Year: 1861




Having been convened on extraordinary occa-
sion, authorized by the Constitution, vour atteu-
ton is not called to any ordinary subject of legs-
latiOu.


At the beginning of the present Presidential term,
four months ago, the functions of the Federal Gov
ernmept were found to be generally suspendei
within the several States of South Carolina Geor-
gia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida
excepting only those OF the Postnffice Department
Within those States all the forts, arsenals, dock
yards, custom-houses and the like, Including tn
movable and stationary property in and bon
them, had been seized and were held in open hos
tity to this Government; excepting only Fort
Pickens, Taylor and Jefferson, and near the Flor
ida coast, and Fort Sumter ia Charleston harbor
South Carolina.


The forts thus seized had been put in improved
condition, new ones had been built, and armed
forces had been organized and were organizinC
all avowedly with the same hostile purpose. The
forts remaining in the possession of the Federal
Government in and near those States were eith.r
besieged or nenaced by hostile preparations. ID
especially Fort Sumter, which was nearly sur
rounded by we-protected hostile batteries, with
guns equal in quality to the best of its own, ald
Outnumbering the latter perhaps ten to one A
dispropOrtOnate share of the Federal muskets aid
rifles had somehow found their way into those
States, and had been seized, to be used aga at
the Government. Accumulatuns of the pub ic
revenue lying within them had been seized for the
same object. The navy scattered in distant
seas, leaving but small portion of it within the
reach of the Government Officers of the FedeTi Il
army and navy had resigned in great numbers ari
of those resgniDg large proportion had taken W
arms against the Government.


simultaneously, and in connection with all this
the purpose to sever the Federal Union was open
avowed. In acc0rcaace with this purpose, an ord
nance had been adopted in each of these States
declaring the States respectively to be separated
from TIE National Union. A formula for insitutip
combined government of these States had beel
promulgated, and this illegal organization, in tie
character of Confederate States was already in
v0king recognition, aid and Intervention from fc+-
eign powers Finding this condition of things, and
believing 1t to be the imperative duty upon the in
coming Executive 10 prevent, if possible. the coz
summation of such an attempt to destroy the Fed -
raj Union, choice OF means to that end became
Indispensable.


This choice was made and declared in the H.
augural address. The policy chosen looked to Il g
exhaustion of all peaceable measures before resort
to any stronger ones. 1t sought on'y to hold the
public places and property not already wrestel
from the Government and to collect the revenue,
relying on the rest for time. discussion and the ha
lot-box. 1t promised continuance of the mails at
Governms Mt expense, to the very people who were
resisting the Cove nment, and it gave repeated
pledges against any disturbance to auv of the peo
pie or any OF their rights-of all that which I,
President light consttntionally and iusifably do
in such Everything was forborne witiort
which 1t was deemed possible to keep the Govern
ment on foot


On the 5th of March, the present incumbents
first full day in office, letter from Major And4r-
son, commanding at Fort SUMTER written on the
2Sh of February, and received at the War Df part
ment on the 4th of March. was bv that Department t
placed in his hands. This letter professed the
professional opinion of the writer that reinforce
ments could not be brown into that fort within tn.
tune for his release rendered necessary by th,
limited supply of provisions, and with view of
bndtng possession Of the same with force of less
than 30 600 good and we-dscpined men, This
opinion was concured in by all the officers of his
command and their memoranda on the subject
were made the enclosures of Major Anderson's
letter.


The whole was Immediately laid before Lieut.
Gen Scott. who at once cnncurred with General
7nders3n in opinion; On ref cton, however be
took full time, ulting with officers both IF iie
army and navy, and at the end of four days came
reluctantly bur decidedly to the same opinion as
before. lie also stated at the same time that no
such sufficient force then at the control of the
Government, or could be raised and brought 10 the
ground within the time in which the provisions in
the fort would be exhausted


In a purely military point of view this reduced
to duty OF the Administration in the case to the
mere matter of getting the garrison SAFELY ont of
the fort. 1t believed, however, that to so
abandon that position under the circumstances
would be utterly runous; that the necessity under
which it was done could not be fully understood:
that by many it would be construed as apart of a
voluntary policy; that at home it would DISCOURAGE
the friend of the Union, embolden its adversaries
and go far to ensure to the latter a recognition
abroad. That in fact it would be our national das-
truction consummated This could not be allowed
Starvation was not yet upon the garrison, and ere
it would be reached Fort Pickens might b. REIN
forced.


