Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

WM. H. TRIMM TOL. XVHL 3be tawtiua Sparta n. ] trice, f wo Oouakk per kuun, in advance, or ! .SO at the end of the year. If not paid un- , til after the yoar expiree $8.00. aubeoription taken for less than six months. Money may be romitted through posttuastcre at eur risk. Job work of all kinds promptly executed. \ BUnka, Law aud Equity, ooaiinually on hand. ; Wr printed to ordor. Advertisement* iueert ' nt the usual rates Tne Spa?tax eireul> tes largely ever this and hdjoiuing districts, and offers en edinirable mo- j j Vliuiu to our friouds to . .v.. customers. , Confederate States' Army Bill. As our State troops are being trans- < tfcrred to the artsy of the Confederate ' States, wo publish the uruiy bill passed *by the Southern Congress, for their iufor- j 'mat ion : 'An act to raise Provisional Forces for the < Confederate States ot America, and lor j other pur(M?es , 'SkC. I. The Cotujr*ss of the Con faieratc I States of Anwrica do enact, That to enable < the Government of the Confederate States ; un invading army, to make that an ndvanc- J cd po-t of occupation. It is not pleasant to OOllitcUtplate such a possibility ixut it is good policy to tuce it fairly, it \vc would de- , .feut it effectually, it is never safe to trust to the nesitation, ignorance, or negligence of the enemy. Fortune is on the side of the vigilant. The Inst cuise and the bravest defence cannot with impunity abuse i the favor of Providence. A wise general- j ship, out of abundant prudence, will always : assume fh t the enemy will snake the most I ' of his opportunities, and that whatever ad- 1 vantage it is possible for hiui to accomplish ' he will not iuil to rcalihxc. Migrating.?We understand, says the < Memphis Avalanche, of the 2(?lh, that ilu- t ring the last two weelo about two thousand j ( Northern citizens have lotl this city for a J more congenial olimo. About three hun- i i dred left yoBterduy on the Glendulc. More { i *r? pausing up inoir (JuU? and preparing I to cmigrutc for the Black Republican Gov- I eminent.? Courier. t to maintain its jurisdiction over questions of peace ami war, ami to provide tor the i puUic defence, the President be, and < he is hereby, authorized and directed to i assume control of all military operations I in every State having reference to or eua- i nectcd with questions between said Suites, I or any ot them, and powers foreign to i thcin. j Sec. 2. Ami be it furtive euaetet!, 'J'liat i .he President is hi reby authorized to re \ cci.ve troui the several States he arms i and munitions ot war which have been ac- j quired from tho United Slates, and which are now in the forts, arsenals and navy < yards of the said States, and all other arms i and munitions which they may desire to i turn over and make chargeable to this Government. i Sec. 3. He it fnrt i'nn*;te*f, That the President be auihmi ed to receive into tlie service of tins Goverumeui such forces now in the serviue ot said States as may be tendered, or who may volunteer by con- ; sent ot their Stat.*, in snch numbers as he may require, lor any time not less than .twelve mom lis. unless sooner di-eharged. Sec. 4. Ami be it firlli'-r nnntnl Th t such forces may be received with their olh,cers by companies, battalions or regiment-, :and when so receivid shall form a part ol the provisional army ot the Confederate {States, according to the terms of their en- J listmetit, and th President shall appoint, uind with t lie advice and -onsent ot Congress, sucli general otiiuei or oihcers for said forces, us may lie necessary lor the service. S? c. .?. A.iif be it J art her rrartnl. That said forces,w hen received into the service of ! .this Uovorniueut, shall have the siuie pay ;ttiid allowances as ma, be provided by law .for volunteers entering the service, or for the army of the Confederate States, and shall be subject to the sauie rules and Govvertiiuent Cairo, Illinois. The Memphis HaUrtm has the following paragraph in relation to the state oi aflaiis at Cairo Illinois the place that the Ltu c ?ln govirniueut has cboscu as u base of operations: " The people of Cairo are leaving the I lace i" tap .1 . as po^.bw. indcd it is j .tii . most of the .ou.cu and children have , .already e tlie city Tbey .do not syui? ' pat hi/.c with . incom and his army, but are overaWed by tin-luiihtary. There was said to be about ! > M?l<iiers at Cairo when tile ('I"'/ Emjlt ell, n i l.cyr were emu. ji ig .11 ti Vi-r ..nil the oth ers ol Lite (irrj/ j. e - > rr o I great excitement at i'lloeah on account eft lie military occupation of ( airo Ei.lit conipaiii s, numbering a bo it i 6 j unit, an id eady under drib, mii I aw.nt.iu arms, winch they had s.'in Col. Tiighunin to .-'t Louis to purchase, ana which were ejected on yestor duy. They ar anxious to mat eh to i 'airo and have alrcn !y roceiv "I loinnatiou lr<nu tlur y-tw ' co mt t s in South U no a to the .effect -hat it the j?opl oi . uducali will im ke a d< ii.onstraliou upon ?. aire, they will cooperate with them, and tear up the railroad and tresle-woik, ><> as to prevent the congr gti'on of any moie troops there. I he olheers of the jnmuiry ous?*rver a .large gun in position at Columbus, Ky., and u Southern flag flying near by, I rum which they iuferrel that the people at that .point wore alive to their duty and their jiositioH." The Mew Orleans Drlta, speaking of the ^possession of Cairo, "ays : "Geography has made ('airo a strutegi*cal position of the very utmost eonaeque e. it is the key to the upper, as Mew Orleans ;and the Luke and liable are the key to ?the lower Mississippi. It can blockade St. Louis on rtb.