# A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Confederacy, Including the Diplomatic Correspondence, 1861-1865/Volume 1/Provisional Congress, First Session (Continued)

MESSAGES.
Executive Department, Montgomery, Ala., February 25, 1861.
Hon. Howell Cobb, President of the Congress.
Sir: I hereby transmit for the advice of the Congress the following nominations of Commissioners to the Government of the United States of America in accordance with the resolution of Congress providing for such commission, and declaratory of the purposes thereof: A. B. Roman, of Louisiana; M. J. Crawford, of Georgia; John Forsyth, of Alabama.
Jeff'n Davis.
LETTER OF PRESIDENT DAVIS TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
Montgomery, February 27, 1861.
Jeff'n Davis.
​For the purpose of establishing friendly relations between the Confederate States and the United States, and reposing special trust, &c., Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A. B. Roman are appointed special commissioners of the Confederate States to the United States. I have invested them with full and all manner of power and authority for and in the name of the Confederate States to meet and confer with any person or persons duly authorized by the Government of the United States being furnished with like powers and authority, and with them to agree, treat, consult, and negotiate of and concerning all matters and subjects interesting to both nations, and to conclude and sign a treaty or treaties, convention or conventions, touching the premises, transmitting the same to the President of the Confederate States for his final ratification by and with the consent of the Congress of the Confederate States.
Given under my hand at the city of Montgomery this 27th day of February, A.D. 1861, and of the Independence of the Confederate States the eighty-fifth.
Jeff'n Davis.
Robert Toombs, Secretary of State.
Executive Office, February 26, 1861.
Jeff'n Davis.
Executive Department, Montgomery, Ala., February 26, 1861.
Hon. Howell Cobb, President of the Congress.
Sir: I hereby transmit for the advice of the Congress the following nominations, in accordance with a resolution passed February 13, 1861, to provide for a commission to proceed to Europe under instructions to be given: W. L. Yancey, of Alabama; P. A. Rost, of Louisiana; A. Dudley Mann, of Confederate States.
Jeff'n Davis.
Montgomery, Ala., Executive Office, March 5, 1861.
Hon. Howell Cobb, President of the Congress.
Sir: Herewith I have the honor to transmit the estimate of the ​Secretary of War of the amount required for the support of the Army of the Confederate States, also, of that requisite for the support of a portion of the provisional army, authorized to be raised.
Jefferson Davis.
Executive Department, March 12, 1861.
Hon. Howell Cobb, President of the Congress.
Jefferson Davis.
Executive Department, March 15, 1861.
Hon. Howell Cobb, President of the Congress.
Jefferson Davis.
Executive Department, March 16, 1861.
Hon. Howell Cobb, President of the Congress.
Jefferson Davis.
VETO MESSAGE.
Executive Department, February 28, 1861.
Jeff'n Davis.
PROCLAMATIONS.
By the President of the Confederate States.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, an extraordinary occasion has occurred, rendering it necessary and proper that the Congress of the Confederate States shall convene to receive and act upon such communications as may be made to it on the part of the Executive;
Now, therefore, I, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, do issue this my proclamation, convoking the Congress of the Confederate States for the transaction of business at the capitol, in the city of Montgomery, on the 29th day of April, at twelve o'clock noon of that day, of which all who shall at that time be entitled to act as members of that body are hereby required to take notice.
Given under my hand and the seal of the Confederate States, at Montgomery, this 12th day of April, A.D. 1861.
Jefferson Davis.
By the President: R. Toombs, Secretary of State.
By the President of the Confederate States.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, has, by proclamation, announced the intention of invading this Confederacy with an armed force for the purpose of capturing its fortresses, and thereby subverting its independence and subjecting the free people thereof to the dominion of a foreign power; and, whereas, it has thus become the duty of this government to repel the threatened invasion, and to defend the rights and liberties of the people by all the means which the laws of nations and the usages of civilized warfare place at its disposal;
Now, therefore, I, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, do issue this my proclamation, inviting ​all those who may desire, by service in private armed vessels on the high seas, to aid this government in resisting so wanton and wicked an aggression, to make application for commissions or letters of marque and reprisal to be issued under the seal of these Confederate States.
And I do further notify all persons applying for letters of marque to make a statement in writing, giving the name and a suitable description of the character, tonnage, and force of the vessel, and the name and place of residence of each owner concerning therein, and the intended number of the crew, and to sign said statement and deliver the same to the Secretary of State, or to the collector of any port of entry of these Confederate States, to be by him transmitted to the Secretary of State.
And I do further notify all applicants aforesaid that before any commission or letter of marque is issued to any vessel, the owner or owners thereof, and the commander for the time being, will be required to give bond to the Confederate States, with at least two responsible sureties, not interested in such vessel, in the penal sum of five thousand dollars; or if such vessel be provided with more than one hundred and fifty men, then in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars, with condition that the owners, officers, and crew who shall be employed on board such commissioned vessel shall observe the laws of these Confederate States and the instructions given to them for the regulation of their conduct. That they shall satisfy all damages done contrary to the tenor thereof by such vessel during her commission, and deliver up the same when revoked by the President of the Confederate States.
And I do further specially enjoin on all persons holding offices, civil and military, under the authority of the Confederate States, that they be vigilant and zealous in discharging the duties incident thereto; and I do, moreover, solemnly exhort the good people of these Confederate States, as they love their country, as they prize the blessings of free governmnt, as they feel the wrongs of the past and these now threatened in aggravated form by those whose enmity is more implacable because unprovoked, that they exert themselves in preserving order, in promoting concord, in maintaining the authority and efficacy of the laws, and in supporting and invigorating all the measures which may be adopted for the common defense, and by which, under the ​blessings of Divine Providence, we may hope for a speedy, just, and honorable peace.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the Confederate States to be affixed, this seventeenth day of April, 1861.
Jefferson Davis.
By the President: R. Toombs, Secretary of State.
Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, to All Whom These Presents Shall Concern, Greeting:
Know ye, that for the purpose of establishing friendly relations between the Confederate States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, prudence, and ability of Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America, appointed special commissioner of the Confederate States to the Commonwealth of Virginia, I have invested him with full and all manner of power and authority, for and in the name of the Confederate States, to meet and confer with any person or persons authorized by the Government of Virginia, being furnished with like power and authority, and with him or them to agree, treat, consult, and negotiate of and concerning all matters and subjects interesting to both Republics; and to conclude and sign a treaty or treaties, convention or conventions, touching the premises, transmitting the same to the President of the Confederate States for his final ratification, by and with the advice and consent of the Congress of the Confederate States.
In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the Confederate States to be hereunto affixed.
Jeff'n Davis.
By the President: Robert Toombs, Secretary of State.
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