MESSAGE
OF President JeIleroii DaYis.
Gentlemen of (lie Congress :
It is my pleasing duty to announce to you that
the Constitution framed for the establisLment of a
permanent government, for the Confederate States
lias been ratified by Conventions in each of those
States to which it was referred. To inaugurate
the government in its full proportions and upon
its own substantial basis of the popular will, it
only remains that elections should be held for the
designation of the officers to administer it.
There is reason to believe that at no distant day
other States identified in political principles and
community of interests with those which you rcp-
his proclamation issued on the fifteenth day of the
present month, rendered it necessary, in my judg
ment that you should convene at he earliest prac
tical moment, to devise the measures necessary for
the defence of the country.
This occasion is indeed an extraordinary one.
It justifies me in a brief review of the relations
heretofore existing between us and the States
which now unite in warfare against us, and in a
succiuet statement of the events which have result
.A in in !.; -,r4-..,.... tn ,hn n.,A fl. . ......t;.,J .o I
pass intelligent and imt-aitLl iud-meut on ;
motives and objects j
During the war waged against Great lirituin by
the colonies on this continent, a common dan
impelled U.em to a close alliance, and to the forma- i
;tion of a Confederation,, by the terms of which
.the colonics, styling themselves States, entered
'.severally" into a firm league of friendship with
each other for their common defence, the security
.of their liberties, and their mutual and general
welfuFO, binding themselves to assist each other
; against all force offered to or attacks made upon
.tfectn or any of them, on account of religion, sov
ereignty, trade or any other pretence whatever."
In order to guard against any misconstruction
, of their contract, the several States made explicit
.declaration, iu a distinct article, that 'trt State
ntains iU sovereignty, freedom and independence,
and every power, jurisdiction and right which is
utiot by this Confederation crprexsy deleyatcd to
-tbe United States in Congress assembled."
Under this contract of alliance the war of the
Revolution was successfully waged, and resulted
in the treaty of peace with Great Uritian in 1783,
by the terms of which the several States were,
rarh by name, recognized to be independent.
The articles of Confederation contained a clause
-whereby all alterations were prohibited, ur-lcss con
firmed by the legislature of every State after being
agreed to by Congress, 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
tffe and r-xpres pvrjose of revising the articles of
.confederation, and reporting to Congress and the
several Legislatures such alterations and provis
ions therein as shall, when agreed to in Congress,
ami ctnjinned ly the Stalrt, render the Federal
Constitution adequate to the exigencies of govern
ment and the preservation of the Union."
It was by the delegates chosen by the srrrml
&tutcgt under the resolution just quoted, that the
Constitution of the United States was framed iu
1787, and submitted to the several States for rati
fication, as shown by the 7th article, which is in
these words:
"The ratification of the Convention of nine
State shall be sufficient for the establishment of
this Constitution bktyvki.n the State, so ratify
ing the same."
I have italicised certain words in the quotations
just made, for the purpose of attracting attention
to the singular and marked caution with which the
JStates endeavored, in every possible form to ex
delude the idea that the separate and independent
sovereignty of each State was merged into one
common government and nation, and the earnest
desire they evinced to impress on the Constitution
its true character that of a lowj.tut betyvekn in
dependent States.
The Constitution of 17S7 having, however, omit
ted the clause already recited from the articles of
confederation, which provided iu explicit terms,
that each State re tain id its sovereignty and inde-
Peudence, some alarm was felt in the States when
inviteu to ratuy the I onstitution, lest this oinis-
sion should be construed into an abandonment of
resent. Will loin this I nnipIpr..v ficinif tit rt tvn-
t i i f ?. .-. ' crs to the United States Congress, a large portion: . , . , - J i ' ..
ii vuusirnauuu luciuascu fpuuaor 10 us gov-. . ... , . w .; nirht 01 eacn cMare to mage or ana rearess in
rnment of free, equal sovereign States, a wide , "e Mwni. p.- IM ----- - w ' wrongs of which it complains. These principles
sphere of usefulness, and to the friends of a consti- " imported into the cuon.es by the mother , weremaint-ined b over;hciminJr Iuajoritics of the I
tutional liberty a greater security for irs harmoni- . u. u. . u, pe0pIe of all the States of the Union at different
. i . 1 c hivsrir otntpii and the riht or nrnnertv in 1 i . ....-
ous ana perpetual existence. , - c -','. i elections, especially in the elections ot .Mr Jefferson
It was not, however, for the purpose of making ! filaves was pro ceted 1 by hw. P. ! i in 1825, Mr '.Madison in 1809 & Mr Pierce in 1852.
tVia announcement that I have deemed it my duty ! "cognized in the Constitution, and provision w-s . th
to convoke you at an earlier day than that fixed by ! "aJe. S. ; ,0M b the escape of the s alj te. t b,. h j d ncceMaPJ for .elf-preservation, the
yourselves for your meeting. The declaration 0f : 1 he increase in ihfe number of slaves by bc J cople of the Conf,derati State8 in their Conven
er made against the Confederacy by Abraham ,he,r l-''on from Africa was a ,o reared by I I d incd tha, u,e w which th had
Lincoln, the President of the United States, in ; a cW lorb.dding Congress to prohibit the slac ; with which thev were me-
their cherished principle, and they refused to be j 'laves so insecure as to be comparatively worth
satifcfied until amendments were added to the Con- ''ss antl thereby annihilating iu effect property
titution, placing beyond any pretence of doubt I
thc reservation, by the States, of all their sover
m m . . I
eign rights and powers not expressly delegated
tQ the JTited States by the Constitution.
