Carolina Watchman

              carolina watchman semi weekly vol xix salisbury x (;., may !), 1861 number i j j bruner editor and proprietor terms | - ugle copy s un kive enpi , fis.oo 15.0(1 ' ibs exceeding ten in the same pru ion 1.50 eaeli i'ayineii al\\a\s in niee message of i'roiiloul j ter miii davis lieiiu a ni tin < stnyrtss . li i my pleasing duty to announce lo you tllh < lollstitutlotl tfatiieil i i ihe eslali iit of a pi t nianeiii government lot the ' i.-i.iie states has been ratified i i on cntinns in each of these to which it was re i 1 to inaugurate the got eminent in it proportions and upon its own substantial i the popular w ill it only remain thai ions should in hei i for mm tlcsignation ■ iiii t is io adtuiuister it there is every reason to believe thai al uo m other status identified in politi . i pi iuciplestttid <-, ni 1 1 n 1 1 1 1 1 1 \- ni interests with liiose which ynu repi eseut will join this con ■ n-i : gti ing to its typical constellation ii reused splendor to its government of free tl and sovereign states a wider sphere ol uselulness in<l to the friends of constitution al liberty a greater security for its harm mi i imi perpetual existence it was not however u the purpose of m this announuement that 1 hav e det i i i tny duty to convoke ynu at an euilit-i la than that fixed by yourselves lot youi ug fhu declaration ol war made agaiusl . i iiiftleiaiy l.y ai.iah.'iu liuoolll lie ni ol the united states in ins lyoola ni isfuied on ilm futeenih ijay of the pre lit llltllltll il'lliltietl it iteeess.nv ill ii l \' merit that you shoiil.l eotivefiv at the est practicable moment to tlevise tbe i rei necessary for the deft-nce of the l ry . t e occasion is in lee 1 an extraordinary it justifies me in a brief review of the ! . ions heretotbre existing between us ami suites which now unite iu warfare against .. , ': in a succinct statement ol the eveuls ii have resulted iu this w.-itl.-iie ; t tbe that mankind may pass intelligent ami initial judgment on its motives uul ob during the war waged against great brit y her colonies on tins continent a oom ilnnger itnpelk'd lliem ton close alliance the formation i t a < onfedetittion bv mis of which the colonies stvlmc th m ..■- slates em ie " ssoeritlly into a firm j une of friendship with each other for their lal ami general welfare binding them iws to assist eaeb other against all force of .. red to or attacks made upon thein on ac mn nt religion sovereignty trade or any ifiier preteuoe whatever in order to guard against any nisoonstruc on ol their contract tbe several states made . iieit declaration iti a distinct article that • fl state dlntns it sovereignty freedom .■; ! independence and every power jurisdic and right which is not by tin confed • ration expressly delegated to the united states :. congress assembled under this contract of alliance the war ol ilm devolution was successfully waged and ' res ilted in a treaty of peace with great brit ain in 1783 by the terms of which the sev • ti states were each by mime recognized t lepeudent the articles of confederation contaiuetl a clause whereby till alterations were prohibit unless conflrnied by the legislature id ./ state after being agreed to by tbecon ■ -- : and in obedience to this provision un file resolution of congress ol ihe nt lary 1 7 "^ 7 . the several states appointed cgates who attended a convention for tob imi express purpose of revising llie ■- uf confederation ami reporting to ._■'■-- ami the several legislatures such alterations and provisions therein as sliu.il when agreed loin congress usd confirmed states render the fedeial constitution uie to the exigencies of goi'ernment and . se latum nt the union i wa by the delegates chosen by the se ( "• ii states nn ler the resolution just quoted i the constitution of the united state v.is framed in 1787 and submitfed to the « tl states for ratification as shewn by • 7th article which is in these words " the ratification ol the voiioentum id nine - v shall hall be snllieieut in the cstali ■ i"iu oi this coustitutiou i;ki\vki:n tht slules sn ratifying the same i liave ii.-ihijise.l certain words in the quo i ii nst made ibr the purpose ol atiia.'i iteutiou to in siugutar and marked eait witli which the states endeavored in ' " y possible form to exclude the hiea that eparate ami independent sovereignty ol stat was merged into one common inment and nation : and tbe earnest de ,■;. evinced to impresson the constitu ■ its line i hiita.'li.i that of a cuihpucl bk h.n independent stales i'he constitution of 1787 having however ted the clause already recited torn the uclea of confederation which provided in m licit terms that each state retained its ignty and indepeudeiioi some alarm was i the states when invited tn ratify the titution lest this omission should be co i into an abandonment ol their cherlsh ' pie and they refused to be satisfied amendments were added to the const i ' i placing beyond any pretence ol ilmibt j '•"' "'-' i tin ii bj lie tai.