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Washington means no good to them。
Our popular government has often been called an experiment。 Two
points in it our people have already settledthe successful
establishing and the successful administering of it。 One still
remainsits successful maintenance against a formidable internal
attempt to overthrow it。 It is now for them to demonstrate to the
world that those who can fairly carry an election can also suppress a
rebellion； that ballots are the rightful and peaceful successors of
bullets； and that when ballots have fairly and constitutionally
decided； there can be no successful appeal back to bullets； that
there can be no successful appeal； except to ballots themselves； at
succeeding elections。 Such will be a great lesson of peace：
teaching men that what they cannot take by an election； neither can
they take it by a war； teaching all the folly of being the beginners
of a war。
Lest there be some uneasiness in the minds of candid men as to what
is to be the course of the government toward the Southern States
after the rebellion shall have been suppressed； the executive deems
it proper to say it will be his purpose then； as ever； to be guided
by the Constitution and the laws； and that he probably will have no
different understanding of the powers and duties of the Federal
Government relatively to the rights of the States and the people；
under the Constitution； than that expressed in the inaugural address。
He desires to preserve the government； that it may be administered
for all as it was administered by the men who made it。 Loyal
citizens everywhere have the right to claim this of their government；
and the government has no right to withhold or neglect it。 It is not
perceived that in giving it there is any coercion； any conquest； or
any subjugation； in any just sense of those terms。
The Constitution provides； and all the States have accepted the
provision； that 〃the United States shall guarantee to every State in
this Union a republican form of government。〃 But if a State may
lawfully go out of the Union； having done so it may also discard the
republican form of government； so that to prevent its going out is an
indispensable means to the end of maintaining the guarantee
mentioned； and when an end is lawful and obligatory； the
indispensable means to it are also lawful and obligatory。
It was with the deepest regret that the executive found the duty of
employing the war power in defense of the government forced upon him。
He could but perform this duty or surrender the existence of the
government。 No compromise by public servants could； in this case； be
a cure； not that compromises are not often proper； but that no
popular government can long survive a marked precedent that those who
carry an election can only save the government from immediate
destruction by giving up the main point upon which the people gave
the election。 The people themselves； and not their servants； can
safely reverse their own deliberate decisions。
As a private citizen the executive could not have consented that
these institutions shall perish； much less could he in betrayal of so
vast and so sacred a trust as these free people had confided to him。
He felt that he had no moral right to shrink； nor even to 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。 You will now； according to your own judgment； perform yours。
He sincerely hopes that your views and your action may so accord with
his as to assure all faithful citizens who have been disturbed in
their rights of a certain and speedy restoration to them； under the
Constitution and the laws。
And having thus chosen our course； without guile and with pure
purpose； let us renew our trust in God； and go forward without fear
and with manly hearts。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN； July 4； 1861
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； July 6； 1861。
HON。 SEC。 OF INTERIOR。
MY DEAR SIR：Please ask the Comr。 of Indian Affairs； and of the
Gen'1 Land Office to come with you； and see me at once。 I want the
assistance of all of you in overhauling the list of appointments a
little before I send them to the Senate。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES。
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES：
In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the
9th instant； requesting a copy of correspondence upon the subject of
the incorporation of the Dominican republic with the Spanish
monarchy； I transmit a report from the Secretary of State； to whom
the resolution was referred。
WASHINGTON； July 11； 1861。
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS。
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES：
I transmit to Congress a copy of correspondence between the Secretary
of State and her Britannic Majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary accredited to this government； relative to the
exhibition of the products of industry of all nations； which is to
take place at London in the course of next year。 As citizens of the
United States may justly pride themselves upon their proficiency in
industrial arts； it is desirable that they should have proper
facilities toward taking part in the exhibition。 With this view I
recommend such legislation by Congress at this session as may be
necessary for that purpose。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
WASHINGTON； July 16； 1861
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS。
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES：
As the United States have； in common with Great Britain and France； a
deep interest in the preservation and development of the fisheries
adjacent to the northeastern coast and islands of this continent； it
seems proper that we should concert with the governments of those
countries such measures as may be conducive to those important
objects。 With this view I transmit to Congress a copy of a
correspondence between the Secretary of State and the British
minister here； in which the latter proposes； on behalf of his
government； the appointment of a joint commission to inquire into the
matter； in order that such ulterior measures may be adopted as may be
advisable for the objects proposed。 Such legislation recommended as
may be necessary to enable th executive to provide for a commissioner
on behalf of the United States：
WASHINGTON； JULY 19； 1861。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
TO THE ADJUTANT…GENERAL
WASHINGTON； JULY 19； 1861
ADJUTANT…GENERAL：
I have agreed； and do agree； that the two Indian regiments named
within shall be accepted if the act of Congress shall admit it。 Let
there be no further question about it。
A。 LINCOLN。
MEMORANDA OF MILITARY POLICY SUGGESTED BY THE
BULL RUN DEFEAT。
JULY 23； 1861
1。 Let the plan for making the blockade effective be pushed forward