Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

■mill V Til PIUUIVT. Tj tKi SfHolSmioo if tte Omfrtu Owesaad ol Moolfomtry, April !»<*, 1MI. Qinuiwi When lb* MTiril Btatea delegated cartel. * Ua Congress, a larp pulalion consisted 0io colonies by tl ioteMBMl# I „ pro portion kiTWa iu own sttbstontial basis of tbo popular will, •raev; giving io its typical constellation tomo4 iplMor—^ IU fotsrniuout bf ial wod ravsrcign .Slat!* h iwi^r apt** o( ifulnoM—and to tbo friends of constitutional II, it only remains that elec tions should be held Cor the deelfoatloo of the o(Boers to administer it. There is every reason to believe that at no distant day, other States identified lajwhtical principU * ** “* “* thoeewl fsderney ioerei usefulness—and tolbe friends of constitutional li butty h tmater snourlt# for iu .harmonious ioJ^«RJra*Sil?*ilbi^K*5?*«aJI8 i* my duty to oonvoke you at an earlier day than that fined by yourselves fur jour meeting. The declaration of War made agei.Dlt the Confede racy by Abraham Lhiuslfi. the President of the United States, in his proclamation issued on tlte fifteenth day ef the preseat month, render ed U necessary, in my judgment, that you should oonveoe at ths sarliest prsctioablo mo ment, to devise the measures necessary for the deloose of the country. The occasion Is Indeed an ettrnordlnary one. It justifies me In n brief review of the relations heretofore existing between os end Che Stetes which now unite Hi warfare against us, and in a succinct statement of the events which have resulted in this warfare; to the end that man kind may pass intelligent and impartial judg ment on its motives end objects. During the war waged against Great Britain by her ooloniee on this continent, a common dinger impelled them to a close alliance, end to 'the formation of a Confederation, by the terms of which the colonies, styling themselves States, entered "severally into n firm league of friendship with each other for their common defeaae, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist esc h other against nil fores offered to, or attacks made upon them or any of them, an acoount of religion, sovereignty, trade or any other pretense whatever In order to guard against any misconstruc tion off their compact, the several States mads explicit declaration, in a distinct article, that “such Slate retain* Us sovereignty, freedom and independence, end every power, jurisdiction end right whioh is net by this Ooofederation expressly delegated to the Ue greet sssembied.” Under this contract of alliance, the war of the rivotetion wee successfully waged, end re sulted in the treaty of peace with Great Britain in 1783, by the terms of which the several States were, each by name, recognised to be in dependent. The articles of confederation contained a clans# whereby all alterations were prohibited, unless confirmed by the Legislatures of every H ate, after being agreed to hr the Congress j and in ohedieaoe to this provision under the resolution of Congress ef the 21st of February, 1787, the several Stales appointed delegatee who attended a Convention “ for the sole and express purpose of revising the articles of con federation, and reporting to Congress and the several Legislatures, such alterations and pro visions therein as shall when agreed to in Con arras, and eonftrmed by the States, render the Federal Constitution adequate to the exigen cies of government end the preservation of the Unieu." It wee, by tbe delegates chosen, by the sever al States, under tbe resolution just quoted. tba A the Constitution of the United Stetes was frem ed in 17S7, end submitted to the several Statu for ratification, as shewn by the 7th article, which is In these words: “The ratification of the Constitutions of nine Stitts shall be sufficient for the establishment of the Constitution betwebn the Statu, so rati fying Use same." I have italicised certain words in tbe quota tious just made, for the purpose of attracting attention to the singular and marked caution with which the Btates endeavored, iu every possible form, to excluds tbe idea that tbe sep- arsto and importation from Af- _j a clause forbidding Congress to prohibit the slave trade anterior to e certain date; end in no danse can there be foond any delegation of power to the Congress aulhorisiog it in soy manner to Jegisla*s toth*. prejudice, detriment of discottrapPSjAof U*A owners of that epeciea of property, or exclud- thn protest ion of the government, ate toil of the Northern Sti /ailed Slates in Con sist# wee merged into one common government and nation.; and the earnest dssire they evin ced to imprest on tbe Constitution in its true character—that of a compact lxrwana indepen dent States The Cost r omitted the clause already recited from the ar ticles ef Confederation, which provided, in ex plicit terms, that each State retained its rover eigoty end independence, some alarm was felt iu ths Slates whan invted to ratify the Consti tution, lest this omission should be construed into an abandonment of their cherished prin ciple, end they refused to be satisfied until amendments warn added to the