Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/445

Rh Referring to the occupancy of Fort Sumter by the Federal garrison, he claimed this to be necessary in order to maintain &quot; visible possession &quot; and that the Confederate Government desired to reduce the fort for a similar reason. It also wanted the advantage of visible possession. The President attacked Virginians with a severity which betrayed the disappointment of his desires to control that State, and with some evidence of anger signified a purpose to make the State suffer for its action. (Elaine, 335.) &quot;The people of Virginia,&quot; said he, &quot;have 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.&quot; The President asked Congress to furnish him for this purpose "four hundred thousand men and four hundred millions of money.&quot; Congress legislated on scarcely any matters except such as affected the conduct of the war. Within a month after the message was read seventy war bills were passed. The President’s unauthorized proclamations were confirmed, and his demands for men and money were complied with. All these extreme measures were not passed, however, without the resolute opposition of statesmen who desired to see the Union preserved without the destruction of the Constitution. The suppression of the writ of habeas corpus in Maryland was attacked from many quarters. Mr. Latham, of California, would not "indorse blindfold everything the government might do.&quot; Mr. Kennedy, of Maryland, protested against the proclamation as unnecessary and with out warrant of law. Mr. Polk, of Missouri, urged that the President’s conduct was perilous, and particularly characterized his interference with commerce as a crime which the secession of the States did not mitigate. Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, opposing the resolution to legalize the President’s acts, charged the supporters of the administration with the responsibility for disunion and war. &quot;I think,&quot; he said, &quot;that in this age as a Christian, enlightened people we should settle these difficulties without a resort to