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About The Columbus weekly times. (Columbus, Ga.) 1858-1865 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1861)
10LUITTT vV WARREN, Proprietors. Volume XVI. I. VXDS FOR SALE. Iwt'.i sell my plantation wln*r*> I I m reside on th Fiiauahouttiee river 5a I IOH acres r I-a red, Rood water, good ‘and, wot improved; 4,000 acres in K"od mills ou tiie preiul .. woPrfiws , These lands cun be divided to sit fneuds (bit may want to buy neareai h other. At* o tMi m res Hist fanning land iu Karly conn’y, join- ; uig the hi? lord nu the iFire of Early and Baker; also, j *io arr. ~i \\ m k'screek. smalllninrovenients on ea !i I: .1 ?, and •. . Mattering lots. I will sett low. I My r silence i* in (’! y county Uo , nine miles be lmv Kou (lames, and iffeven from Hiakelv. 1 will -ell all my pioperty on the place if Iran. There is the rise clone hundred negroes, and stock in propar lion. Call and look; bargain can he bought in eith er of (he placi t. jnly34—wtf. M W.STAMPER. PMNTATION AM) STOCK FOR SALE, x l have come to the conclusion to return to North Carolina, us my relatives are all there. I wi-h to cell all that 1 possess in A£- linn rail. | have tl beautiful little SlUtitUCr if-iiitein w 14 miles north of t olumbim, (,’a. and near Ihe Tioy-factorv Tin- 0 bundled acres of good bind, well Improved; about 150 in a good state 01 < Mtlvatlon; good dwelling hou.re, negro houses, barn, >aide*'fin hiHtse and screw; farming utensils oTall ; .i;d* cowa, bogs, mules, wagons, household and kiu lien furniture, corn and fodder, aud various'oihr r .rticl?s too tadions to me in ion. In a drsi rate neigh borhood, good neighbors and good society. Please vi> and look at my l'tud and stock. B. H. RUINSFIP.I.n. May Tth -wif. HTOTIOB. ~-.o* The HttbecrUrer offers for sale a valuable 4*4Ltftock Farm in ihe7th District nf Worth roun* ££j%ty. tfa..consisting ofosffi acres of Land, 130 or lib Acres open Lands, n new Gin House and . rew upon the ptaee, 150 or 900 head of Cattle, about ihesame number of hogs, and 30 head of sheep. lVmis will l- made accommodating and strictly no ivh.'ii the rash is offered. Enquire in Albany aid us. Hill’s Livery Bteblcs, fur directions lo the place, dune *. -\v>f THOH.H. KENDALL. LAND FOR SALK. •jit t will sell uty Plantation in Russell Cos. fly A1 two cello* south of Uohee Post office -cur.iuinioit Seven Hundred and Twenty A'-ro*, with two hundred Acres cleared. This place has a dwelling, good gin house and screw, uogr > houses and kitchen, and all other necessary outbuildings. Any person wishing to make en quiry are referred to W. L. Tilluian, Columbus, <#., or myself on the Pl*nt%tinfi. Oct, 8 wtf ‘ J.C. BROWN. SANFORD’S LIVER IriVIGQRATOR NEVER OERU.ITATEB. I t 1 h t: • Hi'ui SORn usTIRKLYfront oums.aud i hasbc.-ru**,) 4m)‘tabl.a)v4 wri.iistandard.utcdicme -approve:', bv all that . Uayr ued it, and •* re sorted to with ciijf:- oug dense* In all diseascefor which ft U re* omnium/- *■ *d. 1? In? cured th.'UJitrui- ** , witlUnthe last! wo years who had £i ven up bop*’ ’• . of r <* numerous uusoiKited certificate ■ S* in hy*JW-•session show. Tin*dose must he ..dap- g# led to the temperament <*f 1 ueindividualtaking ..1 aud media such quan tities a* i aetg'-ntly *< the bowels*- f .at the dictates of your 4* judgment guide you in use of the /jyi.lt LY- ** I'iU OR A TOM* and it will .up* Lrrer ( m- £ plSots, BILIOUS At lurk /> It/ /./*. 4A, ttm Ckronic Diarrhea, oUMM C R CO M ■ CLAIM! * I)YSF..VJ K nl, urois 1 , gften . afoMAciU Habitual i'OSTJVKJfE**, i'lA-\ot if. ÜBOfJRA ChoU r* Airbus, CHo.LI.RA mss LYSAMJtIM FLA TV- I. P.VC'i. Li 1 A n /C>:. Cm.,tie H KAKF.YSSh f,H, and nwv he . I wd -mcressAiilyasanOribM u <f. V ‘Mly M It will cure SIC/C n>J A U -1 CIL 1\ (a* than -.andspan testify)r sun mum , if m t*o or three Tm yfionfuL u t a r n it i o'nmi ncrineiiloltht; til who ute it art * . firiay thetr testimony MIX \VA 1 Lit IN TUB MOUTH WITH THE IN VIGOfe&OIi. \NO|WALU>WBtmi TO'.ETH- I-TR VWTCF. 1> N £ HOf .1. A Rl* ER 11 1 >1 ff .V. ALSO. SANFOHD ? S Kami r,v (halliartic Fills. COM roti NPBD rftOM I'ure VrceinbleKitiAdi, and pul up In Ole.** Cae* Air Tight, ami will krrplusny Climate. The FAMILY C\ tartic lHti fs gen. Uu out nctix •• Unthaiur Q who hUu pmprivlor i • wsod 111 bis pra< tree more . than twenty year- The const mar* aiiinf demand from those wh> have long its* ,1 <iic PILLH and the ehtjjdsc.iton which allcjtprcs* inrafardtotheir >*d hip t<- pot them in the reach of all. wl Theprolession well know {lf that ditlerpdt vhhiiuUM s* The V AMILV f’A !> THA R T It’ FILL hts.wiihducrefrrence to Huiie dr. li e,rablih.!d Lict been compounded fr*to a 2V**nctyofthc purit vegr table PStiurtN, which act alikefihevery perl of the alimeaiary cafknl, and are Is% odd and ear** in all ea f,g w’lure a 1 -.hat hat tie i* m oeeded. each as He hvKOkMEN re „ f 1u “ kTOMM 11. Hi tri*i *css, -I* A IMF IS nut Q BACK AM) LOIN**. L'OSriVr.NEH H, PAIN aNO fiOßEKtea ovEa tha WlKlf.fi liOIIV from sudden cold, which frequently, if neglected. TANARUS) * ndin a long course of Fe ver, LOR H oi APPE- H Til E, a Lsekhko Ren ■ ATIOM OF t.ot.r OV-Ek ‘HIR Honv, REeTLEW .ii'H* HfcJAllM HE or “ WEtoiix in the Head, *li IMI. NMM ATOHV W DthKASES, WORMS, ii* CIIII.DREN AIM LTS, k 1 RhbuMaTIMM. a Grt'lA Pander of 1,0 Blood m sndmdhydi* aaetowbb h •|phi#b*ir,!nrßurocron- m*qjiouin t!lf adver ,lll* nt l>*Kllo3.‘ Price 30 Cents. THE I.IVF.IIN'VIOORATORand FAMILY OA TH ART’ pH LB are retailed by DrllgguD generally and sold whnUrjd* and ratal* bythe Trade iu all the T. W. n., Manufacturer and Proprietor, Jn**l7 wit in uSi Broadway, New \ork. NOTIOB MK RCU .VNTS°& Sll ll’i’EßS IN THE Sotithein tutiiedcracy. l-AsScS faiia- ■ VRIIANGKMBNTH have been perfected by the llAltNßfiM’d RXFRBRik ro i.y winh ssua! Ist titties are off* red its patrons and ih public federally for -dT*rtf>S End learmg goods at the i .i.ioni Ilouac** and for the speedy titnsi.ilsslon ot li.e same ith*r by EXPRBfcH .r FREIGHT TRAINS tethrir de unatfnr Goods in!l be enter'd in Bond in Ktivannah if re. tir'd. GOLD A alLYEßwity received for duties and Custom llouiio- t*-•< Any iniornigtftHi tttqw>r*d i> relattwi W Custom ft.in *• ri|iAii:n< Ills nil .fppiuiSMon to 1 *ni. mix. a,.m. 39Riwal Htreet. a£ißO, rwMi* ant H. Ill* .Mor.il on any of Hw iv.oUr ,omn.li ,- Hum from o nvmni jn to 100 Volk, ondaov ml --w.lioo rivm 111 rela ion lo tl>o o..p,io■'lion - „ „ mu „ A , r „,- Boliiuibtir. Api I* I>lJ,Ib;l Lockhart, Young & Roberts GREAT SACRIFICE! \0 TARIFF ! Tweqty-Four fer Cent, .'iavetl. Ur£ won! I rcspocrti illy Inviie th* atx ntion of our friend* and all rmtii*T who may desire to pur fSia* v< nh let of soy d** tpt">n to ibe fh'’ that we non on hand alar.•• a l weil he orfadstdek of roaches Itockaways, BoKgks, T* fTTING VVAO* ‘Nlt.HAUNßhd.ltc. All of WbUh tlreing pn*r based befor- the ).n sAilllai iff want j*o >- -tr itjowy * rt.aidefl 1 Mfi-> for Mf:rn |/AVER at the Foriqnea. L., j 1 ‘‘.rKHAIU’. YOUNG L ItoilKßTß'. r >l.l aiaod of Ja Kee S( Kobaiis , I* h. AVrldedM rl ncoewsary to -tatoihat w** arc prepared vi*uan k 4 PU'lili* f’ rdnlnt'aJi brandies of HEP AIRING lu oatl.ue. ou the shortest notes, in ibe beat nunnar, and at theßa*apoa*ibP rate* The patronage ~f otir friends, and til cash or ,rompt paying customer- ia mert resp* ■ ttalljr solic ited 1 • * * ” Ocilambue, Apr.it w arn Ac Entente U iTkln limp COll MBIS.TI'KSI)AY. APRIL 80, 1881. Baltiiore.. .Marylaml l^islatair., .Secession Probable. A letter from Baltimore, ilntod 24th April,to n gentleman in this city, so\ .•; •‘\Ye have an inloase exeilvmeut hero ut this time. Our Legislature will eonvene the 20th ins I an l w ill doubtless pass u secession act. Had this been done four months ago, it would have been far better. AVo need unanimity, ami, generally speaking, our pec pie are now uuited, and if there can boa united South, pence will sooner come. But the fever is too hot now to continue long—the culminating point must now omne. Truly wo don’t know what a day may may brtog forth. If further attempt is .made to pass Northern troops through here, tbo resis tance will bo to ih uttermost. We now have ten to fifteen thousand armed men, and are con stantly iccciviug additions from counties jn our State, nnd wc hope from Virginia. We are look ing with anxiety fora demonstration from Jeff Davis.” Tlit Mini,’ araom the Commercial classe* in Great Eritain. The following is an extract from u letter from a Commission House in Birmingham, England, to a business linn in this city. It declaros what we have always believed, that the European Powers will “make haste” to acknowledge the independence of the Confederate States. The letter is dated April sth : “The feeling on this side about United States affairs is universally that it Is not only letter for both North and South to agree on amicable i .separation, but also that the North mint cave in (like it or net) as neither England or France could recognize any partial blockade which is tho utraait the North can attempt. If it is the will of the people to separate, the thing is done, and will be recognized quick enough, espeeiolly with J the Mornll tariff to spur all indifferent spirits.’ Communicated. i'otiTKiioi'tii, Va. April 2% 1801. i l)- u Time*: My utter inability to write, promptly to tbo many friends who were promis ed a correspondence, D ray excuse for signing my proper initials to this communication, and hero In also, do I assume tho full responsibility for tho imperfections of a hurried letter, and a long I ‘ ne, too, withal. I The corps oh ho Oily Light Guards is made up, a.’ you know, almost exclusively, of chris- I tian young men. And if it should be necessary j to baptize the liberty of our new-born C'. nfedcr- J acy, with their blood, a convoy of bright angels will attend their emancipated spirits to where “tbo wicked reuse from troubling and the weary are at rest.’’ Ilui never, uniil then, perhaps, will they take up again, a lino ot march which shall be grreted with a welcome like that which has been extended to us, on all tho route from Columbus here. If wo had been returning as victors from a hundred hard-fought battle-fields. 1 1 we had boon making a triumphal march through'a country which wc had just redeemed j from tyranny, we could not have been burden j <• 1 with in * ■re earnest bonodieUerts and blessings, I th.m have been honed upon us everywhere, j Every city and t-wn, and village and country i place, sent out their teeming population -the men to httzz.i and chcor us, tho ladies t” God-*peed j Or, i.nd upprejs us with bright boquet*. and the Mitilc ones lo bios# u with their sparkling eyes. 1 l will not have time t> particularize, to indict j upon it Uui G'jnova. Butler nd For! Valley, ‘f. ireely cvr iu* tuch crowds before. And Ma icon, wb.it a luulliludo! whit a vu of human ( Lc.i „• ihc u. tire military of the city, and tbo i whole imputation, as we nCured the depot, sent :up .nel mg, Inn 1 sh'’ut f welcome that made j the very welkin ring. After a brief parade |tL ugh the principal #iroot*, we returned to } th-- dcr i, a'Toinfanie-i by the Macon \ olun tCM, Uapt- Hoist. Snoth, ami the Floyd Rifles, o*pt. Thomas Hardeman. Those two coiopa j aics occupy, towards Mae*a, precisely the same i rehiLioa n* du the i-uards and City light ■ ■ (JuiirJa t Columbus, embracing, us they do, the j very pick and flower of the city. They wereor ! dried to Norfidk at the same time we were, and | they have been anr 1” <-n companions ull the wuy ■ through. Although wc arrived in Augusta only a little | alter daylight. Sunday morning, the Richmond j Hussars und Clinch Rifles, together with a large i crowd of citizen?, attended us to the Augusta : Hotel, whore we were well-cared for until u o'clock i I*. M., when we were again escorted to the depot, j Our tnen, in a body, attended divine service in j tho foreso n,by invitation, at the First Baptist ] Church. As we passed through South Charolina Ia burning tuthußiariu was not less manifest at j ihe several Motions, than bad been exhibited in j Georgia, But, for Wilmington, in North Caro lina, w:i.< reserved the erowning glory of tho I grandest demonstration of tho kind I ever saw j before. Tbe little boat that conveyed us across Cape Ft Kiv. r had tbo flag of tbe Conftder j u'i-£tatca floating fi'-m it* mast, and the same | beautiful flag floated over tho little vessel recent - I ly captured in attempting to provision Fort Sum ter, and 1/ in more than a dozen flag-staff” in i lire ui.y it was t*atiifuliy streaming In the j breeze. We landed on the Wilmington shore, j amid tire booming oi cannon, Ibe ringing of bell* and (he vociferous shout# of not lesr than seven r eight thousand thrilling voice*. The ladleN, | dismissing ail ordinary ceremony* shook hauda i with all of u?, badeu* web - me and God-spec.l, and extended tout the moss delicate attentions while wc were (lining at the Bailroa footing bouse, called out each of our < .rumandcJMjqJ a speech, noil, as wo left the depot, de fr'Nfc ‘ testify the cordiality with which they received ih, by ki- ing each member of the corps, but not having time to “kiss around,” our gallant ‘2rep tain a became our proxy, and when tho fair ones ‘ “presented arms,” they, of course “saluted.” | Wilmington Uin a blaze of excitement, her I people declare that she Is already out of the ! Union. F it Caswell i* garrisoned with 700 iEd> The riser la full of vessels- some 60 in* | number —loading for Northern porta and detain i ed by w” -•(’ retaliation for tim'dar detention of Southern vesfl#!# loading in Northern ports. * 1 wish I could find word* ol expression of thlt intend sc* < rsi< n feeling which pervade* tbo whole Mate. At G >bbbor >, where a magnifi cent supper was awaiting us, every window and balcony, and high plane about the town, wa* j crowded with ladies, and tho crowd of gentle j men in front of the hotels was so dense, that it ’ was with difficulty that our companies pressed j their way through. Here also, In response to loud call* from the audience, C#pt*. Hardeman, Mn'uh and Colquitt, made short but stirring speech**. J W arrived in Wilson at o'clock last j night. This In a beautiful town in Wilson coun- I ty. At tho late election it cast SOD votes —every j for (recession. I suppose there wa a crowd 1 of 8,000 people, and more than half ladies—-who had set up until that late hour waiting to see ua. Cap#. C. \vae called oat by tho crowd, as soon ar ihe train stopped, when after a very brief re -poii -o from him and C*pf. H., our company i called out Dr. D*-cnre, who for half an hour, entertained ns with one of tho finest speeches I • ver heard. Ho stated that the same crowd whe were here to-night, hod expected jus tbe night , before, end after sitting up all night bed come again to tho depot, doterminod to sit up two ! nights longer, ruther than miss seeing us. At j the conclusion of Dr. D.’s speech, near a hundred j young ladies, in n body, moved up nearer the oars, sang “Dixie” with the “spirit and the un derstanding”—tho whole company joining in the chorus. Our Chaplain, Bev. Thos. Jordan was ! called for by tho crowd, and I do wish I could literally report him. It was the speech of the wholo route, capitally peculiar and peculiarly capital. But my dull, descriptive letter is becoming monotonous. lam writing on my knapsack, surrounded by tnoro noise than I ever was ao- ! custcmcd to before. Anxious for our friends to hoar from us early as possible, I sat down to j wrlto within a few momonts after quitting a fu tigulng march for our quarters iu tho Marino Hospital at Portsmouth. Our quarters are very comfortable and pleasant. We do not know how long wo will be quartered hero, or when ordered from here. Hand batteries are being rapidly constructed and heavy guns mounted, in anticipation of an early attack upon the city. Ourinon here have been well, ami we arc anx- Uus to meet the foe. A camp life is not irksome to us, although it imposes many hardships to which the most of us heretofore have been stran gers; but “labor is rest and pain is sweet” in sustaining the eause which wc havejespouied.— The beautiful banner which wn:* presented to the Light Guards alow months ago by one of Georgia’s most lovely and gifted daughters, shall lie, wherever ire follow it, a banner invi ting only to “liberty or deaih.” Little did I think, while listening to tho thrilling speech with which it was presented, that / should so soon bo marching under it to take from its un lawful possessors, the beautiful capital of our once glorious nation—-for Washington is certain ly our ultimate destination. Tho first military step 1 ever took, wus in inarching from the armory of tho Light Gaurds on last Saturday to tho Muscogee depot. Every additional step towards tho enemy, confirms my conviction that tho first atop was in the right direction; and I foci a perfect confidence that the cause in which wo have enlisted will tri umph. It is just—Uod is just. Tho days of fanaticism arc numbered; tho hand writing is already legible on the wall, and Almighty God is preparing soon to pour out tho vials of his wrath through Southern guns on the blind vota ries of a higher law theology. We remember tiro fervent “tied bless you” that fell from trembling parental lips, tho earn est, fervid benediction of friends, the intense in terest that beamed from every eye and burned iu every parting word. That scene—the demon strations all along the road—more than satisfy us that God Is ou our side; and feeling thus, T represent the stern determination of each one of our men, which makes us vow that each will “Asa victor exult, nr in death he laid low. With hiafiiet to the field and his face to the toe.” May angels guard and God defend the tender little charge, the sweot responsibility I loft. And now this letter goes from us burdened with prayer.*, am] freighted with friendship’s richest Mornings upon all our loved ones left behind.