Conetitution, placing beyond any pretence of doubt, the re servation by the Btates, ef all their sovereign rights sod no wars—not sxpresaly delegated to the Called Btates by ths Constitution. Strange indeed must It appear to the impar tial observer, but It Is none the lass true, that ell these earefeUy worded clauses proved un availing to prowoot tbo rise nod growth, In tbe Si rtbsrn Slates, of a political school whioh has persistently claimed that tbo Government thus formed woe not a compact between States, but was iu effeot a national government, set up a6ov« end over the States. An organisation, creeled by the States to secure tbe blessings of libertyand independence against foreign ag gression, has been gradually perverted into n machine for their control In their dometti> af fairs : tbe crestwre has been exalted above its ereaters i tbe prineipals have been made sub ordinate to the egent appointed by themselvee. The people of the fisnthson States, whose el- __i# climate end soil of the Northern States sum proved unpropitious to the oontinuanoe of blavery, whilst the converse was thecas# at .l^ a_iL IT I.. 11.a ■•■..xtviitlAil 1 PM int,r. the South. Under the unrestricted free inter course between the two sections, tbs Northern soiled their own Interest by soiling Slav %ero their slaves to the Booth, ondprabihitlng err within their limits. Tbo Sooth were •ty suitable to their most exclusive occupation was agriculture, early perceived a tendency in the Northern States to render the common government sub servient to their own purposes, by Imposing burthens on commerce as a protection to their manofheturlng and shipping in let eats. Long and angry controversy fvew out of those at tempts, often suoaeseful. Is benefit • eoQatry at the expanse sf the other; and e deafer of disruption arising frees Ibis cause is enhanced by the fa ‘ by the feet that the Northern populetioo vu Increasing by immigration and other causes in a greater ratio than tbepopu- laiion of the South. By degrees, as the North ern States would pin preponderance in the NeUoueTOenxrbes, self-interest taught their poopteto yield reedy assent to any pteublble advocacy of their right as a majority te govern the taUmrtty without neutral: they learned to listen with imps lienee to the suggestion of any coostUuueeal impediment to the exereiee of their will; and so fiUsrlj have the principles of ths Constitutive been oorruptod in ihslterth > am mind, that tu the io augural eddreoa,h7 President LlueMn in MarchInst, he Mt*vU as an exlom which be Mainly deems to be on- dan Is We, that the theory cf ths Osfistfltttfdn requires that IS oil CM the majority shall govern; and in another memorable iwstowce, the tame Chief lfegietiyU did not hesitate to liken the relations between e State end the e to those #hleb exist between e ling purchasers of e property wants, and paid the price of the OMigeitfoa without harboring a suspicion that their quiet possession was to be disturbed by those who were inhibited, not only by went of constitu tional authority, but by good faith as vendors, from disquieting e title emanating from then selves. As soon, however, as the Northern States that prohibited African slavery within their limits had reached a number sufficient to give their representation a oouiioiling voice in the Congress, e persistent and organised system of hostile measures against the right* of the own era of slaves In the Southern States was iaau gtt rated, and gradually extended. A continuous series of measures was devised sod prosecuted tbe purpose of rendering insecure the ten- i of property in slaves: fanatical organisa tions, supplied with money by voluoUry sub scriptions, were assiduously engaged In exciting amongst the slaves a spirit or discontent end revolt; meant were furnished for their escape from their owners, and agents secretly em ployed to entice them to abscond; the consti tutional provision for their rendition to tbeir owners was first evaded, then openly denounc ed as a violation of conscientious obligation and religious duty; men were Ustht that it was l merit to elude, disobey, ana violently oppose the execution of the laws enacted to secure the performance of the promise con tained in the constitutional compact; owners of slaves wars mobbed and even murdered in open day, solely for applying to a magistrate for the arrest of e fugitive slave; ths dogmas of these voluntary organisations soon obtained control of the Legislatures of many of the Northern States, and laws were passed — riding for the punishment by ruinous and long continued imprisonment in jaila and penitentiaries, of citizens of the Houthern States who sbquld dare to ask aid of the offi cers of the law for the recovery of their prop erty. Emboldened by success, the theatre of agitation and aggression against ths clearly ex pressed constitution el rights ol the Southern Btates was transferred to the Congress; Senators and Representatives were seat to the common councils of the notion, whose chief title to this distinction consisted in the display of e spirit of ultra fanaticism, end whose business was, “ not to promote the general