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■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»‘