Year: 1861

denfteinefi OF He congress V tHe CoVeueo'e 0'"too


Of America.


My message addressed to you at the commence
ment of tAe last session. contained such full nfor
nation of the state of the Confederacy to render
it unnecessary that l should now do more than to
call your attention to such important facts as have
occurred during the recess and the matters connec-
ted with the public defense


have again to congratulate you on the accession
of new members to our Confederation of free and
equal sovereign States. Our loved and honored
brethren of North Carolina and Tennessee have
consummated the action foreseen ard provided for
at your last session. and have had the qualification
of announcing, by proclamation, in conformity
with law, that these States were admitted into the
Confederacy.
The people of Virginia. also, by a majority
previously unknown in her history, have ratified
the action of her convention, uniting her fortunes
with ours. The States of Arkansas North Caroli-
ma and Virginia have like wise adopted the perma-
nent Constitution of the Confederate States, and
no doubt is entertained Of its adoption by Tennes-
see at the election to be held early in next month
deemed it advisable to direct the removal of the
several executive departments, with archives to
this city, TO which you had removed the seat of
government. Immediately after your adjournment,
| the aggressive movements of the enemy required
prompt energetic action The accumulation of his
| forces on the Potomac sufficiently demonstrated
that his efforts were to be directed against Virginia,
/
defense and protection be SO effectively decided as
from her own capital. The rapid progress of events
for the last few weeks has fully sufced to lift the
veil behind which the true policy and purposes of
the Government of the United States had been pre-
viously concealed their odous features now stand
fully revealed the message of their President and
the action of their Congress during the present
month, confess the intention of subjugating these
States by war; whose folly is equaled by its wick
edness a war by which it is impossible to attain
the proposed result whilst its dire calamities, not
to be avoided by us will fail with double severity
| on themselves.


Commencing in March last, with an afectaton.
of ignoring the secession of the States which
first organized this government: persistng in April
in the idle and absurd assumption of the existence
of riot which was to be dispersed by posse
itdtuS: continuing in successive months the false
representation that these States intended offensive
war in spite of the conclusive evidence to the con-
trary furnished well by official action, as by the
very basis on which this government is constituted
the President of the United States and his advisers
succeeded in deceiving the people of those States
into the belief that the purpose of this Government
was not peace at home, but conquest abroad; not
the defense of its own liberties, but the subversion
of those of the people of the United States.


The series of msneuvers by which this impress
sion was created the art with which they were de-
vised and the perfdy with which they were exc
cuted, were already known to you but you could
scarcely have supposed that they would be openly
avowed, and their success made the subject of boast
and self-laudation in an executive message. For
tunatey for the truth of history however, the
President of he United States details with minute
ness the attempt to reinforce Fort Sumter in vio-
ation of an armstice of which he confesses to have
been informed, but ''only by rumors too vague and
uncertain to fix attention." the hostile expedition
dispatched to supply Fort Sumter, admitted to have
been undertaken with knowledge that its success
was impossible; the sending of notice to the Gov
ernor of South Carolina of his intention TO force
TO accomplish his object: and then quoting from
his Inaugural Address the that there could
be conflict unless these States were the aggres-
sors he proceeds to declare that his CONDUCT just
related by himself was performance of this prom
ise $50 free from the power of ingenious sophisry
as that the world should not be able to misunder-
staed it," and in defiance of his own statement
that he gave notice OF the approach of hostile
feet he charges these States with becoming the as
saants of the United States, 'without gun in
sight or in expectancy to return their fire. only
the few in the fort" He is indeed fully justified in
saying that the dis so free from the power OF
ingenious sophistry that the world will not be able
to misunderstood it,"


UHder cover of this unfounded pretence that the
Confederate States the assailans that high func
tionary after expressing his concern that some for
eign nations chad shaped their action as if they
supposed TIE early destruction of National Union
was probable" abandons all further disguise, and
proposes "to make this contest short and decisive
!, ONE by placing at the control of the government
for the work. at least 100000 men, and $400,000,-
900. The Congress concurring in the doubt thus
intimated as 10 the suficency of the force demand
ed, has increased it 20 a half a million of men,
These enormous preparations in men and money


for the conduct of war scale more gigantic than
any which the new world has ever witnessed, are
distinct avowal in the eyes of civilized man, that
the United States are engaged in conflict with a
great and powerful nation: they at last compel


ed to abandon the preence of being engaged in dis
persing rioters and suppressing instructions: and
are driven to the acknowledgment that the ancient
Union has been dissolved. They recognize the sep
arate existence of these Confederate States by the
Introduction, embargo and blockade OF all commerce
: between them and the United States, not only by
sea- but by land not only in ships but in rail cars
{ not only with those who bear arms, but with the
entire population Of the Confederate States Fin


nally they have repudiated the foolish conceit that


the inhabans of this Confederacy still citizens


of the United States, for they are waging an indis
c crminate war upon them all, with savage feroctN
unknown To modern civilization. In this war, ra
pine is the rule private residences, in peaceful rura
retreats are bombarded and burnt: grain crops il


the field are consumed by the torch: and when th'


torch Is not convenient careful labor is bestowed e


render complete the destruction Of every article o


use ornament remaining in private dwellings


after their inhabitants have fed from the outrage


Of a brutal soldiery,


In 78l, Great Britain, when invadidg her revolt
er ed Colonies took possession Of the very district


county near fortress Monroe now occupied by troops


of the United States. The houses then inhabte,


by the people, after being respected and protecte


by ayowed invaders, are now pilaged and destroye
al by men who pretend that the victims their fe
IN loW-otizeus.


ed Mankind win shudder TO hear the tales of outra
ed ges committed defeneeess females by soldiers of III
ire United States now invading our homes yet thes
OF outrages prompted by niamed passions aud tn
lte madness of intoxi0aton But who shall depict th
,rk horror with which they will regard the cool an