we’fare or ensure domestic tranquility/' but to awaken the bit terest hatred egaint the citizens of aister Btates by violent denunciation of their institutions: the transection of public affairs was impeded by repeated efforts to usurp powers not dele gated by the Constitution, for tbe purpose of impairing tbe security of property io sieves, end reducing those States whioh held slaves to a condition of inferiority. Finally, a great party was organized for the purpose of obtain- teg tbe administration of the government, with the avowed object of using its power for tbe total exclusion of the eleve States from all participation in the benefits rf the public do main, acquired by all the 8tates in common, whether by conqneat or purchs rounding theta entirely by Btates in which slavery should be prohibited ; of thus reader- jag the property in slaves so insecure as to be comparatively worthless, and thereby annihi lating in effect property worth thousands of millions of dollars. This party, thus organ iaed, auccseded in the month of November Iasi in tbe election of its candidate for the Pros! deoey of the United Btates. In the meantime, under the mild and genial climate of the Southern flutes, end the in creasing earo attention for the well being and comfort of the laboring class, dictated alike by interest and humanity, tbs African slaves had augmented in number from about 600,000, at the date of the adoption of the consti tut ion al compact, to upwards of 4,000,000. In moral and social condition, they had been elevated from brutal savages into doeile, intelligent and civilised agricultural laborers, and sap- plied not only with bodily comfort but with careful religious instruction. Under ths su pervision of a superior race, their labor had been so directed as not only to allow a gradual and marked amelioration of tbeir own condi tion, but to convert hundreds of thousands of square miles of the wilderness into cultivated lands, coverod with a prosperous people; towns eed cities had sprang into existence, and had rapidly increased in wealth and population under the social system of tbe South ; the whito population of the Southern ileveboldiog Stetes had augmanted from about 1.260,000 at the date of the adoption of ths. Constitution, to more than 8,308,900 In i860', and the pro duction of tbe Booth in cotton, rlee, soger end tobaeoo, for the fall development end contin uation of wbieb, tbe labor of African (laves was, end la Indispensable, had swollen to an S'nsunffwhich formed nearly three fourths of tbe exports of the whole United States, end had become absolutely necessary to tbe wants •f civilised man. With interests of such overwhelming mag nitude imperilled, srn Stoles wer# the North to the adoption action to evert the daoger with which they were openly menaced. With this view, the Legislatures of tho eevorel States invited the people to rated delegates to Conventions to be bald for the purpose of determining for themselves what measures were beet adapted to moat so claming a crisis in their history Hare it may be proper to observe that from a period as early is 1708. there had eststed ia all of tho State* ef tbe Union e party, almost uninterruptedly in the rosiority, baaed upon the creed that each State was In tbe test resort, the sole Judge as wall ef its wrongs, as of the mode end measure of redress, indeed, ft it obvious, that under tbe lew of nations, this principle Is on axiom as applied to the rela tione ef Independent sovereign State*, such as those which had united themselves under the constitutional compact. The Democratic party of tbe United States, repeated In He •ueesstfol caevnea fa 1864, the declaration made in tto- rneroos previous political contests, that it would " faithfully abide by end upheld the prindf Ira laid down In Uto Kentucky end Virginia weo- letions of 1798, and In the report cf Mr. Modi islaturs in 1799; and in their several Constitution*, uently passed ordinam as sovereign an red their ooMSttioi tbe Upioo a which were naturally to be __n well known eharaoter of <wr: end although tbo bom ‘ *>0! thirty-three hours, our of# its battered wells un- f top hostile fleet off note life was lost jt mwe cm»»t to sour the harbor! /of Major AndSTSou. I refer to the report ol tbe Secretary of War end tbe papers which accompany it lor further details ol this bril- ‘ ( Hr ibis connection ! 1 ban bet rdfrain from a . well-deserved tribute tothe noble Slate, the f ^ -high 4mInobt soldierly qtttllfifi of WboiT people * were so conspicuously displayed in tbe port of Ohnrlcston For mogtha they had-been irri- "tu'ed by tbe spectacle ef e fortress held with* in ibeir principal harbor, as a standing men nee against their peace nod independence. — Built in part with ibeir owa money, lie eusto dy confided with their own consent loan agent who held no power over them other then such ee they had themselves delegated for their own benefit, intended io be used by that agent for their own protection against foreign at* | ifMA Uni *••«»**•* m.nWhU wlftrii—MIotioi wMohmsto the pall* IU has is W. Mu. 