Strange indeed must it appear to the impartial
tbcTVer, but it is none the less true, that all these
carefully worded clauses proved unavailing to prc
'Ve&t the rise and growth in the Noitheru States
of a political school which has prcsisteiitly claimed
that the Government thus formed was not a com
pact between States, but was in effect a National
J-overnmeut. set up above and over the States.
An organization, created by the States to secure !
the blessings of liberty ai.J independence against
foreign aggrebsions has been gradually perverted
"into a machine for their control in their domestic
affairs the creatine has been exalted above its
creators; the princip als have been made subordi- !
iiatc to the agent apjointed by themselves. '
The people of the Southern States, whose almost ,
.exclusive occupation was agriculture, early picceiv- !
.ed a tendency in the Northern States to render
the common government subservient to their own i
purposes, by imposing burthens on commerce as a i
protection to their manufacturing and shipping 8;,c,;" y"cm onue i n; u.c wnite population o
interests. Ing and angry controversy grew out . ,e then. slavehold.ng States had augmented
.of these attempu, often to benefit one section ol ; lru about l,2o0,000 at the date of the .doption
the country at the expense of the other. And ?L! ,e Constitution to more than 8 500,000 in
Ihe danger of disruption arising from this cause K800' a,ld ibe productions of the South in cotton
was enhanced by the fact that the Norrhern popu- 'V' d tobacco for the development and
lation was increasing by emigratian and ticr continuance of which the labor of American slaves
causes in a greater ratio than the population of wa3' nnd,!s', "d'lle had swollen to an
the South. Uy degrees, as the Northern States! a,uou,,t wJ'h for'"fa "'f t!,ree four'h f th
gained preponderance in the national Congress, ! ,of the who,e L",ted ates, and become
self interest taught their people to yield ready as i bsuuteb" necessary to the wants of civilized men.
sent to any plausible advocacy of their ri 'ht as a I With interests of such overwhelming magnitude
. . J r .. - -., . . :n i ii l.. f .k O l ..
majority to govern tne mmoniy wimout control; j
they learned to listen with impatience to the sug-
gestion of any constitutional impediment to the
exercise of their will; and so utterly have the prin
ciples of the Constitution been .corrupted in the
Northern mind, that in the inaugural address
delivered by President Lincoln, in March last, he
asserts as an axiom, which he plainly deems to be
undeniable, that the theory of the Constitution re
quires that in .all .cases the majority shall govern;
and in other .memorable instances, the same Chief
Magistrate did -not hesitate to liken the relations
.between .a Stale and the United States to .those
which exists between a county and a State in ,
which it is situated and by which it was erected'
This is' the lamcntal and fundamental error on 1
xchioh rt the nolicr that has culminated in his
declaration of war against these Confederate States
.. .-.... - i
In addition to the long continued and deep scat-
1 . P 1. I -1- - C3 .1 e.-. . U
eu resentment ieu uy tue ouuiuem oiaies mu
. , -r. .. .- i
the expense of the bouth, there has existed for;
. I !. . :
nn.ri h.. t o onnfiirv nnntner PiimiT-L r ni.scoru.
y. . . . . J, . i'
n..l..:. :..i.nic nt tn--li (rinini!nt mo rr in t ii1
as at all times to create the apprehension in the
minds of many devoted lovers of the Union, that
its permanence was impossible.
. . .I.. i : .u
n hen the severaf fctatcs delegated certain pow-
1 tUl lljf J LVI LU 111 Uaitt UHU I iV .-. .
' .1
can there be found any delegation of power to the
. . f . .i. i-i.,tai
to the prejudice, detriment or discouragement of
. v v..-j v. j ' f
..ill vrri -1 1 i mil i nr 1 1 1 .1 u i !: " 1.111111 ,
owners of that species of property, or excluding it
from the protection of the government.
The climate and soil of the Northern States
on proved unpropitious to the continuance of
! r. 1 . n I.. lw-k V ' V 1 1 f tllk Is f A MA tV1 O t ll tt A'lQO t. t 1l O
. ,r , ... . ,
i .)Utn. i nuer me unresinetea iniercouse utstween
me iwo secuons, me iiunuern naies cuiisuncu
.i . .!.. vr 1 cs .- I
their own interest by se ling their slaves to the
South, and prohibiting slavery within their finals.
