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Steve Hurlbut to Abraham Lincoln, March 27, 1861

Page 8

The seceding States are "de facto" a nation,

they exercise today every prerogative of

sovereignty and within these limits are

readily and cheerfully obeyed.

They are seeking to make treaties abroad.

They are seeking to annex Territory to

the West and North of Texas - they are solic-

iting a separation of northern Mexico -

they have an army - they are Endeavoring

to construct a navy - They have Revenue laws,

& will Enforce them, they have courts of

Admiralty Jurisdiction, they have ap-

pointed a judge at Key West - and

the United States have on the mainland

only Fort Sumpter in a state of impending

starvation & locked up from relief,

and Fort Pickins as yet open - with

the fortress at Key West and the Tortu-

gas.

If then this be the State of facts as I believe it is

except as to the State of Texas and perhaps Alabama and Louisiana - if this be all

the foothold the Government has - if there

be no people to whom they can appeal

nor any sentiment they can touch - if

the Congress of the U. States had neglected

to vest in the President the power to act so

as either by force to maintain, or with

the gracefulness of conscious strength to

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