Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-03

evidently futile effort to enter the harbot for the
relef OF MAJOR Anderson refer to the report of
the Secretary of War and the papers which accom-
pany it for further details Of this brilliant aair
In this connection cannot refrain from 8 we'll !
deserved tribute TO the noble State the eminent
soidieriy quat'es Of whose people were socoDspic-
uously displayed IN the port Of Charleston. Fo,
months they had been rritated by the snecfacla ~
fortress held within their principal harbor "a q
standing menace against their peace and indenan.
dence. Built IN part with their own MONEY its cns
tody connaed with their own consent to an agent
who held no power over them other than such 90
they had themselves delegated for their own haneft
intended to be used by th9t agent for their own nro
lection against foreign attack they saw it held with
persistent tenacIty as means of offense against
them by the very government which thev bed os
tablished for their protection They had 6eleaorer
ed il for months-felt entire confidence in tbei-
power TO capture lt--yet yielded to the require
ments OF discipline. curbed their impatence. sinh
United without complaint to the unaccustomed hard
ships, labors and privatons of protracted seiye
and when at length their patience was rewarda6 h,
the signal for attack and success had crowned their
steady and gallant conduct even in the very mn
ment OF triumph-they evinced a chivarous regard
Tor te ieehhgs OF the brave but unfortanate officer
who h ID been compelled to lower his hAg All man
ifestatlons of eXnltaton were checked in his nrps
ence. Ihelr commanding General with their cor
dial approval AMI the consent of his government
retralned from imposing any terms that could
wound the sensibilities of the commander of ire
of war-to salute his flag, to depart freely with all
his command, and was escorted to the vessel in
which he embarked, with the highest marks of re
spect from lhose against whom his guns had been
so recently directed. Not only does every event
con Iected with the sci reflect the highest honor
on South Carolina, but the forbearance of her peo
pie and OF this government from making any harsh
use of victory obtained under circumstances of
such peculiar provocation, attest to the ullest eX>
tent the absence of any purpose beyond securing
their own tranquility, and the sincere desire to
avoid the calamtes of war;
Scarcely had the President of the United 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
cunvnke you. In this extraordinary production
that high functionary affects total g lorance of the
existence of an Independent Government which
possessing the entire and enthusiastic devotion of
lis people, exercising Its functions without ques
ton over seven sovereign States-over more than
five millions of people and over a territory whose
area exceeds half million of square miles. He
| terms sovereign States nominations too powerful
to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial
| proceedings, or by the powers vested in the mar
| shals by law" He calls for an army of seventy
five thousand men to act as posse conhdtls in aid
of the process of the courts OF justice IN States
! where courts exist whose mandates and DEGREES
are not cheerfully Obeyed and respected by will,
ing people He avows that Z" 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 strong holds situated within h adm tied limits
OF this COME ieracy. and garrlsOned its troops;
and declares that this effort is intended to maia
tain the perpetuity OF popular government He con-
cfud.s by commanding " the persons composing the
combinations aforesaid" t-wIt: the five millions of
inhabitants OF these States to retire peaceab!y to
| their respective abOdes within twenty DAYS"
Apparently contradictory as are the terms of this
singular document. one point Enthusiastically ev-
ident. The President Of the United States ied for
! an army of seventy-fve thousand men, whose first
| service was to be to capture our forts Il was
plain declaration of which was not at liberty
| to disregard. because of my knowledge that under
the Constitution of the United States the President
was usurping power granted exclusively to the
! Congress he IS the sole organ of communi ion
between thar country and foreign powers. Thelaw
Of nations did not permit me to question the author
| ty of the Executive OF foreign nation to declare
war against this Con ederacy. Although | might
have refrsined from taking active for our
defence if the States of the Union had all initiated
| the action of Virginia North Carolina, Arkansas
/ Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri by denouncing
The call for troops unconsttLto nal usurpation
| of power TO which they refused to respond / was
not al liberty to disregard the fact that many of the
States seemed quite content to submit to the exer-
else OF the power assumed by the President of the
United States and were actively engaged in evyihg
troops t. be used for the purpose indicated in the
proclamation.
