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BETTOTBa TO MTRRATURB, THS ARTS, SGH8NCH, AGRICU1.TVRB, HEWS, POLITICS &C? &G. ^ TERMS-?TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUMr] uJ???t it be Instilled into the Hearts of your Children that tfc? Liberty of the Press is the Palladium of all your Rights."?Junius. [PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. ,BY m A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON, Jli. &BBEVILL.E, SOUTH CAROLINA. FRIPAY MORNING, MAY tO, 1861. VOLUME IX.?NO. 2 XC OF PRESIDENT JEFF. DAVIS. Gen flemcn of the Congress : It is'rrty pleasing duty to announce to you that the Constitution named for the establishment of a peimauent government for the Confederate States lias been ratified l?y Conventions in each of those States to which it was referred. To inaugurate the crovernniflit in ils full nriinntlimic mi'l upon ils own substantial basis of I lie popular will, it only remains thai elections should be held for the designation of the officers to administer it. * There is every reason to believe that at no distant day other Slates identified in political principles and community of interests with those which you represent, will join this Cnufed- racy ; iiivii.y to its typical constellation increased .splendor? to its government of free, coital and sovereign State?, a wider sphere of usefulness. miu 10 me menus in constitutional hhurly a greater security for it* harmonious and perpetual existence. It wiib n ?t, however, fi>r I lie purpose of making this annonucem r.t lliat I have deemed it my duty to convoke you at an earlier day than that fixed !>y yourselves for your meeting. The declaration of %var made against the Conluderaey I?y Abraham Lincoln, the 1'iesident <>t the United Slates, i i Ills Proclamation issued on llie fiftecnt'i da)' of the present month, rendered it necessary, in my judgment, that you should convene at the earlic-t practi'-;,moment, to devise the measures necessmy for the defence of the country. The occasion is indeed an or,' raordinarv one. It justifies me in a l.rief re\ iew ot' the relations heretofore existing between us and the States which now unite in warfare against us, ami in a succinct ctiilemeul of the even's which have remitted in this warfare ; to the en'i that m-mkitid may pass intelligent nnrl impartial judgment on its : motives and ohjec's. During the war waged against Great ' Britain by her colonies on this continent, a . common danger impelled them to a loose alliance, and to the formation of a Confederation, by the terms of which tlic colonies, styling themselves Suites, entered "severalh/ ; into a firm l^agno of friendship with each other for their common defence, the security of their liberties, and their mutual j and general welfare, binding lliemselvoa to j assist each olher against all force oileted to rr attacks made upon them or any of them, on nccoiml of religion, sovereignty, j trade or any other pre'en go whatever." In order to guard Against any miscon- j traction of their contract, the several States ! made explicit declaration, in a distinct r.r- ! ticle, t'nat " ctch State retains its sovor-' oignty, freedom and independence, and eve- j ly poAVer, jurisdiction and right which is \ not hy this Cuntalera'ion expressly deltytt 1 ted to the United States in Congress n&sem- i bled. Under this contract of alliance, tl|e war of the Revolution was success fully waged, j ?.>.! -? - I ivouiwi 111 mi; ?nviiy ui pence vviiu > (neat Britain in 1783, bj' tlie terms of! which the several States were, arch by vamc, recognized to be independent." ' The articles of confederation contained a I clause whereby ail alterations were prohibited, unless confirmed by the Legislature j ( of every Slate, after beis g agreed to by the j Cougress; and in obedience to this provision, under the resolution of Congress of the 21st February, 1787, the several States appointed delegates, who attended a Convention "for the sole ami express purpose of j tevwii'g ihe Mticles of confederation, and 1 reporting Ic Congress and the several L''!