- one jiaml ami Louisville on ?;f.he.other ; while, if in the possession of a Considerable lorce possessing lie ivy ordinance, and command ng the raur ad iluadiiigsourh of that point, it would menace <the city of Memphis and open the way tor j m '+ J rm IEH. M EA 8SGE PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS. Gent/enien of the Comjrets: It is mv tileusinir tlutv to unnminrn I p._u thut the Constitution fruuied for th establishment of u pcruiaucnt govern men tor tlie Confederate State* has been r&tifiei t?y Convention* is each of those States t which it was referred. To inaugurate th government in its full proportions am upon its own substantial busis of the pope lar will, it only remains that election should be heid for the designation of th alficors to administer it. There is even reason to bclicvo that a no distant day other Stai-s identified ii political principles and community ofin'rl w's with these which you represent, wil join this Confederacy j giving to irs typicu constellation iuereased splender?to it government of free, equal and sovereigi Stales u wider -phere of usmulnesH. and t the friends of Constitutional libery a great cr security fur its harmonious and perpotu il existence. ft was not, however, for the purpose c making this unuounceuicnt that i huv iecmed it my duty to convo c you at a earlier day than that fixed bv yourselve lor your meeting. The declaration of wu made against tiiis Confederacy by Abra ham liinculu, the J'rcaideiU of the I nitc States, in his Proclamation issued on th Slteeutb day oJihe present mouth, rendci i?d it necessary in my judguicnt that yo thuuld Convene at the eaxliest praetieabi iiiouient, to devise the uieusures necessar lot t e defence of tfic country The occasion is indeed an cxtraordinar unc. it justifies uie in a brief review l the relations heretofore existing bet wee us and (lie Mutes which now unite 1 it vra lure against us, and iu a succiuct statemcn of the events which liuve resulted in thi war.are ; to the er.d that mankind ma pass intelligent and impartial judgmei un its motives and objects. During th war waged against Great llri: uin by her colonies on this continent, ootiutjun danger impelled them to a clos alliance, and 10 the formation of a Confer cratiuu, by the tonus of which tile colonic: styling themselves States, entered " swro ty into a linn league oi friendship wit each other for their common defence, tb security of their liberties, and their uiu i aland general welfare, binding thotiiscivi to assist each other against all force ofldre to or attacks made upon them or any r them, on account of religion, sovereignty trade or any oilier pretence whatever." in order to gard agains any misc nstru tion of their contract, ti e several Stati made explicit de laratton, in a distinc article, tliat " eac/i States retain* its sove eignty, freedom and independence, an every power, jurisdiction and right whic is not by this Confederation exprtsx'y t/ci ijatal to the United States in Congress a scinbl -d." Under this contract of alliance, the w: of the Devolution was successfully war( n I resulted in the treaty ot peace wil Cr at Britain 1788, by the terms of whit the several States Ware, faeh by nam re Mgnised to be independent. The articles of con federation contain* a clause whereby all alterations were pr hihited, unless confirmed by tbc Uegi lature of retry State, after being agreed by the Congress, and in obedi n e to th provts oiis undei the resolu ion of Cot: gre-ss oi" the -1st F bruary, 17S7 the srv ral States appointed delegates who aue e 1 a Cuiivi ntion "for the sole and ex pre. purpu-c ol revising the articles ot "onted .cation., am) re orling to Coiigrc s, and tl several Leg is.a lures such alterations ui provis on~ therein as shall when agreed i in <'o igiess, an / eoijtem / by tU> Stat* rendered the Fcde.gl Constitution ad (plate to the exigencies of government ai tbc : esc ration of the I uion." it w.is by the delegates chosen by tl im-rat States un fer the rcanlutioc. ju quoted, that the Constitution ot .tie Unit* States was framed in 17?7. an subuiittt to (lie K't'trnl Shifts, for ratification, i shewn by the 71li article, which id in thct word*: " the ratificat ion of the Convention i nine .States, shall be sufficient for the est a lishinent of this Constitution HK'l'WEt the States, so ratifying the sanie." I have iltaliciscd Certain words in tl limitations just made, tor tin- | urposc < attracting attention to singular and in irkt caution with which the States ondeavorc in every possible lbrm, to exclude the idi that thescperateand indepon lent sovcreigi ty of each Stale was merged into one con UiOn governlucnt and nation; and the ea uest desire they evinced to impress on tl Constitution its true caa acter?that o! cuin/>uet ltKTWKKN independent States. The Constitution of 17*7 ha* ii?