-s i all i.ic*f su vcreignt rights aud pow ,- \ m t vxim delegated to tl i nitcd slat by il i on sti tut ion strabgo in in 1 inum it appear to tin im partial i urver but i . ,, ,,,,. tbe it - -■ true ilt.it all lin c'li'i'liiilv i clans prov i unavailing to t.-vi-nt iho t'm and growth in li northern stat nf ,., political i in i wind s iienilstfrmly claimed tlmt the gn vpiimioiil thus li.itnni u,,v not a compacl between states bill wan m 11 1 ., national 1 uvornmeiu pi up /'..,", b nd ..,•..• 1 1 , . * _-* t . , t . • - an i nii.batii.il croated b the statea lo i -"'' ll iilcwiug8«l liberty and independence i n*i foreign n m has i n gmdua ' . i i *■ ■' ted into .. in o line h ii tot n uontrol in llieir til mn st i ■ lllll lis in ,;,;, lure lias inch exalted a'l.ivc its irniiiits tbe principal llbvc i ti luaiie - 1 1 1 .. 1 1 . 1 1 1 u t . • i tin in t,t ftp i..intcii hy themselves thi 1 | pie nl tin southern stales whose alinosi exclusive occupation wa agriculture t-arly perceived n lendcm j in th northern state '<' rendei the common government ii'.-i i a hi i . ih.ii w ii pm poses by impu iii inn lh.it mi r..||i i nt i re i i i il i ite 1 1 iii ',, ttieii manufacturing nnd shi|)piug interests i ui ran i angry controversy grew outul host ni tempts often successful to benefit one titui t,i iln i-iiiinti \ ii the expense ol iin oth er ami lhe danger of disruption arising from this can \\ .,. enhanced l tl fuel llllil the northern population whs increasing by un migrafion find other en uses iu n greater rain than llie population ol the south by <!,• ii ns tbe northern states gained prepon derance in the national congress -. if-ii ter ' ' taught their people to \ ield ready assent to any ilausible advocacy of their righl .. a iiiiii it us ingovern the minority without con trol : th ■)■ it nn 1 to listen \\ ith iinpaiii'iii'o in ihe suggestion of any constitutional impnd nit'iit in the exercise nl their \\ ill ; an i , utterly have an principles ol tbe constitution been corrupted in the northern mind thai in the inaugural address dfliven.fi by president lincoln in march last be asserts ts inn axiom which ho plainly deems to be undeniable that the theory of the constitution requires that u all cases the majority shall govern : antl in another memorable instance the stun chief magistrate did nol hesitate to liken the rela tions between a state nnd the united states t those which exist between a country uud the state ill \. hi.il it is situated ni,i by » ii ii n wa created this is the lamentable and fundamental error on which rests the policy that bui culminated in hjad-iolaration of war against these confederate states i n a.|.|i ; ii !.. i he long continued and 1 i seated resentment t.'lt by tbe southern states at the persistent abuse of the powers they bad delegated to the congress for the pur pose of enriching the manufacteringand ship ping classes of the north al the expense of the south there has existed for nearly half a century another subject t discord involving interest >.! such transcendent magnitude as at all time tn create the apprehension in the iitituls of many devoted lovers of the union that its permanence was impossible when the several states delegated certain powers tn the united states congress a large pi.rtitiii of the laboring population consisted of african slaves imported into the colonies by the mother country in twelve nut ofthe thirteen stases negro slavery existed and the right of property was recognized in the con stitution ami provision was made n gains its loss by llie escape of tbe slave tbe increase in the number ol slaves by further importa tion from africa was also secured by a clause forbidding congress t prohibit the slave trade anterior to a certain date and iu uo clause can there be lomid any delegation of power tn tin congress authorizing it in any manner to legislate to tbe prejudice detriment or discouragement ot il wners l that spe cies ot property or excluding it from the pro tection nt the govei ntnent thu climate and soil ofthe northern states soon proved iinpropitious io the continuance of slave labor whilst the converse was the case at the smith under the unrestricted free intercourse between the two sections tin northern state consulted their own tn ti-t'.