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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 enable the
country to accept the evacuation of Fort Sumter as a military
necessity。 An order was at once directed to be sent for the landing
of the troops from the steamship Brooklyn into Fort Pickens。 This
order could not go by land； but must take the longer and slower route
by sea。 The first return news from the order was received just 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 quasi armistice of
the late administration （and of the existence of which the present
administration； up to the time the order was despatched； had only too
vague and uncertain rumors to fix attention）； had refused to land the
troops。 To now reinforce Fort Pickens before a crisis would be
reached at Fort Sumter was impossiblerendered so by the near
exhaustion of provisions in the latter…named fort。 In precaution
against such a conjuncture； the government had； a few days before；
commenced preparing an expedition as well adapted as might be to
relieve Fort Sumter； which expedition was intended 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 notify the governor of South Carolina that he 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； or ammunition； without further notice； or in case of an
attack upon the fort。 This notice was accordingly given； whereupon
the fort was attacked and bombarded to its fall； without even
awaiting the arrival of the provisioning expedition。
It is thus seen that the assault upon and reduction of Fort Sumter
was in no sense a matter of self…defense on the part of the
assailants。 They well knew that the garrison in the fort could by no
possibility commit aggression upon them。 They knewthey were
expressly notifiedthat the giving of bread to the few brave and
hungry men of the garrison was all which would on that occasion 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 maintain visible
possession； and thus to preserve the Union from actual and immediate
dissolutiontrusting； as hereinbefore stated； to time； discussion；
and the ballot…box for final adjustment； and they assailed and
reduced the fort for precisely the reverse objectto drive out the
visible authority of the Federal Union； and thus force it to
immediate dissolution。 That this was their object the executive well
understood； and having said to them in the inaugural address； 〃You
can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors；〃 he
took pains not only to keep this declaration good； but also to keep
the case so free from the power of ingenious sophistry that the world
should not be able to misunderstand it。 By the affair at Fort
Sumter； with its surrounding circumstances； that point was reached。
Then and thereby the assailants of the government began the conflict
of arms； without a gun in sight or in expectancy to return their
fire； save only the few in the fort sent to that harbor years before
for their own protection； and still ready to give that protection in
whatever was lawful。 In this act； discarding all else； they have
forced upon the country the distinct issue； 〃immediate dissolution or
blood。〃
And this issue embraces more than the fate of these United States。
It presents to the whole family of man the question whether a
constitutional republic or democracya government of the people by
the same peoplecan or cannot maintain its territorial integrity
against its own domestic foes。 It presents the question whether
discontented individuals； too few in numbers to control
administration according to organic law in any case； can always； upon
the pretenses made in this case； or on any other pretenses； or
arbitrarily without any pretense； break up their government； and thus
practically put an end to free government upon the earth。 It forces
us to ask： Is there in all republics this inherent and fatal
weakness？ Must a government； of necessity； be too strong for the
liberties of its own people； or too weak to maintain its own
existence？
So viewing the issue； no choice was left but to call out the war
power of the government； and so to resist force employed for its
destruction by force for its preservation。
The call was made； and the response of the country was most
gratifying； surpassing in unanimity and spirit the most sanguine
expectation。 Yet none of the States commonly called slave States；
except Delaware； gave a regiment through regular