T,!e fj,ulh 'r.e wll:-nB PYch?sIersl of PPJy
suitalue to their wants; and paid the price of the
aequ.Mtion without harboring a suspicion that their
quiet possession was to be disturbed by those who
were inhibited, not only by want ot constitutional
authority, but by good faith as vendors, from dis
quieting 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 represen
tatives a controlling voice iu the Congress, a per
sistent and 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 was
devised and prosecuted for the purpose of render
ing insecure the tenure of property in slaves;
fanatical organizations, supplied w'.th money by
voluntary subscrptions, were avsiduously engaged
in exciting amongst the slaves n spirit of di. content
and revolt ; means were furnished for their escape
from their owners, and agents secretly employed
to entice them to abscond ; the constitutional
provision for their rendition to their owners was
first evaded, then openly denounced as a violation
of conscientious obligation and religious duty;
men were taught that it was a merit to elude, dis
obey and violently oppose the execution of the laws
enacted to secure the performance of the promise
contained iu the constitutional compact ; owners
of slaves were mobbed, and even murdered in
open day, solely for applying to a magistrate for
the arrest of a fugitive slave; the dogmas of these
voluntary organizations soon obtained control of
the legislatures of many of the Northern States,
and laws were passed providing for punishment by
ruinous fines and lonj; continued imprisonment in
jails and penitentiaries, of citizens of the Southern
Stales who should dare to ask aid of the officers of
the law for recovery of their property.
Kmboldened by success , the theatre of agita
tion and aggression against the clearly expressed
constitutional rights of the Southern States was
transferred to the Congress ; Senators and Repre
sentatives were sent to the Common Councils of
the nat"t!i, whose chief title to this distinction
consisted in the display of a spirit of ultra fanati
cism, and whose business was, not "to promote the j
; iiiiue ami
. ( . . ..... m .. ni ri i si i r n n n 1 1 i ri wi . k r...iia
general welfare or ensure domestic tranquility,"1. v" i uur 7"'luroi
but to awaken the bitterest hatred against the ,"-,on the ot i of March, they ptponed at
citizens of sister States by violent denunciation of the "Ration of a friendly intermediary, doing
by
their institutions; the transaction of public affairs
was impeded by repeated efforts to u..urp powers
not delegated by the Constitution, for the purpose
of impainng the security of property in slaves and
reducing those States which held slaves to a con
dition of inferiority.
Finally a great party was organized for the pur
pose of obtaining the administn. tion of the gov
ernment, with the avowed object of using its
power for the total exclusion of the slave States
from all participation in tha benefits of the public
doma'n, acquired by al! the States in common,
whether by conquest or purchase ; or surrounding
them entirely by States in which slavery should
uC prohibited ; of thus rendering the property in
xrlh thousands of millions of dollars. This par-
. - 1 "
ty, thus organized, succeeded iu the month of
November last, in the election of its candidate
for the Presidency of the United States.
In the meantime, uiyier tbo mild and genial
climate of the Southern States, and the increasing
care and attention for the well-being and comfort
of the laboring class, dictated alike by interest and
humanity, the African slaves had augmented in
numoer iroi . aoout ovy.vvv, a ine uate oi ine I
a.P'l?"!,hc 'tt"onal compact, to upwards i
i i 1 . uif Ann . . I j . . i" .i I
,f" 4.000,000. In moral and social condition they
,,ave been elevated from brutal savages into docile,
intelligent anJ civilized agricultural laborers, and
supplied not only with bodily comforts, but with
careful religious instruction.
Under the supervision of a superior race, their
laDor ,laJ been directed as not only to allow a
gradual and marked amelioration of their own
, . , .. , , .!
ou7" "u,".,r "'ousaiias oi .
conuuion, oui io cenvert nuntireus oi inousanus oi
Mluare " " cumvrueu lanus
c,.,enld ,w,th a frostruu people ; towns and !
?,,les ,,a? PruI,S tcnce ind had rapidly j
wcr "u population umler the ,
"vriueu, me ktu-.icui mc ouumrni ciaies were
driven, by the conduct of the North, to the adop-
tion of some course of action to avert the danger
with which they were openly menaced. With
this view, the Legislatures of the several States
invited the people to select delegates to Conven
tions 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 that from a
period as early as 179S there had existed in all of
the States of the Union a party, almost uninter
ruptedly in the majority, b?sed opop t;e creed
WESTERN- DEMO C - BATr'6HAOTTE -
that each State was, .n the last resort, the sole
J "dge as well of its wrongs as of .he wode and.
neaure of redress. Indeed, it is obytous, that
i me law 01 nations, mis pr....p.
iom as applied to the relations of independent
sovereign States such as those which had united
! MICB1SCITB
themselves under the constitutional compact. The
. . . , T- . , c, . i
Democratic party of the Lnited btatcs repeated
essful canvass in Ipoo, the declaration
imerous previous political contests, that
.lf.:.UfH .l.M, mnA nnlAl,1 tUa
. . , . ., , U- i a v
cnncicles laid down in the Kentucky and V lrcinia
r . r . . . .
resolutions of 1 i 98. and in the report ot ilr JJadi
, ' r
' son to the A inrinia Legisla
ature in 1709, and that
it adopts those principles as constituting one of the
main foundations of its political creed."
Ice principles thus emphatically announced cm-
e
e
es
e
t
on
1 11 ll.ll
iiAinr. vrr. n i mfi 1 1 i t fliAir cnrkiilil mvr.L'i tha nalo.
j y , "
! gation of powers to the Lederal Government which
they had ratified in their several conventions.
They consequently passed Ordinances resuming
all their rights as sovereign and independent States
and dissolved their connection with the other
States of the Union.
