States, were transferred to the Confederate Government, which thereupon became accountable for the same.

In like manner South Carolina transferred the public property seized from the United States by her authorities to the Confederate Government. This was done on the 8th of April.

Texas transferred the same within her limits on the 20th of March.

Subsequently Arkansas transferred the arsenal at Little Rock, and the site, buildings, and appurtenances of the hospital at Napoleon, subject to certain conditions and stipulations. The States of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and North Carolina pursued the same course. Mississippi transferred also the arms obtained by purchase before her secession. These were sufficient to supply ten or eleven regiments.

Early in the month of March commissioners were sent to England, France, Russia, and Belgium, to ask the recognition of the Confederate States as a member of the family of nations, and to make with each of those powers treaties of amity and commerce. These appointments were made and the instructions given in pursuance of resolutions adopted at the previous session of Congress.

Commissioners were also sent to Washington, who arrived at that city on the 5th of March. They were John Forsyth, Martin J. Crawford, and A. B. Roman, appointed under a resolution of Congress requesting it, and for the purpose of making a settlement of all questions of disagreement between the Government of the United States and that of the Confederate States " upon principles of right, justice, equity, and good faith." Upon the arrival of the commissioners at Washington, an informal notice was given to the Secretary of State, and the explanation of the object of their mission was postponed to the 12th of March. On that day they addressed Secretary Seward, informing him of the purpose of their arrival, and stating their wish to make to the Government of the United States overtures for the opening of negotiations, and assuring that Government that the President, Congress, and people of the Confederate States desired a peaceful solution of the questions of disagreement between them; and that it was neither their interest nor their wish to make any demand which was not founded on the strictest principles of justice, nor to do any act of injury to their late sister States.

A memorandum, bearing date March 15th, was delivered, as the reply to this communication, on the 8th of April, and then upon the request of the secretary of the commissioners, for an answer to their note. This length of time was permitted to elapse by the commissioners, who waived all questions of form with the design of avoiding war if possible. For the details of this correspondence see UNITED STATES. All negotiation upon the basis on which the

commissioners desired to place it, failed. Official intercourse with them was declined by Secretary Seward.

Meantime the Government of the Confederacy was becoming more completely organized. All the courts, with the exception of those of Mississippi and Texas, had been organized by the appointment of marshals and district attorneys, and were prepared for the exercise of their functions. The applications for patents averaged seventy per month, although the laws fully organizing the department had not been enacted. Regulations were devised and put in execution, respecting the collection of revenue on goods brought by the various railways entering the territory of the Confederate States. These were carried into effect as early as the 20th of March. The Circular of Instructions of Secretary Memminger, provides for the location of revenue stations near the frontier of the Confederate States. At each station an officer was appointed, to act as a revenue guard," whose duties were of a supervisory nature over all merchandise introduced. "Revenue depots' were also established, each having a chief officer, with all the powers of collectors of the customs over importations by sea at ports of entry. The circular thus prescribes the duties of the officers:

66

"Immediately on the arrival of any railroad carriage or train, from any foreign territory contiguous to the Confederate States, at any of the revenue stations, the conductor or other person in charge shall be required to produce to the revenue guard at the first station, a manifest in triplicate of all the goods, wares, or merchandise brought into the Confederate States on board such railway carriage or train. And it is made the duty of the revenue guard, at the revenue station, to board all railway trains arriving at said station, from said foreign territory, at all hours of the day and night, to receive the manifest, and on its presentation to see that the goods described therein are placed in separate cars from those in which mails or passengers are conveyed, and to place on each of said freight cars revenue locks of the Confederate States of America. The original manifest, properly certified, shall be returned to the conductor, and a duplicate forwarded, under seal, to the revenue officer at the first revenue depot to which the cars are destined by the shortest route.

