
or chiefly on Mr. Cameron The a
anne sentiment is unanimously entertained by
he heads of Department who participated
n the proceedings which the House of Repre- a
entatives has cenSurcd. s
1t is due TO Mr.. Cameron TO say, that al s
hough he fully approved the proceedings, {
hey were not moved or suggested by himself, |
md that not only the President but that all
he other heads of Department were at least
qually responsible with him for whataver err
or, wrong or fault was committedin 10 the prem {
ses.
[Signed1 ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WASHINGTON, May 26, 1862.