...  The people of Virginia have thus allowed this giant insurrection to make its nest within her borders,—­and this government has no choice left but to deal with it where it finds it.  And it has the less regret, as the loyal citizens have in due form claimed its protection.  Those loyal citizens this government is bound to recognize and protect, as being Virginia.

In the border States, so called,—­in fact, the Middle States,—­there are those who favour a policy which they call “armed neutrality;” that is, an arming of those States to prevent the Union forces passing one way, or the disunion the other, over their soil.  This would be disunion completed.  Figuratively speaking, it would be the building of an impassable wall along the line of separation,—­and yet not quite an impassable one, for under the guise of neutrality, it would tie the hands of Union men, and freely pass supplies from among them to the insurrectionists, which it could not do as an open enemy.  At a stroke, it would take all the trouble off the hands of secession, except only what proceeds from the external blockade.  It would do for the disunionists that which of all things they most desire,—­feed them well and give them disunion without a struggle of their own.  It recognizes no fidelity to the Constitution, no obligation to maintain the Union; and while very many who have favoured it are doubtless loyal citizens, it is, nevertheless, very injurious in effect.

...  The forbearance of this government had been so extraordinary and so long continued, as to lead some foreign nations to shape their action as if they supposed the early destruction of our National Union was probable.  While this, on discovery, gave the Executive some concern, he is now happy to say that the sovereignty and rights of the United States are now everywhere practically respected by foreign powers, and a general sympathy with the country is manifested throughout the world.

...  It is now recommended that you give the legal means for making this contest a short and decisive one; that you place at the control of the government for the work, at least four hundred thousand men, and $400,000,000.  That number of men is about one-tenth of those of proper ages within the regions where, apparently, all are willing to engage; and the sum is less than a twenty-third part of the money value owned by the men who seem ready to devote the whole.

...  A right result at this time, will be worth more to the world than ten times the men and ten times the money.  The evidences reaching us from the country leaves no doubt that the material for the work is abundant, and that it needs only the hand of legislation to give it legal sanction, and the hand of the Executive to give it practical shape and efficiency.  One of the greatest perplexities of the government is to avoid receiving troops faster than it can provide for them.  In a word, the people will save their government, if the government itself will do its part only indifferently well.