_r hot ever, omitted the clause already recite lrom the articles of Confederation, vvhic provided, in explicit terms, that each Stai retained its sovereignty and independent some alarm was felt in the States when ii vited to ratify the Constitution, lest th omission should be construed .into abandoi ment of their cherished principle, and the refused to be satisfied until uiin-u luiem were added to the Constitution, placing hi yond any pretence of doubt the reservatio L?y tin- States, of all then sovereign nghi and powers?not exprcslv delegated to tli I I llitl-li Sf.lll". liC fill! rilll.lilllll.il: - J ? St'Biiixe indeed must kapper to tlio in partial uli?t rvcr, l>ut it is none the less tru< that ull these earef'ully worded dunes pro\ jd unavailing to prevent the rise and growl hi the Northern Stales of political sclio< which has persistently claimed that th jiovcriimont th unformed was not a corupac \rtw.rn States but was in effect a Nation 3overninon', set up h/><jvc and over th States. An organization, created hy th stat s> to secure the blessings of liberty an udependenceagainst forii'jn agression hu loon gradually perverted into a roach in or their control in their douuxfic affairshe crcn'nr has been exalted above its < / < ( Ill LROl Denoted to ?outlu SPARTANBURG ? ; ~ torn\ the prinr!j)fu* have been luade subordinate to the agent appointed by theiu? aeivefl. The people of the Southern States, whose alniostcxolusivc occupation was agriculture, o early perceived a tendency in the Northern 0 States to render the common Ciovcrnincnt t subservient to their own purposes, by impoj sing burthens on commerce as u protection u to tneir manufacturing and shipping iutcrL> ests. I-iOtig and angry controversy grew j out of these attempts, often successful, to ^ benefit one section of the country nt the s expense of the other. And the danger ol'j disruption arising from this cause was on- j huueed by tho fact that tlie Northern ^ population was increased by immigration [( and other causes in n greater ratio than ^ the populatioh of the South. By degrees as U he Northern States gained prej>oiiilcratice j in the National Congress, self interest ' 3 taught their people to yield ready assent to ii anj plausible advocacy of their right as o majority to govern the minority without , cunirol: they learn to listen with iiupaticfice j j to the suggestion of any eonstitutionul im- . pediment to the exercise of their will; and (r so utter-y have the principles of the Con- . ] stitution been cmu|?ted in ihe Noitlurn n in n I (hat in the inaugural ad lress delivj ercd by resident Lincoln in March last, r he asserts us an axiom which he plainly , t deeuis to he uodcniible, that t e theory of j tho Constitution r?Mj<uires that in all cases the majority shall govern; and in another memorable instance, (lie same Chief Magistrate did'not hesitate to liken the relations 1 between a State and the Cuited States to those which exist between a country ami the State in which it is situated and by which it was created. This is tho hum n. II tir* Ul llll -<v .vuiltltuirv organization- , l- soon obtained control of the legislatures of] hi many ul ,Miu Noithern State.*, and law- 1 Is worn pasted .piuviiiinj; tin thi* punishim t.l 10 by lo mi hi* linos and loiij; o mtnim-d lilt [ prisomiKMit in j.uls ami penitentiaries, ul citizens of Southern Slates who rdmnl 1 dare ! j.( tu a.-k aid of the otiieura ul the law tur the f. re.uvery of their projicrty. h Kin oldened by auuctss, t|ic theatre ut 1 >1 agitation against thcclearly expressed eon- | c stitutional rights of the Southern States t was transferred to the Congress; Senators! 11 and Representatives weie sent to the coinc inon councils of the nation, whose ehief n title to this distinction consisted in the ciisd play of a spirit of ultra fanaticism, and ia whose L>uh in cms wus, not to 'promote the e I general welfare or ensure domestic tran quillj^y/'but to awaken the bitterest In'red r- against citizen* of sister States hy violent I t.bl c and rund.iniciit.il error on which rests ! t j the policy that has culminated in his dee1 la ration ul war against these Conicdcrule . States. s In addition to the long continued and ; deep seated resentment Jolt by the Sonth*t ; ern States at the persistent abuse of the I powers they had delegated to the Congress, ^ for the purpose of enriching the tuanufuea turing and shipping classes of the North at the expense of the South, there I.as cxj isted for nearly half a century anotln r sub joct ot discord, involving interests of such / iransetudwt uiagni'.ud". as at all times to ^ create the apprehension in the minds ot it> many devoted Rivers of the L uiou, that its permanence was impossible. ^ | \V lieu tlic several States delegated ecrj tain powers to the U nited State. Congress, I a large portion of the laboring population consisted of African slaves imported into '' the colonics by the mother country. In L> twelve out of the thirteen States, negro ,s slavery existed, und the light of propcr'y ii* slaves was j.r t. ct I t*y law. 'lhi-?pr'? ' pcrty was recognised in the Constitution, j and provision was made against its 1?by l( the escape of the slave The incica c in f the number of slaves by further iuiportas tion from Africa .was also secured y a clause forbidding Congress to prohibit the ir slave trade anterior to a certain date ; ami i(j in no clause can there be found any dele \ gation of power to the Congress author:/. ^ ing it iu any manner to legislate to the prejudice, detriment oi discouragement ot ' the owners of that species of property, or j excluding it lrom the protection of the 0 government. 