^ ; ialaturca 6uch alterations and provisions , ihete'm as shall, when agreed to in Con- I gress, and confirmed hy the States, render | tlie Federal UouslUuuou ade/jualo to llie | eilgencies ofgovernroent and the preservation of the Union." It was, by lite d el egatea, chosen liy the several State*, under the icsoluiion just quoted, that the Constitution of the United States was framed in 1787, and submitted to Jihe several Slates for ratification, as ehewu by the 7i.h article, which is in these 'vordB: 1 "The ratification of the Convention ot nine Slates, shall be 'sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the Stoics, so ratifying the sntne." I have'italicised 'certain words in the qu,oUting just ma&e, for the purpose of at^Jjra^tiog attention to the singular and t Bjarkod camion with which the States endeavored, in.every possible form, to excfude the idea that the geparo'a ?nd- inde jKrndent sovereignty X>1 each Stnle wan Merged into one oomtaorifgovernmep&vftnd * . i^mfipn,; and earnest desire they ?vipfed impress on the Constitution its. tru^ -char(rfeter-^tha{-of + compact npiyri&K jn^I|^.:Ctoo*tijA$oja of 1Y87 having, however, omit, tod th'e clause already recited frorn the srtioloa of confvu?ralion, which . ? provided, in explicit terms, that each Stale retained ils sovereignty and independence, some alarm was felt in the States when invited to ratify the Constitution, lest this omission should he construed into an aban-1 donment of their cherished principle, and they refused to he satisfied until amendments were added to the Constitution | placing l.ev ond any pretence of doubt the ! reservation, bv the Slates, of all iheir sovj ereign rights and powers?not expressly delegated to the United Slates by the Uon[ fttitution. Strange indeed must it appear to tlic j impartial observer, but it is none the lehs | true, that all these clauses proved unavail iiijj to prevent tlic rise and growth in the | Northern States of a political school which 1 has persistently c' uned that the Govern- 1 > ment thus formed was not a compact ! 1 brftrtcii Stales, bill was in effect a National 1 : Government, set up above and over the ' States. An organization, created by the I j States to secure the blessings of liberty and ' \ independence against foreign aggression 1 ! has been gradually perverted into a ma- ' j chine for their control in their domestic f affairs?the crcalure has been exalted above !1 ! : its crculnrcs; the principals have been < 1 made subordinate to the ngenl appointed by 1 themselves. ' The people of the Southern Sta'es, 1 whose almost exclusive occupation was ag- x r'culture, early perceived a tendency in ' tli'.* Northern Slates to render the common 1 I ffovernsnent subservient to their own pur- ' I t poses, by imposing burthens on commerce ; as a protection to th?:ir manufacturing and c shipping interests. Long and angry con? ! | troversy jnrrew out of these attempts, often 1 ' successful to benefit ono section of the ' 1 country at the expense of the other. And ' the danger of disruption arising from this " cause was enhanced by the fact that the r Nor;hern population was increasing l?v immigration and uther causes in a greater :i ratio than the population of tlie South.? e Hv degrees, as tlie Northern States gained e preponderance in tlie National Congress, ^ self interest taught their peoj>le to yield 1 ready nssent to any plausible advocacy of c their right as a majority to govern the I minority without Control ; they learned to a listen with impatience to the suggestion of ' any constitutional impediment to the ex? 1 erci.se of their will; and so utterly have ' the principles of the Constitution been corrupted in the Northern mind, that in 1 the inaugural address delivered by Presi? e lent L ncolii in March last, lie asserts as |" .in axiom, which lie plainly deems to he I' undeniable, that the theory of the Cunsti- 11 tntion requires that in all cases the maj liiv ?>hall govern ; and in another memorable instance, the same Chief Magistrate l' did not hesitate to liken the relations he- 0 tween a Slate and the United States to ? those which exist n neurit.- 0...1 ?i.*. I Stale in which it is situated and l?y which b it wae cieated. This is the lamentable and u fundamental error on wliicli rests the c policy that lias culminated in his dec- ^ laration of war against these Confederate e Slates. a In addition to iho long continued and j! deep seated resentment fell by the Southern States at the persistent abuse of the powers . they had delegated to the Congress, for the ^ purpose of enriching the manufacturing and shipping classes of the North at the expense of the South, there has existed for nearly half a century another subject of v discord, involving interest of such transceu- (< dent magnitude, as at all times to crea;e j( the apprehension in the minds of many r devoted lovers of the Union, that its per- ^ manence was impossible. W hen the several Slatgs