Year: 1861

pie wanting in courtesy ID candoT, anu Js DC
our Commissioners in Washington For proof OF ths re-
fer to the annexed documents marked -. taken Ia con
necton with further facts which now proceed to relate


Esrv in Apri the attention of the whole country as well
that of Commissioners, was aItIacteu ~ M
nary preparations extensive m1ary ana
dition in New York and other northern ports THESE pre-
paratons, commenced in secrecy or an eApeutU "oee
destination was concealed only became Known When


v completed and on the 5th 9Th and TIN April
and vessels of war, with troops, munitions ana lary
supplies sailed from northern ports bound southWarGs.-
Alarmed by SO extraordinary demonstration, the Com
missioners requested the delivery OF an answer W n
official communication OF the 18th March, and therenpon
received on 8h April reply dated on the 10Th OF he
previous month from which it appears that, curing ne
whole interval whilst the Commissioners receiving
calculated to inspire hope of their
mission the Secreary of State and the President OF the


limited States had already determined hold
with them whatever; to refuse listen any pro-
posas they had make, and had profted by the delay
created by in order to prepare secret
" the means for effective hostile operations.


That these assurances given has been virtually con-
bv the Government of the United by send
ing messenger Charleston give notice of its purpose
force, opposed in It's intention OF supplying orr
Sumter. No striking proof of the absence OF good
faith the of the Government of the United States
towards this Conederacy be required than contained
the circumstances which accompanied this notice. Ac-
cordng the usual of navgaon the vessels COM
posing the expedition designed for the relief OF Fort
might expected to reach Charleston ha on the 9th
April with Commissioners actually In Washington,
detained under that notice should be OF
any military movement, the notice not addressed to
notice the Governor Of South Carolina and the notice
given late hour the 8th April the of the very





this failed in purpose not the fault OF
those who conrved it. heavy tempest delayed the
rival of tie edton and gave time to the commander OF
forces at Charleston to ask an receive the
of this government Even tben under all the provocaon
missoners and the tort us Of the Government of
the United States sincerely anxious to avoid the ef
fusion of blood, and Gi proposal to be made to the
commander of who had avowed himself to be
nearly out Of provision that would abstain from direct


fire on our forces unless first attacked This proposal was
refused and the conclusion reached that the design OF
the United States was to lace tie beseging torce at
Charleston between the simultaneous fire OF the fleet ard


the fort There remained therefore, alternative but to
direct that the tort should al be reduced This order
vas executed by General Be2Uegard with the skill ana
which naturally TO be expected from the well
known character Of ha gallant officer: and although the
bombardment lasted but houis our Tag did not
its battered walls until after tie appearance OF
the hostile fleet of Charleston. Fortunately life was
lost side, and grated III being spared the
necessity of useless euOn OF blood by the prudent
ton Of the officers who commanded the feet in abstaniD
evidently the harbor for the
relief of Major Anderson refer 10 the report Of the Sec
reary Of War and the papers which accompany it for fur
ther details Of this brilliant affair.


In this connection cannot refrain from a Wel-deser-
we'd tribute to the noble State, the eminent sOldiery
qualities Of whose people ccnspcuOusy display
ed in the port OF Charleston For months they had been


rraed by the spectacle OF fortress held within their
principal harbOr, as q standing menace against their
peace and inde pendence Built in part with their
agent who held power over them other than such
they had themselves delegated for their benefit


intended to BE- used by that agent for their protec
tion agans; foreign attack they it led with per-
slsent tenacty as means OF offence against them by
the very government which they bad established for their
protection. They had beeaguered it for months-felt
entire confidence in their power to capture it-yet yiel
ded to the requirements of discipline curbed their i'm
patience submitted without complaint 10 the unaccus-
toned hardshps labOrs and privaons of protracted
sege and when at length their patience rewarded:
by the gna for attack and had crowned their
steady and gallant conduct-even in the very moment
of triumph-they evnced chivalrous regard for the
feelings OF the brave but unfortunate officer who had
been compelled to lower bis flag All manifestations of
exultation were checked IN his presence Their COIN
mandng general, with their cordial approval and the
consent of his government efrained from imposing any
terms that could wound the sensb bes of the cOmman-
der OF the fort. He permitted to retire with the
hOnOrs of Warto salute bis flag to depart freely with
all bis command and escorted to the vessel which
he embarked with the highest marks of esrect from
those against whom his guns had been so recently drec
ted. Not only does every event connected with the
siege reflect the highest honor South Carolina but
the forbearance of her people and Of this government
from making any harsh of victory obtained under
circumstances OF such peculiar provOcaton attest to the
fullest extent the absence OF any purpose beyond secu
ring their tranquility, and the sincere desire to
avoid the calamities OF


Scarcely had the President of the United States re-
ceVed intelligence OF the failure OF the scheme which he
had devised for the reinforcement of Fort Sumter when
he issued the declaration OF against this Conede-
racy which has prompted me to convoke you. In this
extraordinary production that high functiODary affects
total ignorance of the existence of independent Gov
ernment, which, possessing the entire and enthusiastic
devotion OF its people, is exercising its functions without
question over sovereign Stttes-Over than


five millions Of people-and territory whose area
exceeds half million of square miles. He terms
sOvere States combinations too powerful to be sup
pressed by the ordinary of judicial proceedings
or by the powers vested in the marshals by law He
calls for ct seventyve thousand men to act as


posse comatus in aid Of the process of the courts of


justice in States where no courts exist whose mandates
and DEGREES not cheeruy obeed and respected by


willing people. He avows that the first service to
be assigned to the forces called OUT will be- not to ex-
ecue the process of courts but to capture forts and
strOnghOlds situated within the admitted limits of this
Concderacy and garrsoned by its troops and declares
that " this effort is intended 10 maintain the perpe-
tuity Of popular government" He concludes by com
mandng the persons composing the combinations
aforesaid" tO.Wit Il the five millions of inhabitants of
these States, to retire peaceaby to their respective
abodes within twenty days.


Apparently contradictory the of this singular
document point Enthusiastically evident The Presi
dent of the United states called for army
thousand men, whose first service was to be to
forts 1t plain declaration of war which was not


liberty to disregard because of knowledge that under
1.-The Constitution of the United States the President
usurping power granted exclusively the Congress He
the sole of communication between that country
and foreign powers The law of nations not permit me


~ 'A0 "ul'Iity vi Iue EAtcutVe OF foreign
tlon to declare against this Contederacy Although
might have refraned from taking active measures for our
defence the States of the Union had all initiated the ac
ton of Virginia North Carolina Arkansas Kentucky Ten
nessee and Missouri by denouncng the call for as an
usurpaton of power to which they refused
10 was not at liberty to disregard the fact that
many OF the States seemed quite to submit to the
exercise Of the assumed by the President of the Uni
h Ied Hse Sa5es M and engaged evyng


Deprived of the aid Of Congress at the moment
was under the necessity of conning my action to call
on the States for volunteers for the common Defence in
accordance with the authority you had conded to me
before your adjournment deemed it proper further to
issue proclamation inviting application from persons
disposed to aid 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
leprsa which you alone, under the Constitution have
grant.