— We will defend them here, may God protest them i there. A ery hastily, .1. B. O. By the Governor of Virginia. A. PROCLAMATION. Whereas, the Convention of this Common wealth has, on this, the Sloth day of April, 1861, adopted an ordinance “Cor tho adoption of the Constitution of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America;” and has agreed to a “Convention botwoen the Common wealth of Virginiaaud the Confederate States of America,” which it is proper should he made known lo the people of this Common wealth nud to tho world: Therefore, 1, John Lktciikr, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, do hereby publish and proclaim that the following are authentic uopies of tho Ordinance and Con* fration aforesaid. r-—> . Given under my hand as Governor j i m. , aud under tho seal of tho Cointnon - wealth, at Richmond, this 25th day of April, 1861, and in the both jreac of the Com monwealth. JOHN LETCHER. By tbo Governor; OuotOK AV. Muxpohd, Secretary of tho Commonwealth. AN ORDINANCE lor thr Adoption rs the Conn'it ut dm of the F rovuiunul (Jur rrnment of the Confederate States of America ■ Wo, the delegates of the people of Virginia, in Convention assembled, solemnly impressed by the perils which surround tbo Commonwealth and appealing to tho Searcher of hearts for the recitude of our intentions in assuming the grave responsibility of this act, do, by this Ordinance, adopt and ratify tho Constitution of the Provis ional Government of tho Confederate States of America, ordained ami established at Montgome ry, Alabama, on the eighth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-one; provided thut tills Ordinance shall cease to have any legal op eration or effect, if the people of this Common wealth, upon the vote directed to be ttken on the Ordinance of Hecesaion passed by this Convcn tiof ’ 17th day of April, eighteen hundred • , \;d! reject tho sumo. A tine Copy, -IfkJ. L. Eubank, Secretary. j Contention between the Cooiniouwealth of Fl>- iliuia and the Confederate States of Amerir a . The Componwealth of Virginia, looking to a ■pcedy union of said Commonwealth and the other slave States with the Confederate States ot America, according to thu provisions of the Constitution of the Provisional Government of said States, enter into the following temporary convention and agreement with said States for tho po -c of meeting pressing exigencies aflec t;h ‘ . ci urn on rights, interest ood safety of *;o i o- mmonwualth ami said Confederacy. I *f. I ntii the union of *uid Common wealth with said Confederacy shall be perfected, and said Commonwealth shall becorao a member of sail Confederacy, according to the Constitutions of both powers, tho whole military force and military operations, offensive aud defensive, of t r said Commonwealth, in the impending conflict with the United States, shall be under the chief control and direction of the President of said Confederate States, upon the samo principles, basis and footing an if saul Commonwealth were now, and during the interval, a member of said Confederacy. 2d. The Commonwealth of A irginia will, after the consummation of tho Union contemplated in this Convention, and her adoption es tho Consti tution for a permanent Government of the said Confederate States, and she shall become a rncin lier of said Confederacy under said permanent Confutation, if the same occur, turn over to the said Confederate States all the public property, naval stores, and munitions of war, Ac., she may then be in possession of, acquired from the Unf- K tales, on the ame terra* and in like manner as the other States of said Confederacy have dono in like cases. .‘td. Whatever expenditures of money, if any, said Commonwealth of Virginia shall make be fore tho Union, under the Provisional Govern ment as above contemplated shall be consumma ted, shall he root and provided for by said Con federate Staten. This Convention entered into and agreed to, in the city of Richmond, A'a., on the 2 1 th day of April, 1801, by Alexander 11. Stephens, the duly authorized Commissioner to act in the mat ter for tho said Confederate State-, and John Tyler, William Ballard Preston, Sam’l McD- Moore, James P. Holcombe, James C. Bruce, and Lewis E. Harvie, parties duly authorised to act in like manner for said Commonwealth of Virginia—the whole subject to.the approval and ratification of the proper authorities of both go vernments respectively. THE SOYER EIGNTV IIP TIIE STA TES. COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. MONDAY, AIAY li, 1801. In testimony whereof, the parties aforesaid j have hereto si t thoir hands and seals, tho day | and year aforesaid, and at tho place aforesaid in duplicate orlgtna'a. Alex. H. Htkpiikns, (Seal.] Commissioner for Confederate States. Joint Tyler, [Soah] AYm. Ballard Piu.stox, [Seal.] Cotmuhr 4 H. McD. Moore, (Seal.) sioneers Jamkr P.Uolcomuk. (Seal.| for James C. Bruce, [Seal.l Virginia. Lrwis K. llarvh:, (Seal.] Approved amt ratified by the Convention us A’irginia, on the ?sth dnv of April, 1801. JOHN JAN NEW Pros’*. John I*. KrfiVNK, Seo’y. MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. i To the Special Session of the Congress Convened ut Montgomery, April 2Or A, ,1801. Gentlemen or the Conuiirhs: It is my pleasing duty to anuouuce to you that tho Constitution framed for tho establishment of a permanent government for the Confederate States has been ratified by Conventions in each ofthoso States to which it was referred. T > inaugurate tho government in its full proportions and upon its own substantial Mgbf of too popular will.it only remains that cloctiene .should bo hold for the designation of the officers to administer it. There is every reason t,. believe that at no dis tant day, other States identified iu politic*! priu clplos nud community of interests with those which you represent will join thin Confederacy; I giving to its typical constellation increased upleu dor—to its government of free, equal and sover i sign States u wider sphere of ugetuluc**—and to p tho friends of constitutional liberty a greater security for its harmonious and perp.tual cxis ■ tonee. It was not, however, for the purpose ofinakiug ; this announcement that I have doomed it wy du ( ty to convoke you at an earlier day than that fixed by yourselves for your mooting. The dec * laration of war mado against this Confederacy * by Abraham Lincoln, tho President of the United r States, In his proclamation issued tin tho fifteenth day of the present month, rend, rod it necessary, in my judgment, that you mould convene nt tho earliest practicable inotueut, to dcvUe the moan i urea necessary for the defense of the country. , The occasion is Indeed un extraordinary one. It justifies mo in a brief review of the relations f heretofore existing between us and the States s which now unite in warfare against us, and iu a { sucoinctstatement of the events which Imvo re t suited in this warfare; to the end that mankind may pass intelligent and impartial judgment on ” its motives and objects. f Duriug tho war waged against Groat Britain 9 by her colonies on thin continent, u ■ <umnon dan gor impelled them to a close alliance, and Lithe * formation of a Confederation, by tlm terms of s which th colonies, styling them.suive - Mates, cn . torod tl sererully into a firm league of friedmdiip with each other lbr their common defense, tho , security of thoir liberties, and their mutual and gcuerni welfare,binding themselves to ussisteach - other against all force offered to, <r attacks made _ upon them or any of them, on account of reli gion, sovereignty, trade or any other protons*) II whatever,” In order to guard against any mi.-construction y of their compact, the several Sl ate.- inudo explicit j declaration, iu a distinct article, that “each .State retains its sovereignty, freedom and iiulepen f don-e, and every power, jurisdiction and right which is not by this Confederation opreetly </r/- egatviUn the United States in Congress’ n.'sem „ bled.” Under tliis contract ol alliance, the war of the r revolution wus successfully waged, and resulted , In the treaty of peace with Great Br.taiu in 1752, by the terms of which the several States were, ‘* iu<h I.y name, recognized t* bo independent, it The article of confederation enntaiued a clause whereby all alterations were prohited, unless confirmed by the Legislatures of every Slat >•, after 11 being agreed to by tlie Congress; and in obodi onco to this provision under the resolution ofCon grotts of tho 21st February, 1787, tho several States appointed delegate* who attended a con vention “for the sole mid .