delegated certain 8 powers to the United States Congress, a f large portion of the laboring population ? consisted of African slaves imported into j the colonics by the mother country. In v IivmIvo nnl ctf lli? (liirl>'?n Slut^a nof?r/> (slavery existed, am! the riglit of property t in slaves was protected l?y law. This j property was r<-cogtiiz?d in the CoiiBtitu- f lion and provibiou was made against its loss ' by the escape of the slave. The increase , in the number of glavee hy farther inrjpor- , tation from Africa was also secured by a | clause forbidding Congress to prohibit the j slave trade anterior to it certain date ; and , in no clause can there be fqpnd any dele- , gation of powgr to the Congress autKforiz- | ing it in any manner to legislate to the prejudice, detriment or discouVitgemenl of ( the owners of that species of property, or , excluding it froifl the pfotectiQn of the j government; ( The climate ritftl soil of the Northern I States soon proved unpropitious to the continuance of el&ve labor, whilst the convene ' was the case at the South. Under the unrestricted free intercourse between the two sections, the Northern States consumed their own interest by selling their slaves to the Squth, and prohibiting slavery withUL their limits. The South were willinc | purchaser# of property suitable to th^ir - j w?nt?v and paid lhe,pj;ice of the Acquisitiop '['wit bout harboring a suspicion . thnt;., their quiet possession- w?s to be ditturfecd by # s 8 those who were inhibited, not only hy ] want of constitutional aulhorily, but by [ good faith as vendors, from disquieting a title emnnating from themselves. As soon, however, as the Northern State* that prohibited African slavery within lheir limits had readied a number sufficient to give their representative a controlling voice in the Congress, a persis- j tout and organized system of hostile meas-r ' I lires against the rights of the owners of i Blaves in the Southern Slates was inaugurated, and gradually extended. A continuous series of measures was devised and , prosecu'.ed fi-r the purpose of rendering insecure the tenure of property in slaves ; ! 1 fanatical organizations, supplied with money' ' by voluntary subscriptions, wero assidu- ! 1 uusly engaged in exciliiig amongst the j 1 slaves a spirit of discontent and revolt; | i means w<re furnished for their escape I from their owers, and agents secretly em ' ployed to entice them to abscond ; the ' tunstiiulional provision for their rendition < o their owners was first evaded, then ipenly denounced a? a violation of con? 1 icientious obligation and religious duty : i nen were taught it was a merit to elude, < lisobey and violently oppose the execution < >f the laws enacted to secure the perfornance of the promise contained in the < oustilutional compact; owners of slaves '? vere mobbed, ond even murdered in open < lay, solely for applying to a magistrate for < he arrest of a fugitive slave; the dogmas < >f those voluntary organizations soon ob- 1 aiiied control of the legislatures of many < >f the Northern States, and laws were 1 mt>3vu i?ioviuiiig ior ilie punishment by I J unions fines ami long continued imprison- i ni'iit in jails and penitentiaries, of citizens of > :e Southern States who should dare to I ,sk aid of the officers of th? law for the ! ecoverv of their property. t Emboldened l?y success, the threatre of I gitatiou and aggression against the clearly r xpressed constitutional rights of the Sooth* J rn Slates was transferred to the Congress; i ienators and Representatives were sent to c lie Common Councils of the nation, whose ? hief title to this distinction consisted in t lie display of a spirit of ultra fanaticism, < nd whose business was, not " to promote * llA nrrtriOP'il "1 ..w fev.,Y? MVIIOIO vri CII91IIU UUIIICSIIC ranquil'ty," but to awaken tlie bitterest f atred against the citizens of sister Stntesa * >y violent denunciation of their institutionR; * lie tranac'tion of public affairs was iinped? < d by repealed efforts to iiaurp powers not t ele.galed by the Constitution, for the pur- ' ose of itnparing the security of property ' i slaves, and ^educing those States which I eld slaves to a condition of inferiority. Finally a great party was organized for lie purpose of obtaining the administration f using its power for the total exclusion f the slave States from all participation in lie benefits of the public domain, acquired y all tbe Stales in common, whether by onquest or purchase; or surrounding them 'tilirely