Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. In less than two months thereafter, the proclamation of Abraham Lincoln calling for troops was issued; the people of Tennessee accepted it as a declaration of war, and with decency and dignity began preparation to meet it. On the 25th of April, 1861, the governor again con vened the general assembly in extraordinary session for the purpose, as stated in his message, of taking such action as will most likely contribute to the defense of our rights, the preservation of our liberties, the sovereignty of the State, and the safety of our people. He informed the legislature that President Lincoln had called upon the State of Tennessee to furnish troops to aid in suppressing the rebellion, and that he had declined to honor the call.