Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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, Mrtm. a*. Tr*wa??M*5R. ' ?&,ui t> Jwtlm gpgbtt, ??!iik?, &qrt/yltaf?,??< jj^tgftfliq). '''' <wi | '*?? xvm. .- SpABT A N B U RG, S. C.. THURSDAY, MAYfr 1801. ' 1 l<WWbeerlptio? take* for less then six months. Xoawus^ bs remUshd through fnetmester# '' Mtfwork. of all kinds promptly etMuitd. ytT'> 'jfctskn, Law and Mquiyr, ooatiaually on hand. W printed to erdor. .Advertisements tusert ' fit the nsnel rates . ' Tna Spssta* eiteuli tea targslf over this and Mtlolnfog districts, and offers an admirable meSUum to our friends to customers. ? . 1 "'v 11 - I Confederate Stntoa' Army Bill. Asoar State troops are being iron* tforred to the anay of the Confederate ^States, we publish the army bill paused *by the Southern Congress, for their iuforWtiom : * -v* 'An not to raise Provisional Poroes for the Confederate States of America, and for '* ; other purposes 3^" . 'Sao. 1. The Congreu of the Con federate 'State* of America tto enart, That to enable the Government of the Confederate States to maintain its jurisdiction over questions of |ieace and war, and to provide for the public defence, the President be, and he is hereby, authorised und directed to assume control of all military operations in every State.having reference to or connected with questions between said States, or any ot theui, and powers foreign to theui. 8EC. 2. And be it furthrr enar<e//, That .he President is hereby authorized to re ccive ifcroui tbe several States be arms ?kl4 munitions of war which have been acquired from the United States, and which are now in the forts, arsenals and uavy yards of the said States, and all other arms and mnuitions which they may desine to turn over and make chargeable to this Government. Sec. 3. Be it fnrt'i'-r marjfvi, That the President be auihoii-ed to receive iuto the service of this Government such foreee now in the aerviue ot said States us may be tendered, or who tuuy volunteer by consent ol their StatJ, in such number* us he may require, tor uny time not loss than .twelve months, unless sooner discharged. Sec. 4. And be it farther evicted Th t such forc?w may be received with their oifi,cers by eouipanies, battalions or regiment-, lOiid when so received shall form a part ol the provisional armjr ot the Confederate States, according to the terms of their enlistment, and th * President ahull appoint, ritnd with the ad vice and uonoont ol Coo^re**, .such general odicei or n dicers tor said forces, r as may bo uecesaary for the service. Sec. 5. And bc.it further rnar'f/, That said force*,when received iuto the service of .this Government, ahull have the tctiue pay ;aud allowances us ma> be provided by law Jbr volunteers entering the service, or for the ariuy ol lite Confederate States, and .shall be subject to the sutuc rules end Gov.erntucnt Cairo, Illinois. * Tbe Memphis HaItrtin has the following -.paragraph in relation to the state oi aihiiis at Cairo Illinois the place that the Lin coin government has cboaco ass base of operation*: ' The people of Cairo are leaving the I lace a* rap dly * ? po-e.bte. ind. ud it is j*?ur moat of the -omen and children have .already e i the city T?tey -do not sympathize wbh inc<?-n and hip army, but are overaWed by the mnhtury. There was said to bu about ! ft j soldiers at Cairo when the duty E<njlt eft. n i il.ey were emu. ji ig .11 n Vcr ..am ihe otli ere ol the J. e - i re j o t great cactlemeiit at 1'udncah on account of the military oceupiilinn.it ( o?r? Ei.ht computus, ouinhering about 1 C j men, are ol cady under drib, and awaiting arms, wtuch they had s.-ni Col. 'i'iighuisn to ot Louis to pur-c..iise, ami which wore expected on yesler duy. Thej ar- anxious to tuareh to Cairo jind have already reeeiv'd intimation Irom thir y-tw > co intiis in South U no s to the .effect ihar it' ihe i mil - .irlnnsti ?.!!! in: ke a cli iKOMslratn.ii upon C airo, they -will cu ojteralt: with them, and tear up the railroad and trwdf-work, so u? to prevent the collar gation of any tueie truope there. *1 ho olfieers of the J now try. observer a large jruu in position at Columbus, Ky., And u Southern fU?* flying near by, Irom which they inferred that the |>eo[de at that point were alive to their duly and tiieir .position."* U'he New Orleans Drlta, speaking of the ^possession of Cairo, *uya: "Geography has made Cuiro a strategical position of the very utmost conseque ?. it is the key to the upper, as New Orjcuns ;and the Lake and Halite are the key to ?the lower Mississippi. Itean blockade St. Louis uii Abo one Land and Louisville on ?sihe.o#her; while, if in the possession of a toonstdurxble loroe po.