Having done this, they proceeded to form a new
compact amongst themselves bv new
articles ot
. . . . . , , t .1
cimifui'iaiion, which uuve aiso uteri rauut-u uj iuc
conventions of the several States, with an approach
to unanimity far exceeding that of the conventions
wlrch adopted the Constitution of 1787. They
have organized their new Government in all its
departments; the functions of the Executive, Le
gislative and Judicial Magistrates are performed
in accordance with the will of the people as dis
played, not merely in a cheerful acquicsence, but
in the enthusiastic support of the government thus
established by themselves; and but for the inter
ference of the government of the United States in
this legitimate exercise of the right of a people to
self-government, peace, happiness and prosperity
would now smile on our land.
That peace is ardently desired by this govern
ment and people, has been manifested in every
possible form. Scarce had you assembled in Feb
ruary last, when, prior even to the inauguration of
the Chief Magistrate you had elected, you passed
a resolution expressive of your desire for the ap
pointment of commissioners to be scut to the gov
ernment of the United States "for the purpose of
negotiating friendly relations between that govern
ment and the Confederate States of America, and
for the settlement of all qi tions of disagreement
between the two govern ments upon principles of
right, justice, equity and good faith."
It was my pleasure as well as my duty to co
operate with you in this work of peace. Indeed,
in my address to you on taking the oath of office
and before receiving from you the communication
of this resolution, I had said, "as a necessity, not
a choice, we have resorted to the remedy of sepa
ration, and henceforth our energies must be direct
ed to the conduct of our own affairs, and the per
petuity of the Confederacy which we have formed.
If a just perception of mutual interest shall permit
us peaceably to pursue our separate political career,
my most earnest desire will have been fulfilled.''
It was in furtherance of these accordant views
of the Congress and the Executive, that I made
choice of three discreet, able and distinguished ,
citizens, who repaired to Washington. Aided by j
their cordial co-operation and that of the Secretary
of State, every effort compatible with self-respect !
and the dignity of the Confederacy was exhausted j
before I allowed myself to yield to the conviction j
that the government of the U. States was deter
mined to attempt the conquest of this people, and
that our cherished hopes of peace were unattainable.
On the arrival of our commissioners in Hash-
more than giving informal notice of their arrival
This was done with a view to afford time to the
President, who had just been inaugurated, for the
discharge of other pressing official duties in the or
ganization of his Administration, before engiging
his attention in the object of their mission. It was
uot until the 12th of the month that they officially
addressed the Secretary of State, informing him of j
the purpose of their arrival, and stating in the lan- '
gnage of their instructions their wish "to make to j
the government of the United States overtures for j
the opening of negotiations, assuring the govern-1
merit of the U. States that the President, Congress
and people of the Confederate States earnestly de- i
sire a peaceful solution of the great questions; that
it is neither their interest nor their wish to make any
demand which is not founded on strict justice, nor
d.i any act to injure their late confederates."
To this communication no formal reply was re
ceived until the 8th of April. During the interval
the commissioners had consented to waive all ques
tions of form. With the firm resolve to avoid war
if possible, they went so far, even, as to hold, dur
ing that long period, unofficial intercourse, through
an intermediary, whose high position and charac
ter inspired the hope of success, and through whom
constant assurances were received from the gov-
eminent of the U. S. of peaceful intentions; of the
determination to evacuate Fort Sumter, and fur
ther, that no measures changing the existing status
prejudicially to the Confederate States, especially
at Fort Pickens, was iu contemplation, but that in
the event of any change of intention ou the sub
ject, notice would be given to the commissioners.
The crooked paths of diplomacy can scarcely furn
ish an example so wanting in courtesy, in candor,
r. .1 ;... .-.., .... . i. ..... f ,.. ?t cj
a,,u uiiciuicss, aa wu itic tuuifc ui me i . gov-
crnmont towardjJ our Con)lu5ssioners i Washing
t. por ...,f of ,,lis j Tvfvr to tJie aIinexeJ ,!o
cuments taken in consideration with further facts
wllich t I10w cd to rol:lte.
Karl in pril the atte.
arly in April the attention of the whole coun
try, as well as that of our commissioners, was at
tracted to extraordinary preparations for an exten
sive military and naval expedition in New York
and other northern ports. These preparations com
menced in secrecy, for an expedition whose desti
nation was concealed, only became known when
nearly completed, and on the nth, Gth and 7th of
April, transports and vessels of war, with troop.,
munition! and military supplies, sailed from north
ern ports bound southward. Alarmed by so ex
traordinary a demonstration, the commissioners re
quested the delivery of an answer to their official
communication of the I2th of March, and there
upon received, on the 8;h of April, a reply dated
on the 25th of the pievious mouth, from which it
appears that, during the whole interval, whilst the
connmissioncrs were receiving assurances calculated
to inspire Lope 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
proposals they had to make, and had profited by
the delay created by their own assurances, in or
der to prepare spgretly rUp means for effective hos
tile operations
That these assurances were given, has been vir
tually confessed by the government of the Lnited
atM Rondin.r a messenger to Charleston to give
! notice of its purpose to use force if opposed in its
intention of supplying J?ort cumier.- no .o.c
striking proof of the absence of good faith in . the
r conduct of the government of the U. States to
I wards the Confederacy can be required than is
.nntained in the circumstances which accompanied
the notice. According to the usual course of na
vigation, the vessels composing the expedition de
signed for the relief of Fort Sumter might be ex
pected to reach Charleston harbor on the 9th of
April, yet with our commissioners actually in
Washington, detained under assurances that notice
should be given of any military movement, the no
tice was not addressed to tliem, but a messenger
was sent to Charleston to give the notice to the
1 Governor of South Carolina, and the notice was so
triven at a late hour on the 8th of April, the eve
of the very day on which the fleet might be ex-
! pected to arrive.
