The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-05-07

tually confessed by the government of the United
States sending messenger to Charleston 10 give
notice of it's purpose to use force if opposed in its
intention of supplying Fort Sumter. NO more
striking proof of the absence of good faith ID the
conduct of the government of the U. States TO-
wards the Confederacy can be required than Is
contained in the circumstances which accompanied
the notice According to the usual course OF ma
yigation, the vessels composing the expedition de-
signed for the relief of Fort Sumter might be ex-
pected to reach Charleston harbor on the 9Th OF
April vet with our commissioners actually In
Washington detained under assurances that notice
should be given of any military movement the no.
tice was not addressed to them, but messenger
was sent to Charleston to give the notice to the
Governor of South Carolina, and the notice was so
given at a late hour the 9Th of April, the eve
of the very day on which the fleet might be ex-
pectcd to arrive.
fault of those who conrived it. heavy tempest de-
ayed the arrival Of the expedition and gave time TO
the commander of forces Charleston to ask and
receive the instructions of this government. Even
then under all the provocation incident to the con-
terpuous refusal to listen to our Commissioners, ana
the tortuous course of the United States was sim
cereIy anxious to avoid the effusion of blood, and
directed a proposal to be made to the commander of
Fort Sumter, who had avowed himself to be nearly
out of provisions that we should abstain from Greet
ing fire Fort Sumter if he would promise rot to
open fire on orr forces unless first attacked. TINS
proposa was refused and the conclusion was reached
that the design of the United States was TO place the
besicgng forces at Charleston between the smultane
Gus fire of the feet and the fort. There renamed,
therefore, alternative but to direct that the ert
should once be reduced.
This order was executed by Gen. Beauregard with
the skill and success which naturally to be ex
pected from the well known character of that gallant
officer; and, although the bombardment lasted bat
thrtythree hours flag did not waive over Its bat
tered walls until after the appearance OF the hostile
fleet off Charleston Fortunately not lite was lost
on our side and gratfed in being spared the
necessity of useless eusion Of blood by the prudent
caution of the officers who commanded the fleet, in
abstainng from the evidently futile effort to enter the
harbor for the relief Of Major Anderson refer to the
report of the Secretary of and the papers which
it, for further details of this brilliant affair.
In this connection l cannot refrain from we'll
deserved tribute to the noble State, the eminent SOL
dierly qualities of whose people conspcuousy
displayed in the port of Charleston. For months they
had been irrtaed by the spectacle of fortress held
within their principal harbor as standing menace
against their peace and independence Bnlt in part
with their money, its stody conhded with their
own consent to an agent who held rover over them
other than such they had themselves delegated for
their benefit intended be used by that agent for
their protection against for ign attack they it
held with persistent tenacity means of offence
agains them by the very Government which they had
e$ta bshed for their protection.
They had beleagured it for months-felt entire conf
dence in their power TO capture itye yielded to the
requirements of discipline, curbed their impatience,
submitted without complaint to the unaccustomed
hard>hps labors and priratons of protracted seige
and when at length their patience rewarded by the
signal for attack and had crowned their steady
and gallant conduct-even in the moment of tri
umph-they evinced chivarous regard for the feel
ings of the brave but unfortunate officer who had been
compelled to lower his flag All the manifestations Of
exultation were checked in his presence.
Their commanding general, with their cordial ap
proval and the consent OF his Government. RETAINED
from imposing any terms that would wound the sensi
bltles Of the commander of the fort. He permit
ted TO retire with the honors of to salute his flag
depart freely with his command and
to the vessel in which he emhanked with the highest
mark Of respect from those against whom his guns had
been recently directed Not only does every event
connected with the siege reflect the highest honor
South Carolina but the forbearance of her people, and
Of this Government, from making any harsh of
victory obtained under circumstances of such peculiar
attest to the fullest extent the absence of
any purpose beyond securing their own tranquility,
and the sincere desire avoid the calamties of
Scarcely had the President of the United States
ceved intelligence of the failure of the scheme which
he had devised for the reinforcement of Fort SUMTER
when he issued the declaration of against this
Confederacy, which has prompted me to convoke You.
In this extraordinary production that high unctonary
affects total ignorance of the existence of an indie
pendent Government which, possessing the entire and
enthusiastic devotion Of its people, is exercising its
functions without question sovegn States
over more than four millions of peoplc-and over a
territory whose exceeds half million of square
miles. He terms sovereign States 90 combinations TOO
powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary of
judicial proceedings or By the powers vested in the
ma rshals by law"
He call for army of seventy five thousand men
to act co'tofms in aid of the of the
courts of justice in States where exist whose
mandate and DEGREES not cheerfny obeyed and re-
spected by willing people. He that " the first
service to be assigned to the forces called out" will be.
not to execute the of courts but to capture
forts and srongholds situated within the admitted
limits of this Confcderacy and garrsoned by its
troops and declares that this effort is intended :to
maintain the perpetnity of popular government" He
concludes by commanding the persons composing the
aforesaid. to-wit: the five millions Of
inhabitants of these States. ito retire peaceably
their respective abodes within twenty days"
Apparently contradictory the terms of this
singular document, point was Enthusiastically evil
dent. The President of the United States called for
an army of seventy fve thousand men, whose first
service was to be to capture forts. 1t plain
declaration of war; which not at liberty to dis
regard because of my knowledge under the Constitu
ton of the United States the President usurping
power granted exclusively to the Congress He is the
sole organ of communication between that and
foreign powers. The law of nations did not permit
me to question the authority of the Executive of a
foreign nation to declare against this Confederacv
Although might have RETAINED from taking active
for defence if the States Of the Union had
all initiated the action Of Virginia. North Carolina
Arkansas, Kentucky. Tennessee and Missouri. by de-
nouncing the call for troops unconstitutional
nsurPaon Of power to which thew refused respond
was not at liberty to disregard the fact that of
the States seemed qnite content to submit the
rise of the power assumed bv the President of the
nlted States, and were actively engaged in levvng
troops to be used for the purpose indicated in the
Deprived of the aid Of Congress at the moment
was under the necessity of combining my action to
call on the States for volunteers for the de-
1ed to me before your adjournment. / deemed it
proper further to Issue proclamation inviting appca-