The Van Buren press., 1861-06-12

tiOn against foreign attack. How it was
held out with persistent tcnacity as means
of offence against them by the very gov
ernment which they had established for
their own protection is well-known. They |
had beleaguered it for months, and felt en-
tire confidence in their power to capture it, |
yet yielded to the requirements of disci- !
pine, curbed their impatience, submitted
without complaint to the accustomed hard |!
ships, lebors and privations Of protracted
siege, and when at length their patience
relieved by the signal for attack, and sue.
cess had crowned their steady and gallant
conduct, even in the very moment of triumph
they cvinced chivalrous regard for the feel
ings of the brave, but unfortunate officer,
who had been compelled to lower his flag.
All maniisstss iona OF ssa3aiaa werse eisre.,ea "a
his presence. Their cesanan.iing general. with
their cordial approval, and the consent Of his gov
ernnient. refrained from imposing any terms tha.
would wound the sensibility of the commander OF
the fort he permitted to retire with the hon
ors of war, to salute his flag, to depart freely with
all his command, and was escorted to the vessel on
which he embarked. with the highest mark of res
ect 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 gov
ernment from making any harsh of victory
vocation attest to the fullest extent the absence of
any purpose beyond securing their owl tranq quility
and the sincere desire to avoid the calamties OF
war.
received intelligence of the failure of the scheme
which he had devised for the reinforcement Of Fort
Sumter, when he issued the declaration of wa.
against this Confedcracy, which has prompted me
to convoSe You. In this extraordinary production
that high functonary effects total Ignorance of the
existence Of an independent government which
possessing the entire and enthusiastic devotion of
its people, Is exercising its functions seven
sovereign States ; over more than five millions of
people. and over territory whose area exceeds five
hundred thousand square miles.
He terms sovereign States combinations too
powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course
of judicial proceedings, by the powers vested in
the marshas y law
He calls for army Of seventy five thousand
men to act posse comifafus in aid of the proc
ess of the Courts Of Justice in States where no
courts exist whose mandates and DEGREES are not
eheerfully obeyed and respected by n willing
people
He avows that the first service to be assigned IN
the forces which have been called out, will not be
to execute the processes of courts, but t. captur,
forts and strongholds, situated within the limited
limits OF this Confederacv, and garrisonel by its
troops, and declares that this effort is intended to
maintain the perpetuity of popular government
He concludes by commanding the persons com.
posing the :" combinations - aforesaid to-wit tn.
five millions of inhabitants of these States to RET r,
peaceably to their respective aboles within twenty
days. Apparently contradictory as are terms o.
this singular document, one point unmistaka
blv evident.
The President Of the United States called for nr
army Of 900 men, whose frs: service was TO be-
TO capture our forts. 1t was plain declaration OF
war, which | was not at liberty to disregard be
cause Of my knowledge that under the Constitution
OF the United Stites, the President was asarpinc
Il power esraated exclusively TO the Congress He i.
the sole organ of communication between the conn
try and foreign powers. The law of nations dit
not permit to question the authority of the ex
ecutive of foreign nation to declare war arains
this Confederacy. although might have rcfrainnd
from taking active for defence if the
States of the Union had all initiated the action o
Virginia, North Carolina Arkansas, Kentucky
Tennessee and Missouri. by denouncing it as AZ
unconstitutional usurpatioa of power to which
they refuse to respond l was not at liberty t,
disregard the fact that many OF the States seemed
quite content 10 submit 10 the exercise of the pow
crs assumed by the President of the United States
and actively engaged in evying troops for tn,
. purpose indicated in the proclamation. Deprive
of the aid Of Congress at the moment, was undei
the necessity of confining my action to n call OF
States for volunteers for the defence in ac
cordance with the authority you had confded I.
me. before your adjournment
| | deemed IT proper further. to issue proclama
tion Inviting applications from persons disposed t,
aid in defence in private armed vessels on tn,
hic, seas, TO the end that preparations might b,
made for the immediate issue Of letters of marou,
and reprsal, which you, alone. under the Constitu
ton, have the power to grant.
| entertain no doubt that You will concur will
me in the opinion that in the absence of an orra
nized navy it will be eminently eypedient to sup
ply their place with private armed vessels. hal,
PLY styled by the publicists of the United States
the militia of the and so often and Justly rcli
ed on by them as an efficient and admirable instru
mcnt of defensive warfare.
| earnestly recommend the immediate passage o
law authorizing me TO accept the numerous propo
, sails already received.
cannot close this review of the acts of the gov
crnment of the United States without referring I.
} proclamation issued by their President. unde
date ot the 18th inst. in which, after declaration
. that irsurrecton had broken out in this Confed
eracy against the government Of the United States
he announces a blockade of all the ports of ties,
States, and threatens to punish, pirates all per
sons who shall moest any vessel of the Unitet
States under letters of narqne issued by this gov
ernment. Notwithstanding the authenticity Of thi.
proclamation you will concur with that it is hart
to believe tnat it could have emanated from pres
ident of the United States.
!, Its announcement of mere paper blockade is s,
manifestly a violation Of the law of nations that i
would seem incredible that it could have been il
sued by authority; but coneeding this to be til,
case far the executive is concerned it will b,
difficult to satisfy the people of these States tia
t'"ir late consederaes will sanction it, declarations
will determine to ignore the usages of civilized
sss @ Ssn ensn;s
acting under authority of commissions issued by
an organized government
Ii such proclamation was issued il could only
have been published under the sudden influence q
passion and may rest assured that fuankind
will be spared the horrors Of the conflict it seem, e
invite.
For the details OF the administration of the ~.
feren departments. refer to the reports of ~, 40.
retaries Of each which accompany this r,e.sn,,a
i The State Department has furnished tho n.o,.n -
ry instructions for these commissioners who b,y.
been sent to England, France, Russia and -
since your Adjournment, to ask our .oo,t;on 81 ''
member Of tie family of nn.,ons and 10 mol. a
each a. these Powers treaties of anitv and CON,
merce 'N ''i
further steps viii be taken 10 enter into like ne
gotiatons with the other European powers. IN mr.
suanee tn your resolutions passed at your last session
sufficient time has not yet elapsed since the de.
parur of the commissioners, for the receipt Of any
| intelligence from them.
| As deem it desirable that commissioners or
ether diplomatic agents should also be sent at an
early period to the independent American mower.
! south of orr Coufederacy. with all of whom il il
our Interest and earnest wish maintain the mos,
cordial friendly relations. suggest the expediencv
of making the necessary appropriations for that
purpose.
Having been officially notified by the authorities
OF the State Of Virginia. that she had Withdrawn
from the Union and desired To maintain the cjosas,
relations which it possible Mt this time 10 c
tablish, commissioned the Hon. A!exander "
Stephens. Vice President Of the Confsdor.,aa
States, TO represent this government at Kiclnond