This last would be clear Indication of policy,
and would better enable the country to accent the
evacuation OF Fort Sumter a military necessity
An order was at-once directed to be sent fer the
landing of the troops from the BROOKLYN into Fort
PickenS. This order could not 70 bv land but must
take the longer and slower route by The first
return news from the order received lust one
week before the fall of Fort Sumter The news itself
was that the officer commanding the Sabine. to
which vessel the troops had been transferred from
the Brooklyn, acting upon some auasi-armistice
of the late Administration, and of the existence
Of &" hich the present Administration, I'd to tn.
time at which the order was despatched, had only
too vague and uncertain runners to fix attention
had refused to land the troops To now
reinforce Fort Pickens before a crisis could be
reached at Fort Sumter, was impossible rendered
latter named tort.


In precaution against such a coniuncture, the
Government had a few days before commenced
preparing an expedition as well adapted as might be
to relieve Fort Sumter; which expedition was in
tended to be ultimately used or not, ACCORDING to
circumstances. The strongest anticipated case for
using it was now presented, and it was resolved to
send it forward.


AS had been intended in this contingency, it was
also resolved to inform the Governor of South
Carolina that be might expect an attempt would
be made to provision the fort, and that if the
attempt should not be resisted there would be no
effort to throw IN men, arms ammunition, Githnut
further notice, or in case of an attack upon the
fort This notice was accordingly given where.
upon the fort was attacked and bnmbarded to its
fall, without even awaiting the arrival of the pro-
visiOning expedition.


1t is thus seen that the assault and reduction of
Fort Sumter was, in no sense, matter of selfde-
fence the part Of the assailants. They well
knew that the garrison in the fort could bv no
possibility, commit aggression upon them, They
knew they were expressly notified that the
giving of bread to the few brave and hungry men
of the garrison was all that would, on that occa-
sion, be attempted, unless themselves BY resisting
so much, should provoke more. they knew that
this Government desired to keep the garrison in
the fort, not to assail them. but merely to mantsn
visible possession and thus to preserve the Union
from actual and immediate dissolution, trusting
as heretofore stated, to time, discussion aud The
ballot box TOR iina adjus .ment. And they assailed
and reduced the fort for precisely the reverse ob-
iect-to drive out the visible authority of the
Federal Union, and thus force it to immediate dis
solution. That this was their object, the Executive
well understood.


And having said to them in the inaugural ad
dress, ''yOu can have conflict without being
yourself the aggressors," he took pains not only to
keep this declaration good, but also to keep the
so free from the power of Ingenious sophstry
as that the world should not be able to mi:under
stand it. By the affair at Fort Sumter with the
surrounding circumstances, that point was reached
Then and thereby the ASSISTANTS Of the Government
began the conflict of arms without gun in sight OF
in expectancy tn return their fire, save only the few
in the FORT to that harbor years bef re for hei
own protection, and still ready to give that pro
lection in whatever was lawful


In this act, discarding all else they have forced
upon the country the distinct issue-immediate dis
solution or blood And this issue embraces more
than the fate of these United States 1t pre-
sents to the whole family of man the
hath ,ol
Democrscy-a Government of the people by
the same people-can or cannot maintain its ter.
ritorial integrity against its own domestic foes
|. presents the question whether dscoateuted indi
viduals, too few in numbers to control the Admin
is tration according to organic law in anv case
can always, upon the pretences made in this case OF
other preences, or arbitrarv without any
pretence, break up their Government. and thu
practically put an end to free government upor
the earth.


1t forces to asks there in all republics thi
inherent and fatal weakness? Must a governmen
OF necessity be too strong for the liberties of it
own people, or too weak to maintain its own exist
ence? So viewing the issue, no choice was lef
bat to call out the war power of the Government
and SO to resist force employed for its destruction
bv force for its preservation.


This call was made, and the response ofthe countr,
was most gratifying, SURPRISING in unanimity ant
| spirit the most sangune expectations. Yet non
| of the.States commonly called slave States, excep
| Delaware, gave a regiment through regular Stat
organization. few regiments have been organ
| lied within some others of these States by ind
vidua enterprise, and received into the Government
service. OF course the Seeded States, so-called
and to which Texas had been joined about the tim
of the Inauguration, gave no troops to the cause
| the Union.


! The Border States, so-caed, were not uniforI
| in their action; of them being almost for tn
Union. while in Others, as Virginia, Nerth Care
| lima, Tennessee and Arkansas, the Union sentimen


was nearly repressed and silenced The cours


taken in Virginia the most remarkable, pei
bv the people of that State to consider this yer