by states in which slavery should e prohibited; of thus rendering tbe prop rly in slaves so iiisecur? as to be compartivelo worthless, and thereby annihilating i effect property worth thousands of mil? ons of dollars. This party, tli us organizedj ucceeded in the month of November last i tlio election of it* candidate for tlio 'resiliency of the United States. In the meantime, under the mild and enial climate of the Southern States, andi lie increasirg care and attention for the >ell-beiug and comfort of the laboring lass, dictated alike by interest and humantv, the African slaves had augmented in umber, from nbout 600,000, at the date of lie adoption of the constitutional compact, i) upwards of 4,000,000. In moral and octal condition they have been elevated rom brutal savages into docile, intelligent ml civilized agricultural laborers, and supdied not onlj with bodily comforts, bu? ' ?itll careful religion- instruction. tinier the supervisions of a superior race, ] lieir labor had been so directed as not only o allow a gradual and marked amelioration Wttheir own condition, but to convcrt hunOT6(1h of thousands of square mile* of the vilderness iulo cultivated lands, covered villi a prospdtous people; towns and cit es had sprung into existence, and had rapdly increased in weAlth and population inder the social system of the South ; the vltite population of the Southern slave-* tolding States had augmented from about 1,200,000 at the date of the adoption of ;he Constitution, to moro than 8,500,000 in 1800, and the productions of the South in co^gn, rice, sugar and tobacco, for the levelppment and pontfriuanpo of which the labor of American ifores was, and is, indis pen8ftble, nact swollen to an amount which formed nearly three fourths of the exports of the whole United State", and become absolutely necessary to the wants of civilized men; 1 \ With intferetta q? sijch overwhelming magnitude imperilled, the people of the SoutWSrn States jy^ra dYivep, by the conduct of the Sortb, to the adoption of some courso of action to nverFtbe danger wiUi which th (;y were openly menaced. Wittathis view, the Legislatures of/Mjreral Stftlceju vited the people to select delegates to Con vcntions to bo held for the purpose of determining for themselves what measure were best adapted to meet so alarming a crisis in their history. Here it may be proper to observo that from a period as early as 1708 theer had existed in all of the States of the Union a party, almost uninterruptedly in the majority, based upon the creed that each State was, in the last resort, the sole judge as well of its wrongs, as of the mode and measure of redress. Indeed, it is obvious, that under the law of nations, this principle is an axiom as ir? j I ?? mw lomtiwiio i?f independent sovereign Slates, such as those which had united themselves under the constitutional compact. The Democratic party of the United States repeated in its successful canvass in 185Q, the declaration made in numerous previous political contests, that ii would " faithfully abide by and uphold the principles laid down in the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions o{ 1708, and in the report of Mr. Madison to the Virginia Legislature in 1700 ; and that it adopts those principles as constituting one :?f the main foundations of its political crecd." The principle thus emphatically announced, embrace t'.iat to which I have already id verted, the right of each State to judge )f and redress the wrongs of which il ;omplains. The principles were maintain s i by overwhelming majorities of the peoilo of all the States of the Union at diflferint elections, especially in the elections of Sir. Jelferson in the 1352, Mr. Madison in 1800, and Mr. Pierce in 1852. In the exercise of a right so ancient, so veil established, and so i:ecessary for self ^reservation, the people of the Confederate 3tate in their Conventions determined that he wrongs which they had suffered, and the evils with which they were menaced' equired that they should reroko the dolenation of powers to the Federal Governnent which they had ratified in their sov>ral Conventions. They consequently passKl ordinances, resuming all their rights is sovereign and independent States and lissolved their connection with the other States of the Union. Having done this, they proceeded to form i new compact amongst themselves l?v new irtides of confederation, which have been ilso ratified hy the Conventions of the sevrrsl States, with an approach to unanimity ar exceeding