1 The .cUiuate and soil of the Northern States soon proved uupropitious to thecouj tiuuance of slave labor, whilst 'he converse was the ease at the S .nth. I nd u- the unrestricted free iirtoi.euiu.aC between the two j sections, the Northern States consulted their own interest by seibug tlieir slaves 1 to the South, and prohibiting shivery with1 in the'r limits. '1 he South were willing I purchasers of a property suitable to their ^ Wants, and pai t the price <>| the acquisition w.thi'Ut harboring a suspicion that J their quiet possession was to be disturbed j l?y those who were inliibi ed, not only by want of constitutional authority, but by irii.nl lultll ' I I'l.luli.ra Ir.o.. .11.. . n . i> . ? ? ,ti H ? .V.?.. a ,title emanating from themselves, j As soon, however, a> tlic Northern States lj that prohibited African slavery within their limits had reached a number sulbcient to give their representatives a controlling voiee in tin* Congress, a per. istent and . organized system ot hostile measures I against the rights of the owners of slaves in the Southern States was inaugurated and gradually extended. A coi tinuous series of measures was divised and |Uose ruled tor 1,1 the purpose of rendering insecure the ten lire ol property in slaves; fanatical org.mi rations, supplied with money by voluntary subscriptions, were assiduous!* engaged in incitlog among the slaves a spirit ol disII * content and revolt; means were turnished "* for their o<e<pe Iroin their owners, uin r" agents seercctly employed to entire them le to abscond ; the constitutional provision a f<>r their rendition to their owners was hist , evaded, thou openly denounced as u viola v- lion of conscientious obligation and tclig id ions duty ; men were taught that it was a h uteri, to elude, disobey and violently oppose le the execution of the laws unacted Insecure ;c tit pcrforui.tncc of the promise contained a- in the constitutional compact; owners ol' is slaves we.re mobbed, and even murdered in i- open .day, solely tur applying to a uiugisy trate for the unvst oi a fugitive slave; the .1.-. -a .i.. ? - ANA tn Rights, politics, ^griruUu t S. C., THURSDi MaaaMMUBnMnuuanaaaEURiOBa denunciation of tlicir institutions ; the j transaction of public ulTuirs was impeded I by ropcatcd elici ts to usurp powers not del- < elated by tlie Constitution, tortho purjmsc i of impairing tho security of property in t slav s, and reducing those States which ? held slaves to a condition of inferiority. Filially a great party was organized lor I the purpose ot obtaining the aduiinislia- ] tion of the government, with the avowed I object ol using its power far the total ex- < elusion ol the slave Slates from all partiei I pution in the benefits of the public doiua.n, i acquired by ull the States in common, < whether by conquest or purchase ; of sur- | rounding them entirely by States in which < slavery should be prohibited ; of thus rcn tiering the property in slaves so insecure , as to ho comparatively worthless, and thereby annihilating in effect property worth thousands of millions of dollars. This party, thus organized, succeeded in the month of November ia->t, in the election of its candidate lor the Presidency of the United States. i In the meantime, under the mild and genial elimate of the Southern States, und 1 the increasing cure ami attention lor the well being and comfort of the laboring class, j dictated alike by inter* stand humanity, the Atrican slaves bad augmented in number Irotn about ObU.OUO, at tiio date of the adoption of the constitutional compact, to upwards of 4,t'0 ),UOU. In nior.il and social condition they had been elevated from brutal savages into docile, iuiei igeut and civilized agricultural luborrcs and supplied not only with bodily comforts, Lut with careful religious instruct ion. Under the supervision of a superior race. : their labor had been so directed as not only to allo.v a gradual and marked aineli- ! oration of their own con litioii, but to con\ert hundreds ot thou-auds of souurc miles of the wilderne.-s into cultivated lands, covered with a prost-tous people; town and cit ?s had sprung into existence, and had rapidly increased in wealth and popu- ' lation under the social system of the South; the white population >1 the Southern slave- ; holding Stales had augmented from about 1,-3U,U00 at the date of the Constitution, to more than i" l^OU; and the productions uj* the South in Cotton, Itice, Sugar and Tobacco, for the lull develop- j incut and continuance of which (lie labor of African slaves was, and is, indispensable, had swul en to an amount which lorined nearly three lourths ol the exports of the wlllllo I ltill.ll St:lfi ? mill It III I nil.. .1 - i lately necessary tu the wants of civilized UK II. With interests of such overwhelming magnitude impended, the people of the S iiitliern States were driven, hy the cou, . i.l .1 h. . tli,?: ,i * ; tion of: ui i e Mist of action toav rt the danger with ' a aieli they ^rcre openly menaced. With t is view, the Legislatures oS the several States invited the people to select Pclc* | gates to Conventions to he held for tin pur- | pose of determining It r themselves what; i measures were best a laptcd to iikcI so alarming a crisis in tie ir history. Here it may he proper to unserve that I fiMiU a period as early s 1 S there had existed in itf cf the Slates of the I Hion a party, almost uninterruptedly iu the majority, based upon the creed that each [ State \vg>, injlie last resort, the sole judge a> well of its v\ i oU"s, as ot the mode and . 