-i i.v selling their slaves to lhe south aud prohibiting slavery within iheir limits the south were willing purchaser of a property suitable tn their wants aud paid the price ol tbe acquisition without harboring a suspicion that their uniel possession was to be disturb ed by those who were inhibited n-.t only by wani of constitutional authority but by good faith ii vendors from disquieting a title ema nating li.'iu themselves a won however as the northern stales unit prohibited african slavery within their limits bad readied ;* number snuicicnt togive llieir representatives a uotitiolilig voioe in ihe congress i persisteul ami organized system nl hostile measures against the rights of the owners i slaves in the southern statea was inaugurated and gradually extended a eon tiiiiiniis i-erien ol meaaures was devised and prosecutei i for the purpose ol rendering inse cure tiie tenure of property in slaves lanati cal organizations supplied with money by voluntary subscriptions were assiduously en gaged iu exciting umuugst tbe slaves a spirit ul discontent and revolt means were fur nished for their escape from their owners aud agents secretly employed t eutico them io abscond the constitutional provision tor their rendition to their owners was iirst evaded 1 1 1 « - 1 1 openly denounced as a vio lation nl eon-i-ieiuioiis obligation and religious duty men were taught it was a merit to elude disobey and violently oppose the exe cution of the taws enacted t secure the per formance of the promise contained in the constitutional compact owners of slaves w.-ro mobbed ftn ,| ,.,,.,, ,,,, l ,],.,,., t „, ,,,„.„ day solely for applying to a magistrate for the arrest ,,| „ i |. iv „. l . ( , fl n . th.-e v limitary organizations soon obtained ••'," 1 "" 1 ol 1 "' legi ifttures ol many r ihe northern states and laws w ,.,,. |, t „.,| ,„,, vidlng for the punl hmenl by rnmons lines and long continued impi isonmenf in mils and : penitentiaries of citinens ol ihe southern state who should dare to rtslt aid t the fli cers ol the law for the recovery of tht li pro perty emboldened by success the theatre i tation and a ■■ re againsi the clearly ex pressed constitutional rights ol the southern t.ii was transferred to he congress sen ator and reprt sentatives were tent to the common oonncils . i the riation whose chlrl tl in this distinction com isted in the di 1 plft.y i>fn piiii of ultra fanaticism aud wl | husine was noi " to ] note thu general \ welfare or ensure dome tic tranquility ," bui i in awakon the bitteresl hatred ugninsl the let state by \ ioli nl denni ' i iheii institutions the transact of public affairs was impeded by repei leftorti j to usurp powers imt delegar'ed l.y the i ' siitutton for ihe purpose ol impaiving the se entity ol propci ty in slaven and redueinji ; those stales w i ,;. ].,.|,| | ttv , ,,, a ,. ,,,, i ,,,,,, t ol infc i \ finally a greal party was irganiwdforthe purpose of obtaining the administration ol the govern ni with the avowed ol ■ cl using its power for the total exclusion of the slave state from all pa i m.ip.itioii in uie ben efits of the public domain acquired by all the states in common whether by conquest or t purchase j or surrounding ihem entirely by states in which slavery sboi d be prohibited thus rendering tho prope ty in slaves so insecure as to be comparatively worthless and thereby annihilating in effect property worth thousands ol millions of dollars ' this pai iv inn ot ii/ed succeeded in the month ■ .' v iiihei last in the election fl its can didate liir the presidency ol the u states in the meantime tinder the mild and gen ial donate of the southern states aud tho increasing care and attention for the well be ing aud comfort ol the laboring class dicta ted alike by interest ami humanity the afri can slaves had augmented in number from about 600,(100 al ihe date ol the adoption of the constitutional compact to upwards ..( 4,(x)0,000 in moral and social condition they have i n elevated from brutal savages into docile intelligent and civilized agricul tural laborers and supplied not only with bo i • ■■•: ' . imt \\ ith i;,'i'iil religious iu i ition i nder the supervision of a superior race their laboi had been - i directed as not only i to allow a gradual and marked amelioration ol their own condition but to convert hundreds nt thousands nl square miles i i ; wilder ne.