that of the Conventions vhieh adopted tho Constitution of 1787. rhey have organizod tlicir now government n all is departments; the functions of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Magic r_. i s- . ? mica nra |>t:riuriueu in accoruance with lie will of the people as displayed, not neroly in a cheerful acquiescence, but in lie enthusiastic supyort of the government .hus established hy themselves; and but or the interference of the Government of .lie United States in this legitimate exercise >f the right.of a people to self government leace, happiness and prosperity would now imile on our lands. That peace is ardently desired by this jovernraent and people, has been manifesed in every possible form. Scarce had rou assombled in February laet, when prior ven to the innugaration of the'Chief Mag strato, you had elected, you passed ft resoution expressive" of your desire for the appointment of commissioners to be Bent to he Government of the United States ' for lie purpose of negotiating friendly relations jetween that Government and the Confed >rate Slates of Ameucn, and for the eeltlenent of all questions of disagreement beLween the two Governments upon princillpft r*f finfllt iiifltino ? J wjimij miu gwwa faith." It WB8 my pleasure a* well as my duty Lo co operate with you in this work of peaco. Indued, in my address to you on taking the oath of ofFu:e, and bef<3fo receiving |rotn you tho communication of thja reaolQtion, I had >ntd, " as a oeceuity, not n ohoico, wo have resorted to Me remedy of separation, and henceforth, our energies must lb directed tc the conduct of our own affairs, and tho perpetuity of ihe Confederacy which we have foripcd* Jf a just perception of mutual interest shall permit us peaceably to pursue our separate political career, my most earnest desire will hare been fulfilled. It was in furtherance of these accordant views of the Congreae and the Execvtive, that I made choice of three discreet, able and distinguished citojtopa, who repaired to Washington. . Aid&ffy. their oordial co? operation, and tbat of the SecratarjP pi State, every effort compatible with f^elfre poet and the dignity of thf OwMdraty was exUkted befora T nllnorAd fc yield to iHu conviction that the governtpenl of the United States was determided t< attempt the oonqnest of this people, anc that oar cherishod hopes of )>eace were Vjpataipahle. On the arrival of our* Commissioners it Washington, on the 5th March, they, post poBcd, at the instigation of a friendly , 4?rraediary doing on more than giving iofOr Jii. >V~ mal npticc of ilieir arrival. This was done ' . with a view to afford time to the President, ! i who had just been inaugurated, for the dis, chargo of other pressing official duties in the organization of his Administration, be> fore engaging his attention in the object of their mission. It was not until the 12th [ of the month that they officially addressed the Secretary of State, informing him of! 1 tho purpose of their arrival, and stating in | the language of their instructions their | wish 'to mako to tho government of the j United Stales overturns for the opening of | negotiations, assuring the Government of; the United Slates, that the President, Con^ j gress and people of tho Confederate State j | earnestly desire a peaceful solution of those j j great questions; that it is neither their in- I ? I terest nor their wish lo make nnv demand which is nol founded on strictest justice, nor do any act to injure their Into confederates.' To this communication no formal reply was roccived until the 8th of April. During the interval the cominis3icners had I consented lo waive all questions of form, i With the firm resolve to avoid war if pos? J siblo, they went so far, even, as to hold, during that long period, unofficial intercource j through an intermediary, whose high posi- j tion and character inspired the hopevf sue- j cess, and through whom constant assurance j were received fiomthe Government of the j United States of peaceful intentions ; of the ! determination to evacuate Fort Sumter, and i further, thai no measure changing the existing slalus prejudicially to the Confederate States, especially at Fort Tickon*, was in i-umcuipiauon, uut mat in tlic event oF any change of intention on tliu subject, notice would be given to the commissioners. The crooked paths of diplomacy can scarcely furnish an example 60 wanting in courtesy, in candor, and directness, as was the course of the United States Government towards our commissioners