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