1 | measure ol r> hv-s Indeed, it is obvious, j that under the law of nations, this principle is jiml axiom as applied to the rela t ions v.! independent sovereign States sueli a< tho-'O which bad united themselves under the constitutional compact. The i tomocralic patty ol the I nitcd States repeated hi its successful canvass iu 1 v.?ti, the deelarati n m ide iu numerous previous! political Contests, that it Would "laitblul1y ahido Ly and uph dd the principles i j laid down in the Kentucky and \ irgimu : j resolutions of IT'.tS, and the report ot Mr. Madison to the \ irgiuia Legislature iu 17Hi) ; and that it adopts those principles as coiiolitut'itg one ot the muiu foundations of its political creed." '1 he prinui, !es thus emphatically announced, embrace that to which 1 have ' already adverteJ, the right ol each State to judge of and redress the wrongs ot which it complains. These principles were maintained by overwhelming majorities of the people of all the Slates of the I nion at different elections of Mr. del-j feraon in ls"'>, Mr. Madison iu lsui), ( and Mr. Pierce in 1S."?J. In the exercise of a right so ancient so well cstuldi&hc 1. and -o necessary lor aelf pre..ervalioii, the people ol tho (!onfederate states in tlietr I onveiitions determinI II lll.lt tllH II 11 1. - V I. I.- I. tl.l... j - ?*.V ? II1VH null UIVII* i need, required tli.it they should revoke the I delegation ot po cr? to the Federal (lover..incut which they had ratiti'.d mi their I several Conventions. 1'hey consequently passi il Ur.linaiK 's, resuming all their, rights as sovereign uu<l independent State?, I and dissolved their connection with the other States of the I nion. Having do e this, they proceeded to Llor:u a new compact amongst themselves, "y new Articles of Confederation, of the [ which an approach to iinaiinity tar cxced ii. that ul the convention which adopted tin new government in ail its departments; ill functions ul the Executive, Legislative, a id Judical Magi->liatcs are peilorni d in accordance with the '. ill ot tlie people as displayed, not nie.c.v it. u ch.-oihil ue |ilu seelice, hilt in tlie i li.uiiM.ist.e Uppoit ot the goveltinit lit t. ifs csiuLhshid hy llieinx l\es, ami l'lit lor the interference of the (ioverniiient ot the I nited Suites in tins legitimate exercisj ot the liglit ut | a people to soil govi in incut, j.eace, happini'ss and prosperity would iiviv -mile on our laud. That peace i ardently desired !>v this ' / I Government atil people, ha> l?ei n tiiaiiile? c?.l in evry j *Mhlc Ibrin. Seareo had vou assembled in I brumy la>t, when, prior even to the inauguration ol the I 'Iik I el.ir iatiate you huil elected, vmi pusaed a resolution expressive ol your desire tor the appointment ol eoiutnisaioiiers to he .tint to the < ? ovum mi nt ol* the I nit d States "lbr tho r ...., I SP xt, audi ^iscfUanjj. kY, MAY 9< 1801. purposed of negotiating fricduly relatious A t)ctwoen that Government and the Confad- c Brute States of America, and for the settle- d metit of nil question of disagreement he- r< twecn the two Government upon principles fc jf right, justice, equity und good fuith." c! It was my pleasure as well as my duty, t< to co-operate with you in this work of ? peace. Indeed, iu my address to vou on ? taking the oath of ofliec, and before re- c iciving from you the communication of b this resolution, I had said, "as a necessity, w not a choice, we have resorted to the rcuie- o Jy of scpcrution, and henceforth our oner- d ^ics must he directed to the conduct ot our w jwn affairs and the perpetuity of the Con- u I'oderucy which we have formed. It a r ju?t perception of mutual interest shall tl permit us peaceably to pursue our separ- j p ate political or- cr, my most earnest desire 1 t1 will have been tilled. tl It was in furtherance of (his accordant a views of the Congress and the Executive, a that I made choice ot three discreet, able and distiiiguised citi&cus, who repaired to r Washington. Aided by their cordial co- n operation, and that of the Secretary ?f o State, every effort compatible with self- L respect ami the dignity of the Confederacy o was exhausted before 1 allowed myself to v yield to the conviction that the government f of the I oiled States was determine J t ? v attempt the conquest of this people, an 1 i that our cherished hopes of peace were c unattainable. u k.n the urtiviil of our Commissioners u in Washington, on the Otis .March, they t proposed, -it the instigation of a friendly . intermediary, doing more than giving in ; 5 forma! notice of their arrival. 'J I;to was ' a done with a view to afford time to the I President, who had just been inaugurated, for the discharge ?f other pressing official a duti'-s in the organization of* his Admiitis t tration, Leiore engaging his attention in j the object of their mission. It was not t until the I-ih of the month that they ot 1 tieially addrvs. eu the Secretory of State.-tl informing hiuiofthe purpose ot their arri- a val, and stating in the language of their u instructions their wish "to make to the t government of the I nited States overtures t for the opening of negotiations, assuring ] i .. . ... .' i' -i i . J . - < . CUV CU IllftAOUl Ui IIIC I IIKCa PliilO, UKll I the President, Congress and people of the I (Joule kr itc States earnestly desire a peaci I iul solution of those great cjuestions; i that it is neiiher their interest nor their i ? wish to make any demand which is not I founded on strictest justice, nor do any act i to injure their lute confederates." To this communication no formal reply I was received until the 8th April During I tlie interval the Commissioners had e??i?