^ssing he?vy ortduanoe, and command ug the raiir ad ileadingaonrh of that point,it would menace the oity of Memphit and open the way for an invading artny; to make'that an advano od po-t of aocupntn.n. It is not pleasant to .cooitetuplate such a porsibility hut it is ^good policy to taee it fairly, if we would de feat it effectually. it is never Bate to trust to the nesitation, ignorance, or negligunoe of the enemy. Fortune is on the side of the vigilant. The hcut c.nise and the bravest defence cannot with imnnnitv the favor of Providence. A wise genera)* hip, out of abundent prudence, will always aaiuuie fh t the enemy will make the most of his opportunities, and that whatever advantage it is possible for him to accomplish ha will not tail to rcaHhzo. Muiratiso.?We understand, says the Memphis Avalanche, of the 2Gth, that during the last two weeks about two thousund Northern citigens have left this city for u more congenial olimo. About three hundred left yesterday on the Gleudalc. More are packing up their duds and preparing t do emigrate for the Black Republican Gov* r .crnmci.t, - fWrHw. PKESlD&tT JEKFEttSON DAVIS. yiu tliuTthe^Cuiialrtution ftattrtd f*r the establishment of permanent gorerowewl for tlwa Con federate State* has been ratiftad ' by Convention# m aach of tho#e Stataak which it was referred: To^i^augttvate the government in its ful^'p&poftioos a?d upon its own substantial busis of the pnpiv lnr will, it only remains that election* should be htjd for the designation of tbi "uicms w ouuiiuwwr it. There is ever* reason to believe that at no 'distant day. other States identified in ! political principle*and community ofin'er J e*t? with these which yo? represent, will | join this Confederacy ; giving to its typical constellation increased splendor?to its government of free, equal and sovereign j States a wider sphere of usefulness, and tc the friends of Constitutional iibcry a greater security for its harmonious and perpetual existence, i It was not, however, for the purpose oi making this announcement that 1 buv? deemed it my duty to cunvo c you at an earlier day than that fixed b\ yourselves for your meeting. The declaration of wat made against this Confederacy by Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, iu his Proclamation issued 00 the ?tteentii day of the present month, rendered it necessary in my judgment that you hould convene at the earliest practicable . moment, to devise the measures necessary j foi t e defence of the country The occasion is indeed an extraordinary ' one. It justifies me in a brief review ol : the relations heretofore existing between ; us and the States which now unite in wa:< fare against us, and in a succiuet statement of the events which have resulted in this wuriarepo the end that mankind inn\ 1 puss intelligent and impartial judguicul on its motives and objects. During th war wuged againet 0reat llritain by her colonies 011 this continent, n common danger impelled them to a close alliance, and to the formation of a Con fed urutiuu, by the terius of which the colonics styling themselves States, entered 44 ?t%eral It/ into a firm league oi friendship will each other for their common defence., tbt security of their liberties, and their uiu u a) aud general welfare, binding thouiselvci j to assist each other against all force offeree ! to or uttacbs made upon tltent or any o them, on account of religion, sovereignty trade or any other pretence whatever." in order to gurd aguius any misc list rue tion of their conflict, the several State: ! made explicit de larutidn, in a distinct ' article, that 44 earh States retainu its sever eignty, freedom and indepeudenec, ant every power, jurisdiction and right whicl is not by this Confederation cxprett'y title yatejl to the United Stutcs in Congress as seinblcd." Under this contract of alliance, the wa of the Revolution was successfully warei u I resulted in the treaty of peace witl lix ut Britain 1788, by the terms of whicl the several States ware, each by name tc ogniaed to be independent. The articles of contcdcnition containei a clutize whereby all alterations were pre .hibited, unless confirmed by the Legis luture of every State, after being agreed b by the Congress, and in obetfi n e to tiiii provisions undei the resolu ion of Con, gross yf the lilst F binary, 1787 the srvc ral States appointed delegates who uil? ?d ed a C??nvintion "for the sole and exprea pur|Hi-c of revising the articles ofcontodc tot ion, and reporting to Cotigre s, and tin several Legislature* such alterations unt pro vis ons therein as shall when agreed t< in Congress, uwf cO'iJirnixf by the. Statu rendered the Fcdeml Constitution ade (juate to the exigencies of govcriiiuctit am the p..esc vution of the Union.'" 1* ... . L.. a!.. 1-1 -1 -L ) ib nas. vy me uoirpiit'x cmwn oy mi ?eurr<iJ Stutm uu fur the resolution jus quoted, that the Constitution ot the I'uitec States was framed in 1787, an . Hubuiittei to the tt'orrul for ratification, a: shewn by the 7th article, which is in thcs< words: 44 the ratification of the Convention o, nine Shitex, shall be sufficient for the estnb lishnient of this Constitution betwekj the States, so ratifying the saiue." I have iltulicUcd certain words in th< quotations just made, lor the j or pose o I attracting attention to singular and market ' caution with which the States endeavored I in every possible form, to exclude the idei { that theseperateand independent sovereign ty ol each State was merged into one com I moil government aud nation; and the ear nest desire they evinced to impress on th< Constitution its true can actor?that ot ( computet between independent Suites. Tiio Constitution