The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-06

tions They consequently passed ordinances resumine
an er rights as sovereign and independent States anL
usoVed their connection with the other States of the
Union. ~ " "
Having done this, they proceeded to form new com
pact amongst themselves by articles of Couedera
uon, which have been also ratified by the conventions OF
the several States with approach to unapimtv far ex
eeunS that OF the conventions which adopted the Con
sttution ofi787 They have organized their new gov
ernment in all departments the functions of the
uve Legislative, and Judicial Magistrates are perform
eu IN accordance with the will of the people
not merely in cheerful acquescence but in the
asuc support of the government thus established by
themselves and but for interference of the oovar
ment OF the United States in this legitimate exePcise
the ght OF people to sefgovernment peace happiness
ana prosperity would now smile on our land
That peace is ardenty by this government and
People mas been manifested in every possible form
scarce had you assembled in February last when nrr
ash 10 me Inauguration of the Chief Magistrate YOU
au elected you passed resolution expressive of vonr
desire Tor the appointment of Commissioners to be sent
10 the government of the United for the purpose
rat & ~ lIlenoly relations between that govern
ment and the Confederate States America and for the
eemeht OF all questions of disagree between the
and good faith :" ''s equity
was my pleasure, well my duty to co.operate
win you IN this work of peace Indeed in nv address
10 you on taking the oath of Office and before
from you the communication of this resolution had
SAID, las necessity, choice we hava resortad ~
the remedy of separation henceforth our energies
must ne directed to the conduct our own affairs and IN
perpetuity of the Confederacy which we have formed
perception OF mutual interest will permit us peace.
aoy 70 pursue our separate political career nv most
nest desire will have been fulfilled va
10 III IultnefanCt OF these IF
Congress and the Executive that made cboice of tb
Gscreet able and distinguished citizens who repaired n
toh' aided by their cordial cooperation and
that OF the Secretary of State, every effort
with serespect and the dignity the Confederacy was
exhausted before allowed myself yield to the
oh tha the Government of the United States was dat
mined to attempt the conquest of this DennIe and
our cherished hopes of peace were unattainable
on the arrival OF our commissioners in WASHINGTON
on the 9TH March, they postponed at the suqreston of
friendly Intermediary, doing more than pving in fari
Gd q, @ uelr arrival This was done with view to
ahoa time 10 the President who had lust been narpn
rated for the discharge of other pressing official dfs
IN te organization OF his administration before
@ @ ms a'ention IN the object of their mission 1t was
I si ,he -th OF the month that they officially ad-
dressed the Secretary of State informing him Of tbe
purpose OF their arrival and stating in the language of
eiF instructions their wish o to the goyernToat
OF the United states overures for the ouenn of
atohs' assuring the government of the United States
that the President Congress and peope of the ConFS
Iae states earnestly desire peaceful solution of these
great questions; that il is neither their interest nor he
"sn 10 make any demand which founded on strict
es JuStce nor do any act to injure their late confde
rates" ~ ~ ie"e-
10 this communication formal reply was received
unt the eth of April During the al the Commis
slOnes had consented waive all questions ~ f,,o
win the firm resolve TO avoid if possible bev went
so lar even, to hold, during that long perioJ eiI
intercourse through an intermediary whose hgh posi
ton and character inspired the hope of su"ces "a
hrous M Whom constant assurances received from
the Government OF the United States of peaceful
tIons of the determination evacuate Fort Snmta t
Iur!heI, mat no measure changing the existing status
preJudlclally to the COnfederated States -,
fickens, was in contemplation, but that in tba go
any change OF intention che subject notice would h
given to the Commits ioners The crook ed % ~! e
macy can scarcely furnish an example so wanting in dr
tesy In candor, and drectneSs as was the conrs IS a.
United states Government towards Commissioners in
MaShheton For proof of this, refer to The annaXaJ
documents marked -, taken in connectio, ,,t T.A
iacts which now proceed to relate: " '
Early in April the attention of the whole cour+r NJ
ven as 'hat OF our Commissioners attracted IN t,r
ordinary preparations for an extensive ,iIitar, ~ 80,
expeaion IN New York and other Northern ports These
preparations commenced in secresy, for an exnedion
whose destination concealed, only became tnanr
when nearly completed and the 5h 9th and IN A;i
transports and vessels Of war, with troops munnnsan
military supplies, sailed from Northern morris boIri
southWards Alarmed by extraordinary demonsfra
tion, the Commissioners requested the da1ivor s 10 O.
