Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-07

nlace nv priyate armed vessels, so hepplly
STYLED by the publicists Of tho United States
"the militia of the sea-" and so often ana
;ustly relied on by them Us an efficient and al:
mirable instrument Of defensive warfare. l
earnestly recommend the immediate passage
Of a law authorizing me to accept the numef-
Gus proposals already received.
cannot close this review of tho acts OF the
Government Of the United States without re-
f.rrinc to II proclamation issued Of thair IRE
sjdent under date Of the l9ih instant, IN
which, after declaring that IN instruction mas
broken out in this Confedcracy AGAINST the 10
yernrnent Of the United States, he announces
q 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 marlIe issued by TINS Gov
srnment. Notwithstanding the authenticity
of this proclamation, you "l!l concur WIN Inc
that it is hard to bcl!tve 1t could nave emma
Ted from a President Of the United States. is
announcement OF a there paper oiocEade IL so
rranifeitly a violation OF the Ia" o. nations,
that il would seem Incredible that it could have
been issued b. authority; but conccding this
10 be the Case, so far rs the Executive Is con
eerned, it will be difficult to satisfy the people
Of these States that their late con'eieratei VIII
sanction its declarations, will deter';!;he 70 y
more the usages of civilized nations, and vii:
inaugurate Il war CT determination on ooth
sides. by treating as pirates, open enemies ACT.
ing under the authority Of commissions issued
by an organized government. Ii such procla,
nation vas issued, i, could only have been
nubiisheG under the sudden i~n:lGcnco .! pa
sion, and We may rest assured nlsnkiHd "ll!
b.. spared TIC horrors Of the conflict it seems
TO invite.
For the details Of the Administrator ul th-
different departments. | refer - the reports d
the Secretaries which accompany thus :aesS.s-.
The State department has furnished the ne
ccssury Instructions for three commissioners
who have been sent To England, France. Rus.
sin and belgium, since your a. 'nrrrnent. te
ask our recognition d" Il member oi the family
OF nations. and to make with each Of those
powers treaties Of a!.!tv and commerce.. Fur
Their steps will be taken 10 enter into ike no.
gotiations with the other ElrUpcar powers in
PURSUANCE Of your resolutions passed IL the
last session. S4!lc,crt timH has not Vet
elarsed since the departure Of these commls.
%SionerS, for ihe receipt 81 any intelligence
from them. AZ ! 1:cm i. desirable that com,
missicu-rs or other diplomatic sgcn:s Shout!
also DC sent at AL ssEly pcri:l To the indeprn-
dent American powers South Of our Cor!e!e-
racy, with all Of whom IL Is nur interest and
earnest wish to maintain the :!uS! cordial and.
friendly relations, | sug:rs; thc expectancy Of
making tie necessary appropriations LOT thai
purpose.
Having been officially notified by the public
authorities of the State Of Virginia that she
had Withdrawn from the Union. end desired to
maintain the closest political relations with lis
which it was possible at this tilhe To establish,
! commissioned the lion. Alexander u. Ste
piens, Vice -Presiden; Of tie Confederate
States, to represent this government AT Rich.
mnnd. | ain happy TO lrlurm you ihHi he has
ccnslUded Il convention with the STATE OF 'iT-
! GINA, by which that honOrrI Commonwealth.
SO long and justly distinguished among her
sister States, and so dear {" the hearts 81 thou
sands Of her children in the Confederate States,
has united her power and her fortunes with
OUTS, and become one of us. This convention,
together with the ordinance Of Virginia, adopt
Ing the provisional constitution If the CoIfe-
dcracy, will be laid before Jon for your con-
stitu.ioual action. | have satisfactory nssur.
ances from other Of orr lato cnnIcdcrgtcs that
they are on the point u! adopting sim!iar inet
surcs, and I came: Gouh; that ere you shall
have been rnarv we2ks 10 session, the whole OF
/ the SlaN cilCluiIlE sJjJtcS -! -lts iblS S'''pi., wa
respond 70 the call o! horor and affection, anil,
By uniting their fortunes with ours, promote
our conluion interests And secure oar common
safety.
In tho Treasury Department, rrguiatioEs
have been devised and put into execution for
carrying GU: tho polio? indicated ii Jour leg
i~slstion on the subject ot tic navigation Of the
! Mississippi river, rs well as for the collection
! OF revenue OF the frontier. Free transit has
been secured for vessels and merchandise pass.
ing through the Confederate States; AMI delay
and Inconvenience have been avoided Us far "a
possible in organizing the ie"ciIue service for
tie various railways entering our territory
s. fast ss experience shall Indicate the poSS!.
b;i;ty of- IMPROVEMENT il these regulations, no
-iirt will be s;,nrei 70 free commerce from
all unncrceaar. cHbarrss3ments and obst7uc-
tons.
Under your act authorizing = !oaa, proposals
were issued inviting subscriptions for five mil
! lions OF dollars, and the call uas answered by
the prornp, subscription of more than eight
/ millions by our oTn citizens. and TO: n single
BID was msde under per. The !s?id Gevclnp.
! rneut Of tie purpose Of the President of the
United States 70 invade our soil. capture on;
forts, blockade oar ports. m! wage war against
US, induced me 10 direct that the entire sub.
scrip:!on should be accepted. 1t vii: now hc-
cGlne necessary 20 raise means ~ 4 Imuch lar
ger amount To Icfr.v the expenses Of main
tanning our Independence and :epeiling iT'a-
sion. [ invite ynur special attention 10 this
s%uljcc.; md the financial condition Of the gcv-
! eminent. with the suggestion ut waya and
means for the supply ci the Treasury, vii! DC
presented To you in q separate communication.
To tho Departments. VI Justice you have con-
fded not only the organization and supervision
of ell matters connected with the courts Of
Justice, bu. also these connected with patents
and with the bureau Of public printing.
Since your adjournment nj the courts, with
the exception Of those NJ Mississippi and
Texas, have been organized by TIE appoint,
mcnt Of MurshalS md District Attorneys, and
arc now ~prep,.cd for the exercise o! their func-
tions.
In the two States just named, the gentlemen
confirmed as judges, declined to accept the
appointment, and no nominations have vet
been made 70 fill the vacancies. | refer Won
to the report Of the Attorney General, and
concur in his recommendation Cor immediate
legislation. especially on line subject Of patent
rights. Early provision should be made 10
secure to the subjects Of foreign nations the
full enjoyment Of their property in valuable
inventions, and to extend 10 our cwn citizens
protection. not only for their o"n inventions,
but for such as may hare been assigned 10
them, or may hereafter Ue assigned y: persons
not alien enemies.
The paten; office business is much more OK.
tensive end important than had been a~nticipa-
ted. The applications for patents, although
confined under the las exclusively to citizens
Of cur Ccnfederacy, sITead" average arvsniv
per month, showing the necessity Cor his
prompt organization of I bureau Of patents.
the Secretary OF War, in his report and &C.
compsnying documents, conveys fnl! informa-
ton concerning Ii" forces, regular. volunteer
| and provisional, raissd and called for under the