<//>. ••* purpose of re vising tlio articles of coufedertti inn, and report - ing to Congress and tho several Legislatures, t auch alterations and provision# therein as shall e when agreed to in Congress, mid run firmed by the Statu, render lhe Federal Consti ution ade ’ quate to the exigencies ul government ad tho 9 preservation of the Union.” It was, by tho delegates chosen, by tho several States, under tho resolution just quoted, that tho ’ Constitution of the United Slates was framed in v 1787, and submitted to the several States for rut- J ification, as shown by the 7lh article, which is in t these words : ’ “The ratification ofth* ('unrtnlione oj aim 0 States shall l>e sufficient for the establishment of g this Constitution iiktwken the States, *o ratifying s the same,” I have italicised certain words iu . the quota tions just made, for tho purpose of attracting at r tontion to the singular and niaracd caution with - which the Staten endeavored, in every possible and form, to exclude the idea that tho separate and i- independent sovereignty of each Flute was merg ed into nno common government and nation; and the earnest desire they evinced to impress on the Constitution its true character that *l’ a compact hktwkkn independent States. Tho Constitution of 1787 having, however, omitted the clause already recited from the arti cles of Confederation, which provided in explicit . tonus that each State retained ito sovereignty and independence, some alarm was felt in the States when invited to ratify tho Constitution, lest this omission should 1 c construed into an y abandonment of their cherished principle, aud r they refused to bo untixlied until amendments Q were added to the Constitution, placing beyond any pretense of doubt, the reservation by the States, of all their sovereign rights and power. J * not expresHly delegated to the United States i- by the Conititutlon. ,1 Strange indeed must it appear to the impartial observer, hut it is none the less true, thut all there carefully worded clauses proved uua r vailing to prevent the rbo and'growth in tho Northern States of a political school which has persistently claimed that the government thus ’* formed wus not a compact £/ice* >i St itor, hut wax in effect a national government, sot. up übuve e and <ar the States. An organization, created _ by the State to secure the blessings ol liberty , aud independence against foreign aggression, has been gradually perverted into a machine for their control in their domestic uliuirs: thi enSfurs hai bean exalted above its creator*: the p>uu ipuls have been made subordinate to the agent Appoint ed by them**lves. The people of tho Southern Elutes, whna al most exclusive occupation wan agricultural, early perceived a tendency in the Northern Stales to H render the common government subservient to 0 their ewu purposes, by imposing burthen* on >H commerce us h protection to their manufacturing t . and shipping interests. Long and angry contro f vorsy grew ou of these attempts, ofton success- Y All, to benefit one section of the country at th* r expense of the other: anil the danger of disrup . tion arising from this cause was increasing by f immigration and other causes in a greater ratio than the population of the South. By degrees ~ as the Northern States gained preponderance iu j the National Congress, self interest taught their f people to yield ready assent to any plausible ud „ vocaoy of thoir right as a majority to govern the 1 minority without control; they learned to listen f with impatience to the suggestion of any eon t stitulional impediment to the exercise of their f will; and so utterly have tho principles of tho I Constitution been corrupted in the Northern mind, that in the inaugural address delivered by ’ J President Lincoln iu March luat, ho assorts as an j axiom which ho plaiuly dooms undeniable, that tho theory of the Constitution requires that in all r cases the majority shall govern ; and in another , memorable instance, the same Chief Magistrate did not hesitate to liken the relations between a j State and tho United States to those which exist between a county and the State in which it is t situated and by which it was created. This is j the lamentable and fundamental error bn which rests tho policy that has culminated in his decla \ \ ration of wur against these Confederate States. 1 In addition to the long continued and deep sea* j ted resentment felt by the Southern States at the j persistent abuse of tho powers they had delega ted to the Congress, for the purpose of enriching the manufacturing and shipping classes of the > North at the expense of the South, there has ex isted for nearly half a century another subject of discord, Involving interests of such transcendent magnitude, us at all times to create the upprehen sion in the minds of the many devoted lovers of the Union, that its permanency wus impossible. When tho several States delegated certain powers to tho United Stales Congress, a largo i portion of the laboring population consisted of African slaves imported into tho colonies by the mother country. In twelve, out of thirteen States,negro slavery existed, and the right * f property In slaves was protected by saw. property was recognizedyn the ConstltuitenKfrd r provision was made against its loss by the escape lof th* slave. The increase in the number of slaves by further importation from Africa was also secured by a oltuit forbidding Congress to prohibit the slave trade anterior to a certain date; and :n no clauae *'an there bo found any delegation of power to tho Congren- authorizing i it in any manner to legUlatc to the prejudice, j detriment or direouragouient of the owners of that species of property, or excluding it from tho • protection of tho government. Tho climate ami soil of the Northern Males soon proved nnpropitlous to the continuance of slave labor, whilst the cod verse wnsthoc.no at the South. 1 inter tho unrestricted free inter oourse between tho two sections, tho Northern State*consulted their own interest by sdliug ibtdr si a vos to the Foulh, aud prohibiting slavery within their limits. Thu South were willing purchaser* of a property suitable to their want*, and paid tho price of tho acquisition without har boring a suspicion that their quiet possesion was to ho disturbed by those who were inhibited, not only by want of oonstitutiomd authority, but by good laitb as vendor*; from di.-qtiieting a title emanating from themselves. A> soon, however, a* the Northern Mates that prohibited African slavery within their limits had j reached u number .sufficient to give thoir repre- j sentatlon a controlling voice in the Congress, n I persistent and organised system of hostile men. - j urea against lie right* of tho owner* 6f slaver in ! tho Southern State* was Inaugurated, uml grad ually extended. A continuous series ol'iuuuaure* i wasleviaetl and prosecuted tor tho purpose of rendering insecure the tenure of property in slave*; fanatical organixutuius, supplied with money by voluntary .-übacriptions, were astridu ously engaged in exciting amongst tho slaves a sprit of discoutont and revolt; means were fur nished for thoir cscapo from their owners, and agent* secretly employed to entice them to nl>- constitutional provbion for their rendi tion to their owners was first invaded, then open ly denounced as a violation of conscientious obli gation and religious duty ; men wore taught that it was a merit lo elude, disobey, and violently oppose the execution of the laws enacted to re cure ihc performance of tho promise contained in tho constitutionsl * * inpaol : owners of slaves wore mobbed uml even murdered iu .‘pen day, solely for applying to a magistrate for the arrest of a fugitive slave , tho doguuis of these volunta ry organizations soon obtained control of the legislatures of many ot tho Northern State*; und laws were passed providing for the puni*biULiit by ruinous fines and long continued imprisonment iu jails and penitentiaries, of citizen* of tbo Houthorn State*, who bould dure to ask aid of tho officers ot iho law for the recovery of their property. Kuihnrabuuti by success, the theatre of agitation uml aggression against the clearly expressed constitutional rights of the Southern Slate* was transferred to the Congress ; Senators and Representatives were sent to the common councils of tho nation, whose ehlof titlo to this distinction oi nsisted in the display of a spirit of , ultra fanaticism, and whose husine** wn-, not • “to promote the general welfare >r ensure domestic tranquility,” but to awaken tho hitter est hatred against tho citizens of sister Slates by , violent denunciation of their institutions: the transaction of public ufiairt was impeded by re peated effort* to usurp power not delegated hv the Constitution, for the purpose of impairing tho security of property in slaves, and reducing , iboNo State* which held slave*, to a condition of inferiority. Finally, a great party was orgun i i/ad for thepurposu ol obtaining the administra tion ot tho government, with the avowed object i of u.