in Washington. For proof of this I refer to the annexed documents, marked?.taken in connection with fuither facts which 1 now proceed to relate: Eirly in April the attention of the whole country, as well as that of our Commissioners, was attracted to extraordinery preparations for an extensive military and naval expedition in New York and other Northern ports. These preparations commenced in secrecy, for an expedition whose destination was concealed, only bccame known when nearly completed, and on the 5th, Gth and 7th April, transports and vessels of war, with troops, munitions and iiiuiiHry supplies 6auea irom INortliern porta, bounch Southward. Alarmed by so extraordinary a demonstration, the Comwissionere requested the delivery of an answer to thdtyg* official communication of the 12th ftfarch, and thereupon receivo?l, on the 8th April,;a reply dated on the 25th of the previous month, from which it appears that, ' Wtrtpg the whole interval, whilst the Commissioners were receiveing assurances calculated to inspire hope of the success of their mission, the Secretary of State and the President of the United States had , determined to hold no intercourse with them whatever; to refuse even to listen to any proposal tbcy had to make, and had profited by the delay created by their own assurances, in order to prepare secretly the inenps for effective hostile operations. That these assurances were given, has been virtually conjpssed by tbo Government of the United States by its sending a messenger to Charleston, to giva notice of , its purpose, to use force, if opposed in its intention of supplying For^ Sumter. No more striking proof or tbe abscnce of good rflilii in tbe conduct of tbo Government of tbe tJuited States towards1 tbe Confederacy can be required than is contained in tbe circumstances which accompanied tbe notice. According to tbo usual course* of navigation,'Sfo vessels' composing the expeditiun designed for tbe relief of fort sumier, nugLi Do expected to reaph Charleston lmrbor on tlie Otb of ApriJ, yet with our Commissioners actually in1 Washington, detained under artfaratwea th&t-ooliue should bo given of any movement, the nbtico was no? addressed to them, Kai a ' messenger was sent to 6harta*ton to give the ityfcce to 4fie Governdr'of-South Caro1 Hn^-arid'the notice was so given at a lattf hou^On the 8th April,*flie eve of the very day on which the fleet might be expected to arrive. . .V * 1 That the manoeuvre fijilqd in ita purpose 1 was not .the fault of thdte if ho oont rived it. 4 W?vy tempest delayed ,U)e arrival of the ' expedition, .and g$yeJtime to ibe command - i er of our forces a\ Charleston" to aak and] l^ive the instruction* of tbwjjoyerumenf. > I?von ihen, n n dcr a! I the (J^NftllUbtr iuci? dent to the * contemptnofis -refusal Jo listen . to our* Cttt^njiwioneirB, and Jha tortuous I course Gqwomen^of ih? pitted i 81*te?, I Vas sincerely atycious to Avoid effuaion of hloodj and directed a proposal. t to t>e made to tho cornrnaoper ofiForfc Sunptor, who had avowed him&ellV la bo * nearly r oat,of provisions, that" W" .fcoald - abstain from directing our fire bu Ifort vfc ! Sumter if ho would promise not to open fire on our forces, unless first attacked. ll This proposal wns refused, and the conclu? v sion was reached that the design of the ? United States was place the besieging for- s' ces at Charleston between tho siraultanc? v our fire of the fteot and tho fort. Tlicre re- a mained, therefore, no alternative but to di- 11 rect that the fort should at once be reduced. ^ This order was executed by Gen. IJeau- ^ regard with tho skill and success which | 1 were naturally to bo expected from tho well ; c known character of that gallant ofl:>-er; and |-? although the bombardment lasted but tliir- , I ty-threo hours, our ft:ig did not waive over : 1 i..'n i ?ii- ?.