of 17*7 having, how ever, omitted the clause already reciter lruiu the articles of Confederation, whict provided, in explicit tortus, .that each Stat* reUiineit its sovereignty and independence | some alarm was felt in the States when in 1 vited to ratify the Constitution, lest thit omission should he construed .into abandon mcnt of their cherished principle, and the) refused to ho satisfied unti' ameiiduierib were added to the Constitution, placing beyond any pretence of doubt the reservation by the Status, of all their sovereign right* and powers?not exproaiy delegated to the lining ti.? t\... . vuiivu "J Miv V St-ango indeed must k upper u> t lie impurtiul observer, but it is none the lens true that all these carefully worded cluu-e* proved unavailing to pre vent the rise and growth in the Not them States of political school which has persistently claimed that the Government thusformed was not a compact between States but was in effect a Nutioiiul Govorninon*, set up above und over the States. An orguuiaction, created hy the States to secure the blessings of liberty and independence against foreign aggression has been gradually perverted into a machine for their eontrol in their donientic affuira? .the creator? has been exalted above Its crcn torrr tba prmnpku have been wade subordinate to the agent appointed by thcrnMfa*. . fhe people of the Southern States, whose almost exolu ve occupation was agriculture, | early perceived a tendency in the Northern $tstcs to render the common Government I aubaervicnt to their own purposes, by itupo[ sing burthens on commerce as a protection > Ho'tneir wanufaetariug and shipping iuicr; ests. Long and angry controversy rrcw [ out of the4c attempts, oflon successful, to - benottt one sec*;on of the country at the J expense of the other. And the danger of ( disruption arising from this cause was enhanced by the Tact that the Northern . population was increased by immigration and other causes in n greater ratio than the populatioh of the South, By degrees us he Northern States i^iincd prrj>orideraiice j I in the National Congress, self interest! fAncrlit iKpir nAiml a *a vwilil w?..?! ? huo<.i>? I i ?a r*~r-" ~ j,v ,v""j UiWV'" ,v uny plausible advocacy of tliuir right us t !. majority to govern the luinuiity without control: they leurn to listen with impatience to the suggestion of any constitutional iuipedituent to tho exercise of their will; and f so utter.y have the principles of the Com ntitution been corrupted in the Northorn m nJ that in the inaugural address deliv( ered by . resident Lincoln in March last, . he asserts as an axiom which he plainly deetus to be undeniable, that f e theory ui , tho Constitution requires that in all cases , the majority shall govern; and in another - memorable instance, file name Chief Mag, istrate did'not hesitate to liken the relations , between a State and the United States to r thofte which exist bctwccu a country and the State in which it is situated and by which it was created. This is the laiucn, table and fundamental error on which rests | the policy that has culminated in his declaration ol war against these Conlcdcrutj States. j lu addition to the long continued and deep seated resentment Jclt by the Southern States at tho persistent abuse of the powers they had delegated to tho Congress, for the purpose of enriching the manufacturing and shipping classes of tho North , at the expense of the South, there Las existed for nearly half a century another .subject oi discord, involving interests of such ' 4ransue.udaot magnitude, us at ail times to create the apprehension in the minds ot , many devoted lovers of the Uuiou, that its permanence was impossible. When tl?c several States delegated ceri taiu powers to the United State* Congress, j .1 large portion of the laboring population consisted of African slaves i in ported into ' the colonics by the mother country. In twelve out of the thirteen States, negro . slavery existed, un<l tho right of property it* slaves was pr t. ct . I fry law. 'l hi* pri ' perty wus recognised in the Constitution, j and provision was made against its loss by t the escape of the slave. The iucrea e in the number of slaves by further importation from Africa .was also secured *y a clause forbidding Congress to prohibit the r slave trade anterior to a certain date ; ami j in no clause cun there be found any dele ^ gation of power to the Congress authorise ^ ing it in any manner to legislate to the prejudice, detriment ot discouragement ot ' the owners of that species of property, or j excluding it iroui the protection of the government. The .climate and soil of the Northern ^ States soou proved unprupitiou* tOihecontiuuance ot slave labor, whilst rhe converse was the case at the S?uth. Under the uurestricted free inteix-ourac between the two sections, the Nortiiern States consulted their own interest by selling their slaves to the South, and prohibiting slavery within their limits. The South were willing ^ j purchasers of a property suitable to their wants, and pai I the prico of the acquisi! lion without harboring a suspicion that ' their quiet possession was to be disturbed j by those who were inhibited, not only by want of constitutional authority, but by good faith as vendors, from disquieting a ^ .title emanating from themselves. , As soon, however, as the Northern States | that prohibited African slavery within their limits had reached a number sufficient to give their representatives a control!' I ing voice in th?