-ing its power forjtho total exclusion ol the tda\e Stale* from all participation in the benefits of the public domain, acquired by all the States in common, whether by compand or purchase; of surrounding them entirely by States in which slavery should be prohibited: of thu* rendering i the property in slave* so insecure ns to bo coui [ parativcly worthies . aud (hereby annihilating , in cfVect properly worth thousand* of million* of , ’ dollar*. Thi* parly, thu* organized, succeeded in the month oi November lust, in tho election of , its candidate for the Fresidcmy us tin* United j State*. r In the meantime, under tho mild and genial . climate of tho ftoutbarn Rtnto*. and the inerous . mg core and attention tor tho well-being aud | cumfort of tho laboring < lu**, dictated alike by interest and humanity, the African slaves had augmented in number from shout 600,0 DD, at the date of the adoption of the constitutional rniu , pact, to upwards of •1,000,000. In moral and so [ oint condition, they bad been elevated from bru tal suvagcn into doolie, intelligent and civilized agricultural laborers, and supplied not only with bodily comfort* but with cundul religious in struction. Under tho supervisi nos a superior \ race, their labor had been *•< directed us not only j to allow a gradual and marked amelioration of i their own condition, but to convert, hundreds of . thousand* of gqaro miles of tho wilderness into , cultivated lands, covered with a pio.-pcrous peo ple; towns and oitic.’had sprung into existence, and had rapidly increased in wealth ami popula- I tlon under the social system •! the South; the . white population of the Southern alaveholding State* had augmented from about 1,250,000, at tho adoption of the Constitution, to mure* titan . S,.UO,t'OU in I860; and the produe:mn of the , South in cotton, rice, sugar, and tobacco, for the , full development and eontinunneo ot whic* 1 . the 1 labor of African slaves was, nod Is, indispensable, hnd swollen to an amount which formed nearly ; three-fourth? of the exports of ibe whole I Tilted , States, and had become üb.tohiteiy necessary to f the want* of civilizcn man. With iiiterc.its ol such overwhelming magnitude , imperilled, the people of the Southern States were driven by the North to the adoption of some i course of action to avert the danger with winch they were openly menaced. With this view, the j legislature* of the several States invited the pea , pie t<‘ select delegate* to Convention- to he held i lor tbv purpose of determining On themselves I what measure were beat adapted to meet so < alarming a crisis in their history. | Here it ntuy bo proper to observe that front . a period aaearly us iTteS, there had existed in all of the States of the Union u party, almost n uninterruptedly iu the majority, baaed upon the creed that each Slate was in the last resort, | the .so:e judge ua well of it* wrongs, ax of the i mode und measure of redress. Indeed it is . obvious, that under the law of nations, this j principle is an axiom as applied to the relations i of independent sovereign Slates, such hs those t which hud united themselves under the eon vtitutionul compuct. The Deniocrntie party ol the I . State*, repented unt* successful cunvu** I m ihGO, the declaration made mi numerous pre r vious political contests, that it would ‘f<uilifui > ly abide by and uphold the principles laid down r in the Kentucky und Virginia resolutions of j 1 . *B, aud in the report of Mr, Madison to the i Virginia Legislature in 170’.i; and thut it adopts those principles us constituting one of the main foundation., of it* political creed.” The principles thus emphatically announced, ,■ embrace that to which I have already ndvirted, , thu right of each state tu judge of, and redress , the wrongs of which it corn plait.'-. ‘ITm • prln i ciplc* were maintained by overwhedming majori f tie* of the people of all tho Mutes f the Union at different eloatlons, especially in tho election* oJ Mr. Jefferson in 1805. Mr. Madison in l -o'i, and Mr. Pieree in 1862. In the exorcise of u right so mu tot)t, so well establiecd, and so neces-.iiry lor “If preservation, the people of the Confedcinto Mules in their Conventions, determined that tin* wrongs which they Imd suffered, und tlm evils with which they were menucud, required thut thev should revoke tho delegation of powers to Iho Federal Govern ment which they hud ratified in thoir several Con ventions. They conboquently passed ordinances rowuming all their right* oh sovereign and inde pendent Mates, und dissolved their connection with tho other States of th# Union. llaviug done this, they proceeded to form a now compact amongst themselves, by new arti cles of Confederation, which have been also ratified by tbo conventions of the several States with an approach to unanimity fur excoo dng that of thu conventions which adopted the Con stitution of 1787. Thoy havo organized their new government in all its department.-; the functions ’of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Magistrates arc peformod in accordance with the will of tho people as displayed, not merely n cheerful acquiescence*, but in tho en thusiastic support of the government thu* o* tubiisbed by themselves; and but for the inter ference of the government oftbe United Mates iu this legitimate exercise of tho right of u people to self government, peace, happiness aud pros perity would now smile on our land. That peace is ardently desired by this govern ment and people, has been manifested iu every possible form. Scarce hud you assembled in Feb. ru ary last, when, prior even to the inauguration of the Chief Magistrate you had elected, you passed a resolution expressive of your desire for the appointment, of commissioner* to bo rent to tho government of the United .‘•'tales “for tbe purpose of negotiating friendly relations between that goveruinent and tbe Con fed rate Status of America, and for the settlement of all question# of disagreement* between tho tw<> governments upon principles of right, justice, equity and good I Haiti.” It was my pleasure a* well a* my duty, tu . co’Operate with you in this work of peace. In flood, in my address to you ou tsking the outh Os office, und before receiving from yon the com munication of this resolution, I had said, “s a necessity, not a choice, wc have resorted to tire remedy of separation, and henceforth oar eucr j gio* must bo directed to the conduct of qtyf own ! affairs and tho perpetuity of tho Confederacy which i‘ have formed. If a just perception of mutual interest .-hull permit u* j*ceeaply to pur- , 1 sm . ui -apnrato political career, my most ear nest desire will have been fulfilled.” It was iu furl Imran ce of these accordant views iho CongrOs* and tho 1 mado choice id’ three discreet, übiel and distinguished idtizew, win- repaired U Washington. Aided by their eordiul co-operation, and that of the Sec retary of State, every offorf compatible with self-respect and the dignity of the Confederacy, was, exhausted before 1 allowed inyioll to yield to tho conviction that the goverment of tho Uni* , tod State* was determined to attempt the con* quest of thi* people, and that our cherished hopes of pence wore unattainable. On the arrival of our Commi*Moner.* in AVn-h ----i ington.oii tho sth March, they postpuucd, at ttie j suggestion of u friendly intermediary, doing I more than giving informal notice of thoir arri val. This vvui done with a view to afford time to the Fresldont who had just been nauguruted, j for the discharge of other pressing official duties I in the organization of his administration, before ( engaging bis attention in the object of their mis i I sion. it was not until the 12th ui’ the month ’ j that they officially addressed tho ,Secretary of Mute, informing him of tho purposes of their ar rival. and stating in the language of their in structions their wish “to tuako to tho govern ment ot tho United States overture- lor tho open ing of negotiations, ausuring the government of I the United Mates, that tho President, Congress aud poople of tho Confederate Mates, earnestly • ! desiro a peaceful solution of these groat question); that it is neither their Interval nor their wish to - make any doumud which is not founded on strict [ vst justice, tiOr do any act to injure their late 1 confederates.” To thi* communication no formal reply was l received until tho Bth of April. During tho in - t torval, the Comuu mm-r* bud com cnted tu waive , uII quest ion •< of form With the (inn lu.olvo to t avoid war, if possible, they went so far, even, a* • to hold, during that long period, unofficial inter s course, through an intermediary, wlo so high po- I lit Inn and character inspired the hope of success, t und through whom constant assurance* ware ro t ceived from tho Government of tho United States, sos peaceful intentions. of tho determination to f evacuate Fort Sumter; and further, thut flu r measure, changing tho existing status prejudi- chilly to tb Confederate States, especially ut i Fort Dickon- , was in contemplation, but that in i tho event of any change of intention on the >ub a ject, notice would bo given to the Commissioners, v Tho ernokid path* of diplomacy can s.areely fur s nisli an example so wantiug in curt##y, in can s dor, and directnc s, as was the course ul the U. i States Government towards our Onnimtesionera i* in Wu.