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JULY 2； 1861
TO THE COMMANDING GENERAL；
ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES：
You are engaged in suppressing an insurrection against the laws of
the United States。 If at any point on or in the vicinity of any
military line which is now or which shall be used between the city of
New York and the city of Washington you find resistance which renders
it necessary to suspend the writ of habeas corpus for the public
safety； you personally； or through the officer in command at the
point where resistance occurs； are authorized to suspend that writ。
Given under my hand and the seal of the United States at the city of
Washington； this second day of July； A。D。 1861； and of the
independence of the United States the eighty…fifth。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
By the President：
WILLIAM H。 SEWARD； Secretary of State。
TO SECRETARY SEWARD。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； JULY 3； 1861
HON。 SECRETARY OF STATE。
MY DEAR SIR：General Scott had sent me a copy of the despatch of
which you kindly sent one。 Thanks to both him and you。 Please
assemble the Cabinet at twelve to…day to look over the message and
reports。
And now； suppose you step over at once and let us see General Scott
（and） General Cameron about assigning a position to General Fremont。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS IN SPECIAL SESSION；
JULY 4； 1861。
FELLOW…CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES：Having
been convened on an extraordinary occasion； as authorized by the
Constitution； your attention is not called to any ordinary subject of
legislation。
At the beginning of the present Presidential term； four months ago；
the functions of the Federal Government were found to be generally
suspended within the several States of South Carolina； Georgia；
Alabama； Mississippi； Louisiana； and Florida； excepting only those of
the Post…Office Department。
Within these States all the forts； arsenals； dockyards；
custom…houses； and the like； including the movable and stationary
property in and about them； had been seized； and were held in open
hostility to this government； excepting only Forts Pickens； Taylor；
and Jefferson； on and near the Florida coast； and Fort Sumter； in
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 organizing； all avowedly with the same
hostile purpose。
The forts remaining in the possession of the Federal Government in
and near these States were either besieged or menaced by warlike
preparations； and especially Fort Sumter was nearly surrounded by
well…protected hostile batteries； with guns equal in quality to the
best of its own； and outnumbering the latter as perhaps ten to one。
A disproportionate share of the Federal muskets and rifles had
somehow found their way into these States； and had been seized to be
used against the government。 Accumulations of the public revenue
lying within them had been seized for the same object。 The navy was
scattered in distant seas； leaving but a very small part of it within
the immediate reach of the government。 Officers of the Federal army
and navy had resigned in great numbers； and of those resigning a
large proportion had taken up arms against the government。
Simultaneously； and in connection with all this； the purpose to sever
the Federal Union was openly avowed。 In accordance with this
purpose； an ordinance had been adopted in each of these States；
declaring the States respectively to be separated from the national
Union。 A formula for instituting a combined government of these
States had been promulgated； and this illegal organization； in the
character of confederate States； was already invoking recognition；
aid； and intervention from foreign powers。
Finding this condition of things； and believing it to be an
imperative duty upon the incoming executive to prevent； if possible；
the consummation of such attempt to destroy the Federal Union； a
choice of means to that end became indispensable。 This choice was
made and was declared in the inaugural address。 The policy chosen
looked to the exhaustion of all peaceful measures before a resort to
any stronger ones。 It sought only to hold the public places and
property not already wrested from the government； and to collect the
revenue； relying for the rest on time； discussion； and the
ballot…box。 It promised a continuance of the mails； at government
expense； to the very people who were resisting the government； and it
gave repeated pledges against any disturbance to any of the people；
or any of their rights。 Of all that which a President might
constitutionally and justifiably do in such a case； everything was
forborne without which it was believed possible to keep the
government on foot。
On the 5th of March （the present incumbent's first full day in
office）； a letter of Major Anderson； commanding at Fort Sumter；
written on the 28th of February and received at the War Department on
the 4th of March； was by that department placed in his hands。 This
letter expressed the professional opinion of the writer that
reinforcements could not be thrown into that fort within the time for
his relief； rendered necessary by the limited supply of provisions；
and with a view of holding possession of the same； with a force of
less than twenty thousand good and well…disciplined men。 This
opinion was concurred in by all the officers of his command； and
their memoranda on the subject were made inclosures of Major
Anderson's letter。 The whole was immediately laid before
Lieutenant…General Scott； who at once concurred with Major Anderson
in opinion。 On reflection； however； he took full time； consulting
with other officers； both of the army and the navy； and at the end of
four days came reluctantly but decidedly to the same conclusion as
before。 He also stated at the same time that no such sufficient
force was then at the control of the government； or could be raised
and brought to the ground within the time when the provisions in the
fort would be exhausted。 In a purely military point of view； this
reduced the duty of the administration in the case to the mere matter
of getting the garrison safely out of the fort。
It was believed； however； that to so abandon that position； under the
circumstances； would be utterly ruinous； that the necessity under
which it was to be done would not be fully understood； that by many
it would be construed as a part of a voluntary policy； that at home
it would discourage the friends of the Union； embolden its
adversaries； and go far to insure to the latter a recognition abroad；
that in fact； it would be our national destruction consummated。 This
could not be allowed。 Starvation was not yet upon the garrison； and
ere it would be reached Fort Pickens might be reinforced。 This last
would be a clear indication of policy； and would better e