- ( seated to waive all ijucstions of lotui. i " ;ha li.u; . In t uv I vn/ if ,*<* ' siblc, they went so far, even, as to hold, during that long period, unofficial inter- I coarse, through nn intermediary, ?Ins, | high position and character inspired the hope of success, and through whom constant ass trances were received from the . Government of the I'nitcd States oi peace- 1 iul intentions ; ol the determination to i evacuate Fort Sumter ; and further, that no measure cbu: ging tl e existing statu* prejudicially to thu Confederate States, especially at Fort l'iekcns, was in contentplation, hut thi.t in the event of any change of intention on the subject, notice would he given to the Commissioners. The crooked paths of diplomacy can scarcely furnish an example so wantinir in courtesy, iutairnees in candor, and d ri ctncs->, si was the course ol the I nited Stales Government towards our Commksiouets at \V;uhingt >;i. Fo.' pr ?uf of tliis 1 refer to the annexed documents, marked?, taken in connection, with further facts which I now proceed to relate: i-arly in A| ril the attention of the whole country, as well as that of our Coiuuiissioners, was attracted to extraordinary prcpa- j rations for an extensive military and naval ' expedition in New York and Nothcru ports I hcsu preparations Coiutnenced in secrecy, lor an expedition whose destination was concealed, only became known when nearly completed, and on the 5th, (ilh ami 7th! April, transports and vessels of war, with troops, munitions and military supplies, sailed from Northern ports bound Southwards. Alarmed by so extraordinary a demonstration, the Couunis-ioners request-1 cd the delivery ol an answer to their otfic-1 i.l communication ol the llitli March, and ! .i i -? ' mil eup'MI rwCKVU) (Ml IIIO dill .a j I'll, U 1 reply dated on the -6th of the previous i mouth, from which it appears that, during the whole interval, whilst the Commissioners were receiving as-uia:.ces calculated to inspire hope of the success of their mission, the Secretary ol i>talc and tl.e I'rosi loot of the I nited States had determined to ; hold no intercourse with thcin whatever:! lo refuse even to listen to any proposals they had to make, and had proUted hy the de ay created hy their own assurances, in order to prepare secretly the means lor effective hostile operations. That these assurances were given, has Leon virtually confessed by the (jovernuieiit of the Upited .States hy its sending a messenger to Charleston, to gt\e notice oil its purpose, to use force, if opposed in its | intention of supplying Fort >uinter. No' more striking | t ool ol the absence of good I lauh in the conduct of the Covet iimcut of tl.e I nited Slates towards the Coiiledeiacy ; 'in he rcijniicd than >s eoiitHtued hi the! eircum-^tai ? - which ace mj.anted thi- uoiiee. Accoi.Iin,, to the u^u.d emrsc oil navigation, tlte vessels eoiiijHioiug the ex-i j position design lor the relief of Fort Sum- j tcr, might bo expected to reach Charleston harbor on the Dili of April ; yet with our l ouimissioiiers actually in Washington, detained under u-ssuranccs that notice should l?e given of any military movement, the notice was not addressed to thtm, but a i messenger was sent to Charleston 'o give (he notice to the (jovenmr ot South Carolina, ami tin notice w.m .so ^ivou at a late ; hour on tlio <St!? April, tho eve ui the very day nn which the tleel im_ht he expected tu urrive. i That the uiumeuvrc lulled in it.-, purpose j was tint tlie fault ut those who contrived it. j f ill 'Tuini ART f? * ' T i - T T~ilW" i heavy tciupcat 4js\?jtd il?c arrivul ul tUu. eai xpedition, gave fcmc to the comtuao- po or of our forces at Charleston to ask and iui fcceivi the in-tractions ol this govornmout. I'm Ivvii then, under all (be provocation inci- acnt to the contemptuous refusal to listen 111 i our Conuui^iunoro, and the toituoua ini i-urse of the Government of the lisiitud th tates, 1 was sincerely anxious to avoid the V flmiou of blood, and directed a prujw*nl to tu e u.ado to the commander of Fort bumtcr, nv ho had avowed himself to be nearly out tu f provisions, that we would ubstain from th irecting our ti;o ou Fort bumtor if he tv rouhl promise not to open fire on our forces Si nle.-i first attacked. This proposal was th ?fused, and the conclusion was reached Pi tiat the design of the Ctiited States was tu ac lacc the besieging force at Charleston, bo- us ween the simu'Uuco?}s fire of the fleet ami la: Ira fork There remained, therefore, no iternutive but to direct that the fort should m t once be reduced. fit This order was executed by Gen. Beau- vt eg >rd with the slp.l and success which were cc aturul'y to be expect- d from the character lii f that gallant officer; and, a It! rough the di ouibarduient lasted but thirty-three hoars. ti< ur flag did not waive over its battered pi rails until after the arrival of the hostile vt !e t o'i < Tutrlcsiou. Fortunately not a life t>< a lost on our side, and ?r were gratified si ii being spared the necessity of a useless yt ffudou ol Hood by the pru fcirt caution pi i the officers who coniniauded the fleet, in w usia nmg iroiu tiao evnJe nUj futile efh rt 1 tli 0 enter iho harbor for tiie relief of Mnjor w knJersun. 