* Congress, u persistent and J organized system of hostile measures against the rights of the owners of slaves " | in the Southern States was inaugurated and * gradually extended. A continuous series of measures ivas diviscd and prosecuted lor & the purpose of rendering insecure the ten' , vtre of property in slaves; fanatical organV ' rations, Mippitcd with money by voluntary ? subscriptions, were nssiduoiul, engaged in 1 inciting among the slaves a spirit of dis" content and revolt; means were furnished ' for their eioipe troiu their owners, and '; agents seorectly employed to entice them 2 to abscond; the constitutional provision 1 for their rendition to their owners was hist I evaded, .thou openly denounced as u viola tiuu of conscientious obligation und religI ions duty ; men were taught that it was a i mcri. to elude, disobey and violently oppose i the execution of the laws enacted tnscouru i '.-the performance of the .promise contained, - in (he constitutional compact; owners or i slaves were mobbed, and even uiurdered in open .day, solely fur applying to a uiugisr tratc for the arrest of a fugitive slave; the i dogmas of these ,voluntary organization> soon obtained control of the legislatures of i many of the Northern States, and luw.i were passed providing for the punishment i by uinous lines and long continued imprisonuient in jails and penitentiaries, of citizens of Southern States who should dare to ask aid of the uffioam ?>f ilie lnw ? > re .overy of their property, i Em' oldened by success, the theatre of I agitation against the clearly expressed cotii stitutionaJ rights of the Southern Stales , was transferred to the Congress; Senators and Representatives were sent to the common councils of tho nation, whoso chief i title to this distinction consisted in the display of a spirit of ultra fanaticism, and i whose business was, not to 'promote the i. general welfare or ensure domestic tranquility," but to awaken the bitterest hatred against citizens of sister States 4y violent ' " - ' V. I denunciation of their institutions; the transaction of public ?lTu:rs was impedod by repeated eflbrU to usurp jppwers not delegated by tlie Constitution, tor the purpose of impairing the security of property in slav s, und reducing those States which held slaves to a condition of inferiority. Finally a great party was organised for the purpose of obtaining the administration of the government, with the avowed object of using its power far the total ev elusion of the slave States from all partici pation in the benefits of the public doiua>n, acquired by atl the States in common, whether by conquest or purchase; of sur ruuuumg mem entirely Dycstntes in which slavery should be prohibited ; of thus rendering the property in slaves so insecure as to be comparatively worthless, end thereby annihilating in effect property worth thousands of millions of dollars. This party, thus organized, succeeded in the mouth of November in the election of its candidate for the Presidency of the United States. In the. meantime, under the mild and cenial climate of the Southern States, and the increasing care and attention for ?he well being and comfort of the laboring class, dictated ulikv by interest and humanity, the African slaves had augmented in number Irotu about (300,000, at the date of the adoption of the constitutional compact, to upwards of 4,U0d,UU0. Iti moral and social condition they had been elevated from brutal savages into docile, intelligent and civilized agricultural laborrcs ami supplied not only with bodily comforts, but with careful religious instruction. Under the supervision of a superior race, their labor had been so directed as not only to allow a gradual and marked amelioration of their own condition, but to convert hundreds ot thousands of sijuare miles of the wilderness into cultivated lands, covered with a j-rosperous people; towns I and eit cs had sprang into existence, and hud rapidly increased in wealth and papulation under the social system of the South; the white population of the Southern slaveholding States had ungiucnttd from about 1,250,000 at the date of the Constitution, to more thun 8,5UU,U00 in 1S(>0; ami the productions of the South in Cotton, Kicc, Sugar aud Tobacco, for the full development and continuance of which the lal?or of African slaves Was, and is, indispensa - ?? - - Hiv^'UOiVI ?l lUdU .IIIIUUIII WHICH lOTIHOU nearly three tourtlis ot the exports of* the whole United States, and had hecouic al?solutcly necessary to the wants of civilised nn 11. With interests of such overwhelming magnitude imperi led, the people of the Smthern States were driven, hy the conu : ' <d >orth,?t. a'le .1 Vjption G^sciuc e 'lis ? of action to avv rt the danger with winch they ^Cro openly menaced. With t is view, the Legislatures of the several States invited the people to select I