The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-22 00:00:00

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To the Department of Justice you have eon seedys;__,l---,,-;.
trot on.ll-60 -organisation and supervision o !,------.41-sQ.
Matters connected with the courts of justice, butx a
also those connected with the patents and with the
netircailifr)ublic printing.
Since your adjournment all the courts, with the
exception of those of Mississippi and Texas, have
been organised by the appointment of marshals and
district attorneys, and are now prepared for the
exercise of their functions.
In the two States just named, the gentlemen con-
firmed as judges declined to accept the appoint-
,' ment, 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 recommenda-
tion for immediate legislation, 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 inven-
tions, and to extend to our own citizens protection,
not only for their own inventions, but for such as
may have been assigned to them, or may hereafter
be assigned by persons not alien enemies.
The Patent-office business is much more exten-
sive and important than had been anticipated. The
applications for patents, although confined under
the law exclusively to citizens of our Confederaev,
average 70 per month, showing the necessity for
pt he prompt
a lin
yhiengsedoo
Secretary
:utamr
documents,
n organisationtos
of
,War, o
conveys f a bureau
in
hisfu full
l report o f
information
and patents.ac e
om
con-
cerning the force,
sional, raised and calrleegdul faorr,
uv on lduenrt et ehre, an d
severalp r
so
cv
ti s-
of Congress, their organisation and distribution ;
also an account of the expenditures already made,
and further estimates for the fiscal year ending
Feb. 18, 1862, rendered necessary by recent events.
I refer to his report also for a full history of the
occurrences in Charleston Harbour prior to and
including the bombardment and reduction of Fort
Sumter, and of the measures subsequently 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 19,000 men, and
16,000 are now en route for Virginia. It is proposed
to organise and hold in readiness for action, in view
of the present exigencies of the country, an army
of 100,000 men. If further force should be needed
the wisdom and patriotism of Congress will be con-
fidently appealed to for authority to call into the
field additional numbers of our noble spirited volun-
teers, who are constantly tendering service far in
excess of our wants.
The operations of the Navy Department have
been necessarily restricted by the fact that sufficient
time has not yet elapsed for the purchase or con-
struction of more than a limited number of vessels
adapted to the public service. Two vessels pur-
chased have been named the Sumter and Macrae,
and are now being prepared for sea at New Orleans
with all possible despatch. Contracts have also
been made at that city with two different establish-
ments for the casting of ordnance, cannon, shot,
and shell, with the view to encourage the manu-
facture of these articles, so indispensable for our
defence, at as many points within our territory as
possible.
I call your attention to the recommendation of
the Secretary for the establishment of a magazine
and laboratory for preparation of ordnance stores,
and the necessary appropriation for that purpose.
Hitherto such stores have usually been prepared
at the navy yards, and no appropriation was made
at your last Session for this object,
The Secretary also calls attention to the fact that
no provision has been made for the payment of invalid
pensions to our own citizens. Many of these per-
sons are advanced in life, they have no means of
support, and by the secession of these States have
been deprived of their claim against the Govern-
ment of the United States. I recommend the ap-
propriation of the sum necessary to pay these pen-
sioners, as well as those of the army, whose claims
can scarcely exceed 70,000 dole. per annum.
The Postmaster-General has already succeeded in
organising his department to such an extent as to
be in readiness to assume the direction of our postal
affairs on the occurrence of the contingency con-
templated by the Act of March 15, 1861, or even
sooner if desired by Congress. The various books
and circulars have been prepared and measures
taken to secure supplies of blanks, postage stamps,
stamped envelopes, mail-bags, locks, keys, &c. He
presents a detailed classification and arrangement
of his clerical force, and asks for its increase. An
auditor of the Treasury for this department is neces-
sary, and a plan is submitted for the organisation
of his bureau. The great number and magnitude
of the accounts of this department require an in-
crease of the clerical force in the accounting branch
in the Treasury. The revenues of this department
are collected and disbursed in modes peculiar to
itself, and require a special bureau to secure a pro-
per accountability in the administration of its
finances.
I call your attention to the additional legislation
required for this department, to the recommenda-
tion for changes in the law fixing the rates of post-
age on newspaeers, periodicals, and sealed packages
of certain kinds, and specially to the recommenda-
tion of the Secretary, in which I concur, that you
provide at once for the assumption by him of the
control of our entire postal service.
In the military organization of the States provi-
sion is made for brigadier and major-generals, but
in the army of the Confederate States the highest
grade is that of brigadier-general. Hence it will
no doubt sometimes occur that where troops of the
Confederacy do duty with the militia, the general
selected for the command and possessed of the views
and purposes of this Government will be superseded
by an officer of the militia not having the same ad-
vantages. To avoid this contingency in the least
objectionable manner, I recommend that additional
rank be given to the General of the Confederate
army, and concurring in the ssolicy of having but
one grade of generals in Una army of the Confe-
deracy I recommend that the, law of its organization
be amended, so that the greide be that of general.