1 refer to the report of tlae pi v-erctary of Yi'ur ai.d the papers which ?f Company il for tnrlher details of this "I irilliunt affair. jo In this councction I cannot refrain from av 1 wulUletervcd tribute to the noble ?jt?te, 1 he cffiinci.t aol'jLioiiy qualities *f vhoic' of ie >ple wtic so coiispicuou Jy displayed in rt lie port of Charleston. For months they lad hceu irritated by the spectacle of a tl a tr. vs held within their principal haibor. oi is a standing luemtec against their peace tl iiid independence. Iluilt in part with st heir own money, its custody confided with si heir own consent to an agent who held no ei H>wer over them other than such as they u iad themselves delegated for their own tl senefit, intended to he u.-ed by that agent p for their own protection against foreign at- lc luck, they saw it held with persistent ten- L i ;ity us a means of offence against thcui u j\ tlie very Government which they had o i*ta Halted for their protection n They had beleaguered it for months? e lelt entire confidence in their power to cap- Si tore it?yet yielded to the requirements of p lUeiplinc, curbed their impatience, sub- tl inittcd without conq.iitu.t t the uuuccas- c turned huidai.ips, Lrtion ui.u privations of j a i protracted siege; arid when at length c their patience was reward. <1 by the signal ii l >r attack, ainl success hud crowned their tl ?luudy and gallant conduct?even in the v very moment of triumph?they evinced u ti chivalrous regard for the feelings .of the ti brave hut unfortunate * flicer who had been' n LHUi:[ielled to lower his flag. All luanifes- r lati.ms of exultation were checked in his ll presence., g 'J heir commanding general, with their ti cordial approve' and the consent of his gov- p ertiiiii'iift) retrained from imposing uny p t r i.s that would wmuid the sensibilities oi v the commander of tin; li>i& lie uas per- s milieu :? retire witai U.c lionnrs of war? to salute his fl ig, t? depart Ircely with ail t! hi" command, and w;is csc n icd to the ves- t scl in which he embarked, with the high- > est i.i itk of respect front those against whom his t'Oos h id been so recently diroc- n ted. Not ouly does every event Connected s with the siege reflect the highest honor on 1 South t nroliici, bat the forbearance ol her a people, and of this tiovcruii.eut, from ma- c king any harsh use of a victory obtained n under circuinstane. s of sycli peculiar prov- a neat ion, ntte** to the fullest extent the ab- f scncc of any purp<*sc beyond securing their x own tranquility, aiul the sincere desire to u avoid the calamities of war. s Scare dy had the President .of the linked i c States rv-cLved hilciiigem.c of the failure I s of the scheme which he had devised for ; t the reinforcement of Port Sumter, when ' a he is-ued the declaration of war against this "otdcdoracy whi?Jt .has .promised me j to convoke you. In this extraordinary ( production, that high functionary affects i total ignornoe of the existence of an indc- i pendenco t iuvci pirn lit, which, possessing , the entire and enthusiastic devotion of its s people, is exercising its functions without ipiestinti over seven soveraigu States?over j uiore than five millions of people?and t over territory whu-v; :*rea exceeds h:df a: a million of square utiles, lie term sover ; r cign iS'.afes " combinations, too powerful , t to be supprtscd by the ordinary course of I judicial i?r c*.edings, or by tin# uowors vest- I c i>?l in the marshal* by law." s Ue calls for an army of A'vouty-fiv.e 1 thousand men to act a jtotue emnitntu* in < a aid of the process of the courts of justice ; * in States were no coutts exist whose man-! a dates and decrees are not cheerfully obey-: ? cd and respected by a willing people, lie s avows that " the Jtr?t service to be assign- * ed to the threes called out," will be, not * to execute the process .of courts, but to 1 capture forts and strongholds situated with- E in the admitted limits ul .this Confederacy, i' and gumsoiid f>y its troops; and declares 1 the " this effort is intended " to maintain a !.e perpetuity of popular government,, 1 He concludes by commanding "the per- i ' sons composing the combinations aforesaid." I 1 ... .L . i-.- _.:n:~ * s. v. -1 111 itii. tin: uir iniiiiuij.t ui luuuuuant:* o! 1 * these .States, "to retire peaceably to their ! v respective tbo>k-s within twenty days." , I Aj pairutiy contradictory as ore the ' a tortus ol' this singular document, one ponit j t was unmistakably evident. The President . a ol' the United States called tor an army or J seventy-live thousand men, wlt?w^nt n r-; li vice w.is to be to capture Uur forts, it was j 1 a plain declaration of war, which 1 was y not at liberty to dis.eg.ird, because of iny g knowledge that under the Constitution ol - ' the United States, the l'residt nt was usurp-'t ing a power -i.inted exclusively to the Con-. v gres?. lie the role organ of couununi- t per NO 9. Tnrr -j?-1 Tjir?riTTi?*"w?' tioa between tuat eofcttiiy aixl fuM** wore. The law of nation* did nut i* ait 1 i to question the authority of the R ?en ; .? 01 a lurctgn uauufl to decii?re war j aiiist this Confederacy. Although i 1 igbt have refrained from taking MCtivc uarares for our defence, if the States of Jm e Ui ion had all imitated the action ?4 , irgi tia, North Cajolina, Arkansas, !???.