The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1861-05-09

NOS.

cation between that couf,tsg and ford. :
powers. The Law Of nations did not pc MI
me to question the authority Of tho i. eco,
tive Of foreign nation TO declare VAR
against this Confederacy. Although
might have refraincd from tok;ug actis.
measures for our defence, il the States a
the III ion had all initiated the action of
Firgi ria, North Carolina, ArEansus, Kr,.
tucky, TeTepnessee, and Missouri. nv d.,
nouncing the call for troops as ON unconsti-
tutional unsurpation Of power 10 which
they refused 20 respond, was not at lib =.
ty to disregard the flct that many of tho
States seemed quite contcntto submit 10
the exercise OF the poYer assumed by tho
President Of the United Statea, and were
actively engased in leyy,ng troo. 8 to Ls
used for the purpose indicated in the proc
laiiintiop.
Deprived Of the aid Of Congress at the
moment, was under the necessity Of con,
lining my action to a call on tss States for
volunteers Tor the common defence, in acr
cordance with the authority you bud cor.
ided to me before yons adjosrnp,aaf. L
deemcd it proper further 10 issue proclan,a-
ton inviting application from peyssns dis
posed to aid our defence in private armed
vessels On the seas TO the cnd that prepara,
uons misht be made for the inhaediite is-
sue OF letters of marquc and reprisai, which
you alone, under the Cons tuition. have
power to grant. entertain no doubt Won
viii concur with me in the opinion that il,
the absence of q feet Of public vessels. it
will be cminentiy expedient to supply their
place hy private armed vessels, SO happily
styled by the publcists ofthe United States
"the militia of the sea- aud SO often and
Justly relied on by them as an efficient aud
| admirable instrument Of defensive warfare.
earnestly reInmcnd the immediate passage
oflaw authorizing me to accept The hume.
ousrroposals already received.
cannot close this review OF the acts os
the Government OF the United States with,
| out referring to a proclamation issped by
their President under date of the 18th i'm.
stant, in which, after declaring that an in,
surrection has broken out in this Confcd,
eracy against the Government OF the nj,
ted States, he announces blockade of all
the ports OF these States, and threatens 10
punish as pirates all persons who shall mo.
lest any vessel Oh the United States puder
ietters'of marque issued by this Gurcrn.
ment. Nothwi'l anding the aythes.icity
OF this proclanetioR, you viii concur with
me that 1t is hard to believe it could have
emanatce IRON President of the Uuitcd
States. is announcement of "A mere p,,-
per bioctade Is so r.anifcsily violation of
the law OF nations, that it would seem in,
credible that it could hare bcen issued by
agths,i. ,i.y--Dut eonceding this to be the
case so tar as the Executive is concerned.
1t will be difficult to satisfy tho peuple of
these States that their late conf dcrates
VIII sanction its declarations, will deter
mine to ignore the usaees Of civilized na-
tiops, and viii inauguraie war of extes,
minatlon On both sides, 10y treating is D.
rates, open enemies actipg under the a,.-
thority OF commissions issued by uu or
/ ganized Goyernpcnt. II such prcclania-
ton was is ucd, il could only have be, n
Published under the sudden influence ,.t
passion, and We may rest assured mankind
| viii be spared the horrors of the conflict Il
seems to invite.
For the detail Of the administration of
the departments, | refer to the reports of
the Secretaries which accoppany this
Message.
The State Department has furnished the
necessary instructions for three commits
sioners who have been sent to England
France, Russia and Belgium, since YOUR
adjournment, to ask our recognition as d.
member of the family of nations, and to
make with each of those powers treaties of
amity and commerce. Further steps will
be takon to enter into like negotiations
with the other European powers in pursu-
ance OF your resolutions passed ut the last
session. Sufficient time has no. vet clans
cd since the departure Of these Commis-
4 sionars for the receipt of intelligence fion
them. AS deem it desirable that con.mis-
sioners CT other diplomatic agents should
also be sent at an carly period to the indie,
pendent American powers South Of our
Contederacy, with all Of whom il is our
interest and earnest wish to maintain Il. O
most cordial aud friendly relations, / su,,-
gest the cxpediencY of making the ncccs-
sary appropriation for that purpose.
Having been officially notified by tbs
pa5hc asthorities of tic State of Virginia
that she had withdrawn frota tie Union.
and desired to naiptaip the closest political
RELATIONS with us which it was possible nc
this time to establish, commissioned the
Hon. Alexander II. stephens, yice-Presi,
dent OF the Confederate States, TO repre-,
sent this &oveTnment Ut Richmond lam
happy to inform you that he has concluded
a convention With tho State of Virginia, by
which that h-dr'4ed commonyealth, SO long
and justly distinguished among her sister
States. aud so dear to the hearts OF thou.
sands of her children in the Confederate
States, has united her power and her for
tunes with ouIs, and becoming one of US.
This Convention, together with the ordi-
nance OF Virginia, adoptcding the Provis-
lonal Constitution of the Conledsracy, viii
be LAID before you for your constitutional
acton. 1 have satisfactory assurances