-b ing ton. Karly in April tho attention of tho whole eoun v try, as well a* that of tfio CommiM'ioners, was o attracted to extraordinary preparations tor an - extensive military anti naval oxpeditin in New .• York and other nnrthern port*. These prepaia t tion.-, commenced iu secrecy, for an expedition t ! whoso destination was concealed, only became I known when nearly completed, und on the sth, - tith and Till April, transport* and vessels of war, with troops, munition’ and military supplies, t sailed from northern port* bound southwards.—- o Alarmed by *•* extraordinary a demonstration, * the Comm vdonors requested thu delivery ol an s answer to their official eommunicaelon of tlio ; 12th March, ami thereupon received, on tho Bth h April, a reply dated on tho 15th of tho previous g mouth, from whic-h it appears ihat, during the - whole interval, whil.-t the t’oininissiouers wore g receiving assure nee* calculated to inspire hope and of tbo success ot their miion, tho Mrcrctury of and Mate and the President rd'tho United States hud and already determined to hold no intercourse with and them whatever: to roiut-e even to listen to any proposals they had lo mako, and hnd profited by il the delay created by their own assurances, in or i dor to prepare secretly the uicuns of effective hos d tile operation*. y That these assurance* were given, bus been and virtually confessed by iito Government of the e United State* by its sending u messenger to - Charleston, to give notice of it* purpose, to re force, if opposed in its intention of supplying Fort Sumter. No more striking proof of the r.b ----1 Hence of good faith in tho conduct of the ,overa ll mont of the United States towards thi* Con fed- , i* oracy can be required than is contained in tbe 1 >r circumstances which accompanied this notice y According to the usual cour*u of navigation, the if vessels composing tho expedition designed for <f tbe relief ol Fort Sumter, might Ik- expected to o reach Charleston harbor on the t'th of April: yet with our CotQinlssioner* actually in Washington, ■, detained trader that notice should lie i- given ofany military movement, the notion wn* o not addressed tu them, but a nic-i-engcr waa sent g to Charleston to give tho notice in the Governor it South Carolina, and tbe notice wuh.sugiven nt n a laic hour on tho Bth of April, the. event’ the e very day on which the fleet might be expected tu e arrive. That this mncmuvro failed iu itspur e pose whs not the fault of tbo*v nhu contrived it. •. A heavy tempest delayed the arrival of the c\ y pedition, and gave time to tho commander of our and force* at Charleston to ask and receive the in o struct ion.* of this government. Even then, un der all the. provocation incident to the eonUmp e tnoli* refusal to Fsteu to our Commissioner*, and the tortuous course of the linvcrmmul ol tho United State*, 1 was sincerely anxion* to avoid h tho ifl'u.di ii id’ blood, and directed a proposal to o bo made to the commander of Fort Sumter, who - j hud avowed bin-self to bo nearly out of provis- I ioufl, that wo would üb.-tain from directing our s I fire on Fort Sumter if In would promise not to o open fire on fi r force-- unies* fir. t attacked.— Thi* piopotjol v J refits* and aud the conclusion n I was reached, tl. Tie de*ign of the United States i a i was to place tin > c* eging force ut Charleston be t I tween the •’iiuui >ijs file of the lb ct and the e fort. Tin ic r-Mii - . t, therefore,no alternative but I, to direct (hat the fort i bould at oi bo reduced, p This order was exeeuud l>y Gca. Lcnuregntd, * j with tho skill andsucco* which wc;-. i .turully h j to i o expected from tbe well know.-, c'l.iraoler of j that gallant officer: and ulthoiq'h tin bum bard i- j men! lusted blit tbirly-thiec b'mi *. mr fl ig iid { not r: vi iver lfn I attired wall*, ud!lJ after the I appearam-c of the hostile fi< hi off LTm!'• (••. *IJO lUO itcly no! a III'.: W h.j-t Oil l,i;r hide, Hil l I wo were grotlfi din being spared tin • ucessity -of a usolcfi* < ffasimi of blood by the prml. of cau i tion (.he officer who commanded the fleet, in f abstaining fro ui the evidently futile effort toon if ter tbo baber for l e relic of Msjor Anderfno. I s refer to the report of tho Hoc ret ary of War and i- : tL< p per* which uecompany it IT lur'be-r detail, j of tuis brilliant all tir. I, I In thi counactioii 1 c nqot retrain Irom a I, well-deserved tribute to Iho noble ritate. the etui s limit soldisrly qualities of nrhos< people were * . - conspicuously displayed in the port of ( h*itea ton. Fur uiouttir they hadluon irritated by the t spectacle of a fortress held within their priuci- I pal harbor, a. u btundlng menace against their I pew”# and indcptii'U-nci. Bui It in part with tho rown money, it* custody confided with their i own consent to an agent who held no pow er over , them other than hi.cli as they lad thciuaclve* r delegated for their own bem fit, intended to be i used l>y that agent lor their own protection / ugain*t foreign attack, they -aw if held with per i sistent teiiaoity ana means of offense against - them by the very government which they had - established tor their protection. T hey hud lx-- i luaguered it for months—-felt entire confidence in - their power io capture iL—yet yielded to the re i j Z|uireuients of discipline, curbed thoir impatience, submitted without complaint to thu unaccin i touiod hardships, labors und privation* of a pro. trnoted scigo ; and when ut length thoir pntionco i wa* rewarded by tbo signal for attack, and sue* f cc*s had crowrn and their steudy and gallant ron ; duct—even in the very moment of triumph—they • evinced a chivalrous regard for tho feelings of • the brave but unfortunutu officer who had been j compelled to lower his ting. All maoilest#llona I of exultation were checked in hisproieiicfF T heir i com in an ding general, with their cordial approval ! and the consent of his government, refrained from Imposing uny terms that could wound tlio I sensibilities ot tho com man dor of the for* He was permitted to retire with the bolter* of mr i | —to salute bis Hag, to depart freely with ail his oominunU, and was escorted to tho vessel In which he embarked, with the highest marks ol respect from those again -1 whom hi* guns hud been so recently directed. Not only doe a every event connected with the siege reflect the high est honor on South Carolina, hut the forbearance i of her people and of this government, from nia* i king any harsh use of a victory obtained under ‘ circumstances of such peculiar provocation .attest 1 to the fullest extent the absence of any purpose beyond securing thoir own tranquility, and tie i .sincere desire to avoid the calamitivb of war. I J Soorcely hud tho President of the United Hlutos received intelligence of the failure “I'tUe 1 ! scheme which he had devised for the reinforce I merit of Fort Sumter, wheu lie issued the de claration of war against the Confederacy which 1 has prompted me to convoke you. In this ev ■ traordiuary production, that high functionary i afleetf total ignorance of tbe existence of an In dependent Government, which, ps*esiug the i entire and enthusiastic devotion of its ;*eople, is exorcising u* functions without question over seven (sovereign States—over more than five millions of people—ami over n territory whose urea extend* halt* a million of squnre miles. He terms sovereign Mates “combinations too power Ail to be suppressed by tho ordinary course of judicia! proceedings, or by tlio powers vested in the marshals by law. He calls tor an army of seventy-live thou send men to act as a vninitotun in aid of tho pruce* us the courts ■jf justice iu Mates where no court* exist whoso mandate* and decrees arc not cheerfully obeyod and rciipcdcd by a willing people lie avows that “the //of t.ervice tn be assigned to the force* called out,” w ill be, itel to execute the proccis of courts, but to capture fort* and strong holds sit uated within tho admitted limits of thi* Gonfed oraoy, and garrisoned by its troops;und declares that “this ell ‘ll” is intended “to maintain tho perpetuity of popular government.” He con cludes hy commanding “iho persons composing the combination# aforesaid,” to wit: the Ure mil lion* of inhabitants of these States, “to retire peaceably t.. their respective abodes within twen ty day*.” Apparently ('"utradictory a* are tho terms of thi singular document, one point waa unmis takably evident. The President of the United Mates called for an army of seventy-five thou sand men, whose />*f service was to capture our t<>rt*. It was a plain declaration of war which I was not at liberty to disregard, because of my knowledge that under the Constitution of the United Matos the President was usurping a power granted exclusively to the Congress. He is the sole organ of communication between that coun try and foreign powers. Tho luw ot nations did not permit mo to question the authority of the Executive of a foreign nation to declare war against this Confederacy. Although I might have refrained Loin taking active measure* for ■mr dr on re, if the States of tho Union had ail imitated the action of Virginia, North CaroDna, \rkun*as, Kentucky, Tennessee nud Missouri, by denouncing the call for troops as an unconstitu tional usur; atiuii of power to which they refused to respond, l wa* not at liberty to disregard tho fact thut many of tlio Status seemed quite content to submit to the exercise of the power assumed by the I*resident ot the United States, and were actively engaged in lev) ing troops to bo Used fqr tbu purpose indicated iu the proclamation. Deprived of the aid of Congress ut the moment, I wn* under the necessity of confining my action to a call ou tho States for volunteers for the com mon defence, iu accordance with tho authority you had rowfided to ure before vour adjournment. 