"On the arrival of the railway train or cars at the first revenue depot within the limits of the Confederate States, the conductor shall deliver to the chief revenue officer residing thereat, the original manifest presented to and endorsed with the certificate of the revenue guard at the station aforesaid, and also deliver to the said chief revenue officer all the merchandise described in said manifest, by either leaving at said depot all the locked cars containing the same, or depositing said goods in a warehouse of deposit at said depot, to be provided for that purpose, under the regulations now

governing bonded warehouses, or as may be otherwise provided. On such delivery being inade and an examination being instituted of the train by said revenue officer, he shall, if satisfied that all the merchandise has been delivered, furnish to the conductor or other person in charge of the train, a permit to proceed ⚫ to a further destination.

"The baggage of all passengers passing over the railroad routes, on arrival at the revenue station or depots, shall be subject to the inspection and examination of either the revenue guard at such stations, or revenue officer at such revenue depots; and any baggage that may be intended to be landed at places between the revenue stations and first revenue depots, may be examined by the revenue guard, and if containing no articles subject to duty, shall be landed at the intermediate place named, by having a permit, signed by the said revenue guard, pasted permanently on the trunk, valise, carpet-bag, or other envelope of such baggage.

"Should, however, dutiable articles be found in such baggage, the trunk or other package containing the same must be placed in the car with the merchandise, and under the revenue lock as before required, and the fact noticed in the manifest. And such baggage shall be delivered, with the other merchandise, to the chief revenue officer at the revenue depot, under the foregoing regulations.

"Passenger baggage destined for places beyond or more interior than the revenue depot, must be examined by the chief revenue officer at said revenue depot; and if they are found not to contain any merchandise subject to duty, may pass to their destination by having a permit, signed by the chief revenue officer, pasted thereon. Should, however, such baggage contain dutiable merchandise, the trunks or other package in which said baggage is contained, shall be deposited at said revenue depot."

The civil list passed by Congress, at its first session, placed the amount of appropriations for this class of objects within very moderate bounds. The items of the act were of the following proportions for each department of the Government:

"Legislative, $55,740; Executive, $33,050; Department of State, $44,200; Treasury Department, $70,800; War Department, $59,000; Navy Department, $17,300; Post-Office Department, $44,900; Judiciary, $63,200; Mint and Independent Treasury, $80,000; Foreign Intercourse, $100,000; Light-houses, $150,000; Expenses of Collecting Revenue, $545,000; Executive Mansion, $5,000; Miscellaneous, $200,000; Total, $1,468,190."

This does not embrace the aggregate for general purposes. A single bill appropriates $1,323,767, for the equipment and support of three thousand troops for twelve months. Other bills appropriated for general purposes equally large amounts, but the gigantic expenditures which were at hand, were not then contem

plated. Affairs were, however, rapidly approaching a crisis. The curtain was about to be raised, which would exhibit in all their magnitude and dreadful reality the consequences which secession was about to bring upon the Confederate States.

The Commissioners to Washington were refused an audience. The United States Government had prepared to send supplies to the handful of troops besieged in Fort Sumter. Notice of this intention was given to the Governor of South Carolina, and if the Confederate Government was in earnest in what had been done, the hour had come when the sword must be drawn. Its determination was soon taken, and its action quickly followed.

On the 8th of April, the following telegraphie correspondence coinmenced between the Secretary of War for the Confederate States and the Commander of the Confederate forces at Charleston harbor:

MONTGOMERY, 10th.

Gen. G. T. Beauregard, Charleston:

If you have no doubt of the authorized character of the agent who communicated to you the intention of the Washington Government to supply Fort Sumter by force, you will at once demand its evacuation; and if this is refused, proceed in such a manner as you may determine, to reduce it. Answer. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War. CHARLESTON, April 1a. L. P. Walker, Secretary of War: The demand will be made to-morrow at twelve o'clock. G. T. BEAUREGARD. MONTGOMERY, April 10.

General Beauregard, Charleston: your own condition, it is considered proper that you Unless there are especial reasons connected with

should make the demand at an early hour.

L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War.

The fire opened at 4.30 A. M. on the 12th of April on Fort Sumter, resulted in compelling the commander of the fort to surrender. (See SUMTER.) On the evening of the same day, when the people of Montgomery, Alabama, were rejoicing in the prospect that Fort Sumter would fall, the following telegraphic despatch was sent forth from that city to all parts of the United States:

"MONTGOMERY, FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1861.-An immense crowd serenaded President Davis and Secretary Walker, at the Exchange Hotel, tonight.

