New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-05-03

& II cannot close inns review OF tne acts OF tHe
Government of the United States without referring
to proclamation issued by their President, under
date OF the 10Th inst, in which, after declaring
that an insurrection has broken out In this Com
federaey against the Government Of the United
States he announces blockade of all the ports of
these States and threatens to punish as pirates all
persons who shall modest any vessel of the United
States under letters of marque issued by this Cow
eminent. Notwithstanding the authenticity OF this
proclamation, you will concur with me that it is
hard to believe that it could have emanated from
President of the United States.
Its announcement of mere paper blockade ia
80 manifestly violation of the law of nations that
it would seem incredible that it could have been
issued by authority; but concedng this to be the
case, SO far as the Executive is concerned it will
be difficult to satisfy the people Of these States
that their late conederates will sanction its decla
ratons-will determine the usages of civilized ma
lions, and will inaugurate war of determination
on both sides by treating as pirates open enemies
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 that mankind
Will be spared the horrors of the conflict it seems
to invite
For the details of the administration of the differ
ent departments, refer to the reports of the Sec
retares Of each, which accompany this message.
Inc state Department has furnished the neces-
sary instructions for those Commissioners who have
been sent to England, France, Russia and Belgium,
since your adjournment, to ask our recognition a
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 me-
gotiations with the other European Powers, in pur
suanee to resolutions passed at your last session.
Sufficient time has not yet elapsed since the de-
parture of these Commissioners for the receipt of
any intelligence from them.
AS l deem it desirable that Commissioners or
other diplomatic agents should also be sent at an
early period to the Independent American Powers
trfh oil nF xryhrY
our interest and earnest wish to maintain the most
cordial and friendly relations suggest the expedi-
ency of making the necessary appropriations for
that purpose
Having been officially notified by the public
authorities of the State of Virginia that she had
withdrawn from the Union, and desired to maintain
the closest political relations with which it was
possible ct this time to establish commissioned
the Hon. Alex. H. Stephens, ce-President of the
Confederate States, to represent this Government
| at Richmond.
| am happy to inform you that he has concluded
Convention with the State of Virginia, by which
that honored Commonwealth, so long and justly
distinguished among her sister States, and SO dear
to the hearts Of thousands of her children in the
Confederate States, has united her power and her
fortunes with ours and become one of us. This
Convention, together with the ordinance of Vir-
ginia adopting the Provisional Constitution of the
Confederacy, will be laid before you for your con-
stitutional action.
| have satisfactory assurances from other of our
late confederates that they are on the point Of
adopting similar measures, and cannot doubt that
ere you shall have been many weeks in session,
the whole of the saveholding States of the late
Union will respond to the cali of honor and afec-
ton, and by uniting their fortunes with ours pro-
mote our common interests and secure our COM
mon safety.
| In the Treasury Department, regulations have
been devised and put into execution for carrying
ont the policy indicated in your legislation, the
subject of the navigation of the Mississippi river
as well as for the collection of the revenue the
| frontier.
! Free transit has been secured for vessels and
merchandise passing through the Confederate
States, and delay and inconvenience have been
| avoided as far as possible.
In organizing the revenue service for the various
railways entering our territory, as fast as expe-
| rlence shall indicate the possibility of improve
ment in these regulations, no effort will be spared
| to free commerce from all necessary embarrass-
| ments and distractions.
Under your act authorizing loan, proposals
were issued inviting subscriptions for five millions
| OF dollars, and the call was answered by the sub
scrption of eight millions by own citizens, and
not single bid was made under par.
The rapid development of the purpose of the
President of the United States to invade our SOIL
capture our forts, blockade our ports, and wage
war against u.s. induced me to direct that the entire
subscription should be accepted. Itsw-... :, be-
come necessary to raise means to much larger
amount to defray the expenses of maintaining our
independence and repelng invasion.
invite your special attention to this subject,
and the financial condition of the Government with
| the suggestion of ways and means for the snpply
| OF the treasury, will be presented to you in q
separate communication.
10 the Department of Justice You have confded
not only the organization and supervision of all
matters connected with the courts of Justice. hui
also those connected with patents and with the
bureau of the ubc printing.
Since your adjournment all the courts, with the
exception of those of Mississippi and Texas, have
been organized by the appointment of marshals
an district attorneys, and are now prepared for the
exercise OF their functions. In the two States Just
named the gentlemen confirmed as judges declined
to accept the appointments, and no nominations
have yet been made to fill the vacancies.
I refer you to the report of the Attorney Gen.
eral, and concur in his Recommendation for imme-
date legislation, especially onthe subject of patent
rights. Early provision should be made to secure
to the subjects of foreign nations the full enjoy
ment of their property in valuable inventions, and
to extend to our own citizens protection not only
for their own inventions, but for such as may have
been assigned TO them or may hereafter be as
signed by persons rot alien enemies
The Patent Office business is much more extern
sive and important than had been anticipated. The
applications for patents, although confined under
already average seventy per month"; showing the
necessity for the prompt organization of bureau
of patents.
The Secretary of War. in his report ana accom-.
panying documents conveys full information con-
corning the forces, regular, volunteer, and pro-
visional raised and called for under the several
acts OF Congress-their organization and dstrbn
ton; also an account of the expenditures already
made, and the further estimates for the fiscal wear
ending on the 18th of February, 1862 rendered
necessary by recent events.
refer to the report, also, for full history of
the occurrences in Charleston harbor prior to- and
including the bombardment and reduction of Fort
Sumter, and of the measures subsequently taken
for common defence on receiving the intelligence
of the declaration of war against us, made by the
President of the United States
There are now in the field at Charleston, Penss-
cola, Fnrts Morgan, Jackson, St. Philip and Pula.
ski, $4,000 men, and 10000 are now en- route for
Virginia. 1t ia proposed to organize and hold in
readiness for instant action in view of the present
exigenees of the country, an army of 100, 900 men,
If further force be needed the wisdom and patriot
ism of the Congress will be confidently appealed
to for authority to call into the field additional
numbers of our noblespirited volunteers who are
constantly rendering their services far in excess of
our wants.
The operations of the Navy Department have
been necessarily restricted by the fact that suti-
cient time has not yet elapsed for the purchase or
construction of more than limited number of YES
sells adapted to the public service. Two vessels
have been purchasd and manned, the Sumter and
McRae, and are now being prepared for sea, at
New Orleans, with all possible dispatch. Con
tracts have also been made at that city, with two
different establishments, for the casting of ord
nance-cannon, shot and shell-wth the view to
encourage the manufacture of these articles so in
dispensable for our defence, at as many points
within our territory possible. call your atten-
ton to the recommendation of the Secretary for
the establishment of magazine and laboratory