answer u" their olcIa mmunication the 18th March
ana thereupon received the 8th April repIv dated m
the 18th of the previous month"; which it
that during the whole interval whilst the
were receiving assurances calculated to inspre Lona Of
the success of their mission the Secretary of state and
the President of the United States had already datr
mined TO hold no intercourse with them whatever to re-
use even to listen to any proposals they had to NAB
ana had proted by the delay created by their own
ceS IN ORDER to prepare secretly the means for effective
hostile operations. " '''e
That these ,ances were given, has been virtually
confessed by the Government of the United State
sending messenger to Charleston to give notice of it
purpose to use force If opposed its intention of r
pyns Fort sumter No more striking proof of the ab-
ehce OF good faith in the conduct of the Goverumat m
the United States towards this Confederacy can he
qulred than is contained in the circumstances which ar
companied this notice According the usual course o
the vessels composing the ey-edi,;a !,
signed for the relief of Fort Sumter might be vnscad
reach Charleston harbor on the 9th of
commissioners actually in Washington detained rnder
assurances that notice should be given of anv n,itam
noveuheht the notice was not addressed them but
enser was sent 10 charleston to give the notice to
the Governor of South Carolina and the notica w. W
seh at late hour on the Sh April, the eve of the
very day on which the fleet might be expected to ar
rive. fN W al
That this man@uvre failed in its purpose was not the
iauIt OF those who contrived it heavy tempest de
ayed the arrival Of the expedition and gave time tn t
commander of our forces Charleston to ask and ri
tne instructions of this Government Even then under
90 ptia-in mold to
the Government of the United States was sincerely
anxious to avoid the efusicn of blood and directed
proposal to be made to the commander of Fort Sumta
who had avowed himself be nearly out of provsion
that We would abstain from directing our fire on Fort
Sumter II he would promise to open fire on our forces
uhts rst attacked This proposal refused and the
conclusion was reached that the design of the Ioitd
States to place the besegng force at Chareston ~
tween the simultaneous re Of the fleet and the fort
There remained, therefore, alternative but to direct
that the fort should at be reduced This order was
executed by General Beauregard with the skill and sue
cess which were naturally be expected from the we'll
known character of that gallant officer; and although the
bomoardment lasted but thirtythree hours our flag did
not wave over its battered walls until after the anne,
ance OF the hostile fleet off Charleston Fortunately mot
life was lost on our side, and graed in being
spared the necessity OF useless euSion blood by The
prudent caution of the officers who commanded the feet
in abstanng from the evidently futile effort to enter tie
harbor for the relief of Major Anderson. refer to the
report of the Secretary of War and the papers which
company it for further details of this brilliant affair
In TINS connection cannot refrain from well de-
served tribute to the noble State eminent soIJarTv
quantities OF whose people so conspicuousIv dis
played in the port Of Charleston For months thsv nod
been irrated by the spectacle of fortress held ,it;
their principal harb1r, standing menace apainst
their peace and independence Built in part with fbs
own money its custody confded with their own consent
to an agent who held no power them other than
such as they had themselves delegated their own
benefit intended to be used by that agent for their own
protection against foreign attack they saw it held with
persistent tenacity as means of offence against them
by the very which they had established for
their protection.
They had beleagured it for months-felt entire conf
dence in their power to capture tyet yielded to the re-
quirements OF discipline. curbed their mpatence sub
nied without psint to the unacCustomed harships
labors and privatOus Of proracted siege and when at
length their patience rewarded by the signal for at
tack and had their steady and gallant
conduct-even in the very moment OF triumph-taey
evinced chvarous regard for the feelings of the brave
but unfortunate officer who had been compelled to lower
his flag All manifestations of eXultatiUn were checked
in his presence Their commanding general with their
cordial approval and the consent of his government re
Trained from imposing any terms that wound the
sensbilities Of the commander of the fort
He permitted to retire with the honors OF war-to
salute his ag to depart freely with all his command and
escorted to the vessel in which he embarked with
the highest marks Of respect from those against whom his
guns had been recently directed Not only does every
connected with the siege reflect the highest bonn
on South Carolina but the f0rbearance of her people and
of this government, from making any harsh use OF vic
tory obtained under circumstances of such peculiar prov
pose beyond securing their tranquility and the sin
desire to avoid the caIamities of war
Scarcely had the President of the United States received
intelligence OF the taare of the scheme which he had
viSed for the reinforcement Of Fort Sumter when he s
sued the declaration OF against this
which has prompted me TO cOnvoke you In this extra
ordinary production that high functionary affects total
ignorance of the existence of Independent Govern
ment, which, possessing the entire and enthusiastic de-
votion of its people, is exercising its functions without
question over seven sovereign States-oYer more than
five millions of paope-and over territory whose area
exceeds half a million of square miles. He terms SOW.
ereign States combnations powerful to be suppressed
by the ordinary judicial proceedings by the
powers vest ted in the marshals by law"
He calls for army of seventy-five thousand men to
act as posse comatdtuS in aid Of the process
mandates and DEGREES are not cheeruy obeyed and
pected by willing people he avows that 1.-THE first ser
vice to be assigned to the forces called out will be- not
to execute the of courts but to capture and
srongholds situated within the admitted limits this
Conederacy and garrisoned by its troops and declares
that this effort intended o maintain the perprtuitv
of popular government" He concludes by commandnr
1.-The persons composing the combinations aforesaid TO
witt the five millions of inhabitants of these States 'to
retire peaceaby to their respective abodes within twenty
days"
Apparently contradictory the terms of this sim
gular document, point was Enthusiastically evident
The President of the United States called for army of
seventyve thousand men, whose first service was To
capture our forts. 1t was plain declaration of war
which was not at liberty to disregard, because nv
knowledge that under the Constitution of the United
States the President uSurping power granted ex
clusively to the Congress He the sole organ Of com
muncaton between that country and foreign pow ers
The law of nations did not permit question the a
hOrity the Executive of foreign nation to declare
war against this Confederacy. Although might have
refrained from taking active for defence
the States of the Union had all initiated the action Of
Virginia. North Carolina, Arkansas Kentucky Tennes
and Missouri by denouncng the call for troops as an
unconstitutional uTpaton of power which they re
fused respond not at liberty to disregard the fact
that many of the States seemed quite content submit
the exercise of the power assumed by the President of
the United States and actively engaged in levying
troops to be used for the purpose indicated the proca
nation.
Deprived of the aid of Congress at the moment was
under the necessity of combining my action a call on
the States for volunteers for the defence in
cordance with the au hory you had conded me be-
fore your adjournment. deemed it proper further to
issue proclamation inviting application from persons