Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-15

I
the natural discomfort and jealousy created in tie
army by the existence of classes privileged by law
10 remain ia places of safety, while their fellow cit
izeuS are exposed in the trenches aad the field.
The measure most needed, however, OF the pres
ent time fof afording effective increase 10 our
military strength is general militia law, such as
the Constitution authorizes Congress 10 pass by
granting 10 Il power q 10 provide for organizing,
aiming and dsepi0ing the militia, and for govern
ing such part OF them msy be employed IN the
service OF the Confederate States and the fun ther
power 'sto provide for calling forth the militia 20
execute the laws ct the Confederate States, sup
press instructions and repe mvasions." The nc
cessity for the exercise of this power never
istS if not in the circumstances which now surround
| us. The security of the States against any en-
croachIDent blythe Confederate Government is am
\ ply provided By the Constitution, by preserving to
the States, respectively, the appointment Of the
officers and the authority Of training the militia,
according TO the discipline prescribed by Congress-
A LAWS needed To prescribe not only how and of
what gersons the militia are TO be organized but to
provide the mode OF calling them out. II instances
be required to show the necessity for such general
law, IL is sufficient to mention that in one case
/ have been informed by the Governor OF . State
that the law does not permit him TO eau the militia
i from one county for service in another, 20 that
single brigade OF the enemy could Traverse the
/ State aud deYastate each county in turn, without
any power on the part of the Executive TO use the
militia Tor effective defence while in another State
| che Executive refused TO allow the militia "to be
employed the service of the Confederate States"
/ ia the absence OF a law for that purpose.
/ have heretofore, IN confidential message TO
the two Houses stated the facts which induced me
10 consider il necessary that the privilege of The
writ Of hdbecS corpus should be suspended The
CONNECTION of the necessity Of this measure has be
come deeper as the events OF the struggle have
been developed Congress has not concurred with
me in opinion. 1t is my duty to say that the lime
has arrived when the suspension of the writ rs not
i simply advisable aud expedient but almost indis-
pensabe 90 the SUCCESSFUL conduct OF the war. On
Congress must rest the responsibility OF declining
20 exercise a power conferred by the Constitution
as me9ps of public safety to be used in periods f
nationaRperil resulting from foreign invasionyf II
our present circum Stances ate not such as were
contemplated when this power was conferred,
confess myself at = loss 10 imagine any cor ipeency
in which this clause Of the Constitution will not re-
main dead letter.
With the prompt adoption OF the measures above
RECOMMENDED, and the united and hearty co-opera-
ton of Congress aud the people in the execution Of
the laws aud the defence of the country we may
enter upon the present campaign with cheerful con
hdence in the result. And who can doubt the con-
tinued existence of that spirit aud iorttude in the
people, and X that conStancy under reyerses which
alone are needed 10 render our triumph secure =
What other resource remains available bnt the nm
diving uncoRquerabe resolve 10 be ffeep Ii has be-
come certain, beyond all doubt OF question, that We
or must make abiect and unconditional Submission
TO such terms II shall please the conqueror TO I'm
pose on after our surrender. u apostolic doubt
could exist after the conference between our com
missiOners and Mr.. Lincoln, recently reported to
you, would be dispcIled by recent occurrence,
OF which II rs proper that yOu should be informed.
Congress will remember that in the conference
above referred to our commissioners were Informed
that Ae government Of the Quilted States would not
enter into any agreement or treaty whatever Eith
fla Confederate STATES nor with StHole State
and that the only p0Ssibesmode of obtaining peace
was by laying down our arms, dsbanding our forces,
aud yielding unconditional obedience TO the laws OF
the United States, including those passed for the
coufScation OF property, and the constitutional
amendment for the abolition of slavery. 1t will
further be remembered, that Mr.. Lincoln declared
that the only terms on which hOSties could cease,
we're those stated in his message of December last
IN which We were informed that in the event of our
penitent submission, he would temper Justice with
mercy and that the question whether would be
governed as dependent territories or permitted to
have a representation in their Congress was one on
which he could promise nothing, but which would
be decided by their Congress after our submission
had been accepted.
II has not, however, been hitherto stated to you
that in the course OF the conference at Fortress
Monroe a suggestion was made by one-of our Com
misSioners that the objections entertained BY Mr.
Lincoln to treating with the Government Of tie
ConfederacYo or with any separate State might be
aNOQeQ, Dy uSuNi ulpQc OI me-
gotiating through Commissioners or other diplo-
matte agents, the method sometimes employed of a
military convention to be entered into By the Com
mandng Generals Of the armies OF the two belli-
gerents. This he admitted, was power possessed
lv him. Though il was not thought commensurate
with all the questions involved. As be did not ac-
cept the suggestion when made, he was afterwards
requested 10 reconsider his conclusion upon the
subject Of suspension Of hostilties, which nc
agreed TO do, but said that Ire had maturely consid
cred of the plan, and had determined that il could
not be done.
Subsequently, however, an interview with Gen.
LongStreet was asked for by Gen. Ord, command
ing the enemy's army Of the James, during which
Gen. Longstreet informed by him that there
was possibility of arriving at satisfactory adj
iuStment OF the present unhappy difficulties, by
means OF military convention, and that il Gen.
Bee desired an interview on the subject, il would
not be declined, provided Gen. Lee had authority
to act This communication was supposed to be the
consequence Of the suggestion above referred 10,
and Gen. Lee, according TO instructions, wrote TO
Gen. Grant the second of this month, proposing
20 meet him for conference on the subject and sta
ting that he vested with the requisite authority.
Gen Grants reply stated that he had no authority
to accede 10 the proposed conference, that his pow
ers extended only to making convention ON sub
jecis purely OF military character, and that Gen.
Ord could only have meant that interview would
not be refused on any subject Of which he, Gen.
Giant, had the right 10 act.
1t TINS appears, thai neither with the Confeder-
ate authorities, nor the authorities of any State
nor through the Commanding Generals, will the
government of the United States treat or make
any IerUls disagreement whatever for the cessation
81 hostihties. There remains, then, for us no
choice but TO continue this contest to final issue
tor the people of the Confederacy can be hut little
known TO him who suppoSes it possible they would |
ever consent to purchase, at the coat of dcgrada-
tion and slavery, permission 10 live in country /
garris0ned by their own negroes, and governed by
officers sent By the conqueror to rule over them.
Having thus fully placed before yon the nlorma /
tiQn requisite 10 enable sou Judge othe state Of
the country, the dangers to which We are exposed
and the measures of legislation needed for ayerting
them, il remains for me but TO invoke your atten-
ton to the consider ration oSthose means by which
above all othefs may hope to escape the ealami-
ties that would result from our failure. Prominent,
above AL others;is the necessity for 'earnest and