I . . -I 1 " -. n VlB
That tne manoeuvre laiieu in us jarpusc
fault of those who contrived it. A heavj- tempest de
layed the arrival of the expedition, and gave time to
the commander of our force at Charleston to ask and
receive the instructions of this government. Even
then, under all the provocation incident to the con
temptuous refusal to listen to our Commissioners, and
the tortuous course of the United States, I was sin
cerely auxious to avoid the effusion of blood, and
directed a proposal to be made to the conmiauder of
Fort Sumter, who had avowed himself to be nearly
out of provisions, that we should abstain from direct
ing our fire on Fort Sumter if he would promise ti'ot O
open fire on our forces unless first attacked. ' This
proposal was refused, and the conclusion was reached
that the design of the United States was to place the
besieging forces at Charleston between the simultane
ous fire of the fleet and the fort. There remained,
therefore, uo alternative but to direct that the fort
should at once be reduced.
This order was executed by Gen. Beauregard with
the skill and success which were naturally to be ex
pected from the well known character of that gallant
officer; and, although the bombardment lasted bat
thirty-three hours, our flag did not waive over its bat
tered walls until after the appearance of the hostile
fleet off Charleston. Fortunately not a life was lost
on our side, and we were gratified in being spared the
necessity of useless effusion of blood by the prudent
caution of the officers who commanded the fleet, in
abstaining from the evidently futile effort to enter the
harbor for the relief of Major Anderson. I refer to the
report of the Secretary of war. and the papers which
accompany it, for further details of this brilliant anair.
In this connection I eannot refrain from a well
de?erved tribute to the noble State, the eminent sol
dierly qualities of whose people were so conspicuously
displayed in the port of Charleston. For months they
had been irritated by the spectacle of a fortress held
within their principal harbor, as ft standing menace
against their peace and independence. 1-iiilt iu part
with their own money, its c.tody confided with their
own coneut to an upent who held no power over them
other tlian such as they had themselves delegated for
their own benefit, intended to be used by that agent for
their own protection against for. ign attack, they saw it
held with per, istent tenacity as a means of offence
agaitis them by the very Government which they had
established for their protection.
They had beleagured it for months felt entire confi
dence in their power to capture U yet yielded to the
requirements of discipline, curbed their impatience, j
submitted without complaint to the unaccustomed
hardships, labors and privations of a protracted seige;
and when at length their patience wa3 rewarded by the
signal for attack, and success had crowned their stendy
and gallant conduct even in the very momen of tri
umph they evinced a chivalrous regard for the feel
ings of the brave but unfortunate officer who had been
compelled to lower his flag. All the manifestations of
exultation were checked in his presence.
Their commanding general, with their cordial ap
proval and the consent of his Government, refrained
from imposing any terms that would wound the sensi
bilities of the commander of the fort. lie was permit
ted to retire with the honors of war, to salute bis flag,
to depart freely with all his command, and was escorted
to the vessel in which he embanked with the highest
mark of respect from those against whom his guns had
been so recently directed. Not only does every event
connected with the siege reflect the highest honor on
South Carolina, bnt the forbearance of her people, and
of this Government, from making any harsh use of a
victory obtained under circumstances of such peculiar
provocation, attest to the fullest extent the absence of
any purpose beyond securing their own tranquility,
and the sincere desire to avoid the calamities of war.
Scarcely had the President of the United States re
reived intelligence of the failnre of the scheme which
he had devised for the reinforcement of Fort Sumter,
when he issued the declaration of war against this
Confederacy, which has prompted me to convoke you.
In this extraordinary production, that, high functionary
affects total ignorance of the existence of an inde
pendent Government, which, possessinff the entire and
enthusiastic devotion of its people, is exercising its
functions without question over seven soveign States
over more than four millions of people and over a
territory whose area exceeds half a million of square
miles. He terms sovereign States " combinations, loo
powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of
judicial proceedings or by the powers vested in the
marshals by law."
He call for an army of seventy -five thousand men
to act as a pot eomittitvx in aid of the process of the
courts of justice in States where no courts exist, whose
mandate and decrees are not cheerfully obeyed and re
spected by a willjnjr neople. He avows that 4 the first
service to be assigned to the forces called out" will be.
; not to execute the process of courts, bnt to capture
forts and strongholds situated within the admitted
limits of this Confederacy, and garrisoned bv its
troops: and declares that "this effort" is intended "to
maintain the perpetuity of popular government." He
concludes by cotnmandine " the persons eomposin? the
combinations aforesaid." to-wit : the five millions of
inhabitants of these States. " to retire peaceably to
their respective abodes within twenty days."
