Year: 1861

The message of President Lincoln to the 4th
of July Congress is too long to publish entire
We make an extract from that portion particu
larly relating to the war and its causes


,"On assuming the duties of the Executive Of
flee, he found the functions of the Government
generally suspended by the action of rebelious
States. The public treasury had been robbed by
dishonest men vested with power. The public
arms had been sent South to strengthen rebellion;
the navy scattered to be of little or no SER
xce. The forts and arsenals of the South had
been seized and fortified so as to be almost i'm
pregnable. The purpose to sever the Federal
Union was openly avoWed, and treason stalked
boldly over the land. The day after the Pres-
dent entered upon the duties Of bis office, letter
was received from Major Anderson, commanding
at Fort Sumter, informing the War Department
that it would be impossible to reinforce that fort
with less than 10000 men. That number could
not then be spared, and although the necessity
was deplored, the War Department decided to
reinforce Piekens, and other Southern forts, but
to evacuate Sumter for the time being. This
purpose was about being carried out, and fleet
was on the way to Fort Pickens, when informa-
tion was received that the garrison of Sumter
was actually in a starving condition. Ont of hu-
manty towards its brave defenders, the Govern
ment determined to make one more effort to pro-
vision Sumter but before this could be done the
fort was attacked and bombarded to its fall,
without even awaiting the arrival of the provis
ion expedition. The assault upon Fort Sumter
was by no means in seldefense on the part of
the assailants. BY this act they have forced the
destructive issue-an Immediate dissolution or
blood-and this issue embraces more than the
fate of these United States. 1t presents, in the
whole family OF man, the question whether a con-
stitutional republic, or democracy, or govern
ment OF the people by the same people, can or
cannot maintain its integrity against its own do.
mestic foes. II presents the question whether
discontented individuals, too few in numbers to
control the Administration according to organic
law, in any case, or on any other pretenses, arb-
trarily, without any pretense, may break up their
Government, and thus practically put an end to
free Government upon the earth. 1t forces us to
ask, is there in all this, inherent and fatal weak
ness? Must government of necessity be too
strong for the liberties of our people, or too weak
TO maintain its existence? He says the Govern
ment is bound to recognize as Virginia only that
portion which has remained loyal The doctrine
of armed neutrality, as attempted to be practc-
ed in Kentucky and other border States, he char
acterizes as only another species OF resistance to
the Federal Government. 1t is building an i'm
passable wall between rebellion and the Federal
power, and yet this wall is not impossible, for
through it the means are conveyed for keeping
rebellion alive. In regard to the suspension of
the writ of Habeas Corpus, the President thinks
be has acted in accordance with the provisions
of the Constitution, and shall so continue to act.
1t was with the deepest regret that the Executive
found the duty Of employing the war power in
defence Of the Government, forced upon him.
lie could but perform this duty, or surrender the
existence of the Government. To compromise
the public service would in this case be crime
not that compromises are not often proper, but
that no popular government can long survive a
marked period. That those who carry an elec-
tion can only save their Government from imme


date destruction bV giving I'D the main point un-
on which the people gave the election The peo


pie themselves, and not their servants, can safely
reverse their own deliberate decision. private
citizen, the executor could not have consented
that the institutions shall persh-much less act
in the betrayal of so vast and so sacred trusts as
the people confded to him. The fact that he had
no moral right to shrink, nor even count the
chances of his own life in what might follow, in
full view of his great responsibility, he has so
far done what he has deemed his duty"