New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-05-01
NUMBER so.
,eaceably to their reapectye abodea within twentz

peaceaby to their respective abodes within twenty
days.
Apparently contradictory as are the terms q
this singular document, one point was unmstakably
evident.
The President of the United States calls for ar
army of Is COO men, whose first service was to be
to capture our forts. 1t was plain declaration o
war, which was not at liberty to disregard be-
cause Of my knowledge that. under the Constitn.
ton OF the United States the President was usurp-
ing power granted exclusively to the Congress.
He is the sole organ Of communication between
that country and foreign powers. The law OF
nations did not permit ME to question the author
ity of the executive of foreign nation to declare
war against this Confederaey Although might
our defence, if the States Of the Union had all
initiated the action of Virginia. North Carolina,
Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri by
denouncing it as an unconstitutional usnrpaion Of
power to which they refuse to respond, was not
at liberty to disregard the fact that many of the
States seemed quite content to submit to the exer-
else OF the powers assumed by the President of the
United States, and were actively engaged in levy
ing troops for the purpose indicated in the proc
lamation. Deprived Of the aid of Congress at the
moment / was under the necessity Of confning my
action to call on the States for volunteers for the
common defence in accordance with the author
ity you had confided to me before your adjourn
ment
deemed it proper further, to issue proeIama-
tion inviting applications from persons disposed to
aid in our defence in private armed vessels on the
high seas, to the end that preparations might be
made for the immediate issue of letters Of marque
and reprisal, which you alone, under the Constitu-
tion, have the power to grant.
| entertain no doubt that you will concur with
me in the opinion that in the absence of an organ
lied navy
Here, notwithstanding the earnest endeavors of
all the officers of the American Line the remain
der of this important document could not be trans
mitted, owing to an interruption in the working Of
the line by thunder storm.l
Virginia Delegates to Montgomery.
RICHMOND, April 30.-The State Convention has
elected ex-U. s. Senator Hunter, Wm. G. Rives,
Judge Brockenborough Mr.. Staples and Judge
Campbell, delegates from Virginia to the Congress
of the Confederated States at Montgomery.
Federal Troops on Arlington Heights.
ALEXANDRIA, April 30.-A special express to the
Gazette says that the long bridge over the Poto-
mac, at Washington, is guarded on the north side
by large force of Federal troops, and on the
south side by Virginians.
It is reported that the Federal troops are in oc-
cupaton Of Arlington Heights; also, that a United
States steamer is to be off Alexandria, and that all
fish caught at the lower landing on the Potomac
are to be sent to Washington.
The chartered transport Baltic passed down the
| stream yesterday. "a
| Several more arrests of persons have been made
| Families continue to leave Washington in large
| numbers, fearing the approaching danger.
| Among the persons compelled to quit is DAME
| Ratcliffe, a prominent lawyer, Vrginan.
| General Scott is said to be very infirm.