-s into cultivated land covered with a prosperous people towns and cities had | sprung into existence and had rapidly increas ed in wealth and population niuiei the social system of the smith ; the white population ol the southern slaveholding states had aug mented from about 1,250,000 at the date ol the adoption i the constitution t more than s,o00,000 in i860 and the productions nf the smith in cotton rice sugar anil tobac co for the development and continuance of which the labor or american slaves was and is indispensable had swollen to an amount which formed nearly throe-fourths ol the exports ol the whole united states and be come absolutely necessary to the wants ol civilised men with interests of such overwhelming mag nitude imperilled the people of lhe southern states were driven by the conduct f the north to the adnpt inn of some cm use of ac tion tn avert the danger with which tiiey were openly menaced with this view the legislatures of the several states invited the people tn select delegates to conventions to be held for the purpose t<f determining for themselves what measure were besl adopted to meet sn alarming a crisis in their history i ere it may be proper t observe thai from a period as early as 1798 there had existed m .(// n the states nf the nion a partv al ninst uninterruptedly in the majority based upon the creed that each state was in the last resort tbe sole judge as well of its wrongs as of the mode and measure of redress in deed it is obvious that under the law of na tions this principle is an axiom as applied to the relations i independent sovereign states such as those which had united themselves under the constitutional compact the de mocratic party ofthe united states repealed in its successful canvass in lsmi the declara tion made in numerous pre*t iotis political con tests that it would faithfully a hide l,y anil uphold ilu principles laid down in tin ken tucky ami virginia resolutions ol 1798 and in the report of mr madison to the virginia legislature in 17'.i and ihat it adopts those principles as constituting one of the main foundations of its political creed 1 the principles thus emphatically announc ed embrace that to which i have already ad verted the right of each state to judge of ami redress the wrougsol which it complains these principles were maintained hy over whelming majorities of tho people of all the stales i the union at different elections es , pecially in the elections of mr jefferson in ' 1 jr mr madison in 1809 and mi pierce m 1852 in the exercise of 8 right so ancient 80 well established and so necessary for self preservation the people of the confederate states iii their conventions determined that the wrongs which they had sull red and the evils xv i t li which they were menaced required thai tbey should revoke the delegation of pow ef to the fed iliivellllnellt vshl.'ll the li.nl rntilieil in then iev ral conventions thev consequently passed mtlinotict • renurniiig all iheir rights ns sovereign nm independent statea and dissolved their connection with lhe other stilt of the i'lllntl having done this ihey pine i,.,l to rorm n new in nip nt amongst themselves i new articles of confederation which have been al so latiiiiil by the conventions tf the several states with an approach to unanimity far exceeding thai nf the ctin vent joint which adopted the constitution i 1 7-»7 thev have organised then new government in all its de partmenta the functions ol the executive lativo nnd judicial magistrates are per foi null in accordant a with the will ni the i pi ns di played nol merely in a cheerf.il ae,|i||e-eetiee bill iii 1 1 ie el 1 1 1 l'1-l.l^l le np|„,it ol ihe govemmeni thus ta 1 li ; e by them elvt and hnl foi the interlcn.-nc ofthe < lo vernment of the unitetl status iu this legiti mate exercise ol the righl ol a people ol m-ii government peace happiness and prosperity wl im how smile nn nur intnl that peace in anletitly i|e-iie by this l vornmeni and pe pie has been manifested in cvitj \..- ible t'orm sear •.• had vou assein bled in february la-t when prior even to the inauguration ol the chief magistrate vou li.nl eleele.l ymi pilssctl i resolution espte.-s ive nl onr desire lor the appointment ol com missinners to be sent to the hi ernmetil of the 1 niti-il stat . " for the purpose ol nego tinting irieii.llv relations between that i . . >\- - ertiment and the confederate states of amer ica and for i e settlemenl of all questions of mien i .■.■; i r two < loverntnenis upon principles ol right justice equity nnd good faith it was my pleasure a well a tny duty to .■■. operate with you in this work ol peace in lee 1 in my address to ynu ou taking the oath nl ofliee anil bel receiving from yon the communication ol this resolution i had said as n necessity not n choice we have resorted to the remedy ol separation and henceforth onr energies imtsi !