Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-05-21

to depart freely with all his command, and WI
escorted to the vessel in which he embarke
with the highest marks of respect from thos
against whom his guns had been so recently d
rected. Not only does every event cOnnecte
with the siege reflect the highest honour upo
South Carolina, but the forbearance of the peop
and of this government from making any hars
use of victory obtained under circumstances
such peculiar provocation, attest to the fnlles
extent the absence of any purpose beyond sc
curing their own tranquility, and the SINGER
desire to avoid the calamities of war.
Scarcely had the President of the q. State
received intelligence of the failure OF the schem
which he had devised for the reinforcement Q
Fort Sumter, when he issued the declaration O
war against this Confederacy which has prompt
ed me to convcke you. In this extraordinar,
production, that high functionary affects tota
ignorance of the existence of an Independen
Government, which possessing the entire an(
enthusiastic devotion of its people, is exercising
its functions without question, over seven SOW
ereign States-over more than five millions O
people-and over territory whose area exceeds
half million of square miles. He terms SOW
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 mea TO act as q posse cona5tGtus in
aid Of the process of the courts of justice States
where no courts exist whose mandates and de-
crees are not cheerfully obeyed and respected by
a willing people. He avows tha. "the first ser.
vice to be assigned to the forces to be called out
will be, not to execute the,process of courts, but
to capture forts and strongholds situated within
the admitted limits Of this Oonfederacy, and
garrisoned by its troops; and declare that 'this
effort" is Intended ''tO maintain the perpetuity
of popular government" He concludes by COM
manding 1.-THE persons composing the combina-
t0ns aforesaid" to wit: the five millions of in
habitants of these States, 'to retire peaceably to
their respective abodes within twenty days."
Apparently contradictory as are the terms OF
this singular document, one point was unmistak-
ably evident. The President of the Q. States
called for an army of seventy-fve thousand men,
whose first service was to capture our forts. 1t
was plain declaration of war which was not
at liberty to disregard, because of my knowledge
that under the Constitution of the United States
the President was usurpiDg power granted ex-
cusively to the Congress. He is the sole organ
OF communication between that country aud
foreign powers. The law of nations did not
permit to question the authority of the Execu-
tive Of a foreign nation to declare war against
this Oonfederacy. Although | might have re
Trained from taking active measures for our de-
fence, if the States of the Union had all initiated
the action of Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas,
Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri, bv denounc-
ing the call for troops as an unconstitutional
usurpation of power to which they refuse to
respond, was not at liberty to disregard the
fact that many of the States seemed quite con-
tent to submit to the exercise of the power as
sumed by the President of the United States,
and were actively engaged in levying troops to
be indicated in the proclamation.
Deprived of the aid of Congress at the moment,
was under the necessity of con6ning my action
to q call on the State tor volunteers for the COM
mon defence, in accordance with the authority
you had conhded to me before your adjournment.
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 Oonstitu-
ton, have power to grant. I entertain no doubt
you will concur with me in the opinion that iu
the absence of fleet of rGblie vessels, it will
be eminently expedlent to supply their place
by private armed vessels, SO happily styled by
the publlcists of the United States, 1.-THE militia
of the sea-" and so often and justly relied on by
them as efficient and admirable instruments of
defensive warfare. | earnestly recommend the
immediate passage OF . law authorizing me to
accept he numerous proposals already received.
| cannot close this review of the acts of the
United States without referring to proclamation
issued by their President under date of the 10Th
April, in hich, after declaring that an insur-
rection has broken out in this Confederacy
against the Government of the United States, he
announces the blockade of all the ports of these
States, and threatens to plnish as pirates all
persons who shall molest any vessel OF the U. S.
under letters Of marque issued by this govern
ment. Notwithstanding the authenticity of this
proclamation you will concur with me that it is
hald to believe that it could have emanated from
President of the United States. Its announce
ment of 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 connecting this to De the case,
so far as the Executive is concerned, it will be
difficult to satisfy the people OF these States that
their late confederates will sanction its decara-
tions, will determine to ignore the determination
on both sides, by treating as pirates open enc
mics acting under the authority of commissions
issued by an organized Government. II 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, | refer TO the reports OF
the Secretaries which accompany this message.
The State DEPARTMENT has furnished the nec-
essary Instructions for three Commissioners who
have been sent to England, France, Russia and
Belgium, since your adjournment, to ask our
recognition as member of the family of nations,
and TO make with each of these 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
resolutions passed at the last session. Sufficient
time has not yet elapsed since the departure OF
these Commissioners tor the receipt OF any in
telllgence from them. As deem it desirable
that Commissioners OF other diplomatic agents
should also be sent at an early period To the
independent American powers South OF our
Oonfederacy, 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 for thaE
purpose.
Having been ofiaially notified by the public
authorities of the State of Virginia that she had
Withdrawn from the Union, and desired to main
tain the closest political relations with which
it was possible at this time to establish, com
missioned the Hon. Alexander II. Stephens, Vice
President of the Confederate States, to represent
this government at Richmond. | am happy tC
inform YOU that he has concluded q convention
with the State of Virginia, by which that hon
orod Commonwealth so long and so Justly dis