Apparently contradictory as are the terms of this
singular document, one point was unmistakably evi
dent. The President of the United States called for
an army of seventy-five thousand men, whose first
service was to be to captnre our forts. It was a plain
declaration of war. which I was not at liberty to dis
regard. becane of my knowledge under the Constitu
tion of the United States the President was nsnrpincr a
power granted exclusively to the Congress. He is the
sole organ of communication between that country and
foreign powers. The law of nations did not permit
me to qnestion the anthority of the Executive of a
Toreirn nation to declare war aerainst this Confederacy
Although I might have refrained from taking active
measures for our defence if the States of the Union had
all imitated the action of Virginia. North Carolina,
Arkansas, Kentucky. Tennessee and Missouri, by de
nouncing the call for troops as an unconstitutional
nsurpation of power fo which thev refused to respond.
I was not at liberty to disregard the fact that many of
the States seemed quite content to submit to the exer
cise of the power assumed by the President of the
United States, and were actively engaged in levying
troops to be nsed for the purpose indicated in the
proclamation.
Deprived of the aid of Congress at the moment. I
was under the necessity of confining mv action to n
call on the States for volunteers for the common de
fence, in accordance with the authority you had confi
ded to me before your adjournment. I deemed it
proper further to issne a proclamation inviting applica
tions from persons disposed fo aid our defence in pri
vate armed vessels on the high seas, to the end that
preparations might be made for the immediate issue of'
letters of marque and reprisal, which you alone, under
the Constitution, have power to grant. I entertain no
doubt you will concur with me in the opinion that, in
the absence of a fleet of public Tessels, it will be emi
nently expediei.t to supply their place by private
armed vessels, sn happily styled by the publicists of the
United States " the militia' of the sea," and so often
and justly relied on by then as an efficient and admi
rable instrument of defensive warfare. I earnestly
recommend the passage of a law authorizing me to
accept the numerous proposals already received.
I cannot close this review of the acts of the govern
ment of the United State'- withoat referring to a
proclamation issued by their President, under date of
the 19lh inst., in which, after declaring that an insur
rection has broken out in this Confederacy against the
government of the United States, he announces a
blockade of all the ports of these States, and threatens
to punish aa pirates all persons who shall molest any
vessel of th United Slates under letters of marque
issned by this government. Notwithstanding the au
thenticity of this pro-drtRjajjon, yn win concur with
"Nf O.
mc that it is hard to believe that it tould have emana
ted from a President of the United States, v ?.
t. of . mere paper blockade is so
manifestly a violation of the law of nations that it
would seem incredible that it couia nave oecn .-ttc
by authority but conceding this to be the case so far
as the executive is concerned, it will be difficult to
satisfy the people of these States that their late con
federates will sanction its declarations, will determine
to ignore the usages of civilized nations, and will in
augurate a war of extermination on both sides, by
treating as pirates open enemies acting under the au
t,.rit f commissions issued by an organized govern
ment." If such proclamation was issued, it conld only
have been puWlisbed under the sudden influence of
passion, and we may rest assured mankind win oe
spared the horrors of the conflict it seems to invite.
For the details of the administration of the different
departments, I refer to the reports of the secretaries
which accompany this message.
. The State Department has furnished the necessary
instructions for three Commissioners, who have been
sent to England, France, Russia and Belgium, since
your adjournment, to ask our recognition as a member
of the family of nations, and to make with each of
those poAvers" treaties of amity and commerce. Further
steps will be taken to enter into like negotiations with
the other European powers, in pursuance of your reso
lutions passed nt the last session. Sufficient time has
not yet elapsed since the departure of these Commis
sioners for the receipt of any intelligence from them.
As I deem it desirable that Commissioners, or other
diplomatic agents, should also be sent at an early period
to the independent Americen powers south of our Con
federacy, with all of whom it is our interest and earnest
wish to maintain the most cordial and friendly rela
tions, I suggest the expediency of making the necessary
appropriations for that purpose.
Having been officially notified b the public authori
ties of the State of Virginia that she had withdrawn
from (he Union, and desired to maintain the closest
political relations with ns which it was possible at
this time to establish, I commissioned the lion. Alex
ander H. Stevens, Vice President of the Confederate
States, to represent this Government nt Richmond. I
I am happy to inform you that he has concluded a con
vention with the State of Virginia, by which that hon
ored Commonwealth, so long and justly distinguished
among her sister States, and so dear to the hearts of
thousands of her children in the Confederate States,
has united her power and her fortune with oars, and
become one of ns.
This convention, together with the ordinance of Vir
ginia adopting the provisional constitution of the Con
federacy, will be laid before you for your constitutional
action. I have satisfactory assurances from other of
onr late confederates that they are on the point of
adopting similar measures, and I cannot doubt that ere
you shall have been many weeks iu session, the whole
of the slaveholding States of the late Union will
respond to the call of honor and affection, and, by
nniting their fortunes with ours, promote our common
interests and secure our common safety:
In ti e Treasury Department, regulations have been
devised and put into execution, for carrying ont the
policy indicated in your legislation on the subject of
the navigation of the Mississippi river, as well as for
the collection of revenue on the frontier. Free transit
has been secured for vessels and merchandize passing
through the Confederate States; and delay and incon
venience have been avoided as far as possible in organi
zing the revenue service for the various railways enter
ing our territory. As fast as experience shall indicate
the possibility of improvement in these regulations, no
effort will be spared to free commerce from all un
necessary embarrassments and obstructions.