telegates to Conventions to be held for the purpose of determining for themselves what measures were best adapted to meet so alarming a crisis in their history. Here it may be proper to observe (hat from a period as early as 179d there hud existed in ull of the Suites of the Union a party, almost uninterruptedly in the majority, based upon the creed that each State was, in /ho but resort, the sole judge as well of its wrongs, as of the mode and measure ol redress. Indeed, it is obvious, that under ?he law of nations, this principle is a?d axiom us applied to the rela lions of independent sovereign States such as those which bad united themselves under the constitutional compact. The Democratic party ol the United States repeated in its successful canvass in ISoG.thc declareli 11 made iu numerous previous political contests, that it would "faithfully abide by and uph >hl the principles laid down in the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 1798, and the report of Mr. Madison to the Virginia Legislature in 1799; uud that it adopts those principles us constituting one oi the muiu foundations of its political creed." The principles thus emphaticullv an nounced, embrace that to which 1 have already adverted, the right ol each State to judge of ami redress the wrongs of which it complains. These principles were maintained by overwhelming majorities of the people el all the States of the I'nion at different elections of Mr. Jefferson in 18U5, Mr. ..Madison in 1809, and Mr. Fierce in 1852. In the exercise of a right so ancient so well established, and so necessary tor self-preservation, the people of the Confederate states in their Conventions determined that the wrongs which they were menaced, required that they should revoke the delegation of po ers to the Federal Govur>.incut which they had ratitkd in their several Convent ions. They consequently passcd Ordinances, resinning all their, rights as sovereign and independent States, and dissolved their connection with the other States of the L'uiou. Having <lo e this, they pr?needed to Apriu a new compact amongst themselves, %y new Articles of Confederation, of the which an approach to uiiaimity far cxccdiUg that of the convention which adopted tlm new government in all its departments; this functions ul the Hxccutivc, Legislative, and Judic al Magistrates are performed in oQrorduuce with the v ill of the people ns displayed, not lUeivly in a cheerful aequiescence, t>tit. in tiic enthusiastic support ol the government thus established by themselves; and but Ibr the interference of the Government of the f oiled States in this legitimate t xurcisj ot the light of a people iu 9uu-gu>criniicni, peace, liaj juiio.vi and prosperity would now smile ou our land. That peace is ardently desired by this Government nml people, has been munifesed in uvry poasiblc form. Scarce bad you assembled in February last, when, prior cvon to the inauguration ofthe Chief Maoist lute ! you hail elected, you passed u resolution expressive of your desire lor tho appointment ol ooinoiisaioiu rs to bo sent to tho j Government of the 1 nit d States "for tho purposed of negotiating friediuly relations 4 bctwoon that Governmont and the Coftfod- o erato States of America, and for the aqttle- d nient of all question of disagreement be? r tween the two Government upon principles t of right, justice, equity and good faith. u It was my pleasure as well as my duty, U to eo-operate with you in this work of c peace. Indeed, in my address to yotft on ? taking the oath of office, and before re- c coiving from you the communication, of b this resolution, I had said, "us a necessity, a not a choice, we have resorted to the reme- o dy of scpcrntion, and henceforth our onpr- d gtcs must be directed to the conduct ot onr a own affairs and the perpetuity of the Coo- U fcderucy which we have formed. It a r just perception of mutual interest shall ?l permit us peaceably to pursue our separ- p ate political career, my most earnest desire i< will have been tilled. tl It was iu "furtherance of this aoeordsnt a views of the Congress and the Executive, a !...? T 1- L.! - < . < ... uuu i iuuuu cnuicc or lurcc discreet, aUJo and distiuguisod citizens, who repaired to r Washington. Aided by their cordial co- n operation, and that of the Secretary c.f u State, overv effort cotupatiblo with self- b respect and the dignity of tho Confederacy o woo exhausted before I allowed myself to v yield to the conviction thst the government H of thu United States was determined t? v attempt the conquest of this people, and i that our cherished hopes of peace were c unattainable. o bti the arrival of our Commissioners a in Washington, on the 6th .March, they t proposed, nt the instigation of a friendly ; intermediary, doing more than giving in- ? formal notice of their arrival. 