„■ directed to the conduel ol our own affairs and the per petuity of lhe confederacy which we have formed ll a jusl perception of mutual inter est s|i a || jierinit n peaceably to puisne our separate nolitie.-tl career my most earnest de sire will have i n i milled li was in i'n i lance of these accordant views of the co 1:1 ih executive that 1 made choice i three discreet able ana dis tinguished citi/.i paired to wash ington a.de.l 1 1 \* their cordial co-operation and that ol lhe secretary of state every ef forl compatible with self-respect and the dig nity of the i onfederncy was exhausted before i allowed myself lo yield to the conviction that tin government ol the united states was determined to attempt the conquest ol this people and that our cherished hopes of peace were unattainable un the arrival l onr commissioners in washington on the oth match thev post poned tn the instigation ofa friendly interme diary doing more than giving informal m i ice of then tirrival this was done with a view tn afford time to the president who had just been inaugurated for the discharge of other pressing ollicial duties in the organi zation of his administration before encaging ins attention in the ohject of their mission - it was nol m ul ihe l'jth of the mouth that thev officially addressed the secretary l state informing him ofthe purpose of their arrival and stating in the language ol their instructions iheir wish •• to make to the gov ernment of the united states overtures for the opening ol negotiations assuring the oo vi rn tiniit ol the united slates that the pre sident congress and the peuple nf lhe c'nti i derate slates earnestly desire a peaceful so lution of these great ijncstiotis that it is nei ther their interest uur their wish to make any demand winch is not founded nn siiiet est justice nor do any act to injure their late confederates to this communication no formal reply was received until the . s ih ol april during the interval the commissioners had consented tn waive all questions n form wnb the firm resolve to i nv itt war if possible they went ii far even as to hold during thai long pe riod unofficial intercourse through an inter mediary whose high position and character inspired the hope l success and through wtiom ei instant assurance were received from the government of the united states ( i peace n i intentions : of the di termination to evacuate fort snmter and further that no measure changing the existing status preju dicially to the confederate states especially at fort pickens wtis in contemplation but tbat in lhe event i any change of intention on the subject notice would be given lo the commissioners the crooked paths nt diplo macy can scarcely furnish an example sn wanting in com lesy in candor and directness as was the course of the united states gov ernment towards our conimissiuiiei's in wash ington for proof o ihis 1 reler tu the an nexed documents mat k.d — taken in connec tion with further tacts which i now proceed tn relate : k.nlv in april lhe attention of the whole country as well as that of our commission ers was attracted to extraordinary prepara tions lor an extensive military and naval ex pedition in new york and other northern potts these preparations commenced in se crecy for ni expedition whose destination was concealed only became known when nearly completed and on the 5th 6th and 7th april transports and vessels ol war with iroops munitions and military supplies sailed from northern potts bound southward — alarmed by sn extraordinary a demonstra tion the commissioners requested the tu-\t erv nt an answer to their offioial coromuti tion of the 1 2 lli mm iii ami thereupon t ■ lived mi the sth april a reply dated mi tl , it li of the previous month from which appear that during the wlmle inlerval wlul the commitsioncn were receiving amttrane calculated to inspire hope of the success il it mission the secretary of state and ihe president nl the united state had doti mi ned to hold no intercourse with thein wl ever ; tn felll c e cli in ll tell t,l hiiv pi 1 sals thev bad to make and had profited i tin delay created hy their own assuram in order to prepare secretly the tiieansforcl.ee nve hostile operations thai those assurances were given ha i.e •> virtually confessed by the govorntpenl ol i ■ l nited states by its sending a tnesscngei to charleston to give notice t<f its purpose to use force if opposed in its intention of su - plying port sumter no more striking pn nl theah-ii.ee oi good faith 111 the oooduci ol the t lovernmenl of the i fnited states i wards the confederacy can bo required