New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-05

| oNinCcu CDIVb
feelings of the brave but unforta nate oincer wht
had been compelled to lower his flag. al manifes
dauons oil eXultstion were checked in tlS presence
Their commanding general, with their cc.cal ap,
provd and the consent Of the goyenhent reiS 'ined
from imposing any terms tbat could wound tie
sensibilhies Of the commander of the fort He was
permitted 10 retire with the honors OF war-to salute
| bis flag, to depart freely with all bis command and
was escorted TO the vessel in which he embarked with
the highest marks 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 on South Carolina, but the forbearlnce of her
people and of this Government from making any harsh
of victory obtained under circumstances Of such
peculiar provOeatiOn, attest 10 the fullest extent the
absence of any purpoee beyond securing their own
tranquility, and the sincere detire to avoid the caai
| ties of war.
Scarcely had the President Of tie United States re.
ceved intelligence OF the failure of the scheme which
hc had devised for the reinforcement of Fort Sumter
when he issued the declaration Of war against this
Confederacy which has prompted me to conyoke You.
In this extraordinary production, that high Junction.
AIRY affects total ignorance of the eXiteaee OF an inde
pendent government, which, possessing the entire and
enthusiastic devotion to its people, Is exercising its
| functions without question over seven Sovereign
States over more than five millions OF people, aud
territory whose area exceeds half million OF
square milcs. lie terms Sovereign States "eOnbna-
0ns too powerful 20 be suppressed by the ordinary
course of judiciary proceedings, or by the powers
vested in the maTshals by law" lie calls for
army Of seventy five thousand men to act as posse
comatss in aid Of the process OF the courts OF Justice
in States here courts exist whose mandates and
DEGREES are not cheerfnly obeyed and respected by
WILLING peOpe He avOws that " the frSt service TO be
assigned to the forces called ont viii lie, not 10
cute the process of courts, but to capture forts aud
sronghods situated within the admitted limits of this
Confcdercy and garisoned by its troops and declines
that "tbis effort j. Intended "tO maintain tie per-
peuity of popular government" He concludes by
commanding the persons composing the combinations
aforesaid to wit: the five millions of inhabitants of
these States "tO retire peaCcably TO their respective
abodes within twenty days
Apparently conrsdicorya are the terms Of this sin
gular document, ore point Enthusiastically evident.
The Pre- ident OF the United States called for army
OF seventy i've thousand men, whose irs service was
to be to capture forte. II was plain declarations OF
war which not al liberty 10 disregard because OF
my knowledge that under the Constitution OF the United
States the Pr, sident was usuing power granted eN-
cusvey TO the Congress. lie Is the cole organ ofcom
municaiOn between that country and foreign powers
The law Of nations did not Permit me question the
authority Of the executive OF foreign nation declare
war against this CCnicderacy. Although might have
reiraned from ta; active measures Toy our deiense,
if the States Of the Union had a inflated the action of
Virginia North Carolina Arkansas heBtucky, Ten
nessee and Missouri, by denomciug the c. for troops
a. an unconstitutional usuIVaon Of power 60 which
they refused to respond was not At liberty to disre
gard the fact that many OF tie Ssies seemed quite con-
tent 20 submit to the exercise Of the power assumed by
the President Of the United Staes and actively
engaged in eyying trUols 10 be used FOR the purpose
indicated IN the proclamation.
Derived OF the $50 ~ trIie-- nv nf NiOu was
under the necessity If coniiung my action TO a coll on
the States for volunteers for the common defense IL
cordauce with the Authority you hid coDhdcd 10 mo
before your adjournment. deemed u proper further
to issue proclamation Inviting Application from persons
disposed 20 aid defense IN private armed vessels
the high seas, to the end that preparations might be
made for tie immediate issue Of et1ee Of narquc and
repnsal which you alone, under The Constr tiop have
power 20 grant | entertain doubt you will concur
with me in the opinion that IN the absence Of fleet OF
public yesso it viii he omincutly eXpe0ient to supply
their place by private armed ycsse 20 highly styled
bv the puhcists of the United States " the militia of
the sea and 30 often aud Justly relied by them hs
an efficient aud admirable instrument O defensive war
fare Iearnestly recommend che immediate pbssdge Of
law authorizing me TO accept the numerous proposals
alreldv received
cannot close this review Of toe acts Of the Govern
men of the niied Staos without referring 10 Pre-
lnmaiiou issued by their Presdeli under date OF the
Iglh inst in which after declaring that M nsurrecliOn
has broken ont ~ this Contederacy against the Gov
eminent # the United States, he announces block
aie Of all the ports Of these states and threatens 70
punish 10 VThie- III petODs who shall noett any yes.
eel Of lie United Staies undor Letters II marque issued
by hi. Government. kOiw,tur,eiriing the anthem
tieity Of this proclamation y0a Will concur with me
thai Il i hard 70 bslieye i eoo5 lave emsnaeS IT.
"a Pc ileut Of The United States. i@ announce
uent 81 mere Taper blockade 10 90 msniief,-
" viootion % ~. lag Of paiioIr lnal u
Sy sathoritybui cUncedng Ibis 10 be The case far
"a lie Executive il concerned il viii bo difficult to
satisfy the people 81 these States that their late con-
feder,tss will sanction its declarations, VIII determine
10 ignore the usagts oil civilized nations, ahd IL VIII
inai,gutae a war II determination on both sides, by
treating az rraes open enemies, acting under tfe hu-
tbority OF commissions issned by an organized Gov-
eTrment Ii such proclamation was Issued, u could
OIL have been published under the sudden influence
a. na.sion and we rest assured mankind VIII be
epared the horror Of lhc conflict II seems 70 invite
For the details cf the administration Of he different
DEPARTMENTS refer TO the reports OF Inc oecio'ueS
which accompany this meFsage.
haa
essary instructions for three commissioners, VINO
have been sent to England France, Ru'fia
and Belgium, since your Adjournment, TO ash
our recognition n memler OF the family "i nh
tons and To make with each OF those power treaties
of arnty and commerce. Further steps "lii ne '"hch
10 enter into ike negotiations with the other I'm.
ropeap powers IA pursuance Of your resolutions ssed
at the last session Sufficient time has lot Yet eiaed
snCe the departure Of these COMMISSIONER Oi lhe re-
CENT OF any intelligence from Them a. deem u Ut
srable that commissioners other diplomatic agents
Lond also be sent al al early period - the inGelen-
dent American power south OF our Conederacy, with
all Of whom il interest and earnest WEB 10 min-
ipin the most corda, aDd friendly relations, snggest
the expediency OF making the necessary appropriations
for that purpose.
Having been officially notified by tie public agthori
ties Of the State Of Virginia that she had wiilrrewn
from the Union and desired TO maintain the cloett TO-
lilicsl relations with us which At was possible Ut tms
time 10 establish, comuissif ned the Hon. Alexander
H. Stephens Nice-Preeident OF the Confederate
States TO represent this Government at ri lmond.
am happy 10 inform you that he has concluded Con-
yenton with the ate Of Virginia, by which that hon.
ored Commonwealth, 30 long and justly distinguished
among her sister States, ana 20 dear 10 We h,hs W
tbous1nds Of her children IN the Confed-
crate States nas united her power and her fortunes
with OUTS and becOIne Of rs. tbs Convention, 10
Qetler with the ordinance OF Virginia, ado nag NE
Provisional Constitution OF the Conedeiacy, WIZ he
laid before Won for your Constitutional action. have
aastr,tncca other OF late COTfrd