Under your act authorizing a loan, proposals were
issued inviting subscriptions for five millions of dol
lars, and the call was answe cd by the prompt sub
scription of more than eight millions by our own citi
zens, and not a single bid was made under par. The
rapid development of the purpose of the President of
the United States to invade onr soil, capture our forts,
blockade our ports, and wage war against us, induced
me to direct that the entire subscription should be ac
cepted. It will now become necessary to raise means
to a much larger amount to defray the expenses of
maintaining onr independence and repelling invasion.
I invite your special attention to this subject, and the
financial condition of the Government, with the sug
gestion of ways and means for the supply of the
Treasury, will be presented to you in a separate com
munication. To the Department of Justice yon have confided not
only the organization and supervision of all matters
connected with the courts of justice, but also those
connected with patents and with the bureau of public
printing.
Since yonr adjournment all the eonrts, with the ex
ception of those of Mississippi and Texas, haxe been
organized by the appointment of Marshals and District
Attorneys, and are now prepared for the exercise of
their functions.
In two States, just named, the gentlemen confirmed
as Judges declined to aeccpt the appointment, and no
nominations have yet been made to fill the vacancies.
I refer you to the report of the Attorney General, and
concur in his recommendation for immediate legisla
tion, especially on the subject of patent rights. Early
provision should be made to secure to the subjects of
foreign nations the full enjoyment of their property in
valuable inventions, and to extend to onr own citizens
protection, not only for their own inventions, but for
such as may hereafter be assigned by persons not aliens
or enemies.
The patent office business is much more extensive and
important than had been anticipated. The application
for patents, although confined under the law exclu
sively to citizens of our Confederacy, already average
seventy per month, showing the' necessity for the
prompt organization of a bureau of patents."
The Secretary of War, in his report and accompany
ing documents, conveys full information concerning
the forces, regular, volunteer, and provisional, raised
and called for under the several Acts. Also, an ac
count of the expenditures already made, and the
further estimates for the fiscal year ending on the 18th
of February, 1802, rendered necessary by recent
events. I refer to his report, also for a full history of
the ocenrrences in Charleston harbor, prior to and in
cluding the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and of the
measures snbseqnently taken for the common defence,
on receiving intelligence of the declaration of war
against us made by the President of the United States.
There are now in the field at. Charleston. Pensacola,
Forts Morgan. Jackson. St. Philip and Pulaski, nine
teen thousand men. and sixteen thousand are now en
route for Virginia. It is proposed to organize and hold
in readiness for instant action, in view of the present
exigencies of the country, an armv of one hundred
thousand men. If further force should be needed, the
wisdom and patriotism of Congress can be confidently
.appealed to for authority to call into the field additional '
numbers of our noble spirted volunteers, who are con
stantly tendering service fr in excess of our wants. J
The operations of the Navy Department have been !
necessarily restricted by the fart that sufficient time has
not yet elapsed for the pnrchase or construction of more
than a limited number of vessels adapted to the public
service. Two vessels purchased have been named the
"Sumter" and "Macbree." and are now being prepared
for sea at New Orleans with all possible dispatch. Con
tracts have also Wen made at that city with two differ
ent establishments for the casting of ordnance, cannon,
shot and shell, with a view to encourage the manufac
ture of these articles s indispensable for onr defence,
as at many points within our territory as possible.
I call your attention fo the recommendation of the
Secretary for the establishment of a magstintf and la
boratory for preparation of ordnance stores, and the
necessary appropriation for that pnrpose.' Hitherto
snrh stores have nsnallr been prepared at the navy
yards, and no appropriation was made at your last ses
sion for this object.
The Secretary nUn rails attention to the fart that no
provision has .been fciade for .the . parntent of invalid
pension Jo onr citizens. Many of these persons ere
advanced in Jife. they have no means of support, and
by the recession of tbese States have been deprived of
their claim against the covernment of the U. S I re
commend the appropriation of a turn necessary to mr '
at . . .
iiiee pensioners, as wen us those or the army, whose
claim can scarcely exceed $70,000 per annum.
The Postmaster General has already succeeded in or
ganizing his department to sncb an extent aMo be in
readiness toassnme the direction of onr noit Bffwi.
on the occurrence of the rontingeney contemplated by
the Art of 15th March. 8l. or even sooner if desired :
iy uongf-es. Tbe.vnnous books and circulars hare
b prepared, and 'measures ; taken to seenre snpplles
of blanks, postage stamps, stamped envelopes, nail
bags, locks, keys. tc. ne presents a detailed classifi
cation and arrangement of bU clerical force, aad asks
for Its increase.
An Auditor of the Treasury of this department Is ne
cessary, and a plan is submitted for the organization
of his bureau. The great number and magnitude of
the accounts of this department require an Increase of
the clerical fore in the accounting branch in the Trea
stiry. The reveRij5 pf this department are rojjectfd
and disbursed In modes peculiar lo itself
a tpecial bureau to secure a proper aeLl'fSk
the administration of its finances. vaa'bili,
- a a. a : . .... m
T tall rnnr attention to the ud,r,i:, i .
quired for this department, to the recommS "V
the changes in the law fixing the rates of 1 '"'V
newspapers, periodicals, and sealed packtfe?!5tat
kinds, and specially to the recommendation ofiV
retary, in which I concur, that you provide V
the assumption by him of the control of
postal service. Bf
. In the military organizations of tbeStatej
is made for brigadier and major-generals, ufS
army of the Confederate States the higher V
that of brigadier-general. Hence it win Ji
sometimes occnr that where troops of the .,? .V
do duty with tne miiina, me general selet.i .