1 deemed it proper further tu issue proclamation inviting application from persona disposed to aid our defence in private armed vessel.-■ on tbe*bigh .•ca I '. to the end that preparations might bo mado for the immediate issue < f letters of marque and reprisal, which you alone, under the Constitution, have pewer to grant. I entertain no doubt you will concur with me in tho opinion that in the absence of a fleet of public vt-sels, it will be emi nently expedient to supply their plnce'by private armed vessel*, so happily styled by the publicists of the United States “the militia of the sea,” and so often und justly relied on by them as uu ef ficient and admirable instrument of warfare. I earnestly recommend tho immediate passage of a law authorising mo to accept the numerous proposals already received. I cannot cloho this review of tlio acts of the goveri.ment of the United Mates‘without refer ring to a proclamation issued by thoir President under date of tho Ifilh inst, in which, after de claring that an insurrection has broken out in ihi* Confederacy against tbe government of the United Stales, ho announce* a blockade of all the ports of these States, and threatens to puni.sU a* pirate* all persons who shall molest any vessel of the United Ma es under letUrsof marque issued by tills Government. Notwithufanding thu au thenticity nf this proclamation, you wiil concur with me that it is hard to believe it could have emanated from a President of the United States. It* announcement of a uure paper Idockode i* ao UMMiifc.- tly violation of the law of nations, that it would seem incredible that it cuuld have been issued by authority ; but conceding this to be the ca*e,*so far as the Executivcis concerned, it will be difficult to satisfy tbe people of these States that their fate confederates will sanction its declara tions,’will determine to ignore thouaagcsofciviliz ed nations, and will inaugurate a war of extermi nation ou potli sit!*-*, by treating as pirates, open enemies acting under the uulhority id commissions issued by an organized government. If such l proclamation wus issued, it could ouly have been ( published under the sudden influence of passion, and we may rest assured mankind will bo spared the horrors of the ■•••iillict it scorns lu invite. For tin detail* of the administration nf the different department*. I refer to tho reports id the Secretaries which accompany tins message. Ihe State •artuu nt ha* furnished the nec essary instructions for three commis*ion#ts who have been *< nt to England, France, Russia and Belgium, since ymir adjournment, to ask our re cognition a* u member of the family of nations, and to make with each of there powers treaties ol amity and commerce. Further mops will be taken i t i enter into like negotiation* with the other j European powers in pursuance of your rosolu tmil* passed nt the last session. Sufficient time bus not yet elapsed sine# tbe departure of these commissioners for the receipt of any intelligence from them. As I decro it dflsiUihl# that commis xionei* nr other dq.h ui.i i i. should also be sent at an early period to the ii.dependant Arrieri c.in | ‘<yv#i* soot of our Confederacy, wdiU ull ot wh- mi ii te mr n.(crest and earnest w ish to main tain t‘i< ui. *t cordial und friendly relations, I suggest the expediency of making the necessary appropriations for that purpose. il.iv r g been officially notified Ly tbe public nuthorii es nf the 8(010 ol Virginia that she Lad withdrawn from the Union, and dcsircd*(o main tain the closest political rehiMonfl with us which it w.is possible nt the time to establish, i eoiu j missioned tho lion. Alexander 11. Stephens, Vic# IV. Gdci.t of the Confederate States, to repre nerd ibi* tveruii.cnfal Richmond. 1 Li*pp> lj Wit.-, in you thut i> ha* c- r,t>-d 1 vti.iiun with tL .'tale of Virgiuiu, by which that honored ( ■ imm. l ue.iliL. m long und jutfcty dietinguisbod amoug Lcr sis.cr States, aud *0 dour to the heart* nt thousand her children in tho Confederate Status, hut united imr power and her fortunes with / ore, end lu c. n.- one of us. This •conven tion, P-gtthir with Iho nrdinaiicv of Virginia, adopt "l g Hi. |1 • v isi. i iil 1. ‘mi 1 of the Con federacy, wiil la* hud hot of#'y mi lor your con ftiluttmuil aciiun. I 1. itt sat sfartoiy n**uranee* liom other • f out late nlcdcr'..i * !,at they are •oi Ibe point of ado; ting dir io- u urcs, and I cannot doubt (hut ere you bn t en ninny wo. I.* in * Mi>n, tlio wli"’ , Ijo *h-c 1. Idiug Status of the laic Union, wM re/pond to thu call ■ f hoi r utid afi'eutiuf). aod by in i?i • thoir fortunes with mm, propi .taour fmt .moii interest* and seeurc “r c'-mmon safety,, In 1 o Treasury Department, regulations have l< I, 'devised and put into execution f< r carrying nut the policy indicated in vour legislation on Hie *pbjcet of tho navigation of the Mi dreippi rivur, n wall a* for th# ediife{.i(Mi ‘f voi u* on the frontier. Free transit ha* been siei.teJ tor v and mcrchundiso passing threugli iho Coufoder ut# .State*: and delay und mconvcnicnco havo been avoided r* far as poraiblo iu organizing tbo ivvenuo crvlco for the various rail-ways enter ing our territory. As fast as experience hall iudicitc tbo possibility of improvement in these regulation*, no effort will bo spared ‘to free com merce from nil ttnnecc ary cmharru-soisnts and obstruct on*. Under y>ur act authorizing a loan, proposals were issued inviting subscription* lor live mil lions of dollars, and the cull was answered by tlio prompt subscription of more than eight mil lion* by our own citizens, and not a single bid was made under par. Tho rapid development of the purpose of the President of the United State* to invade our soil, capture our forts, blockade our ports, and wugo wur against us, iiiducud me to direct that (he entire subscription should be accepted. It will now become neces sary to raise means to a touch larger amount to defray the expenses of maintaining - ur indepen dence and repelling invasion. I invite your special ; t ten lion to this subject, and the financial condition ol the govcrnimnf, with tho suggestion of way ; and means ter the supply of tbo Treas ury, will ho presented to you in a separate com munication. To tho Department of Juntico you hare mnli ded not only tlio organization and supet’ iion of ull matters connected with the <’ art. 1 i .I"** tlce, but nlso those connected with a and witii the bureau of public printing. Since your adjournment all the court*, witii the exception i those in Mississippi and Texas havo been organ tec I by the appointment of Marnbal* and District Attorneys, and are now prepared for the exoroise of their functions. 