To secure a thorough military education it is
deemed essential that offices should enter upon the
study of their profession at an early period of life
and have elementary instructions in a military
school. Until such school shall be established it is
recommended that cadets be appointed and attached
to companies until they shall have attained the age
and have acquired the knowledge to fit them for the
duties of lieutenants.
I also call your attention to an omission in the
law organizing the army, in relation to military
chaplains, and recommend that provision be made
for their appointment.
here has been ex-
lourstiioona,
olf coonnrg
er ao tnualtartye yto u on the fact that
cause. Transportation companies have freely ihnibleinvteecdroynthe most patriotic devotion to our common
ep
ten-
dered the use of their lines for troops and supplies.
The presidents of the railroads of the Confederacy,
in company with others who control lines of com-
munication with States that we hope soon to greet
as sisters, assembled in convention in this city, and
not only reduced largely the rates heretofore de-
manded for mail service and conveyance of troops
and munitions, but voluntarily proffered to receive
their compensations at these reduced rates in the
bonds of the Confederacy, for the purpose of leaving
all the resources of the Government at its disposal
for common defence. Requisitions for troops have
been met with such alacrity that the numbers ten-
dering their services have in every instance greatly
exceeded the demand. Men of the highest official
and social position are serving as volunteers in the
ranks. The gravity of age and the zeal of youth
rival each other in the desire to be foremost in the
public defence, and, though at no other point than
the one heretofore noticed have they been stimu-
lated by the excitement incidental to actu.aldeinvgaegain-
ment and the hope of distinction for mid
troops
achievement, they have borne what for new
constant
is the severest ordeal—patient toil a
vigil, and all the exposure and disc
service—with a resolution and fortitudehh
highest expec-
command approbation and justify.t
evalour shall be
tation of their conduct when active
resolved cannot shrink
A people thus united andey
may
required in place of steady endurance.
be called on to
of active
aaectivtoe
from any sacrifice whicha h
final success,
test of their determination
and
make, nor can there reaardnasbelevedroeumbtayo f
be thtehi re
b be
long
aml
iittyu,
nadsiamitnruisshteva htoicthheiirt
however to maintain their birth.
infePrtsu
ele weeks be
other sta 1 d t . s
right of freedomt
ous Providence cheers us with the pro-
P°Astebruitairu.tuendant crops. The fields of grain which
amplestks be
Srueapapylyoffo
fr 0 0 theafo sickr m
aman,
e,
has b
We feel that our c a ueseeli sp e pro ucsion
owr ni
of our i givei
01 st l
whilenehr assuranceweo
i thesifrtoahifibli na t
rffa ndoflroecdwfoytthtwtabundant proof that up to this
period the season
propitious.j ust and
holy
pro-
test solemnly inthe face of mankind that we desire
; we
peace at any sacrifice save that of honour and inde-
pendence; we seek no conquest, no aggrandisement,
no concession of any kind on the States with which
we were lately confederated; all we ask is to be
let alone ; that those who never held power over us
should not now attempt our subjugation by arms.
This we will, this we must resist to the direst ex-
tremity. The moment this pretension is abandoned
the sword will drop from our grasp, and we shall
ho ready to enter into treaties of amity and com-
merce that cannot but be mutually beneficial. So
long as this pretension is maintained, with a firm
reliance on that Divine power which covers with its
protection the just cause, 'we will continue to strug-
gle for our inherent right to freedom, independanoe,
and self-government.

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PRICE 40. STAMPED, SD.

with all his command, and was escorted to the ves-
sel in which he embarked with the highest marks
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 honour
on South Carolina, but the forbearance of her peo-
ple and of this Government from making any harsh
use of a victory obtained under circumstances of
such peculiar provocation attests to the fullest ex-
tent the absence of any purpose beyond securing
their own tranquillity, and the sincere desire to
avoid the calamities of war.
Scarcely had the President of the Unites States
received intelligence of the failure 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 exist-
ence of an independent Government, which possess-
ing the entire and enthusiastic devotion of its people
is exercising its functions without question over
seven sovereign States, over more than 5,000,000
of people, and over a territory whose area exceeds
half-a-million of square miles. He terms sovereign
States "combinations too powerful to be suppressed
by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or
by the powers vested in the marshals by law." He
calls for an army of 75,000 men to act as a posse
comitatus in aid of the process of the courts of jus-
tice in States where no courts exist whose man-
dates and decrees are not cheerfully obeyed and
I respected by a willing people. He avows that" the
first service to be assigned to the forces called out"
will be, not to execute the process of courts, but to
capture forts and strongholds situated within the
admitted limits of this Confederacy, and garri-
soned by its troops; and declares that " this
effort" is intended " to maintain the perpetuity of
popular government." He concludes by command-
ing " the persons composing the combinations afore-
said—to wit, the 5,000,000 inhabitants of these
States—" to retire peaceably to their respective
abodes within 20 days."