The former is not well, and did not appear. Secretary Walker appeared and declined to make a speech, but in a few words of electrical eloquence told the news from Fort Sumter, declaring, in conclusion, that before many hours the flag of the Confederacy would float over that fortress.

"No man, he said, could tell where the war this day commenced would end, but he would prophesy that the flag which now flaunts the breeze here would float over the dome of the old Capitol at Washington before the first of May. Let them try Southern chivalry and test the extent of Southern resources, and it might float eventually over Faneuil Hall itself."

On the 15th of April, immediately after the surrender of Fort Sumter, President Lincoln issued his message, calling forth the militia of the several States of the Union to the aggregate number of seventy-five thousand. This was immediately after an act of hostility had been committed under the authority of the Confederate Government, and forty days after an act had passed the Confederate Congress authorizing a force of one hundred thousand men to be raised.

Who commenced hostilities, is a question which must be considered as decided. "The war this day commenced," says the Secretary of War of the Confederate States. "We opened fire at 4.30 A. M.," says General Beauregard, in his despatch to the Secretary of War of the Confederate States, dated April 12th. Hostilities were commenced by order of the Government of the Confederate States. For this act

President Davis felt it to be necessary to present to the world some grounds of justification. This he attempted to do in his message to the Confederate Congress, dated April 29th. In that document he states that commissioners from the Confederate States arrived in Washington on the 15th of March, authorized in a peaceful manner to adjust all questions between the two Governments. He states their communication addressed to Secretary Seward on the 12th of March, and proceeds thus:

"To this communication no formal reply was received until the 8th of April. During the interval, the commissioners had consented to waive all questions of form, with the firm resolve to avoid war if possible. They went so far even as to hold, during that long period, unofficial intercourse through an intermediary, whose high position and character inspired the hope of success, and through whom constant assurances were received from the Government of the United States of its peaceful intentionsof its determination to evacuate Fort Sumter,. and further, that no measure would be introduced changing the existing status prejudicial to the Confederate States; that in the event of any change in regard to Fort Pickens, notice would be given to the commissioners.

"The crooked paths of diplomacy can scarcely furnish an example so wanting in courtesy, in candor, in directness, as was the course of the United States Government towards our commissioners in Washington. For proof of this I refer to the annexed documents, taken in connection with further facts, which I now proceed to relate:

"Early in April the attention of the whole country was attracted to extraordinary preparations for an extensive military and naval expedition in New York and other Northern ports. These preparations commenced in secrecy, for an expedition whose destination was concealed, and only became known when nearly completed; and on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of April, transports and vessels of war with troops, munitions, and military supplies, sailed from northern ports, bound southward.

"Alarmed by so extraordinary a demonstration, the commissioners requested the delivery of an answer to their official communication of the 12th of March, and the reply dated on the 15th of the previous month, from which it appears that during the whole interval, whilst the commissioners were receiving assurances calculated to inspire hope of the success of their mission, the Secretary of State and the President of the United States had already determined to hold no intercourse with them whatever-to refuse even to listen to any proposals they had to make, and had profited by the delay created by their own assurances, in order to prepare secretly the means for effective hostile operations.

"That these assurances were given has been virtually confessed by the Government of the United States, by its act of sending a messenger

to Charleston to give notice of its purpose to use force if opposed in its intention of supplying Fort Sumter.

"No more striking proof of the absence of good faith in the conduct of the Government of the United States towards the Confederacy can be required, than is contained in the circumstances which accompanied this notice.

"According to the usual course of navigation, the vessels composing the expedition, and designed for the relief of Fort Sumter, might be looked for in Charleston harbor on the 9th of April. Yet our commissioners in Washington were detained under assurances that notice should be given of any military movement. The notice was not addressed to them, but a messenger was sent to Charleston to give notice to the Governor of South Carolina, and the notice was so given at a late hour on the 8th of April, the eve of the very day on which the fleet might be expected to arrive.