'Th. principle. Mnbr.ce that to ■tf.th* right of thi tw ouf«tT.i« Htht- wy*' zzhsssisESi •Mb trUKIltm nugniti ■"SSHsar or suon overwneiming mag- d, th# people of the South- driven by Use oondept of e adoption of seaie course of with an i og that of ad the Coast! iaed tbeir aew . meats; ths functions of tha Executive, as-well as ths Legislative end Judioiel Magistrates, ful scquieeoencs, but in the enthusiastic sup- par4.wf.kha Man seat man I thus fistabhehiadby themselves; end, but for the interference of he United Btates in this legitimate earreian of be right Of a people to eel f govern meat, peace, lappfnees and prosperity would now smile on ur lend. That peace it ardently desired by this Qor rnmuni end people, bee h#ea toeaifeated in every possible form. Scarce bed you assem bled in February last, whea, prior even to the inauguration of tha Chief Magistrate you had elected, you passed e resolution expressive of your desire for the appointment of Commis sioners to be seat to tho Government of the United States, “ lor tbe purpose or negotiating friendly relations between that Govern meat and tbe Confederate States of America, and for the settlement of all questions of disagreement between the twq Gove r moan IS upon principles of right, justice, equity and good faith." It was my pleasure, as well as iry duty, to cooperate with you in this work of peace. In deed. in my adaress to you on taking ihe oath of office, and before receiving from yon the communication of this resolution, I bad said, “as s necessity, not a choice, we have retorted to tbe remedy of separation, and, henceforth, our anargiee must be directed to tha conductor our own affairs and the perpetuity of. the Con federacy which we have formed. If a just per ception ol mutual interact shall permit us peaceably to pursue our separate political ca reer, my most earnest desire will have been fulfilled." It was in furtherance of these accordant views of the Congress and the Executive, that I made choice ol three discreet, able andjdistin- guished citixens, who repaired to Washington. Aided by tbeir cordial cooperatiop, and that of the Secretary of State, every effort compatible with self respect and the dignity of tbe Con federacy, was exhausted before I allowed my self to yield to the conviction that the Govern ment ol the United 8tatee was determined to attempt tbe conquest of this people, and that nur cbeiished hopes of peace were unattaina ble. On the arrival of our Commissioners io Wash ington, on the 5th of March, they postponed, at the suggestion of a friendly intermedisry, doing more than giving informal noticeof their arrival. This was done with a view to afford time to the President, who had just been in augurated, for the discharge of other pressing official duties in the organisation of his ad ministration, before engaging his attention in the object of tbeir mission. It was not until the 12ih of tbe month that they o daily ad dressed the Secretary of State, informing him of ths purpose of ibeir arrival, and staling, in the language of their instructions, their wish *• to make to the Government of the United States overtures for the opening of negotiations —assuring tbe Government of the Uni ted 8tates, that the President, Congress sod people of the Confederate States earnestly desire a peaceful solution of these great questions; that it is neither their interest nor (heir wish to make any demand which is not founded on the strict est justice, nor do any act to injure their late conlederatcs." To this communication, no formal reply was received until the 8th of April. During the interval, tbe Commissioners had cons«nted to waive all questions of lorrn. With the firm resolve to avoid war, if possible, they went so far, even, as to hold, during that long period, unofficial intercourse, through an intermedia ry, whose high position and character inspired tne hope of success, and through whom con stant assurances were received from the Gov ernment of the United States of peaceful in tentions; of tbe determination to evacuate Fort Sumter; and, further, that no measure changing the existing status prejudicially to tbe Confederate States, especially at Fqrt Pick ens, was in contemplation, but that, In the event of any change of intention on the sub ject, notice would be given to the Commission ers. The crooked paths of diplomacy can tcaroely furnish an example so wanting in courtesy, in candor and directness as was tbe course of the United States Government to wards our Commissioners in Washington, For proof of this, 1 refer to the annexed docu ments, marked » taken in connection with further facta, which I now proceed to re late. Early in April, the attention of tbe whole country, as well as that of our Commissioners, was attracted to extraordinary preparations for an extensive military and naval expedition, whose destination was concealed, only became known when nearly completed, and, on tbe 5th, 6tb and 7th of April, transports and ves sels of war, with troops, munitions sod mili tary supplies, sailed from Northern ports, hound Southwards. Alarmed by so extraordi nary a demonstration, ths Commissioner* re quested the delivery of an answer to tbeir