Year: 1861

RUNS.


Has the Government been hostil
to them ? At the time this unnatura


rebellion commenced there was not 0,


the statute books of the United State


a single law that had MOI been do IL


ted, or asscntcd to, by their rcprcscn


tativcs. The recent election, Of th,


the result of which they so loudl,


complain, had placed in the Prcsden


tlal Chair a person opposed to thci
policy upon one important question


but had left them in possession of the


other and independent coordinate


branches of the Government, so tha


it was utterly impossible any injur,


could result to them from the election


OF President who was not thei


choice. Under these circumstances


without waiting to see what would bt


the disposition of the newly elected


President, without trusting to Ion


Grcss and the proceedings yet undcl


their control, without waiting for al


appeal to the honesty and intelligcnc,


OF the people to right any wrongs


that might be attempted against then


they rebeilcd against the Government


and sought to destroy it by arms


They have seized by force the forts


arsenals, ships and treasure and hav,


set at defiance the laws and officers o


the United States, and they hav,


sought to set up within the Union an


other and independent Government


They have for months past been levy.
Ing troops, building forts, and gather


ing munitions of war, with intent tc


make war upon our Government, if ii


should attempt to perform it's lawful


functions, and after months of prepa.


ration have attacked with overwlelm-
ing numbers and captured the troops
of the United States, and have SO far


as in them lies dishonored that proud
flag, which throughout the world is
the emblem Of the power, the honors


and the glory of our nation.


What in the meantime has been the
action of our Government towards


these misguided men? The history
Of the world cannot show equal mod
Grafton and forbearance by any Gov
ernment towards a portion of it's peo-
pie, in rebclling against its laws


For months, some Of these men were


allowed to hold high positions in the
Cabinet, and used their official power
only to betray the Government OF
which they were the sworn and trust
ed servants. For months, many of
them were allowed to retain their seats
in both branches of Congress, and
their positions to defeat the enactment
Of wholesome laws necessary for the
protection of the Government. For
months, many of them were permitted
to hold high command in the army and
navy, and used their position to be-
tray and dishonor the flag they had
sworn to protect and defend. For
months, the Government yielded, step
by step, and had used only words of
Kindness and good will. But forbear-
ancc, moderation and kindness were
regarded only as Indicative of
weakness, imbecility and cowardicc,
until at last the crowning outrage at
Fort Sumpter convinced all men that
further forbearance had indeed ceased
to be a virtue, and would indeed make
those charged with the safety of the
Government as criminal as those who
were seeking to destroy it. At last
the Government has spoken, and has
called the loyal men of the country
to rally to its support, and the answer
has been such as to show the world
the strength of a Government founded
on the love of free people.


On the 18th of April last the Presi-
dent issued his Proclamation, calling
on the loyal States for aid to enforce
the laws. On the 25th Of the same
month received from the Secretary
of War Il requisition on this State Ga
ted on the 18th, calling for one regi-
mcnt of troops. Having been before
advised by telegraph that such rcqui-
sition had been issued, | felt assured
that l would be carrying out your
will and the will of the people of the
State, in responding to the call as
promptly as possible. therefore did
not wait the receipt of the formal re-
but proceeded at once to
take such steps as seemed to me
best adapted to effect that object.
was met in the outset by two difficult
ties. There were not any funds un-
der my control to meet the necessary
expenses, nor was there any efficient
law under which to operate
Your action only could furnish these
aids in a legal way, and yet to await
your action would involve great, per-
haps dangerous delay.


The first difficulty was obviatcd by
the patriotic action of the chartered
Banks and citizens of the State, who
promptly placed at my disposal all the
money i might need, and l determin-
ed, although without authority of law,
to accept their offer, trusting that you
would lcgalize my acts. One Difficult
ty was thus avoided. trusted, as
the result shows, safely, to the patri-
otism of the people for the removal of
The other, and on the 18th day of April
issued my proclamation calling for the
number Of troops.


The telegraphic despatch of the
Secretary of War informed me that it
would be sufficient if the troops rel
luired of this State were in rendcz-
vous at Kcokuk by the Goth inst.
The prompt and patriotic action OF the
people enabled me to place them there
in uniform on the Sth, twelve days III
advance of the time fixed, and they |
would have been there a week sooner
had not the action of the mob ut Bal
timore cut of all communication with /
the seat of Government, and left me .
without any instructions for two
weeks.


recommend that you make suita- .
Jlc appropriations, covering expenses