An Unfunded Suggestion, Which Congress Will Probably Reimburse, and which the Federals will be happy to superintend
Better safe than sorry
From The New-York Times October 17, 1861:
IMPORTANT CIRCULAR FROM SECRETARY SEWARD.
The following important circular has been sent to Gov. MORGAN, and similar ones to the Governors of all the States on the seaboard and lakes:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON. Oct. 14, 1861.
To His Excellency, the Governor of the State of New-York:
SIR: The present insurrection had not even revealed itself in arms when disloyal citizens hastened to foreign countries to invoke their intervention for the overthrow of the Government, and the destruction of the National Union. These agents are known to have made their appeals to some of the more important States without success. It is not likely, however, that they will remain content with such refusals. Indeed, it is understood that they are industriously endeavoring to accomplish their disloyal purposes by degrees and by indirection. Taking advantage of the embarrassments of agriculture, manufactures and commerce in foreign countries, resulting from the insurrection they have inaugurated at home, they seek to involve our common country in controversies with States with which every public interest and every interest of mankind require that it shall remain in relations of peace, amity and friendship. I am able to state for your satisfaction that the prospect for any such disturbance is now less serious than it has been at any previous period during the course of the insurrection. It is nevertheless necessary now, as it has hitherto been, to take every precaution that is possible to avoid the evils of foreign war, to be superinduced upon those of civil commotion, which we are endeavoring to cure.
Big Target
One of the most obvious of such precautions is, that our ports and harbors on the seas and lakes should be put in a condition of complete defence, for any nation may be said to involuntarily incur danger in tempestuous seasons when it fails to show that it hits [has?] sheltered itself on every side from which the storm might possibly come.
The measures which the Executive can adopt in this emergency are such only as Congress has sanctioned, and for which it has provided.
The President Is putting forth the most diligent efforts to execute these measures, and we have the great satisfaction of seeing that these efforts are seconded by the favor, aid and support of a loyal, patriotic and self-sacrificing people, and are rapidly bringing the military and naval forces of the United States into the highest state of efficiency. But Congress was chiefly absorbed during its recent extra session with these measures, and did not provide as ample as could be wished for the fortification of our sea and lake coasts. In previous wars the loyal States have applied themselves by independent and separate activity to the support and aid of the Federal Government in its arduous responsibilities. The same disposition has been manifested in a degree eminently honorable by all the loyal States during the present in surrection.
In view of this fact, and relying upon the increase and continuance of the same disposition on the part of the loyal States, the President has directed me to invite your consideration to the subject of the improvement and perfection of the defences of the State over which you preside, and to ask you to submit the subject to the consideration of the Legislature, when it shall have assembled. Such proceedings by the State would require only a temporary use of its means.
The expenditures ought to be made the subject of conference with the Federal Government. Being thus made with the concurrence of the Government for general defence, there is every reason to believe that Congress would sanction what the State would do, and would provide for its reimbursement.
Should these suggestions be accepted, the President will direct the proper agents of the Federal Government to confer with you, and to superintend, direct and conduct the prosecution of the system of defence of your State.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
In an editorial on the same date the Times thought Seward’s biggest concern might be Britain’s overwhelming need for cotton. In an article on October 18, 1861 The New-York Times suggested that Seward’s main concern might be European intervention in Mexico:
We shall be fighting our own battle most effectually in defending Mexico against European conquest. Our prestige and national honor are involved in resisting such an effort to plant a hostile flag upon our weakest and most exposed frontier.
In either case the United States might be at war with another country that would see the undefended Northern coastline as an inviting target.