of ficial communication of the 12th cf March, and thereupon received, on tho 8th of April, e reply dated on the~16th of the previous month, from which it appears that, during the whole interval, white tfcl Comeiiseiooere were receiv ing assurances calculated to Inspire hopeof the successoftbeir mission, the flee rotary oftheState end tbe President of tbe United Slate* bsdai- ready deteeminsd to hold no intercourse with them whatever; to refuse even to listen to any proposals they bad to make, and bed profited by the delay created by tbeir own assurances, io order |o prepare secretly !h4 means for ef fective hostile operations. That these assurances were given, has been i virtually coo famed by She Government ef ths Usited Btates by sending a messenger to CharU eston, to give notice of its purpose, to use force. If opposed in Us intention of supplying Fort Sumter. No more striking proof of lbs absence of good fetUi ia tbe conduct of the Government of the United State# Cowards this Confederacy Can be required than is contained fa the cir cumstances whioh eoooaipanied this notice. for the relief of Pert Sumter, might be expect- ed to reach Charleston harbour on tbe 9th April; yet with our Commissioner* actually in Washington, detained npder assurances that notice should be given of any military move “ * M" ‘ ~ "* ******* th* 8th April, tbe nveof tbs very day on which tbs fleet might bo expected te arrive. That this menwuvre failed in Its pnipone*was not the fewHbf those who contrived H. A heavy tempest delayed tbe arrival of the expedMIoe, and gave time to the commander of oar foreH at Charleston to ask sod receive the indlffic- tioasof this government. Even Jhon, ander ell the provocation incident t^ffc* Odhtemptu- ons refusal to litfeit to otri Uottmitsioners, and the tortuous ebtrrse of the Government of tbe United 8tdtte(, Twas sincerely anxious te avoid the affuStoft*4f blood, end directed a proposal te be*fci<fn to tbe oqmmandsr of Fort Sumter, te be «%<fe te tbe oommander or Fort Bumter, sSSiS^HgMTC ID* .or fir. orNriMMr IT ka mM fririn- iM ant to op«a m m*M*DiDD»tnt nuck- ily; but conceding ibis (o be lbs case, so fi as lbs Executive is concerned, it will \ cult to satisfy the people of these 8ti tbeir 1*1*juufederales will retldk flit dffbrlfoe tff1| cirt|foeJ «a(ioo>. ntd vi i exittjpaidilioo on pirates, Often eneiu ity m etesmlasted* issuet Goveroroent. If such proclamation was iesu ed, it could only have been published under tbe sudden influence of pasaiun, end we rosy rest assured mankind will be spared the hor rors of the conflict it seems to invite. F#r : t}e detail* *f t^U administration of ths different departments, 1 refer to tbe reports service. Two vessels purcbei armed tbe “Somler” and, *• " now being prepared for see at all wteb ntfveibleltteepatoh r this a tack, they ac# k held with ptfrais ly ee e means of offeose against them t*y the very Government which they had established for tbeir protection. They had beleaguered It for monihs—felt entire confidence in tbeir power to capture it—yet yielded to the re quirement* of discipline, curbed their impa tience, submitted without complaint to the un accustomed hardships, labors and privations of a protracted siege; and when et length tbeir patience was rewarded by the signal for attack, and success bsd crowned tbeir steady and gallant conduct—even in the very moment of triumph—they evinced a chivalrous regard for the feeliups of ths brave but uofortuna'e officer who had been compelled to lower bis flag. All manifestations of exultation were checked in his presence. Their commanding general, with their cordial approval and the consent of his Government, refrained fiom im posing any terms that could wound the sensi* biliiies of the oommander of the fort. He was permitted to retire with Ihe honors of war—Io salute his flag, to depart freely wi<b all bis command, and was escorted to the vessel in which be embarked, with Ihe highest marks of respect from those against whom bis guns had been so recently directed. Not only does ev ery event connected with the siege reflect the highest honor on South Caro'.ius, but the for bearance of her people and of this government from making any harsh use of a victory ob fained under circumstances of such ;eculi«r provocation, attest to the fullest extent the ab sence of any purpose beyond securing their own tranquility, and the sincere desire to avoid the calamities of war Scarcely had the President of the United States received intelligence of the failure of tbe scheme whioh be had devised for tbe rein forcement of Fort Sumter, alien he issued Ihe declaration of war against this Confederacy which has prompt* d me ro convoke you In this extraordinary produo*ion, that high fuoo tiooary affects total ignorance of tbe existence of an Independent Government, which, pos erasing the entire and enthusiastic devotion of its people, is exercising its functions without question over seven sovereign fcletee—ever more than five millions of people—sad over a territory whore ares exceeds half a million of squara miles, lie (erst* sovereign Stales “combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, of by tbe powers vrsted in the mirshals by Uw. ’ He calls for an army of seventy five thousand men to act as a pjsse comiiatue In aid of ths process of the courts of justice in Slates where uo courts exist whose mandates and decrees are not cheerfully obeyed and re speetsd by a willing people. He avows that ‘•the first service to be assigned to the forces celled out," will be, not to execute the pro cess of courts, but to capture forts and strong holds situated within the admitted limits of this Confederacy, and garrisoned by its troops; end deolerns that “this effort” is intended M to maintain the perpetuity of popular Govern ment.” He eoncludes by oommandiog “ tbe persons oompoe.ing the combinations afore said,” to wit: the five millions of inhabitants of these States, ,( to retire peaceably to their respective abodes within twenty days.” Apparently contradictory as are the terms of this singular document, onripoint was un misfakably evident. Tbe President of tbe Uuited States called for an army of seventy five thousand men. whose first service was to be to capture our forts. It was a plain dec laration of war which I was not at liberty Io disregard, because of my knowledge that un der the Constitution of tbe United St at ek the Presidaat wee usutpiag a power greeted ex* clusively to tho Congress. He te the sole or gan of communication between that country sndforoiga powers. The lew of actions did oot permit me to question the authority of the Executive of a foreign nation to deolaro war against this Confederacy. Although I might have refrained from taking active measures for oar defesoe, if tbe States of tha Union had all imitated the action of Virginia, North Car oline, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee aad Missouri, by denouncing ihi cell for troops ee an unconstitutioual usurpation of power to which they refused to respond, I was not at liberty to disregard tha fact that many of the Staton seemed quite content to submit to the exercise of the power assumed by tbo Presi dent of tho United States, sod were actively engaged in levying troops to be used for the purpose indicated in tht proclamation. Deprived of ihe aid of Ceogreee at the no- meot, I was under the necessity of confiding my action to a call ou tho States for volunteers for lbs common defense, in accordance with ths authority you had confided to me before your adjournment. I deemed it proper furth er to issue proclamation inviting application from persons disposed to aid our defence in private armed vessels on the high seas, to the immediate issue of letters of marque end re prisal which you alone, under the Constiiu- tioo, have power le great. I entertain a# doubt you will oeoeur with ms in the opinion that In the absence of a fieri of publio vessels, .if will be eminently expedient to supply their JUoe by private armed vessels, so happily styled by tbe publicists of tbo United BtaUi tbe miuite ef tbe sea,” aad so obee aod joet sage. The State department has furnished tbe tyecessary instructions for three commission ers who have been sent to Koglend, France, Russia and Belgium, since your adjournment, to ask our recognition as a member of tbe faintly of nations, and to make with each of those powers treaties of amity end commerce. Further steps will be taken to enter into like negotiation* with the uther European powers io purtuaao* of year resolution* passed cube lest session. Sufficient time has not yet elap sed since the departure of these commission ers for the receipt of soy intelligence from them. As 1 deem it desirable that commies sinners or other diplomatic agents should also be sent at an early period to the independent American powers .South of our Confederacy, with all ef whom it in our interests and earn est wish to maintain the most cordial and friendly relations, 1 suggest the expediency of making the accessary appropriations for tbai purpose. Having been officially notified by tbe auth orities of the State of Virginia that she had withdrawn from the Union, and desired to maintain the clsieat political gelatines with us/ which it was possible at this time to establish, I commissioned ths Hon Alexander H. Steph ens. Vice President of the . on federate States, to represent this Government at Richmond.— I am happy to inform you (bat be has oonolu- ded a conventiou with ths State of Virginia, by which that honored Commonwealth, so long and justly distinguished among her sis ter Steies, and so dear to the heart* of thou#? , andsof her children in tbe Confederate Staff!,* has untied her power and her fortunes with ours, and become one of us. This conven tion, together with the ordinance of Virginia, adopting the Provisional Constitution ef thq Confederacy, will be laid before you for your Constitutional action, i have satisfactory as surances from other of cur late Confederates that they are on the point of adopting similar measures, nn-J [cannot doubt (bat ere you shufl have been many weeks In session, tbe whole of the slave holding States of the late Union, will respond to the call of honor and affectiou. atd by uniting their