Year: 1861




WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 1851.
IMPORTANT CIRCULAR OF THE SECRETARY OF
sTArE-IMPRovEMENT or OUR SEA COAST AND
LAKE DEFENCEs


The following important circular has been sent to
Governor Morgan and similar ones to the Governors
Of all the States the seaboard and akes-


DEPARTMENT SrATE,1


WASHINGTON Oct IA, 1861. !
70 Hrs ExcELLENcy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF New
York


SlR-The present insurrection had not revealed
ksef in when disloya citizens fastened to foreign
counties invoke their intervention the overthrow
Of the and the destruction Of the federal
Union These agents are known to have maie their ap
pcas to o: the important States withou, sue
cess 1t is not likely, however, that they will remain
content with such rcflisals Indeed, it rs under
stood that they industrioasly endeavoring to
accomplish their cisoyal purposes by degrees and
by indrecton Taking advantage of the embarrass-
mens of agriculture, manufacture and commerce in TO
reign countries resulting from the surrcton they have
ma lgu ated at home they seek 70 involve
country in controversies with stat with which every
public interest and every interest require that
shall remain in relations Of peace amity and friendship
am able to state for your satisfaction that the prospect
for any such disturbance serious than it has
been at any previous period during the of the
surrectcn is nevertheless, necessary now as it has
hitherto bcen take every precaution that possible
avoid the evils Of foreign war; be supcrinduced upon
those of civil connection which we are endeavoring to
cure.


One Of the most obvious OF such precautions that
ports and harbors the and lakes should be
put condition Of complete dcfcnc, for any nation
may be said to voluntarily incur danger in tempestuous
when fails show that has sheltered itself
on every side from which the storm might poss by
The which the Executive can adopt in this
emergency such only Congress has sanct d. ana
Cor which it has provided.


The President is putting forth the dgent Efforts
70 these measures. and have the great
faction of seeing that these Efforts seconded by the
favor, aid and support of loyal, patriotic an
sclf-sacrilcng people, who rapidly bringing the
military and of the United States into the
highest tatoof efficiency But Congress chiefly ab
6orbed during its recent extra session with those
sures and did not provide amply could be wished
Cor the forlcation Of and lake coasts. In pre-
vous the loyal states have applied themselves by
independent and separate activity the support
Of the federal government responsibilities
The same disposition has been manifested in degree
emincntly honorable by all the loyal states during the
present insurrection.


In view Of tbs fact ard relying upon the and
continuance Of the disposition the part Of
consideration to the subject Of the Improvement and
perfection Of tho defcnces Of the State which you
preside and to ask you submit the subject to the con
sideraon Of the Legislature when il shall have assem-
bcd Such proceedings by the State would require only
temporary use Of It's means


The expenditures ought be made the subject Of
ference with the federal government Reing thus made
with the Of the government general
fence there is every believe that Congress
would sanction what the State should do and would pro
vide for its reimbursement.


Should these suggestions he accepted the President will
direct the proper agents the federal government to con
fer with YOU and to supcntond direct the
prosecution of the system Of defence Of your State.


have the honor to be, sir,


Your obedent servant,


W. Il. SEWARD.