Year: 1861

state OF New Ork


SIR The present insurrection had not even re-
vealed itself in arms, when disloyal citizens hast
ened to foreign countries to invoke their interven-
tion for the overthrow Of the government and the
federal Union. These agents are known to have
made their appeals to some Of the more import
ant States, without success. 1t is not likely,
however, they win remain content with such re-
fusals Indeed, it is understood that they are in
dustriously endeayOring to accomplish their dis
loyal purposes by degrees, and by indirectly tax
ing advantage of the embarrassments Of agricul-
tUre, manufactures and commerce in foreign
countries, resulting from the inSurrection they
have inaugurated at home. They seek to in
voye our common country in controversies with
States with which every public and private inter-
est require that it shall remain in relations of
peace, amt, and friendship. l am able to state,
for your satisfaction, that the prospect Of any
such disturbance is less serious now than it
has been at any previous period during the course
of the insurrection. 1t is, nevertheless, neces
sary now, as il has been hitherto, to take every
preclution that is possible, to avoid the evils Of
foreign war, to be superinduced upon those Of the
c vii commOtiOn, which VIC endeavOring to
cure One of the most obvious of such precau-
tions is that our ports and harbOrs in the seas
and lakes, should be put in condition of COM
plete defense, for any nation may be slid to vol
antarily incur danger in tcmpestuous seasons
when it fails TO show that it has sheltered itself
every Slue from WHICH storm iIlBut pOoSlblJ
come. The measures which the Executive can
, adopt in this emergency, arc such only as Con-
cress has sanctioned and for which it has provided
The President is putting forth the most dlhgent
efforts to execute these measures, and VIC have the
great satisfaction of seeing that these efforts
onded by the favor, ad and support of loyal
patriotic and self-sacrifchg people, arc rapidly
| bringing the military and naval forces of the
United States into the highest state Of efficiency.
| But Congress chiefly absorbed, dnring its
recent session with these measures, and did not
provide amply as could be wished for the forti-
fcation of our sea and lake coasts. In previous
wars loyal States have applied themselves by in
dependent and separate activity to support and
aid the Federal Government in its arduous respon-
sibilities. The same disposition has been mani
tested 10 a degree eminently honorable, by all the
| loyal States during the present insurrection. In
view of this fact, and relying upon the increase
| and continuance of the same disposition on the
part of the loyal States the President has directed
me to invite your attention to the subject of the
improvement and perfection Of the defences of the
State over which you preside, and to ask you to
submit the subject to the consideration of the leg
| islature when it shall have assembled. Such pro-
ceedings by the State would require only tempo
rary use of its means. The expenditures ought to
be made with the concurrence of the Government
Being thus made with the concurrence of the Govt
for general defense, there is every reason to be-
lieve that Congress would sanction what the State
| should do, and would provide for its reimburse
ment. Should these suggestions be accepted, the
President will direct proper agents of the Federal
Government to confer with you, and 70 superintend
direct and conduct the prosecution Of the system
Of defense Of your State.


have the honor to be, sir, your obedient serv't


(Signed) WIN. Ii. SEWARD.