Year: 1861

IMPORTANT SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE VIRGINIA CoMMIssrosEns.-The following is the reply of Mir. Lincoln to the Commissioners from the Virginia State Convention:

 Hon. Messrs. Preston, Stuart and Randolph | I-Geatiemea-As Q committee of the Virginia Convention, now in session, you present me a preamble and resolution in these words :- | Whereas, in the opinion of this Convention, the uncertainty which prevails i'll the public | mind as to the policy which the federal Execu- ye intends to pursue towards the seeded States, il extremely in urious to the industrial and com mercial interests of the country, tends to keep up an excitement which is unfavorable to the liustment of the pending difficulties and threat ems a disturbance of the public mind therefore, | Rssolred, That a committee of three delegates | be appointed to wait on the President of the United States, present to him this preamble, and respectfully ask him to communicate to this Convention the policy which the federal Execu- tive intends to pursue in regard to the Cenfede- rate States.

 In answer I have to say that having, at the beginning of my official term, expressed my in tended policy as plainly as was able, it is with deep regret and modification now learn there is great and injurious uncertainty in the public mind to what that policy is, and what course intend to pursue. Not having as yet seen oc- casion to change, it is now my purpose to pur- |

 dress. commend a careful consideration of the whole document as the best expression l can give to my purposes. As l then and therein

 said, now repeat, ''The power confded in me

 will be used to hold, occupy and possess proper

 ty and places belonging to the government,

 and to collect the duties and imports but be- yond what is necessary for those objects there

 will be no invasion no using of force against or

 among the people anywhere" By the words

 property and places belonging to the govern

 ment.' chiefly allude to the military posts and

 property which were in possession of the govern

 ment when it came into my hands. But if, as now appears to be true, in pursuit of purpose to drive tue United States authority from these places, an unprovoked assault has been made upon Fort Sumter, I shall hold myself at liberty

 to repossess it, if can, like places which had been seized before the government was deyolved upon me; and in any event l shall. to the best of my ability, repel force by force. In il proves true that Fort Sumter has been assault ed, as is reported, l shall, perhaps, cause the

 United States mails to be withdrawn from all the

 States which claim to have seeded, believing

 that the commencement of actual war against the government justifes, and possibly demands it. scarcely need to say that consider the military posts and property situated within the States which claim to have seeded, as yet be-

 longing to the government of the United States

 as much as they did before the supposed seces sion. Whatever else 1 may do for the purpose shall not attempt to collect the duties and i'm

 ports by any armed invasion of any part of the country not meaning by this, however, that

 may not land force deemed necessary to relieve a fort upon the border of the country. From

 the fact that have quoted part of the inau- gural address, it must not be inferred that ] repudiate any other part, the

 whole part of which l affirm, except 50 far as

 what I now say of the mails may be regarded as : a modification.

 Col. Ripley of Springfield, Mass, who had .

 long leave of absence from Secretary Floyd, re-

 turned from his travels in the steamer Persia or Tuesday. He was known to be true man, and

 being second in command in the ordnance de

 pertinent, we presume that the Washington trai

 tors were very glad to get him out Of the way

 Hearing of the troubles in the country, he has returned and is ready for duty. Col Ripley was in command at Charleston, in the times of the

 Jackson secession, and owes treason no gooo will. There is no truer and no braver ofhcer IT the service than he. and he is "welcome home

 again.