The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-05-17

to the commander of Fort Sumter, who had a
vowed himself to be nearly out of provisions
that we would abstain from directing our FIR
on Fort Sumter.'if he would promise rot TO ope
fire on our forces unless first attacked. Thi
proposal was refused, and the conclusion wa
reached, that the des ign of the United State
was to place the beSieging force al Charleston
between the simultaneous fire of the fleet ant
the fort. There remained, therefore, no alter
native but to direct that the fort should al one.
be reduced. This order was executed bv Gen
eTal Beauregard, with the skill and success
which were naturally to be expected from the
we'll known character of that gallant Of
hcer and although the bombardment lasted
but thirty-ihre. hours, our flag did not wave
over ITS battered walls until after the appear
ance OF the hostile fleet off Charleston. Fort
unately not life was lost on our side, and we
were gFatihed IN being spared the necessity OF
a useless effuslon of blood by the prudent eau
tion OF the officers who commanded the feet IN
abstaInlng from the evidently futile effort to
enter the harbor for the relefof Major Ar
derson.
Scarcely had the President OF the United
States received intelligence of the failure of the
scheme which he had devised for the reinforce
tim OF war against this Confederacy, which
which has prompted me TO convoke you. In
this extraordinary production, that high Junction
airy affects total ignorance of the existence of
an Independent Government, which, possessing
the entire and enthusiastic devotion 20 its func-
ions without question over seven sovereign
States-over more than FIVE millions Of people
and over. territory whose area exceeds halt
mi of II
States ''comb;natIons, too powerful to be sup
pressed by the ordinary course OF judicial pro-
ceedings,o by the powers vested in the marsbals
by law" He calls for an army OF sevenfy-fiye
thousand men TO act as posse comatatus in aid
of the process OF the courts of justice in States
where no courts exist whose mandates and de-
crees are not cheerIulIy obeyed and respected by
a willing people. He avows that tqhe first seI-
wee to be assigned to the forces called oul" will
be, not to executethe process of cours but to cap
ture forts and strongholds situated within the
admitted limitsof this Confederacy land garrison
ed by its troops; and declares that this efort Is
intended $50 MAINTAIN the peTpetuity of popular
government" He concludes by commanding
s'thepersons composing the combinations afore-
said,' 10 wit, the five millions OF inhabitants OF
these. these States, .to retire Peacably 10 their res
Apparently contradictory as are the terms OF
this singular document, one point was unmis
takeably evident. Thr President OF the United
States called for an army of Seventy-ive thons-
and men, whose first service was to be to cap
tuTe our forts. 1t was a plain declaration OF
war winch | was not at liberty to disregard be-
cause of my knowledge that under the Constitu-
ton of the United States the President was u
surpIng power granted exclusively 10 the Con-
gress. He is the sole organ OF communication
between that country and foreign powers. The
laws OF nations did not permit me to question the
authority Of the Executive Of foreign nation
TO declare war against This Contederacy. Al
though | might have retrained from taking ac-
tive measures for our defence, If the States of
the Union had all initiated the action OF Virgin
la, North Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, Ten
nesSee and Missouri, by Genouncing the cali for
troops as an unconstitutional usurpation OF pow
er to which they refused TO respond, | was not
at liberty 10 disregard the fact that many OF the
States seemed quite content 10 submit TO the
exercise of The power assumed by the Preslden;
Of the United States, and were actively engaged
in evyIng troops 10 be used for the purpose, in
dicated in the proclamation.
Deprived of the aid of Congress at the mo-
my acton 10 a call on the States for voun-
teers for the common defence, IN accordance
with the authority you had confded to me De-
fore your adjournment. deemed 1t proper
further to issue proclamation inviting applica-
tion from persons disposed TO aid our defense in
private armed vessels on the high seas, to the
end that preparation might be made tor the inn
mediate issue of letters OF maTque and reprisal,
which you alone, under the Constitution, have
power to grant. / entertain no doubt you will
concur with me in the opinion that IN the alb
sence of feet of public vessels, il will oe EN-
lnently expedient 10 supply their place BY Prl-
vate armed vessels, SO happily styled by the
publicists of the United States sthe militia of
the sea- and 50 often and justly relied on by them
as an efficient and Admirable instrument OF de-
fensive warefare. | earnestly recommend the
passage of the Jaw authorizing me to accept
the numerous proposals already received.
! cannot close this review OF the acts OF the
government of the United States without refer
ing to proclamation issued BY their President
under the date of the 9th inst, in which, al
ter declaring that an nsurrectIon has broken
out in this Conederacy 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 government. Notwth
standing the authenticity oi this proclamation.
YOU will concur with me that il is hard TO be-
lieve it could have emanated from a President
Of the United States. Its announcement of a
mere paper blockade is so manitesly violation
of the law of nations that 1t would seem incred
ible that il could have been issued by author
ity-but conceding this 10 be the case SO tar as
ihe Executive is concerned, il Will be dith cul