'J'his was a done with a view to afford time to the t \ Prosideut, who had just been inaugurated. for the discharge if other pressing official a ; duties in the organization of his Adininis t trution, befure engaging his attention in { | the object of their mission. It was not t I until the 1-th of tbe month that they ot 1 j tieially addresseu tho Secretory of State,- i i informing him of the purpose of their arri- i i val, and stating in the language of their a imlruetiojis their wish "to make to the t government of the United States overtures t fortlie opening of negotiations, assuring j the govcrmuout of the I nitcd States, that' i the President, Congress and people of the I Confederate States earnestly desire a peace- I ful solution of these great questions; ? that it is neither their interest nor their < wish to make any demand which is uot I founded on strictest justice, nor do anj*act ? to injure incir me coiiTcueratcs." To this communication no formal reply I was received until the 8th April During l the interval the Commissioners had con- i seated to waive all questions of lorui. i IWlh the tiiia vcoolre to ove.d wa.* If ,_sn 1 i siblc, they went ho furv even, as to hold, > during that long period, unoHicial inter- I course, through nti intcrotediury, wlio*. | high position and character inspired the i hope of success, aud through wbotu con- < slant assurances were received from the i (joverumeut of the I'niled States of peace- 1 lul intentions ; ol the determination to i evacuate l'ort Sumter; and further, that i no measure charging the existing ttutiix. i prejudicially to the Confederate States, especially at Fort Pickens, was in content- i platimi, hut tlitt in the event of any change < of iuteution on the subject, notice would i be given to tho Commissioners. The i crooked paths ol diplomacy can scare- ly, i furnish an example so wanting in courtesy, i iutuirueea in candor, and d rtct;ess su ] was the course of the Failed Stales Oov- . eminent towards our Coiuuiissioneis ?t < Washington. For proof of this 1 refer to tho annexed documents, marked?, taken i in cunuectioti, with further facts which 1 now proceed to relate : I Kurly iu April the aitcutioa of the whole < country, as we'd as that of our Commission- j ers, was attracted to extraordinary prcpa- i rations for mi extensive military and naval < expedition in New York and Nuthero ports, i These preparations commenced in secrecy, i for uti expedition whose destination was i concealed, only became known when nearly completed, and on tho 5lb, Oth and 7th ! April, transports aud vessels of war, with i troops, munitions aud luUitary supplies, saihu from Northern ports bound South- I wards. Alarmed bv so extraordinary n r < * '?/ ? demonstration, tho Cotuuiis.-doncrs re<| united ibe delivery of s?u answer t<? their oifici.i communication of the 12 th March, and thereupon received, ou the 6th April, a ; reply dated on the 20th of the previous ; month, from which it appears that, during the whole interval, whiist the Commissionera were receiving assurances calculated to inspire hope of the success of their mission, the Secretary of Stale and the President i of the I uited States had determined to hold no intercourse with them whatever: to refuse even to listen to any projHisals they had to miikc, and had profited by the de ay created by their owu assurances, in order to prepare secretly the means tor effective hostile operations. That theso assurances were given, has Leon virtually confessed by the CJoveminent of the I .'piled Stale.-* by its sending a messenger to Charleston, to give notice ot its purpose, to use force, if opposed in its intention of supplying Fort Sumter. No | more striking j r<?of of the absence of good i ! >L. ? 1 .... - r.i. . - - -1 >> .u tut; vuuuutt 111 mi: IJIIVU1 llircill OI the (mud .States toward* tho Coiilcdciaoy tuii bo required than is contained in (be cireumstatars which aee oin pat) led this notice. According to the \i*ual ooutw ol navigation, the vessel* eoinp-miiig the exposition di sign for tho relief of i'ort Sum> j ter, might bo expected to rcuch Charleston harbor on the lith of April; yet with our I Commissioners uctually in Washington, detained under assurance* that notice j -should l#e given of any military movement, tlic notice was not addressed to thrm, but u messenger was sent to Charleston to nive tho notice to tho Governor of South Carolina, ami tho notice was so given at a lute hour on thu .Sib April, the eve of the very day on which the fleet might bu expected to arrive. That the mumeuvrc iuiled in it* purpose W.l iiOv the uit of til use W bo mullivud it 'jST fccein ftlio h^ructit^ ton theu, OMitt ill t be j>r*rocatio? iaoi- j cot to the oooteajptuoun Kvfcsaljto tyrtea ? oilr (^uOiiuutbiunorsy aud the toittiW i Ur*e of tUo Government of tbe U>>tad j tates, 1 ?a* viuocrelv anxious to svoidtbe fitbdoo of blood, and directed a pi-operal to j e u.ado to the commander ot Fort isuUitcr, rho Lad avowed himself to be tkarlj out f provisions, thai we wottld abaUm from .irocting our fire on Fort & muter if be rouid promise Dot to epen fire on our force* ttlofca first attacked. This propose) was e fused, end the conclusion wee reached list the design of the United States was to iscc the besieging force st Cher lout oh, beaeeu the simultaneous fire of the fleet snU lio foil There remained, theeslone, no ' iterontire Uut to diefeet that the "fort cbinrid " t once be reduced. This order was executed by Gen. Beaueg ird with the si j'.t and success which Were MturuPy to he expect-4 from the character f that gallant officer; and, although the1' ouiburdiuent lasted but thirty-three hours, ur flag did not waive over its buttered rails until ufter the arrival of (he hostile !e. t olf Charleston. Fortunately not a life a i lost on oar side, aud wc were gratified n being spared the necessity of a useless 1 ffusion of blood by the pru fcut caution if the officers who commanded the floct, in bsta ning from the evidently futile effort o enter the harbor for the relief of Major VnJerson. 