Year: 1861

Representatives..


Having been convened in an extraordi-
nary convention as authorized by the Con-
stitution, your attention is not called to any
ordinary subject of Legislation. At the be-
ginning of the present Presidential term,
four months ago, tho functions of the Fed
eral Government were found to be generally
suspended within the several States Of
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississ-
ippi, Louisiana and Florida, excepting those
only of the Post Office Department within
these States. All the forts, arsenals, dock
yards, Custom Houses, &C., including all
the movable and stationary property in and
about them, had been seized and held in
open hostility to this Government except-
ing only Forts Pickens, Taylor and Jeffer-
SOD, on and near the Florida coast, and
Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Tho
forts thus seized had been put in i'm
proved condition, new ones had been built,
and armed forces had been organized and
were organizing, all ayowedy for the same
hostile purpose


Tho forts remaining in the Federal pos
session in and near those States were either
besieged or menaced by warliko prepara-
tions. Especially Fort Sumter was nearly
surrounded by we'll protected hostile bat
teries, with guns equal in quality to the
best OF its own, and outnumbering the lat
ter as perhaps ten to ono. A disproportion-
ate share of the Federal muskets and rifles
bad somehow found their way into these
States, and had been seized to be used gainst
tho Government. Accommodations Of the
public revenue lying within them had been
seized for the same object. The navy was
scattered in distant seas, leaving but very
small part of it within the immediate reach
of the Government; officers of the Federal
army had resigned in great numbers, and
of those resigned a great portion had taken
up arms against the Government. Stimuli
taneously, and in connection with all this,
the purpose to sever the Federal Union was
openly avowed. In accordance with this
purpose an ordinance had been adopted in
each of these States, declaring the States
respectively to be separated from the Ma
tional Union; the formula for institutiug
combined government for these States had
been promulgated, but this illegal organi-
zation in the character of the Confederate
States, was already invoking recognition,
aid and Intervention from foreign powers.


Finding this condition of things, and
believing it to be an imperative duty upon
the incoming executive to prevent, if posi-
bic, the consummation Of such attempt to
destroy the Federal Union, choice of
means to that end became Indispensable
This choice was made and declared in the
Inaugural address. The policy chosen look
ed to the exhaustion of all peaceable meas
ures before resort to any stronger ones.-
1t sought only to hold the public places and
property not already wrested from the Gov
ernment, and TO collect the revenue; relying
for the rest on time, discussion and the bal.
lot box. 1t promised the continuance of
the mails at the Governments expense to
tho very people who were resisting the Gov
ernment, and gave repeated pledges against
any disturbance to any of the people or any
of their rights, of all that which President
might constitutionally and justifiably do in
such case. Everything was foreborn,
without which it was believed possible to
keep the Government. On the 5th of
March the present incumbent's first full day
in Office, a letter from Maj. Anderson, com
manding at Fort Sumter, written on the
29th of February and received at the War
Department on the fourth of March, was
by that Department placed in his hands
This letter expressed the professional opin-
ion of tho writer that reinforcements could
not be thrown into that fort iu time for his
relief, rendered necessary by the limited
supply of provisions, and with view of
holding possession of the same with force
of not less than twenty thousand we'll dsci-
plined men. This opinion was concurred
in by all the officers of his command, and
their memoranda on the subject were made
in Enclosures of Major Anderson's letter.
The whole was Immediately laid before
Lieut.. Gen Scott, who at once concurred
with Maj. Anderson in his opinion.


On reflection, however, he took full time
in consulting with the officers, both of the
army and navy, and at the end Of -four
days came reluctantly, but decidedly, to the
same conclusion as before He also stated
at the same time that no such efficient
force was then at the control of the Gov
eminent, or could be raised or brought to
the ground within the time when tho pro-
visions in tho fort would be exhausted In
a military point of view, this reduced the
duty of the Administration to the mere
matter Of getting the garrison safely out
of the fort


1t was believed, however, that TO so abandon
that position, under the circumstances, would
be utterly ruinous; that the necessity under
which it was to be done would not be fully un-
derstood; that by many it would be construed
as part of a voluntary policy; that at home it
would discourage the friends of the Union, EN-
bolden its adversaries and go far to insure to
the latter recognition abroad that, in fact, it
would be our national destruction contaminated.
This could not be allowed. Starvation was not
yet upon the garrison, and ere it would be reach
ed Fort Pickens might be reinforced. This last
would be clear indication ofpolcy and would
better enable the country TO accept the evacua-
tiOn Of Fort Sumter as a military necessity
Then an order was at once directed to be sent
for the landing Of the troops from the steamer
Brooklyn, into Fort Pickens. This order could
not 60 by land but must take the longer end
slower route by sea- The first return news from
the order was received Just one week before the
fall of Sumter. The news itself was, that the
officer Commanding the Sabine, TO which vessel
the troops had been transferred from the Brook
lyn, acting upon some quasi armistice of the
late Administration, and of the existence of
which the present Administration up to the time
the order was dispatched had only too vague
and uncertain rumors to fix attention, had re-
fused to land the troops. To now reinforce Ft.
Pickens before a crisis would be reached at Fort
Sumter was impossible; rendered SO by the