Deprived of the aid of Congress at the moment
call on the States for volunteers for the common de-
| fence, in accordance with the authority you had
conhded to me before your adjournment deemed
1t proper further TO issue proclamation inviting ap-
pLicatons from persons disposed to aid our defense
IN private armed vessels on the high to the end
that preparations might be made for the immediate
| issue of letters of marque and reprss which you
| alone under the Constitution, have power tc grant
entertain no doubt you will concur with me in the
opinion that in the absence of feet of public yes
sells will no pDnDpntlv IN tbo;-
place by private armed vessels, so happily styled by
the pubicistS of the United States the militia of
the sea-" and so often and justly relied on by them
as an efficient andladmirable instrument of defen-
sye warfare Iearnestly rec onmend tie immediate
passage OF law authorizing me to accept the nu-
merOus proposals already received
cannot close this review of the acts of the gov
eminent of the United States without referring 70
proclamation issued by their President under date of
the 18TH inst, IN which, alter declaring that 10
surrecton has broken out in the Conederacy against
the government of the United States he announces
blockade of all the ports of these States and
threatens to punish as pirates all parties who shall
Hest any vessel of this United States under letters
Of marque issued by the Government Notwith.
standing the authenticity of this proclamation. you
will concur with the that it is hard 10 believe It would
have emanated from a President of the United
states. Its announcement of mere paper blockade
Is so manitestly violation OF the law of nations
that it would incredible that 1t could have
been issued by authority: but conceding this to be
the case, far the Executive is concerned. it
will be difficult to satisfy the people of these States
that their late Ionederates will sanction its de,la>
ratiOns, Will determine to ignore the usageS OF CIV
Ized nations. and will insugurate a war of exter-
mi alton on both sides by treating pirates. open
enemies acting under the authority of commissions
issued by an organized government. If such pro
clamstIon issued, it could only have been pub
ished under the sudden nfluen of passion. and
We may rest assured mankind will be spared the
horrors of the conflict 1t seems to invite.
For the details of the administration Of the diff
ferent departments refer to the reports of the
Secretaries which accompany this message.
The State department has furnished the necessary
instructions fer three commissioners who have been
sent to England, France. Russia and Belgium, since
your adj lurnment. to ask recognition as MEM
Der of the family OF nations, and TO make with each
of those powers treaties of aniity and commerce.
Further steps will be taken into like nego-
tiatiOns with the other European powers in pursu
ance of your resolutions passed at the last session
Suf ient time has not yet elapsed since the depart
ure of these commissioners for the receipt ST any |
intelligence from them As deem it desirable that |
commissioners other diplomatic agents should |
also be at 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.
suggest the eXpediency Of making the necessary |
appropriations tor that purpose
Having been officially notified by the public au
thoritles Of"the State of Virginia that she had with
closest political relations with which it was pos
sIble at this time to establish. | commissioned the
Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President of the
Confederate States. to represent this government
Richmond. | am happy to inform you that he has
concluded convention with the State of Virginia |
by which that honOred Common wealth. 50 long and |
Justly distinguished among her sister States. and
dear to the hearts of thousands of her children in
the Confederate States has united her power and
her fortunes with ours, and become of US.
This convention together with the ordinance of Yir
ginia adopting the provisional cons tuition of the
COnfederacy, will be laid before you for you const
tutional action have satisfactory ances from
other of our late confederates that they the
point of adopting similar measures, and | cannot
doubt that ere you shall have been many weeks In
session. the whole Of the aayeholdiDg States of the
late Union Will respond to the call of honor and af
lection, and by uniting their fortunes with pre-
In the Treasury Dep irtment, regulations have
been devised and put into execution for carrying
out the policy indicated in your legislation the
subject of the navigation of the Mississippi river,