South Carolina,
Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas have
already legally seceded from the Union before Lincoln takes
office.
April 14 1861...Lincoln calls for states to raise 75,000 troops to invade
the South.
His Secretary of State, William Seward, writes up this proclamation...
http://www.alternatewars.com/ACW/ACW_Documents/Lincoln_Call_Troops.htm - http://www.alternatewars.com/ACW/ACW_Documents/Lincoln_Call_Troops.htm
This is actually in there... "and in every event the utmost care
will be observed, consistently with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any
devastation, any destruction of or interference with property, or any
disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country".
He has his Secretary of War, Simon Cameron
send telegrams to each states Governor asking for volunteer soldiers.He gets these replies...
North Carolina- John W. Ellis, Governor of North
Carolina, to Simon Cameron, U.S. Secretary of War, 15 April
1861...
"Your dispatch is received, and if genuine, which its
extraordinary character leads me to doubt, I have to say in reply that I regard
the levy of troops made by the Administration for the purpose of subjugating the
States of the South as in violation of the Constitution and a gross usurpation
of power. I can be no party to this wicked violation of the laws of the country
and to this war upon the liberties of a free people. You can get no troops from
North Carolina." ----
Kentucky- B. Magoffin, Governor of Kentucky, to
Cameron, 15 April 1861...
"Your dispatch is received. In answer I say
emphatically Kentucky will furnish no troops for the wicked purpose of subduing
her sister Southern States." ----
Virginia- John Letcher,
Governor of Virginia, to Cameron, 16 April 1861...
"I received your telegram of
the 15th, the genuineness of which I doubted. Since that time I have received
your communication, mailed the same day, in which I am requested to detach from
the militia of the State of Virginia 'the quota designated in the table' which
you append, 'to serve as infantry or riflemen for the period of three months,
unless sooner discharged.' In reply to this communication I have only to
say that the militia of Virginia will not be furnished to the powers at
Washington for any such use or purpose as they have in view. Your object is to
subjugate the Southern States, and a requisition made upon me for such an
object--an object, in my judgement, not within the purview of the Constitution
or the act of 1795--will not be complied with. You have chosen to inaugurate
civil war, and having done so, we will meet it in a spirit as determined as the
Administration has exhibited toward the South." ----
Tennessee- Isham G. Harris, Governor
of Tennessee, to Cameron, 17 April 1861...
"Your dispatch of 15th instant,
informing me that Tennessee is called upon for two regiments of militia for
immediate service, is received. Tennessee will not furnish a single man for
purpose of coercion, but 50,000, if necessary, for the defense of our rights and
those of our Southern brethren."
Missouri- C.F. Jackson, Governor of
Missouri, to Cameron, 17 April 1861... "Your dispatch of
the 15th instant, making a call on Missouri for four regiments of men for
immediate service, has been received. There can be, I apprehend, no doubt but
the men are intended to form a part of the President's army to make war upon the
people of the seceded States. Your requisition, in my judgement, is illegal,
unconstitutional, and revolutionary in its object, inhuman and diabolical, and
cannot be complied with. Not one man will the State of Missouri furnish to carry
on any such unholy crusade." ----
Arkansas- H.M.
Rector, Governor of Arkansas, to Cameron, 22 April 1861...
"In answer to
your requisition for troops from Arkansas to subjugate the Southern States, I
have to say that none will be furnished. The demand is only adding insult to
injury. The people of this Commonwealth are freemen, not slaves, and will defend
to the last extremity their honor, lives, and property against Northern
mendacity and usurpation." ----
Delaware- William Burton,
Governor of Delaware, to Cameron, 25 April 1861...
"I have the honor to receive your communication of the 15th instant,
requesting me to cause to be immediately detached from the militia of this State
one regiment, consisting of 780 men, 'to serve as infantry or riflemen, for the
period of three months, unless sooner discharged.' The laws of this State
confer upon the Executive no authority whatever enabling him to comply with your
requisition, there being no organized militia in the State nor any law
authorizing such organization. There are volunteer companies formed and
their officers commissioned by the Executive, and others are being formed, but
it is altogether optional with them to offer their service to the U.S.
authorities, the Executive having no power vested in him to order them into its
service.”
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