"That this manœuvre failed in its purpose, was not the fault of those who controlled it. A heavy tempest delayed the arrival of the expedition, and gave time to the commander of our forces at Charleston to ask and receive instructions of the Government. Even then, under all the provocation incident to the contemptuous refusal to listen to our commissioners, and the treacherous course of the Government of the United States, I was sincerely anxious to avoid the effusion of blood, and directed a proposal to be made to the commander of Fort Sumter, who had avowed himself to be nearly out of provisions, that we would abstain from directing our fire at Fort Sumter if he would promise to not open fire on our forces unless first attacked. This proposal was refused. The conclusion was, that the design of the United States was to place the besieging force at Charleston between the simultaneous fire of the fleet and fort. The fort should, of course, be at once reduced. This order was executed by General Beauregard with skill and success." Subsequently, at the session of the Confederate Congress held in July, President Davis sent a message to that body in which he referred to his message of the 29th of April, in which he says:

"I referred to the course of conduct of the Government of the United States towards the commissioners of this Government, sent to Washington for the purpose of effecting, if possible, a peaceful adjustment of the pending difficulties between the two Governments. I also made allusion to an intermediary, whose high position and character inspired the hope of success; but I was not then at liberty to make my communication on this subject as specific as was desirable for a full comprehension of the whole subject.

"It is now, however, in my power to place before you other papers, which I herewith address to you. From them you will perceive that the intermediary referred to was the Hon. John A. Campbell, a Judge of the Supreme

Court of the United States, who made earnest effort to promote the successful issue of the mission entrusted to our Commissioners, and by whom I was kept advised, in confidential communications, of the measures taken by him to secure so desirable a result. It is due to you, to him, and to history, that a narration of the occurrences with which he was connected, should be known."

He also states that he was prompted to call the Congress together, in extraordinary session, on April 29th, “not by reason of the declarations contained in the proclamation of President Lincoln of the 15th of April. My proclamation convoking you was issued on the 12th of April, and was prompted by the declaration of hostile purposes contained in the message sent by President Lincoln to the Governor of South Carolina, on the 8th of April."

The documents referred to in this message of President Davis consist of two letters of Judge Campbell to Secretary Seward, and one to President Davis, as follows:

WASHINGTON CITY, April 13, 1561. SIR: On the 15th of March ultimo I left with Judge Crawford, one of the commissioners of the Confederate States, a note in writing to the effect following:

"I feel entire confidence that Fort Sumter will be evacuated in the next five days. And this measure is felt as imposing great responsibility on the Adminis tration.

"I feel entire confidence that no measure changing the existing status prejudicially to the Southern Confederate States, is at present contemplated. "I feel an entire confidence that an immediate demand for an answer to the communication of the commissioners will be productive of evil and not of good. I do not believe that it ought at this time to be pressed."

The substance of this statement I communicated to

you the same evening by letter. Five days elapsed and I called with a telegram from General Beauregard to the effect that Sumter was not evacuated, but that Major Anderson was at work making repairs. nicated to Judge Crawford, in writing, that the failure The next day, after conversing with you, I commuto evacuate Sumter was not the result of bad faith, but was attributable to causes consistent with the intention to fulfil the engagement, and that, as regarded Pickens, I should have notice of any design to alter the existing conversations, three in number, and I submitted to status there. Mr. Justice Nelson was present at these him each of my written communications to Judge Crawford, and informed Judge C. that they had his (Judge Nelson's) sanction. I gave you, on the 22d of March, a substantial copy of the statement I had made

on the 15th.

The 30th of March arrived, and at that time a telegram came from Governor Pickens inquiring concerning Colonel Lamon, whose visit to Charleston he supposed had a connection with the proposed evacuatios of Fort Sumter. I left that with you, and was to have an answer the following Monday, (1st of April.) On the 1st of April I received from you the statement in writing: "I am satisfied the Government will not undertake to supply Fort Sumter without giving notice to Governor P." The words "I am satisfied" were

for me to use as expressive of confidence in the remainder of the declaration.

The proposition as originally prepared was, “The President may desire to supply Sumter, but will not did not believe any such attempt would be made, and do so," &c., and your verbal explanation was that you that there was no design to reinforce Sumter.

There was a departure here from the pledges of the