Apparently contradictory as are the terms of this
singular document, one point was unmistakably
evident. The President of the United States called
for an army of 75,000 men, whose first service was
to be to capture our forts. It was a plain declara-
tion of war, which I was not at liberty to disregard
because of my knowledge that under the Constitu-
tion of the United States the President was usurp-
ing 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 question the authority of the Exe-
cutive of a foreign nation to declare war against 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 denouncing the call for troops
as a constitutional usurpation of power to which
they refused to respond, I was not at liberty to dis-
regard the fact that many of the States seemed quite
content to submit to the exercise of the power
assumed by the President of the United States, and
were actively engaged in levying troops to be used
for the purpose indicated in the proclamation.
Deprived of the aid of Congress at the moment, I
was under the necessity of confining my action to
a call on the States for volunteers for the common
defence, in accordance with the authority you had
confided to me before your adjournment. I deemed
it proper further to issue proclamation inviting
application from persons disposed to aid our defence
in private 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 vessels, it will be eminently
expedient to supply their place by private
armed vessels, so happily styled by the publicists
of the United States " the militia of the sea," and
so often and justly relied on by them as an efficient
and admirable instrument of defensive warfare. I
earnestly recommend the immediate passage of a
law authorising me to accept the numerous pro-
posals already received.
I cannot close this review of the acts of the Go-
vernment of the United States without referring to
a proclamation issued by their President, under
date of 19th inst., in which, after declarinr, that an
imurrection 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 as pirates all per-
sons who shall molest any vessel of the United
States under letters of marque by this Government.
Notwithstanding the authenticity of this procla-
mation, you will concur with me that it is hard to
believe it could have emanated from a President of
the United States. Its announcement of a mere
paper blockade is so manifestly a violation of the
law of nations that it would seem incredible that it
could have been issued by authority. But con-
ceding this to be the case so far as the Executive is
concerned, it will be difficult to satisfy the people
of those States that their late confederates will
sanction its declarations, will determine to ignore
the usages of civilised nations, and will inaugurate
a war of extermination on both sides by treating
as pirates open enemies acting under the authority
of commissions issued by an organised Government.
If such proclamation was issued, it could only have
been •published under the sudden influence of
passion, and we may rest assured mankind will be
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 neces-
sary instructions for three Commissioners who have
been sent to England, France, Russia, and Bel-
gium, since your adjournment, to ask Tour recogni-
tion as a member of the family of nations, and to
make with each of those Powers treaties of amity
and commerce. Further steps will be taken to
enter into like negotiations with the other European
Powers in pursuance of your resolution passed at
the last session. Sufficient time has not yet elapsed
since the departure of these Commissioners for the
receipt of any intelligence from them. As I deem
it desirable that Commissioners, or diplomatic
agents, should also be sent at an early period to
the independent American Powers south of our
Confederacy, with all of whom it is our interest and
earnest wish to maintain the most
cordial and
friendly relations, I suggested the expediency of
making the necessary appropriations for that pur-
pose.
Having been officially notified by the public autho-
rities of the State of Virginia that she had with-
drawn from the Union, and desired to maintain the
closest politicalrelations with us which it was pos-
sible at this time to establish, I commissioned Hon.
A. H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederate
States, to represent this Gcvernment at Richmond.
I am happy to inform you that he has concluded a
Convention with the State of Virginia, by which
that honoured commonwealth, so long and so 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
fortunes with ours and become one of us. This
Convention, together with the ordinance of Vir-
ginia adopting the Provisional Constitution of the
Confederacy, will be laid before you for your con-
stitutional action. I have satisfactory assurances
from other of our late confederates, that they are on
the point of adopting similar measures, and I can-
not doubt that ere you shall have:been many weeks
in session, the whole of the slave-holding States of
the late Union will respond to the call of honour
and affection, and by uniting their fortunes with
ours, promote our common interests and secure our
common safety.
In the Treasury Department regulations have
been devised and put into execution for carrying
out 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 mer-
chandise passing through the Confederate States,
and delay and inconvenience have been avoided as
for
the as possible in organising the revenue service
the various railways entering our territory.. o
fast as experience shall indicate the possibilityof
improvement in these regulations, no e
spared to free commerce from all unnecessary
em-
barrassments and obstructions.
rop
ftu oaals were
Under your act authorisingfarooo,ooo dols., and
5 loan, P
ised inviting subscriptionso
the call was answered byi
s. the prompt subscription
by our own citizens,
—ffot will be
of more than 8,000,000 dots. by
The rapid
purpose of the President of the
our soil, capture our forts,
made under par. rapid
development not a single bid was
and wage war against us, in-
duced United States ona
devietlopmentof theiv
ptoor t
as ,
me to direct entire subscription
chillargor .amount to defray
blockade our
thatw thenow
become'lut necessary
should be accepted-
to raise means
the expenses . g our independence and
iung invasion. I invite your
special attention
to the subject, and the financial condition of the
Government, with the suggestion of ways and means
for the supply of the Treasury, will
be presented to
you in a separate COMMlllliCiitiol3.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Icantgomery, April 29.