- 1 cky, I'cTennecsec, and Missouri, by do* tuncing the call for troops a* an uuconditional usurpation of power to whiuli ey refused to respond, 1 was not at lit fto disregard the ?ict that many of the tates scetncd quits contcntto submit to e exercise of the power assumed by tits resident of the I'uited States, and were lively engaged in levy.ng troo; I to U ed lor the purpose uadicatod in the pros , utttian. i'eprived of the aid of Congress at tbs 'Jiueot, i was under the nctr.CiHiiy of ro?r ling niy action to a call on the States iof iluntcc.s lor the comuion defence, iu aor rdunce with the authority you tud pomled to me before yeny adjovrn#uutf. j. a wed it proper further to issue pr.oclaninju inviting application from persons disused to sid our defence in private -iruied ssels on the sens to the end that prvpnra.ons might be mode for the iuniMulite Lv ic of letters of marque and reprisal, which >u utone, unuer the Uons ilulkni, have >vrcr to grant. 1 outcrtain no doubt yo# ill concur with uie iu the opinion that io ic absence of a fleet of public vessels, it ill be eminently expedient to supply their luce l-y private arutcd vessels, ao happily ylcd by the publicists of the U uilcd States he militia of the sea," and so often and istly relied on by them us an efficient uiid linkable instrument uf defensive warfare, earnestly reiuuicud the immediate passage 'law authorizing ma to .accept the uuuielUsprojKmalsalready received. I caimot closo this review of the acts of ic Government of the Uuitsd States with* at referring to a proclamation isMjcd by leir President under date of the lbth ii?r ant, in which, after declaring that an Lfeiirection has broken out in this Confivtr racy against the Government of the I no hI States, he announces a blockade uf aty te ports of these States, and threatens to unish as pirates all persons who shall most uuy vessel oi the United States coder .tiers*of tuarquc isaaed by this Goveriiicnt. Nothwitl s aoding the .^vtlvutsUcky I this proclamation, you V'lH .concur witti to that it to believe it could have uianatod front a President of tire United Utes. \ld announcement of a mere pair blue bade is so manifestly a violation <>f he law of nations, thit it v..ould scem-4.iv rcdiblc that, it could hn?*e b?-nn iwmM by VtLk. kj?out conceding this to be thu uhc so far as the Executive is concerned, t will be difficult to satisfy the people of hcae States that their late confederate* rjl sanction its declarations, will dctertine to ignore the usages of civilized naious, and will Inaugurate a war of cxtcwliuation ou both ii.de*, by treating -a p. atcs, open enemies acting under the ?dliority of commissions issued by uu oianired Goynnnutont. If such procluiuuiou was is.- ued, it could only have be? n lublished under the suddt-n influence <d ossi- n, and we may rest assured mankind rill be spared the horrors of the conflict k corns to in\itc. For the detail of the administration of he departments, 1 refer to the report* of lie Secretaries which acc-uvvony thin lessagc. The State Department has furnished th? icctssary instructions for tlnce comuiuiuuers who have been sent to Hnglund, France, Russia and Hclgiutu, since your djoivrnuicnt, to ask our recognition as a uctuber of the family of nations, and to uako with each of thuse powers treaties of iiuity and commerce. Furthcr steps vrill ic tafcon to enter iuto like negotiations vith the other Ruropcan powers in pursuincc of your resolutions passed at the last cssiun. Sufficient timo juts not yet clap*'d-since iho departure of these Cotutuiainiutrs for the receipt of intelligence fiotu heui. As I deem it desirable that cou.uiifr ionors or otdior diplomatic agents should Jso be sent at au curly period to the indeH'ndent American powers South of our ?u?fedcniey, with all of whom it is our ntercst and earnest wish to maintaiu the nost cordial auti frienJly relations, I sug;est the expediency of making the nccesary appropriation tor that purpose. Having been officially notified by the iwblic authorities of t^c State of Virginia hat she had withdrawn IKui oho I nion. md desired to tvaiutaiu the closest political elutiuus with us which it was possible at bis t,iuie .to establish, 1 coniuiissioned the Ion. Alexander H. Stephens, Vico-Piesi.lent of the ConlVd< rate States, to rcprctent this Corm'.iwcnt wt Ricluuoud. 1 a:p nippy to inform you that he hau concluded i convention with the State ei Virginia, by dueli that h a .ed ct'inmouweullh, so long nd ju-t'y 'lid.inguisfred among her sister states, and so dear to the hearts of thouyinds of her children in the Confederate states, has united her power and her forunoa with outs, and becoming one .of us. This Convention, together with tl\p .ordinance of Virginia, adoptudmg the Proviaonal Constitution of the Confederacy, will ie laid b?Jbro you for your cuo^titutional ction. I |iuv.fl satisfactory .assurances roiu other of our jate confederates that hoy are on the point of adopting similar neasu.es, and 1 cannot doubt (hat ere y?yy hull have been many weeks is session,,the A 1- ./..t. ? . uuiu mi me Mavcnoiaing ?tstcs o>? ,ilie lat> Jnion, will respond to the call of hyi\<? nd affection, and by uniting tuo;r fortunes vith ours, promote our coinmou interest^ nd (secure our ooiumon suf? ty. In the Treasury Department regul^ti ns save been devised and put into execution or carrying out the policy indicated ip uur legislation on the subject of the navi;atiou of the Mississippi river, aa w?ii a* or the collection of revenue on the frujiior. I'm tiansit has been secured tor easels and merchandise passion through I c ? lie i :>ti!CJcrute Mutes, and v^Uy and mc