1 refer to the report of the K-erctary of \Var ai d the papers which iTuinj any it for further details of this trillinttt affair. In this connection I cannot refVain trom , well-deserved tribute to the noble Js'tatc, he eminent sul<J.i?rly qualities of whose ie -pie wiie so cou?pi?uou iy displayed in he port of Charleston. For months they i:ul bceu irritated by tbe spectacle of a 'ortress field v. it bin their prjueipal harbor, is a standing menoao against their peace ind independence. Built in part with heir own money, its custody confided with heir own consent to an agent who held no >ower over thcra other .than suoh as they iad themselves delegated for their own icncfity intended to be used by that agent ror their own protection against foreizn at ack, thej saw it held with persistent tenuity us a means of offence against theui jy the very Government which they had a?ta- fished for their protection They had beleaguered it for months? felt entire confidence in their power to capture it?yet yielded to tho requirements of Jbcipliite, embed their impatience, submitted without complaint t the uuuccoslotued lu>dsh>ps, labor* ai.u privations of i protracted siege; and when at length their patience was rewarded by the ?igo?r for attack, twd success hud crowned their ileudy and gallant conduct?even in the very moiueut .of triumph?they evinced a shivalrons regard for the fcejingsjef hbc brave but uufortuuutc cfficer who had been ?>m pel led to lower Ids flag. All manifestations of exultation were cheeked in his presence, Their commanding general, with their cordial approva' and the consent oi his government) refrained from imposing any t. r u.s that would wound (he sensibilities of the commander of the foi& He Wjts permitted to retire .wit* the honors of war? to salUto his flag, to depart freely with ail hii command, and escorted to the vessel iu which be embarked, with the highest mark of respect from those against whom bis guns had been so recently directed. Not tmly does every event couucctcd with the siege reflect the highest honor on South Carolina, but the forbearance of her people, and of this Government, from making any harsh use of a victory obtained under circumstances ?>f sych peculiar provocation, altewt to the fullest extent thu absence. of any purpose beyond securing their awn tranquility, and the iunecru desire to I avoid the calamities of war. Scarcely hud the President .of the .United ; States re^iLved iiiteyiyur^c of the failure of the sehenio which he had devised for the reinforcement of Fort Sumter, when he is>ucd the declaration of war pguiost this confederacy which .ha* jv.omj?t?d me to convoke you. *11 this extraordinary production, that high functionary uff -cts total ignorneo of the existence of an independence Government, which, possessing the entire and enthusiastic devotion of its people, ie exorcising its functions without (ucKtiou over seven sovereign States?over iu??re than tive millions of people?and aver territory whuys ;d"ca exceeds hall a million of square miles, lie term sever sign States " conihinations, too powerful to be suppriscd by the ordinary course of judicial pr:e?edings, or by the poweu yestjd ip the .marshals by law." Ue calls for an army of ae,vonty-fiv,e thousand men to act a posse comitntus in , lid of the process of tho courts of justice in States wore no courts exist yrhose manlutes and decrees arc not cheerfully pboysd and respected by wiUing people. Ho tvows that " the first service to bo assigned to the force* called out," will be, not to execute the process courts, but to saptare forts and strongholds situated within the admitted limits of .this Confederacy, ind garnsond by its troops; and declares he " this effort" is intended " to maintain die perpetuity of popular government,, lie concludes by commanding "the perinns AAiotuwiin.t lIvA .?l,is?nm i'l I " 1 'WHO ^VT?I? I rw -*I i VIIV UVIUUIIMIW1VII.-T 411/1 C>4iU, :u wit: the dve millions of inhabitants ol Jicse States, "to retire peaceably to their espcctivc abodes within twenty days.*' Appau-utiy contradictory ?s are the ieruis ol' this singular document, on? pouit vw unmistakably evident. The Prcsideut )f tho United States called for ?n army of seventy-live thousand men, w haac first ?cr,'ice was to bo to capture,?or forts, it was i plain declaration uf war, which I was not ut liberty to disregard, because of tny , knowledge that under the Constitution ol t he Uuitod States, the I'residt ut was usurpng a power granted exclusively to the Conpta. lie is the sole organ of cotumunt actively pyegod m fovittg t*?;# to U owd lor tile purpose isW h**? pee. Vuuifttioo. 7 rteprived of tWe *kl of Coffffttm jtt tk* mcooeot, tin.