tty,
command, and posted in the views and purtMw..
government, will be superceded by an officer uf4
militia not having the same advantages. j "V
this contingency itrthe least objectionable ttanB
commend that additional rank be given to the
of the confederate army, and concurring in tK.
of having but one grade of generals irt the trnT!r'
I Confederacy, I recommend that the law of thii.
ration be amenaea, so inni me graue be that ofJ
. To secure a thorough military education, itu u!
essential that officers should eutor upon the
their profession at art early period of life, audhTt'il'
mentary instruction iu a military school. Cntil
school shall be established, it it recommended
cadets be np pointed and attached to conipaiM, J
they have attained the age and acquired the knowl?
to fit them for the duties of lieutenants. "
I also call your atention to an omission in the U
organizing the army, in relation to mililnrj chaplJ
and recommend that provision be made for their t
poiutment.
In conclus ion I congratutnte you on the fact tj,,r '
every portion of our country there has bet nVibiw
the most patriotic, devotion to our common ,
Transportation companies have freely tendered theu
of their lines for troops and supplies. The PrejiiW
of the railroads of the Confederacy, in company tin
others who control lines of communication with Statu
that we are soon to greet as sisters, assembled iac
vention in this city, and not only reduced Iurli.
rates heretofore demanded for mail service and
anceof troops and munitions, but voluntarily prcfe
to receive their compensation at these reduced ratn.
the bonds of the Confederacy, for the purpose of
ing all the resources of the Government at its dupo
for the common defence. ' Requisitions for troopi
been met with aueh alacrity that the numbers ttsd
ing their services have, in every instance, greatly
ceeded the demand. Men of the highest official
social position are serving as volunteers in tbtntfc.
The gravity of age and the zeal of youth mal.
other iu the desire to be foremost for the poblitfc.
fence, and though at no other point than the one Wr.
tofore noticed, have they been stimulated by then,
citement incident to actual engagement, and titty,
of distinction for individual achievement, they
borne what for new troops is tlie most severe ordeal,
patient toil and constant vigil, and till the exposure
discomfort of artivt service, with a resolution
fortitudr such as to command approbation and jiutift
the highest expectation of their conduct when aethi
valor shall be required in place of steady endurim
A people thus united and resolved cannot ihriii
from any sacrifice which they may be called om
make, nor can there be a reasonable doubt of tin
finxl Kticcpss. however Ion? and severe runv be th tu
- - - 7 - .
of their determination to maintain their birth-right
freedom and eqaality, as a trust which it is tbeir fira
duty to transmit, undiminished to their posterity.
A bounteous Providence cheers as with the proBi
of abundent crops. The fields of grain, which win,
within a few weeks, be ready for the sickle, gWea?!
ranee of the amplest supply of food for nianjvhilii
the corn, cotton, and other staple productions of on
soil, afford abundent proof that up to this period tW
season has been propitious.
We feel that our cause is jut and holy; we protM
solemnly in the face of mankind that we desire Met
at any sacrifice, save that of honor and independence,
we seek no conquest, no aggrandizement, no concessit
of any kind from the State . with which we were litflj
confederated; all we ask is to be let alone, that thoa
who never held power over us, shall not now attempt
our subjugation by arms. This wc will, this we aiiul
resist to the direst extremity.
The moment that this pretension is abandoned flu
sword shall drop from our grasp, a'nd shall be read? t
enter into treaties of amity and commerce that caunot ,
but be mutually beneficial. So long as this pretetwot
is maintained with a firm reliance on the Diviue Power '
which covers with its protection the just cause, we will
continue to struggle for our inherent right of freedoa
independence and self-government.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Montgomery, April 29, 1861.
1
SOUTHERN ARMY REGULATION.
For the benefit of many persons who have mih
inquiry as to the regulation of the Con fed emu
States army we publish the following items :
Under the bill for the public defence 100,000
volunteers can be accepted, who will be subject U
the rules governing the regular army. The ten
of service will be twelve months. All volunteer!
must be tendered by the Governor of a Suit
Each regiment is composed of ten companies, eacl
consisting of one captain, three lieutenants, foot
sergeants, four corporals, two buglers, aud ninety
privates. The pay for colonel is one hundred mi
seventy-five dollars per month ; lieutenant colon. .
one hundred and seventy dollars; major, one hun
dred and fifty dollars ; captain, one hundred
eight dollars ; first lieutenant, ninety dollars; Kt
ond lieutenant, eighty dollars : first sergean.
twenty-one dollars; other sergeants, seventeen i
lars ; corporals and artificers, thirteen dollanj
privates, eleven dollars; with yearly allowance
clothing and one ration per-day. The volunteW
are expected to furnish their own uniform.,
will be paid in money by the Confederate Statet
Government when mustered into service. fJ
regiment has a quartermaster with the rankot
Captain, and commissary with equal ank;B,'
geon and assistant surgeon.
1 - .r
The Richmond Enquirer states that the pro
lamation of Gov. Letcher for volunteers in Virg'B
has been responded to by over seventy tbonaaw
soldiers.
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