visible possession,and thus to preserve the Union from actual,and immediate dissolution---trusting,as herein-before stated,to time, discussion,and the ballot-box,for final adjustment;and they assailed, and reduced the Fort,for precisely the reverse object---to 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,as 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 a democracy---a government of the people,by the same people---can,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 pretences made in this case,or on any other pretences,or arbitrarily,without any pretence,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 Slavestates,except Delaware,gave a Regiment through regular State organization.A few regiments have been organized within some others of those states,by individual enterprise, and received into the government service.Of course the seceded States,visible possession, and thus to preserve the Union from actual, and immediate dissolution---trusting, as herein-before stated, to time, discussion, and the ballot-box, for final adjustment; and they assailed, and reduced the Fort, for precisely the reverse object---to 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, as 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 a democracy---a government of the people, by the same people---can, 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 pretences made in this case, or on any other pretences, or arbitrarily, without any pretence, 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 Slavestates, except Delaware, gave a Regiment through regular State organization. A few regiments have been organized within some others of those states, by individual enterprise, and received into the government service. Of course the seceded States