1 1, the two Muiu* Just named, the gentlemen confirmed a* judges, declined to accept the ap pointment, and no nominations have yet been made to fill tbe vacancies, I refer you tu the report Us tbs Attorney General, end concur in his recommendation for iintnsdfatu legislation,e# pecially ou tho subject ofpa tout .rights. Early provision should Le mado tu, secure to the *ub ject* of foreign nation* thefulkonjoyiuentol''their property 141 valuable invention*.anil to o.ttend lo ojir #i , WD.cdixenH. protection not only for (heir own “luvensqusfhut for such es may have i con us PEYTONH. COLftUITT, f VA{fnrm JAMES W. WARREN, ( tv• -g, §m, . Number 18 signed to them, or may hereafter be assigned by person* not alien enemies. The patent office luisinoss is much more ex tensive and important than had been anticipa ted. Tbe application lor pntents, although con fined under the law exclusively to citizens of our confederacy,already average seventy per month, showing the necessity for the prompt organiza tion of a bureau for patent*. The Secretary of War iu his report and ue* comptinying documents, conveys full information concerning tho forces,regular, volunteer and pro visional, raised and called for under tho several acts of Congress, their orgnization and distribu tion. Also, an account ol the expenditure* al ready made, and the further estimates for the fiscal year ending on the 18th February, 18(12, rendered neceeßnry by reoent events, i refer to his report also lor a lull history of the occurren ces in Charleston harbor, prior to and including the bombardment and reduction of Fort Sumter, and of the measure* subsequently taken for com mon defence, on receiving intelligence of the de claration of war against us made Ly thu Presi dent of the United States. There ure now in tho field at Charleston, Pensacola, Forts Mor gan, Jackson, St. Phillip and Pulaski, nineteen thousand uu-n, und six thousand are now en route for Virginia. It is proposed t< organize and hold in readiness for iustant action,’ in view of the present exigencies of the country, an ar my of one hundred thousand men. If Birther force should be needed tho wisdom and patriot ism < t (.'ongross will be confidently appealed to for authority to call into the field additional numbers of our noble spirited volunteers, who are constantly tendering service fur in excess of our waits. The opcratioun of tho Navy Department have been necessarily restricted by the tact that suffi cient time has not yet elapsed fur the purchase or construction us more than a limited number of vcsocls adapted to tho public service. Two vessels purchased havo boon named the “&uiu ter” anil “Mellee,” nud are now being prepared fur see at New Orleans with all possible des pateli. Contracts have also been made at that, city with two different establishment* lbr thu casting of ordnance, cannon shut and shall, with tbe view to jficoiirngc the manufacture of these articles bo indispensable lbr our defense, at a* many point* writ bin our territory os possible. I . all vour attention to the recommendation ol the Si cretary for tlio establishment of a mag azine nud laboratory for preparation of ovd uaii'O store , and tbe necessary appropria tion fur that ptnporo. Hitherto Mich stores hovn usually been prepared at the navy yards, and no appropriation wa* nindoat your last Reunion for tin, object.| The Scereiary also attention to tho lad that no provision ha.- butt made for th#payment of invalid pensions to ur own citizens. Many of these pcrsi n- are advanced in life, they have no means >•! t j'p nt, and by the -eeession of these Slat* *, lure* been deprived of their claim against the Go\eintut nt us the Uuited State*. I recommend the appropriation of the sumnece* sary to pay thg.-e pensioner*, us well as those of the unity, whose claim* can scarcely exceed twenty ihousand dollar* per annum. The Postmaster General has already succeed ed in organizing his department to such an ex tent a* to be in readiness to assume the direc tion <d our p* -lul affairs, on the occurrence of tho contingency c nteinplateu l>y the act of 16th March, LBDI, or even sooner if desired by Emi gre.-.-. Tho various books and circulars have been prepared and measures taken to recure supplies'Tblank*, pelage stamps, stamped en velope.-', mail hags, locks and key?, etc. He pre sents u detailed cln.-.-ilicntion and arrangement of bis clerical for* e. and asks for iis increase.— An auditor f*>r the treasury ol this department is necessary, and a plan is submitted for tbeor gatoization of hi* bureau. The great number and magnitude of the accounts of this and pailment re quire an increase of tbe clerical force iu tbe ac counting brunch in tbe Treasury. The reve ’ nuea of this department ore collected and dis bursed in inodes peculiar to Itself, und require a special hureou to secure a proper accountability iu tbe administration of Its finance*. I call your Attention to the additional legisla tion required for this Department, to the rec ommendation for changes in the law fixing lire rale* of postage on newspaper*, and sealed packages of certain kinds, and spociully to tin: recommendation pf the Secretary, in which 1 ( concur, that you provide at once for the ns *u rapt ion by him of the control of our entire | postal service. In the military organisation of the State*, , provision is made for brigadier and major gen -I*l nls, but in the army of the Confederate State* the hie host grade is (hat of brigadier-general. Hence it will no doubt sometiuiea occur that where troop# of the Confederacy do duty with the militia, the general selected tor the com mand and possessed of the views and purpose of this government, will be superceded by uu ! officer of tire militia not having the satire ad , vantages. To avoid this contingency in the least objectionable manner, I recommend that additional rank be given to the general of the , Confederate army, and concurring in tho poll ’ cy of having but one grade of generals in the army ol the Confederacy, 1 recommend that the law of its organization be amended, so thu the grade be that of general. ‘Josecure a thorough military education, it ■ in deemed essential thut officers should enter upon (lie study of their profession nt an early period of life, and have elementary instruction 111 a military school. Until such school shall bo established, it i recommended that cadet* be appointed und utluelied to companies until the/ shall have attained the age and have ac quired the knowledge lo fit them for the duties of lieutenants. I also call your attention to an omission m th*: law’ organizing the army, iu relution to mil ii y ('lin|iiui£*j, and recommend that provision wc it'.uiy ibr. l4eir appointment lu couciuVioii, l congratulate you on the fact that in every portion of our country, there has been exhibited the most patriotic devotion to our common cause. Transportation companies have freely tendered the use of their liucs lbr troops and supplies. The I’residents of the railroads ol the Confederacy, in company with Ollier* wh*) contra! lines of communication with Stales lliut we liopfe soon l<> greet as sisters, assembled in Convention in this city, nud not only reduced largely tins rales lieretotore de manded tor mail service, and conveyance 01 troops and munitions, but voluntarily proffered lo receive their compensation nt these reduced rates in tlio bond# of the Confederacy, for the purpose of leaving nil tire resources of the gov eminent at its disposal for its defence. Requisitions f>r troops have been uiet with aucli alacrity that lire number* tendering their set vices have, 111 every instance, greatly ex ceeded the demand. Men of the highest official and social position, arc serving us volunteer* in lire ranks. The gravity of age and the zeal of youth, rival each < ther In the desire to be lorcuiOKi lur the public defeuce ; and though at no other point than (he one lieielotbre notieed, have they been stimulated by the excitement incident to actual engagement, nud the hope of distinction lbr individual achievement, they have borne what, for new troops, is the most severe ordeal patient toil, und constant vigil, and nil the exposure and do comfort oi active service, with 11 resolution und fortitude such ns to command approbation and justify the high c*t expectation of their conduct when active valor shall be required in place of steady en durance.) A people liras united ami resolved cannot shrink from any sacrifice which they may tm called 011 to iiiulce, nor can there be a reasona ble doubt 0/ their filial success, however long and severe may bo tire test of their determina tion (o maintain their birthright of freedom mid equality, us a trust which it is their first duty to transmit, undiininished to their posterity. A bounteous Providence cheers u* with the promise of abundant crops. The fields of gram which will, within a few weeks, be ready lbr the -lekle, give assurance of the uruplest sup ply oi luod /or man; whilst the corn, cotton and other Mtipte productions of our soil, afford ul.umlaut proof thill up to this period, tire sea son has burn propitious. \\> feel that our cause is just und holy; we protest solemnly in the lace of mankind that we desire peace at any sacrifice, save that qi’ honor and independence; wo seek no conquest, uo aggrandisement, no concession of any kind from tho States with which we were lately confederated ; all we ask is to be let alone; that those who never held power over us, shall now attempt our subjugation by arm*. Tbi# we will, 1 his we niu-t re-I*l to the direst exiremi ty The moment that thi* pretension is aban doned, the sword will drop from our grasp, and we shall be ready to enter treaties of umity and commerce that cannoi but be mutually beneficial. So long a this pretension is main taint'd, with a firm reliance 011 that Divine Power which covers with its protection tire 111 st cause, We will continue to struggle tor our inherent right to freedom, independence, und •elf-cover n men t. JEFFERSON DAY I ft. MoNToomirv, April‘29. lbdl.
