Year: 1861

refer to the reports of the Secretaries which
The State department has furnished the necessary


nctons for three commissioners who have been sent to
SinJ France Russia and Belgium since your adjourn


Eng to ask our recognition as member the family of
nations and to make with each of these powers ueaues OF


itu and commerce Further steps will be taken to enter
t Iita neootations with the other European powers
of your resolutions passed at the last session
time has not yet elapsed since the departure OF
these commissioners for receipt of any intelligence from
tEem AS deem it desirable that commissioners OF oer


omate agents should also be sent at early period TO
the powers south of cur Conederacy
all of whom is our interest," ana earnest WISH W
tain the and friendly relanoDs suggest me
expedency making the necessary for that
purpose. ,, &c, - .ho ,nb1io authorities
of the State Virginia. she had Withdrawn from the
Union and desired to maintain the closest pohuca Iea
tons with which it possible at this time 10
I commissioned the Hon. Alexander ID. stephens vice
President Confederate States to represent this gov
s nencnded Convention with the State of Vrgns by
which .that honored Commonwealth so long and Justly
distinguished among her sister States and SO dear TO he
hearts of thousands children the Confederate States
united her power and her fortunes with ours and ne
come This conventions together with the ordl-
nance Virginia. adopting the provisional constitution OF
the Confedecy will be laid before you for your consuu
tiona have satisfactory assurances from one OF
late conederaes that they are on the point OF adopting
similar and cannot doubt that ere you sha
have been weeks in session. the whole of the slave
holding Saes of the late Unon will respond to the Cali OF
honor and affection, and by uniting their fortunes with
promote our common interests ano secure our co
mon safety.
ed and put into execution for carrying out the Pocy incl
Gated your Legislation on the subject OF the navigation OF
well the collection OF reVen-
the frontier Free transit has been secured Tor yes
merchandise passing through the Confederate Staes
and delay and inconvenience have been avoided as Tar as
possible in organizing the revenue service for the various
entering territory AS fast experience shall
indicate the possibility of Improvement in these regulations
no efforts will spared tree from al
sary embarrassments and distractions.


Under your act authorizing oan proposals were issued
inviting Subscriptions for five millions Of dollars
call answered by the prompt subscription of more than
eight millions by citzens and not single bid was
made under par rapid development ofhe puposeof the
President of the Uned States to invade SOIL capture
forts bockad" our ports and wage war against u.s. IN
duced direct that the entire should be
accepted 1t will become necessary raise to
ing pendence and repelng invasion. invite
special to this subject aud the financial condition
of the government with the suggestion of ways and means
for the supply OF the reaury Will be presented to you III
separate communication.


the organization and supervision Of all matters connected
With the courts OF justice but also those connected with
patents and with the bureau Of public printing.


Since your adjournment, ali tie courts, with the eX-
ception of those of Mississippi and Texas have been
ganizd by the pointment OF marshals and District
Attorneys and are now prepared for the exercise OF
their functions.


In the two States just named, he gentlemen confirmed
as Judges declined TO accept the appointment, and
nominations have yet been made to fill the vacancies
refer you to the report of the Attorney General, and
concur in his accommodation for immediate legislation,
especially on the subec Of patent rights. Early pro-
vision should be made to the subjects OF foreign
nations the full enjoyment Of their property in valuable
inventions, and to extend to citizens protection
not only tor their own Inventions but for such may
have beer assigned them may hereafter be assigned
| by persons not alien enefnies.


The patent office business is much more extensive and
important than had been anticipated. The applications
for patents although confined under the law exclusively
to citizens of cOnfederacy, already average seventy
per month, showing the necessity for the prompt organi
zatiOn OF a bureau of patents.


The Secretary of War; in bis report and accompanying
Documents conveys full information concerning the forces
regular volunteer and provisional raised and called for
the several OF Congress- their organization and dis
tribuOn Also account of the expenditures already
made and the further estimates for the fiscal year ending
on the 18th February 1852 rendered by recent
refer to his report also for full history of the
currences IN harbor prior to and including the
bOmbardment and reduction of Fort Sumter and of the
subsequently taken for defense,
cevng intelligence of the declaration of against
made by the President of the United States There
in the field at Charleston, Pensacola, Forts Morgan Jack
son. ST. Philip and Pulaski thousand men, and six
teen thousand route for Virginia is proposed
to organize and hold in readiness for instant action
OF he present e&gences OF the country an army OF one
hundred thousand If further force should be needed
the wisdom and patriotism of Congress will be confidently
appealed to Tor authority to call into the field additional
numbers OF our noble spirited volunteers, who constant
ly rendering service far in excess of our wants.


The operations of the Navy Department been neces
sarly restricted by the fact that sufficient time has yet
tied lumber of vessels adapted to the public service Two
vessels purchased, have been named the Sumter and
LEAFS with all possible despatch Contracts have also been
made at that city with two different establishments for the
casting OF ordnance shot and SHE'LL with the view
encourage the manufacture of these articles ndspensa
ole fer our Defense at as many points within territory





call your attention to the recommendation of the Secre-
tary for the establishment of magazine and abatory
pation for that purpose Hitherto such stores have usu
ally been prepared at the yards and appropriation
was made at your last session for this object.


The Secretary also calls attention the that no pro-
has been made for the payment of invalid pensions
life they have DO means of support and by the of
these States have been deprived of their claim against the
preparation OF the sum necessary to pay these pensioners
well those of the army whose claims scarcely ex
ceed twenty thousand dollars per annum.


The Postmaster Genera has already succeeded in organ
zg his department to such to be in readiness
renee OF ne contingency contemplated by the Act Of 10Th
March, e6l or even sooner desired by Congress- The
books and circulars have been prepared
ues taken TO secure supplies of blanks postage stamps
stamped envelopes mail bags locks, keys ETC. He pre-
sents detailed classification and arrangement his ceri
cal orce and asks for its increase An auditor of the
treasury for this department necessary plan sub
mltted tor the organization of his bureau The great
Der aid magnitude Of the accounts of this department
ure an lncresse OF the clerical force in the accounting
collected and dsbursed modes peculiar to itself and
require special bureau to proper accountability
! ID Inc administration OF its finances.


cali your attention to the additional legislation remire6
for this department. to the recommendation changes in
ed packages of certain kinds and specially to the recon-
mendaton of the Secretary in which concur that YOU


at once Tor the assumption by him of the control of


In the military organization of the States, provision
made Tor brgader AID but the army of
the Confederate taes highest grade that of bripa
der-genera Hence will doubt sometimes occur that


VI DO duty with the militia,


general selected for the command and possessed of the
views and purposes Of this government will superseded
by an officer OF the militia not having the


10 avoid this contingency in the least Objectionable man
ner, recommend that additional rank be given to the
policy having but grade Of generals the army of
the Contederacy recommend that the law organza
uon oe amended so that the grade be that of general


10 secure thorough military education, tits deemed
essential that officers should enter upon the study of
their profession at early period OF e and have ele-
mentary instruction in military school. Until such
| he fohl ho1 = L


diets be appointed and attached to companies until thew
shall have attained the age and have acquired the know