Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-07-25
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
INV. TELEGRAPH FOR THE JOURNAL.
L H. IL fo7ornf0 SfntoS of America

the state of the Conederacy render 1t
os % occurred during the recess and to
matters connected with the public defence.
hr - onr Confederation of free and equal sovereign
States Our loved and honored BRETHREN NorIn Ca,ona
and Tennessee have consulted the acton anu S
ton of announcing by proclamation IN conoTmy WIN la"'
that those were admitted into the Conederacy
The people of Virginia alsO by majority previously
unknown in her history, have ratified the action OF ner
Convention, uniting her fortunes with ours
The States of Arkansas North oarolna ara va naEe
likewise adopted the permanent Constitution OF the
States doubt entertained OF It's adopon Dy
Tennessee at the election to be held early next monn
deemed advisable to direct removal OF the several
Executive departments with their archives to this City, to
which you had removed the seat of Governms mt.
Immediately after your adjournment the aggressive
movements of the enemy required prompt and energetc
action. a..
The accumulation of his forces the Potomac sufficient
y demonstrated his efforts to be directed against
Virginia. and from poht could the necessary 1or
her defense protection be eectual y directed as
from her capital The rapid progress OF events 1or
weeks has fully suced to strip the veil be
hind which the policy and OF the Government
the United States had previously concealed their odlous
features stand fully revealed.
The message of their President and the action OF their
Congress during the present month"; confess the Intention
of subugang these States by whose folly equaled
by it's wckedness "a by which it is Impossible to at
tain the proposed result whilst its dire calamtes not to
be avoided by u.s. will fall with double severity On them
selves.
Commencing March last with the aectation of ignor
ng the Secession of States which first organized this
Government persistng in April in the idle and absurd as
sumption of the existence of riot which to be dispersed
Dy pOSSee continuing in the successive month the
false representation States intended offensive
in spite of conclusive evidence to the contrary fur
nished well by official action by the very bass on
which this government constituted the President of the
United States and his advisers succeeded in decevng the
people of these States into he belief that the purpose of
this Government was peace home, but conquest
abroad defense of its liberties but subverson OF
of people of the United States THE series of
by which this impression created the art with
which they devised and per6dY with which they were
executed already you but you could
y supposed that they would be openly avowed and
their made subject OF boast and seaudlton IN
an Executive message
Fortunately and history however, the President
the nted States details with minuteness the attempt to
he have been informed but only by
too vague and uncertain to fix attention.
The hostile expedition dispatched to supply Fort Sumter,
admitted to have been undertaken with the ledge that
impossible, the sendiRg Of notice to the
governor of south Carolina of his intention to use force
accomplish his object and then qnotng from his nau-
gnra address the that there could be conflict
unless these States were he proceeds to declare
his conduct eated by himself was the performance
OF this promise.
world should not De able to it. and in defiance
of his statement that he gave notice of the approach
hostile feet he charges these States with becoming the
assaans of the United States without being in sight
in expectancy return their fire. only few in the
fort he indeed fully justified in saying that the
free from the power OF ingenious sophstry that the world
will not be able to misunderstood it.
Under of this unfounded preence that the Coined
crate States the assaants that high functOnay after
expressing his that foreign nations had
shaped their action they supposed the early destruction
VI
guse and proposes to make this contest short and dec
ve by placing at the control of the Government for
the work at least 40O, 600 men and $4G0 10000.
The Congress concurng the doubt thus ntmated to
the sucency the force demanded has ncreased to half
money the conducting of a scale gigantic
any which world witnessed distinct ayowal
the eyes of civilized that the United States
gagged in conflict with great and powerful nation.
They at last compelled to abandon the pretence of
being engaged in dspurng the rioters and suppressng
nsurrecon, and driven to the acknowledgment that
the ancient Union has been dissolved. They recOg-
nize the nperate eXsance of these Confederate States
by Introduction, embargo and blockade of all
merce between them and the United States, not ONLY
by sea but by and not only in ships but in cars,not
only with those who bear but with the entire popua
ton of the Confederate States; and finally they have repu
dated the foolish conce that the inhabitants of this Con
ederacy citizens of the United States for they
waging lndiscrimi ate war, upon them all with that
savage ferocity unknown to modern civilization.
In this rapine is the rule. Private residences in
peaceful rural retreats bombarbed and burnt-gran
crops in the field consumed by the torchand when
the torch is not convenient careful labor bestowed to
render complete the destruction of article of
ornament remaining in private dwellings, after their nhab
ans have fed from the ourages of the brutal soldery
In ISL Great Britain, when invading her revOed colo
nes took possession of the very district of country
Fortress Monroe occupied by the troops the United
States The houses then Inhabited by the people, after be-
ing respected protected by the avowed INVADERS
plaged and destroyed by who pretend that the
victims are their fellow citizens.
Mankind will shudder to hear the tale Of ourages commit
ted on neenceess females by soldiers Of the United States
by the infamed passions and madness of ntoxication
Bnt no shall depict the horror with which they regard
text OF suppressrg by themselves to be
upheld by minority only of people, makes special
on the SICK including women and child en- and by careful
y devised measures prevent their obtaining the medicines
necessary for their
The sacred claims Humanity respected during the
fury OF actual battle by careful diversion of attack from
the hospitals containing the wounded enemies are out
ragged in cold blood by government and people that
pretend to desire continuance of fraerna connexions
All these Outrages must remain unavenged by the
universal reprobation of mankind.
In all cases where the actual perpetrators Of the wrongs
escape capture they admit OF no retaliation The humanity
of people would shrink nstnctvely from the bare idea
OF wsgHg like war upon the SICK the women and the
children Of the enemy But there other
tees which have been resOred to by the Government
United States which do admit Of repression by retaliation
have been driven to the necessity Of enforcing this repre
sion.
Prisoners of taken by the enemy beard armed
schooner savannah, sailing under Commission were
was credtably advise d, treated like felonsput
in irons and confined in jail usually appropriated to Grim
inals of the worst degree and threatened with punishment
AS SUCH had made application for the exchange of these
prisoners to the commanding officer of the enemy squadron
of Charleston but that officer Rad already the prisoners
to New York when application made therefore
deemed duty to the proposal the exchange
to the Constitutional Commander army and
navy of the United States the only officer having control
the prisoners. To this end dispatched an officer to him
under flag of truce; AID in making the proposals. in
President Lincoln Of resoue purpose check
all prisoners of by such severity
TAXATION on prisoners held by should the
abandonment of the practice.
This communication received and read by the officer
IN command of the army of the United States and
cation that reply would be returned by President Lin
coin soon as possible.
earnestly hope that this promised reply which has not
yet been received will convey that
of war will be treated in this unhappy with
gard to humanity which has made such conspicuous pro-
gress In the conduct of modern warfare.
AS measure of precauton however, and the prom
lsed reply received still retain in close custody
officers captured from the enemy whom had been INV
pleasure previously to enlarge PAROLE whose fate
must necessarily depend that of the prisoners held by
our enemy.
lappend copy of my communication the President and
of the army and navy of the o. States
tn
Document A.
There are some other passages in the remarkable pa
per to which have directed your attention. having re-
ference to the peculiar relations which exist between
this government and the States usually termed border
slave States which cannot properly be withheld from
notice