The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-05-10

the call tor troops as an unconstitutional Il
usurpation Of power 10 which they refus-
ed TO respond. was not at liberty to
disregard the fact that many Of the States
seemed quite content TO submit to the ex- 4
ercise Of the power assumed by the Presi- /
dent Of the United States, and were &C
lively engaged in leYying troops to be used /
for the purpose indicated in the proclama-
ton.
Deprived Of the aid Of Congress at the
moment was under the necessity Of con-
timing my action to call on the States 1
for volunteers for the common defence in /
accordance with the authority you had
confided to me before your adjournment. |
/ deemed il proper further to issue a |
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 |
Tor the Immediate issue of letters of mar |
que and reprisal. which you alone, under |
the Constitution have power 10 grant. ! |
entertain no doubt you will concur with !
me in the opinion that in the absence Of |
a feet OF public vessels, II will be emf |
nently expedient to supply their place by |
private armed vessels. so happily styled |
by the publicists Of the United States,
"the militia Of the sea" and so often and
Justly relied on by them as an efficient
aud admirable instrument of defensive
warfare. I earnestly recommended the
immediate passage Of law authorizing
me to accept the numerous proposals
already received.
cannot close this review of the 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 in
surreotion has broken out in this Con-
| federacy against the Government of the
4 United States, he announces blocade
/ Of the ports Of these States, and threatens
/ 10 punish as pirates all persons who
/ shall modest any Vessel of the United
States under letters of marque issued by
this Government. Notwithstanding the
authority of this proclamation you will
concur with me that it is hard to believe
it could have emanated rom President
Of the United States. Its announce
ment Of a mere paper blockade is so mani
festly violation of the law Of nations
that it would seem increditable that it
! could have been issued by authority-but
| concediug 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 confederates will sanction its
declarations, will determine to ignore the
determination on both sides, by treating
a. pirates, open enemies acting under the
authority. of commissions issued by an
organized government. If such proclama-
ton was issued, it could only have been
published under the sudden influence Of
passion, and we may rest assured mankind
viii be spared the horrors of the conflict
it seems to invite.
For details Of. the administration of the
different departments, / refer to the re-
ports of the Secretaries which accompany
this message.
The State Department has furnished
the necessary instructions for three Com
missiOners, who have been sent to Eng
land. France, Russia and Belgium, since
your adjournment, to ask our recognition
as a member of the family of nations, and
70 make with each of those Powers trea-
ties Of amity and commerce. Further
steps will be taken to enter into like ne
gotations with the other European pow
ers in pursuance of your resolutions passed
at the last session. Sufficient time has
not yet elapsed since the departure 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
st an early period to the Independent
American powers South Of our COnfede-
racy with all Of whom it is our interest
b and wish to maintain the most cordial and
I friendly relations, / suggest the expedi-
p ency of making the necessary appropria-
{ tons for that purpose.
Having been officially notified by the
f. ! public Authorities of the State of Vir.
| aiuia that she had withdrawn from the
Union, and desired to maintain the clos
est political relations with us which it wa:
. possible at this timeto establish, / com
missioned the Hon. Alexander H. Ste
f. phens Vice President of the Confederate
States, TO represent this Government 81
J Richmond. / am happy to inform you
that he has concluded a convention with
I he State Of Virginia, by which that
r / honored Commonwealth, so long and
Justly distinguished among her sistel
- States. and so dear 10 the hearts Of thou
d .auds Of her children in the Confederate
10 states, has united her power and her for
, runes with ours, and become one of u.s.
D. This Convention. together with the ordi
y nance Of Virginia, adopting the Pro
- visional Constitution Of the Confederacy
b will be laid before you for your Constitu
o. rional action. have satisfactory assur
.e lnoes from other Of our late confederates
D. that they are on the point Of adopting
,t similar measures. and I cannot doubt tho
q ere YOU shall have been many weeks II
n .ession the whole of the slave-holdinl
Fl States of the late Union will respond u
y the call Of honor and affection, and b,
n uniting their fortunes with ours, promote
- our common interests and our common
n safety.
t, In the Treasury Department, regula
e tiOns have been devised and put into exc
Df eution for carrying out the policy indicai
II ed in your legislation on the subject o
rs the navigation of the Mississippi river, a
1f well a. for the collection of revenue OF
the frontier. Free transit has been Sc
n cured for vessels and merchandise passin
e. through the Confederate States and de
se lay and inconvenience have been avoidea
N as far as possible in organizing the revenu
y service for the various railways enterin
a our territory. As fast as experience shal
r, indicate the possibility of improvement
Re in these regulations no effort viii be spare
n to free commerce from all unnecessar
a endorsements and Instructions.
10 Under Your act authorizing loan, PR
h | posals were issued inviting subscription
N for Eve millions of dollars, and the ca
w was answered by the prompt subscriptio
rs Of more than eight millions by our ow
v citizens, and not single bid under par
or The rapid development Of the purpos
il Of the President Of the United States I
,ir invade our soil, capture our forts, blocl
ne ade our ports, and wage war against u
ar induced me to direct that the entire sal
ut scription should be accepted. 1t will n,
SIS become necessary to raise means to a niue
nd larger amount to defray the expenses
I I
ess ling invasion. invite your special attei
IN ton TO this subject, and the financial col
III ditiOn of the government, with the su
Tor gestion Of ways and means for the supp
lte Of the Treasury, will be presented to yo
Ter IN a separate communication.
on To the Department Of Justice you hAV
err confded the organization and supervise
ial OF all matters connected with patents an
m with the bureau of public printing.
ms Since your adjournment all the court
be with the exception of those Of Mississi
Mt pi and Texas. have been organized by Il
to appointment Of Marshals and District A
bis torneys, and are now prepared for the e.
sci ercise of their functions.
est In the two States Just named, the re
nm tlemen confirmed as judges declined
- accept the appointment, and no nou1in
.th lions have yet been made to Gil the v
on cancies. refer you to the report of u
Ter Attorney General, and concur in his r
1m commentator for immediate Legislation
in especially on the subject Of patent right
lar Early provision should be made to seen
mt TO the subjects Of foreign nations the fu
Sc enjoyment Of their property in valuab
in inventions, and to extend TO our either
ar protection, not only TOR their own inve
nj tions, but for such as may have been a
he signed 70 them, or may hereafter be q
ie- signed by persons not alien enemies.
M The patent Office business is much mo
of extensive and important than had bee
,as anticipated. The applications for patent
bis although confined under the law excl
ne. sively to citizens Of our confederacy, q
* ready average seventy pr month, shor
nj ing the necessity for the prompt organic
Isl ton Of bureau Of patents.
ng The Secretary Of War, in his report an
en- accompanying documents conveys full i
I've formation concerning the forces, regul
,ry volunteer and provisional. raised and ca
Of ed for under the several acts Of Congress
tes their organization and distribution Ais
ip- an account Of the expenditures alreac
.ial made, and for the fiscal year ending q
in the 18th February, 1861, rendered niece
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