* uudoe ttie nee#*kjtf com fining action tea caWao (&* $ta&as fay volunteer lor the cxmtKWvlajfetvp, is a* cordapec wfr*- ^?>f?:* haA tided to mo Kfot.e i deemed it jhropcr farther to i?*ae pfcocbuuntion inviting spptistitioa from person* dieposed to aid our defence in private nruwd vessels on tho seas to the coo tttfct prejwnwtious might be mode for the tuuncJLitc br sue of letters of raaraue and reprisal, which you alone, under the Cfcrns ituthm, have power to grant i entertain no doubt yw? will concur with km in the omuhhi that i# the absence of a fleet of public vessels, it will be eminently expedient to aupvly their place by private armed vowel*, so happily styled by the publicists of the United States -the muitia of the nea," mid so often and justly relied on by tbem a* an efficient and uduiiicble instrument of defensive warfare.. 1 earnestly rewutend tlie immediate postage of Uw authorizing me to .tnpept the uuuiei our proposals already received. I cannot ctoeo this review of the acts of the Guvcrnuient of the United States withr out referring to a proclamation issued by their President uuaer date of the lfftb i?r r-taut, in which, after declaring that an insurrection has broken out jo this Confab cracy against the Government of the I Hited Status, lie announces a blockade uf aU the ports of these States, and threatens to pnuish a* pirates atl persons who shall molest say vessel oi the United States uuder Lttcrs*of marque issued by this Gutterameat Nothwiti s anding the juU^an^city of this proolniu^tysu, you viH jMmctur witu me that it is kjixd to believe it could havs ouionatod {roffi a President of the Uuitofl States. Us announcement of a mere papar blockade b so manifestly a violation of the lav of nations, thit it w<oq|d scemia.erediUo that it ooald hire btew msh! by aulV, kv L- ' ? w lifiBI TO DC U^tJ caw ?o Tuc lit) the Executive i# concerned, it will bu difficult AO satisfy the people of these States that their late ooufcd?raten will sanction its declarations, will determine to iupore the usages of civilised naliocs, sud yijl inaugurate a war of extewmiration ou both *&<*> by treating rates, open enemies acting under ihc?>< thority of oomwissious issued by an organi??d Gownjftont. It tuch proefemution was issued, k uould only ham bet n published under the sudden influence <?t passi' -n, and ,wc may rest assured mankind will be spared the horrors ot the conflict it scexus to iu\ itc. For thu detail of the adinin'ikr&tion of the departments, I refer to the report* of the Secretaries whuh accotufauiy this Message. The State Department has furnished the necessary instructions for throe commissioners who have been seiu to England, France, Russia and Ikdgium, since your adjournment, to s*k our recognition as a member of the family of uat'tens, and to make with euch of those powers treaties of amity atod commerce. Furthcr steps will be takon to enter into like negotiation* with the other European powers in pursuance of your resolutions passed a% the last session- Sufficient time has not vet *Um etl .since the departure of Cottnussioners for the receipt of intelligence ftot* thein. As I deem it desirable that com mi* sioner* ur o\iior diplomatic agents should i0?o bo sent at an early period to tho inder pendent American powers South of our Confederacy, with all of whom it is our interest and earnest wish to maintain the most cordial and friendly relations, I suggest the expedient}, of uiaHng the necessary appropriation for that purpose. Having been officially notified by th# public uwthor;tiqj? of t^e State of Virginia that she hod vitbd.ruvru frets Union, and desired to qsainbtMi the closest political relation* with us which it was possible at this t,Unc .to establish* 1 commissioned the Hun. Alexander H. Stephens^ Vico-PiesLdent of the Confederate Suites, %p represent .t,bis ??uv<*AVcnt at nichinoud. 1 sip hnppy to inform you that he lias concluded ? . ? :?L -> a. . ' --- .1 ivMtMpuuu ?'.<M OUk^e ox Virginia, by which that It ii ..oJ cMontaajveoiib, so Umg and junt y d languished among her MSiqr .States, aud so dear to the heart* of tfcatb siuda of her children in the Confederate States, has united her power and her fo?> tunes with ouis, and beooining ono of a*. This (invention, together with tip ordinanc? of Virginia, pdopUHlmg the Provfe ional Constitution of the Confederacy, will be laid Wore you for your tut ional action; i hove satisfactory ^asuraooee from other of our htc confederates that they arc on the point of adopting similar nieasu.es, and 1 ounuot doubt that ere yqp shall hare been uinity weeks is Netwicp, the whole ot'the sluveboJding {state* <*f .ihe lafe Union, will respond to the oell of honur and affection, and by uniting their fortune* with ours, promote our eouiroga interests and secure our ooiuuion saf< ty. In the Treasury Department rcgufali ns hare Wen devised ana pat into exaootfen lor carry tug out the policy fed touted fe your legiaLtfen en the subject of4b? warigutiou of the Mi>sM?ippi river, a? wfel aa Mr the eoUeetfou Yevctil* ontlie holier. fht t van si' has ivaen Cfeu&red Iwr vessel* mix! merchandise passimr the OimfcJurute States, ami Uy awl ?