who carry an election can only save the Government from immediate destruction by giving up the main point upon which the people gave the election. The people themselves, and not their servants, can safely reverse their own deliberate decisions.

As a private citizen the Executive could not have consented that these institutions shall perish; much less could he in betrayal of so vast and so sacred a trust as these free people had confided to him. He felt that he had no moral right to shrink, nor even to count the chances of his own life, in what might follow. In full view of his great responsibility he has, so far, done what he has deemed his duty. You will now, according to your own judgment, perform yours. He sincerely hopes that your views and your action may so accord with his as to assure all faithful citizens who have been disturbed in their rights of a certain and speedy restoration to them, under the Constitution and the laws.

And having thus chosen our course, without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear and with mainly hearts.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

JULY 4, 1861.

ORDNANCE, OFFICE,

Washington, D. C., July 4, 1861.

His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

President of the United States:

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following statement in relation to the transfer of arms to the Southern States by order of John B. Floyd, Secretary of War, dated December 29, 1859:

A statement of the armvember, 1859, was furnished on the 12th of that month by direction of the Secretary of War.

That statement showed that there were then:

States. Muskets. Rifles.

Maine 24,313 ..........

Massachusetts 261,082 12,855

New York 48,820 17,995

Pennsylvania 27,629 1,622

Michigan 446 ............

California 48,470 4,574

Washington Territory 3,763 126

Total in free States 414,523 37,172

Virginia 14,377 4,317

North Carolina 7,678 1,685

South Carolina 2,413 814

Alabama 2,364 32

Louisiana 11,672 1,488

Texas 1,301 260

Arkansas 349 54

Missouri 33,015 719

Maryland 51 ............

District of Columbia 73,657 2,319

Total in slave States 146,887 11,690

Mr. Floyd, returned the statement to this office with orders, dated December 29, 1859, to Colonel Craig to transfer to the arsenals in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana 105,000 muskets from Springfield Armory, Mass, and 10,000 rifles from Watertown Arsenal, N. Y., and Watervliet Arsenal, N. Y. The orders for

21 R R-SERIES III, VOL I