that i contained in the circumstances which a • ' ipanied tha notice according to the o a l course i if navigation the vessels compos the expedition designed for the relief of f i sumter might be expected to reach charl ton hurl ni on the oth nl april yel with o:n commissioners actually in washington i.'iiiied nmler assurances tbat notice slum i be given of any military movement the n tice vvas nol addressed to them bui a messen l-er was sent to charleston to five the ootid t.i the governoi ol south carolina and tin notice was so given nt a late hour on the pi i a | iril the eve of the very day on which tho licet might he expecled to arrive that the niaiiicuvre failed in its purpose vas not tht fault of those who contrived a heavy tempest delayed the arrival >.| i ■• expedition and gave time to the command v i it nur forces at charleston to ask and rece ve : the instructions ni this government even then under all the provocation incident i i the contemptuous refusal in listen toourconi missioners and the tortuous course ol l government or the united stales i was sin c.iely anxious to avoid the effusion of blood and directed a proposal to he made tn the commander of fort sumter who had avowed himself to he nearly out nf provisions that we would abstain from directing our fire on po snmter if he would promise nol to open i • on our forces unless firsl attacked thisp ■ posal was refused and the conclusion was reached that the design of the 1 states waa to place the besieging forces at charleston het-iveeii the simultaneous fire of the fleet and the fort there remained therefore no al tentative but to direct that the fort should at nee be reduced this order was executed hy qen beaure gard with the skill and success which were naturally to be expected from the well known character of thatgallaut officer and although the bombardment lasted but 33 hours onr flat did not waveover its battered walls until after the appearance ofthe hostile fleet off char lestoi . fortunately not a life was lost on our side and we were gratified in being spared the necessity ofa useless effusion of blood by the prudent caution ol ihe officers who commanded the fleet in abstaining from the evidently fu tile dibit to enter the harbor for the relief 1 major anderson 1 refer to the report ol tiie secretary of war mil the papers which ac company it for further details of this brilliant a hair in this connection i cannot refrain from a well-deserved tribute to the noble state the eminent soldierly qualities of whose people were so conspicuously displayed in the port ol charleston for months they had been irri tated by the spectacle of a fort less held with in their principal harbor as a standing menace against their peace and independence built in part with llieir own money its custody con fided with their own consent in an agent who held no power over them nt bet than such as they imd themselves delegated for their own benefit intended to be used by that agent fortheirovt ■ protection against foreign attack they saw t held with persist cut tenacity as a means of ol fence against them l.y the very government they had established for their protection they had beleagured it for months — felt ou tire confidence in their power to capture i vet yielded to the requirements ofdisciplini curbed their impatience submitted with complain to the unaccustomed hardships in burs and privations ofa protracted siege at ! when at length their patience vvas rewarded by the signal for attack and success had crowned their stead and gallant conduct even in the very moment of triumph — thi ) evinced a chivalrous retard for the reel in 2 ' r the brave hut unfortunate officer who ha i i ecu compelled to lower his flag all i manifestations of exultation were checked in his presence their commanding general with their cor dial approval and the consent of his graven ment refrained from imposing any terms would wound the sensibilities of the comn der of the fort lie was permitted to n ' l with the honors of war to salute his flag to j depart freely with ail his command and was e cried to the vessel in whii ii he waseiiihail i with the highest matk of respect from tho against whom his guns had been so re directed not only does every event cdtl ted with the siege reflect the highest horn south carolina but the forbearance ol people and of this government from makm any harsh use of a victory obtained uuder cumstances vi such peculiar provocation at to the fullest extent the absence of any pose beyond securing their own tranquility and the sincere desire to avoid the calan i nl war scarcely hud the president of the ul