fortunes with ours, promote our common interests and ae* cure our common safety. In tbe Treasury Department, regulations have been devised and put into execution for carrying out tbe policy indicated in your leg islation on ths subject of the navigation of the Mississippi River, as «'U|.s for the oollectun of revenue on the frontier. Free transit has been secured for vessels »nd merchandise pees iog through tho Confederate States ; and de lay and inconvenience have been avoided as far as possible io organising the revenue aer styled by tbe publicists ef tbs United BtaUs ke militia sf the sea,” and so often end joet - te relied on by t>em as aa efficient aad admi rable instrument of defeaalve warfare. I tar weetjy reeeu>m«a4 tbe iapwHfte«NI ttw eutt lorixtng roe to ecoept the numerous proposals el reedy received I cannot close this review of the acts of tbe United States wiikeat referring to a proelaaia- tioa fanned by tbeir President under date of the lfilh Inst., I* which, after dsoUrieg that an insurrection baa broken mat la this Co* fed- eroey sgaiayt tbe Government of tbe United Stales, be announce* a blockade of all the parte ef these Straw, sad tkreateaa it paaleh ao p»- ift#e aft pertoes who obeli molest any find %f the United States under letters of marque .rofvvuvi etrisefl ia the policy of having but one grads of vice for ths tarisu* rail-way# entering our. t | g \ n t he army of tboConfedorecy, I territory. As fesi as experience obeli Udioate meo j lhe ]* w 0 f ; ls organization be the possiblliiy of improvement in these regu- j e( j f f0 that the grade be Ibat of lations no effort will be spared to free com merce from ell unnecessary embarrassments and obstructions. Under your act authorising a loan, propo sals were issued inviting subscriptions for five millions of dollars, and tbe call was answered by the prompt subscription* of more thee sight raillit ns by our own oilizrns, and not a single bid was made under par. The rapid develop ment vf the purpose of the President of the Uuited States to invade our aril, eapttore Our forts, blockade our ports, and wage war against us, induce me to direct that the emire subscription ihould be accepted. It will now become necessary to raise means to e much larger amount to defray ths expen ses of maintaining oar independence and re pelling invasion. 1 invite your special at tention to this suhjtct, sod the financial con dition of the Goverument, with the suggestion of ways end mesne for the supply of. the Treasury, will be presented to you in a sepa rate communication. To (he Department of Juatioe you have con fided not only the organization and supervis ion of all mailers connected with the course of justioe, but also those connected with patents mod with tbe bureau of public printing. .Since your adjournment ell tho oourta, with the .exception of those of Mississippi end Texas, have been organised by ths appoint ment of Marshals and District Attorneys, and are now prepared for the exercise of their functions. in the two Stales just named, ths gentlemen confirmed es judges, declined to socepl the appoint met t, end no nominations have yet been made to fill the vancies. 1 refer you to tho report of the Attorney General, and concur in his recommendation, for immediate legisla tion, capvciallj OU the the subject of paiteqt rights. Early provision should be mad* to i the enjoyment of their property lb valuable Inven tions, and to extend to our own citixena pro tection, not only for iboir own inventions, but for such as rosy have been assigned to them, or may hereafter he assigned by pet sons not alien enemies. The patent office busineas is much more ex (•naive and important than bad bona antisipa- approbation ted. Tht applies ipns fur pat qpi*,althoiul} cab* .iion of their cc fined, under the Uw etclusively to ntUxtaaaf tbe required in place of steady r. our Cenfedersey, already aserago aereuiy per ■month, sbcwlog tbe necessity for the prompt organization of e burden of petentr. The .Secretary of Wat, in his report end ec company iug documents,esuveysd full informa tion concerning the forces, rogular, volunteer and provisional, raised and called for under (he several act# of .Congress, ibfi» argents** tion and IteMkin. Alan, an eectrotk bf the expenditures already made, and tbe further e alienates for the fiscal year end ing o*i the Iflth February, 18G2, render ed necessary by r«cenl events. 1 refer te bis report also far a f«U history of tho eeewf renoea in Cbsrlqstep harbor, prior te aad in cluding tbs boijhardgitlu afd reduction of Fort Bumter, end the measures subsequently taken for summon defease, on raeciring Intel ■gencayahg riaafatwriru ffagainst us mads ’by the President or The rhlli There are now Injthe fie'd at Chari ••cola, Forts Morgan, Jsckaoo, 8t. Philip bad Pulaski, nineteen thousand meo v eod sixteen thousand are now en route for Virginia. It Is proposed to organise find hold ia readiness for lastraii.acUan. U view ot tho present exigen cies ef the country, aa araty of one bnodred A ^ ^ ouiat>4 men. If farther form should he needed (he wisdom aad patriotism of (teagrass Will be ccefid ally appealed to for tho suth ity to eall utfe'tke Weld add it ten at n makers of our nqhte qwrisfd vmuwn. who aim life, bac DM ;<t dIdjumI forth* port**** «HDM»aM>D*.