-' .i is umici<.'u w;ui3 11 ii111 auer 1110 appearance j 1 of tlie hostile fleet ofT Charleston. Fortu- j :| nately not a life was lost on our siile, and | we were gratified in being spared the no-'t cesity of a useless effusion of blood by the t prudent caution of the ofiiocis who com- ti manded the fleet, in abstaining from the i evidently futile effurt to enter (he harbor for s the relief of Major Anders mi. I refer to a the ropoit of the Secretary of War, and the v papers which accompany it, for further 1 details of this brilliant affair. tl In (his connection T cannot refrain from ' a well-deserved tribute to the noble State, i ' the eminent soldiery qualities of whose peo- 11 pie were so conspicuously displayed in the u port of Charleston. For months they had j c been irritated by the spectacle of a fortress ! held within their principal harbor, as a ! u standing menace against their peace and | fi independance. Built in part with their j v own money, its custody confined with their ! c own consent (o an agent who held no pow- <1 er over them such as they had themselves > <1 delegated for their own benefit, intended be used by that agent for their own protec- j d uuh ngainsi loreign auacu, uiey saw it held I t' with persistent tenacity as a means of of- ' p fence agrfinst thenrby the very Govern n ment which they had established for their v protection. |, Tiiey hsd belengured it for months? y felt entire confidence in their power to cap- j, turo il?yet yielded to the requirements of 1 w discipline, curbed their impatience, submit- : p ted without complaint to the unaccustomed j s hardships, labors and privations of a pro- j ( traded siege ; and when at length their ! j, patience was rewarded by the signal for at- a tack, and success had crowned their steady j and gallant conduct?even in the very mo- u ment of triumph?they evinced a chival- j rous regard tor tlie reelings of tiie bravo but unfortunate officer who bad been com polled to lower his flag. All tbe manifes- q tations of exultation were checked in his , presence. s Their commanding general, with their g cordial approval and the consent of liia Government, refrained form imposing any Q terms that would wound the sensibilities of I1 tho commander of tbe fort. lie was permilled to retire with tho honors of war, lo a salute his fla<r, to depart freely with all his . command, and was escorted to tlio vessels \ y in which he embarked, with the highest mark of respect frorti those against whom j his guns had been so recently directed. Not onlj' does every event connected with c the siege reflect the highest honor on South Carolina, but the forbearance of her people, and of this Government, from making any j a harsh uso of a victory obtained under cir- i 0 cu'metances of such peculiar prtjfoction, \ 1 attest to the fulleBt .extent tho absftnco of j ~ any purpose bej'ond securing their own n tranquility, and tho sincere desiro to avoid ( the calamities of war. 1 c Scarcely had tho President of tho Uni- ^ led States received intelligence of tlio faH- ^ 'tire of the scheme which lie had devised ^ for tlio reinforcement of Fort Sumter, when t Iio issued the declaration pf war against this ^ Oonfedracy, which Las prompted mo to | convoke you. Iu tbis extraordinary produc- . tion that high functionary affects total ? (ignojance of tho existence of an indepen- ^ dent Government, which, possessing the i ^ entire and enthusiastic devotion of ita people, is exeicising its functiofft without question over Beveu sovereign States?ov<irmore 1 than fogr millions of people?and over'a p territory ?*hoso area exceeds half n'million t of square miles, lie terms sovereign States 'combinations, too powerful to be supprei>6- { ed by the*-ordinary course of judicial, J>ro- j, ceedings, or by the powers vested in the ] marshals by taw.' __ . t 4 He calls for-j^Qrmy of seventy-five i thousand men tb~Acl as a posse comilatus. i | in aid. of the prd&siSof the ?purls of t tice in Stater jfhere no courts exist whose I mandates apd decrees are nc>t eheerfully t obeyed and respected by a wiling people. j He avows that 'the first Service to be as- J signed to the force* called out,' will be, Vnot c to execute the process of courts hot to pap- 1 lure forU and Strongholds fjtuated within -1 tlie udmitt&J lipiiUj of thi* .Confederacy, U ind g^rwanW, by ttflrOofcie; acd- flwlare* ) that.Miia ttffort' :.3 intended 'to maintain tWperpetmty ot^pul^r.ffoVdlrbmeDt^ IJa coTjclqdefl by ooipmandlng . 'the* persons Wanposma tfjo combinations, afcr^??itl/ jo wit: t.l<iHWo millions of inhbitnoi? of ilicAo-S States, 'to retir?..peaceabiyk to tn<nr respacji; live nbodc3 within twoftty days/ I .* , ' %7V vV: n -6 ..'Iff' ? '*?** cJr^g: . ?