_To Honorable Messrs. Preston, Stuart, and Randolph_:
GENTLEMEN: As a 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 in the public mind as to the policy which the Federal
Executive intends to pursue towards the seceded States is extremely
injurious to the industrious and commercial interests of the country;
tends to keep up an excitement which is unfavorable to the adjustment
of the pending difficulties; and threatens a disturbance of the public
peace; therefore--
"_Resolved_, 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 Executive intends to pursue in regard to the
Confederate States."
* * * * *
In answer, I have to say, that having, at the beginning of my official
term, expressed my intended policy as plainly as I was able, it is with
deep regret and mortification I now learn there is great and injurious
uncertainty in the public mind as to what that policy is, and what
course I intend to pursue. Not having as yet seen occasion to change,
it is now my purpose to pursue the course marked out in the inaugural
address. I commend a careful consideration of the whole document as the
best expression I can give to my purposes. As I then and therein said,
I now repeat--"The power confided in me will be used to hold, occupy,
and possess property and places belonging to the Government, and to
collect the duties and imposts; but beyond what is necessary for these
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 Government," I chiefly allude to the military posts and property
which were in possession of the Government when it came into my hands.
But if, as now appears to be true, in pursuit of a purpose to drive the
United States authority from these places, an unprovoked assault has
been made upon Fort Sumter, I shall hold myself at liberty to
repossess, if I can, like places which had been seized before the
Government was devolved upon me; and in any event I shall, to the best
of my ability, repel force by force. In case it proves true that Fort
Sumter has been assaulted, as is reported, I shall, perhaps, cause the
United States mails to be withdrawn from all the States which claim to
have seceded, believing that the commencement of actual war against the
Government justifies and possibly demands it. I scarcely need to say,
that I consider the military posts and property situated within the
States which claim to have seceded as yet belonging to the Government
of the United States as much as they did before the supposed secession.
Whatever else I may do for the purpose, I shall not attempt to collect
the duties and imposts by any armed invasion of any part of the
country; not meaning by this, however, that I may not land a force
deemed necessary to relieve a fort upon the border of the country. From
the fact that I have quoted a part of the inaugural address, it must
not be inferred that I repudiate any other part,--the whole of which I
re-affirm, except so far as what I now say of the mails may be regarded
as a modification.