*f PMrp IbPD , If* i MK -Ml *fcb*r&*p«DilD p^DMiJo^WU** a*na>j point, within nur ttrrilor, nn pootibl, C r DtiDDlina to thn rocoa- «l» mtgftlUi nnil fnbonltorp for pro ordoDDDD Koran, aad thn aneniurj , Minn for that parpnan. Hiihtrto aach baoa anualljf booa p^oparoti at tha N,?.. MMiao far thia object. meut of the invalid pensions to our t tens. Many of these persons are ad ted of (hair claim afainri lha Go., tha Uaitad Blalaa. I recommend th. print ion af l* a Mm aaaaaaar, to . panaionara, aa wail *1 lho,« of th, arw* olaima can aeanafy axeeed iwaatp dollar, par aaaam Tha PaatmaKar Uaaarai baa al oanded in or(aniaiag hia department to axtant aa ia ba ia taatdltiaaa te asauaia notion of onr poaul afaira, on lha: of tho contingency contemplated by t of lha l&lb March, 186), or teen desired by CoagMOo. Tha aariatta eiroalara have boas prepared and taken to aaottra auppliea of blanka, .lampi, ataimpad advaiapaa, mail bain, haya, eto. Ha prertnia a detailed lion and arrangement ef bit elcrioal f make for tie inrrceee. So auditor of I ury for thia department ia aeceteary, plan la rubmitlrd for the organiaatioa bureau. Tbo great number aad mega" tba aeoouata of thia department, inavaasa at ihaolariaalfaroaintha branch in tba Treaaury. -Tha reve~ depart ment are collected and - modes peculiar Io ilaalf, aad require bureau la aecure a proper aonoe tha admiaiuratioB of ita tnaaere. 1 call your altaattea to lha addili lotion required for thia Department commendation for exchan|m in lha ' iog tha ralaa of poalaga on naaap scaled peekegee af certain blade, aad ly to lha reoornmrnd.il in of tha Sf io whioh 1 ooacur, that yoa protide for tha aeentnptlon by him of the cao our an:Ira postal service. In the military organiaation of tha proviaion iaVuada for brigadier and generals, but in the army of tba 8tatra, the highest grode Is that of general. Hence it all no doubt occur that whvte iroope of tbe Coolt duty with Ihe militia, tba general ef tha command and poaaaaaed of the i purpoate af thia geaaraaaant, will ba ded by aa officer of tba aailitia not ba eaten advantage!. To avoid Ibla coa ia tbe leaat objectionable mtaaer, I end that additional rank be given tat eral af the Confederate army, tad to ded, ao that tha grade be that or gen- To aetata a thorough military ed ia deemed eeeent ial that officer! abo upon.lha.tUldy of their profeeei- earty period of Htt, had hare elemea atruotioa in a military eebool. U*t aebool ahall ba Mlablisbed, it ia recoin that cadeta ba appointed aad Ml oompaniea until tbay ahall hare attain •ga and bava acquired the know thorn far the dutiae of livateoaaie. I alto call your attention to nn amt the law organise, the army, in re’ military cb.pl.fos, and reccommend t rtsion ha made tot their appointment Ia oooohtahoa, I congratulate you fact, that In every portion of oar t hare has bean exhibited tha moM devotion to our common oaaae. T tioa saapaaiaa barn freely tendered their tinea for troops aad auppliea. dent of lha railroada of tha Coofc compaay tritha* eto Who control ‘ muoicatioa with Stataa tbit wa ho great aa listen, neaembledlnCoofi oity, and net only reduced largely heretofore demanded for mall ae conveyance of txoapa and munitions, untarily proffered to receive their lion at lham reduced ralea ia the Confederacy, far lha purpose of resanrota of t ha gavarnmeat at ha lha common defense. Baq Utah tone for troops hare beta tuob alacrity that theaumbvrlt eefvtcve have, la ovary in at ante, c.vdad the demand. Han of lha oial aad soatai peeiiioa, are ear teere ia the rank*. Th# gravity teal of youth, rival each other ia lha to ba formaaak lot tha peablie d_. though at no other point then heretofore noticed, bava they keen by tba excitement incident to actual mast, aad tht hope af distinction far ual achievement, they have boras a aewjroppa, is the moat eevere ordtvt licnt loll aad coattanl vigil, and tjl posttre and discomfort of native »v. a resolution and fortitude euoh aata and jualify conduct »] tba higbmt grail dy fq „ pea pis than tolled lid read thrink from any eecriDce which they called aa la make, nor can ihera ba* aba doubt illWiM eweome * aad eevtre may ha tha teat af thru atiott te Maintain their blrthrigh, aad tqaelity M n truit which it i< • duly to ttahawH, nndlmialthed io 1 taritr. „ A honpltoua Providence cheer* •• promise of abOndsnt c-ope T** tin which will, within a few wt fqr lha slckW, give aseoranoe ol pply af food fat maa; whilat tht ton, na»d,ether staple productions* afford abundant proof that up >• * lha nwm ha* been propitious. W* feat that oar daaaa it jaM a protest solemnly Iu the fee. of ra desire peace at say lacrihce, » loner and Indy panda non; wa ires. DO agiriDdfsemtat. ao conoe»»* from tha fflata* w!tb wkich wa aoafbdaraud; nil wa aak ia aa H that thaw who never bald pawtr not earn attempt anrenhjagniJon fP- This we wUl. lhla wa mam rmW extaea*y. Tb* moment that O* <b abnmdtted. tb« award wid and wa ahall ba ready te bn* ba i a# tee fie tte»‘