* : % # ???moBP??impHB Apparently contradictory a8 aro tip erms of tliis singular document, ono point vas unmistakeably evident. The President f the United States called for an army of eventy-five thousand men, whose first serioo was to bp to capture our forls. It was plain declaration of war, which I was ot at liberty to disregard becauso of my ;nowledgo under the Constitution of the Jinted S'.a'.is tho President was usurpng a power granted exclusively to tho Confess. llo is the sole organ of comrauni? ni:..n 1 .1... i __.i r : mi.tii uhui-i-ii wuiury ivrwgu tower?. The law of nations did not permit lie to question the authority of tho Exeouivo of ft foreign nation to dcclaro war gainst this Confederacy. t* Although I might hftvc refrained from liking active measures for our defence if he States of the Union had all iinita? iid the action of Virginia, North Carolinfl? likansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Misi.'uri, by denouncing the call for tioopsas n unconstitutional usurpation of power^to I'hieh they refused to respond, I wns not at iherty to disregard the fact that many of lie States seemed quite content to submit a the exercise of the power assumed by the 'resident of the United States, and were etively engaged in levying troops to bo ise.d for tho purpose indicated in the prolamation, Deprived oT the aid of Congress at tho fiouicul, I was under (he necessity of conning my action to a call on the States for olunteers for the common defence, in ac? ordanco with tho authority yoi; had confi- * led to me before .^your adjournment. I poninfl If tirnnni' fiirfliAi* I/\ - ? .V j-. W|,v. IUMIIVI IV ISCUU t\ |/l UUIiV? lalion inviting applications fYajp persona isposod to aid our defence in private armd vessels on the liigli seas, to the end that 'reparations might be ipado for the immedlte issue of letters of marquo and reprisal, >hich you alone, under the Constitution lave power to grant. T entertain no'doubt ou will concpr with me in the opinion that u the absence of a fleet of public vessels, it -ill be eminently expedient to supply their lace bv private armed vessels, so happily lyled by the publicists of the United States he militia of the sea,' and so often and istly relied on by them as an efficient and dmirable instrument of defensive warfare, earnestly recommend the passage of a law uthortzing me to accept the numerous iroposal.s already received. I cannot close this review of* the acts of lie government of tlie United States *i?ithut referring to a proclamation issiled by licir President, under date of the 10th intaut, in which , after declaring that an inurrection has broken out in this Confedancy against the government of the United ltntes,?he announces a .blockade of all the orts of these 8tates>, and ^threatens to pun<h as pirates all persons who shall molest ny vessel of the United States under letlts of maraue issued by this government Jot withstanding the authenticity of this iroclamatiori1, you will concur with me that t & hard to beliere that it could havo manatcd from a President of tbe Unftefl States. Its announcement of a more paper block,de is so manifestly a violation of the law >f nations that it would seem incredible hat it could have been issued by. authority ?but conceding this to the case so far is the Executive is concerned, it will t?a lifUmilt to satisfy the^people of these-Sfalft. hat ffreir late confederates will sanction'iU leolaralionp, will determina to ignore isages of civilized nations/lpd wiiyfougs* ate a war of extermination on botti3?|p^; iv treating as piratesj^open enemies -acting inder tho authority of^cominissions ijsufed iv nil organized government. If 3ijch pro?* amation w.ns issued, it could ODly.hfvd >eeh published under the suddeQ-'Inflb^OQ: if jinseio'n. and we may res', assured man? ihrl Will, I'ta cnarnrl iIia Iiavvam it*a > ? n... w|/tMvu UIB uwtivia ui lUO ,,UyUT7 lid it seems to invite. For the details of the ndministratjptj of lie different departments, I refer to thfTlrfe-? lorts of the secretaries which accompany '^ his message. , ,b Tho Btato Department baa furnished ho necessary instructions for three'Con?[l&'oner?, who have been sent to England, France, "Russia, and Belgiutn^dMfo. JpDr tdjourii'mont, to ask our reCognitieW' &A <a , nember of tho familv of njfttoiSo*'afed fif* tiiko with each of those poAers, tfetttios of imiiy and commerce. Further step* *ill ie taken to enter ioto like negotifttiptis^fUh *% he other European powets, in pnrBUanco of # roqjr resolutions passed at the last jM&idn." Juflicient'tim^ has nbfc yit elapsed sincc iti'e * leparture.of rtfe&e Coaypis&ionora fdrlhe eoeipt of any intelligence from them* Apt [ deem It denable lb at Cn!flrai#sioners, or . >t)?or diplomatia^eota, should filso beeeufe it np c?rlv period to the itidp^jU^lt ^meric^n ppsf9^t*oii^h 9/, 6njt C<$^e**5y with nll'of whom it H our inletoet est <5sl? to W t libit J if ffo&o i ^ ^r " ^'" -':/ ">' >"- '' '/ m <t s ? I .r'y c-%*ir~ ;:,.'|E8P r'**& 'iff