"Reply by Governor Ellis to request by United States Secretary of War for troops from North Carolina", April 14, 1861

"Reply by Governor Ellis to request by United States Secretary of War for troops from North Carolina", April 14, 1861

Governor Ellis replies to request from Simon Cameron, United States Secretary of War, for troops to put down the southern rebellion. Includes the letter book copy of the original request by Simon Cameron. This item was scanned as part of the American Civil War Sesquicentennial commemoration at the North Carolina State Archives.

Governor John W, Ellis

"Reply by Governor Ellis to request by United States Secretary of War for troops from North Carolina", April 14, 1861. Ellis, John W. North Carolina Digital Archive. http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/p15012coll8&CISOPTR=2441&REC=4#document_description

1861-04-17

Document

Wake County, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina

Correspondence

War Department Washington, April 15, 1861 - (Teleghaphie [sic]) To Gov. Ellis Call made on you by to night's mail for two Regiments of Military for immediate service. Simon Cameron Secretary of War Reply.Executive Department Raleigh, April 15, 1861 To Simon Cameron Secretary of War, Sir, Your dispatch is received, and if genuine which its extraordinary character leads one to doubt, I have to say in reply, that I regard the levy of troops made by the Administration for the purposes of subjugating the States of the South, as in violation of the Constitution, and as a gross usurpation of power. I can be no part 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. I will reply more in detail when I receive your call by mail. John W. Ellis Governor of North Carolina