CONFEDERATE STATES. 



137 



MONTGOMIKT, April 1210 A. . 

 Ex-President JOHN* TTLKR, State Convention : 



I am authorized by Hon. L. P. Walker, Secretary 

 of War, C. S. A., to send you the following despatches 

 and explanatory note, preceding the bombardment of 

 Fort Sumter, for publication. 



Your son, JOHN TYLER, JR. 



[Mr. Tyler was a clerk in the War Department of 

 the Confederate States.] 



The despatches consisted of copies of the tel- 

 egraphic correspondence between General Beau- 

 regard and the Secretary of War of the Con- 

 federate States, to be found on a previous page. 



On the evening of the day previous to the 

 attack on the fort, ex-Congressman Pryor of 

 Virginia, in a speech to the citizens of Charles- 

 ton, made the following declarations : 



" As sure as to-morrow's sun will rise upon 

 us, just so sure will Old Virginia be a member 

 of this Southern Confederation. (Applause.) 



" And I will tell you, gentlemen, what will 

 put her in the Southern Confederation in less 

 than an hour by Shrewsbury clock. Strike a 

 blow ! (Tremendous applause.) 



' ; I do not mean to say any thing for effect 

 upon military operations. I am but a poor 

 civilian, who never set a squadron in the field 



' ' Xor the division of a battle note 

 More than a spinster:' 



but I was speaking with respect to the po- 

 litical effects of revolution. The very moment 

 that blood is shed, Old Virginia will make com- 

 mon cause with her sisters of the South. It is 

 impossible she should do otherwise. (Ap- 

 plause.) 



" In conclusion, accept my word for it, the 

 moment the conflict begins, Old Virginia will 

 dispute with South Carolina the precedence in 

 this great combat." 



Meanwhile an unquenchable military spirit 

 was aroused in the Confederate States by the 

 events of a few days. They determined to be 

 fully prepared for the coming struggle, and de- 

 clared that they would "meet the Northern 

 forces with full confidence in the justice of their 

 cause." At this time they had a large num- 

 ber of troops in the field, chiefly at Charleston 

 and Pensacola. The requisition for fifteen hun- 

 dred troops from Mississippi was answered by 

 more than three thousand volunteers, and heavy 

 bonuses were offered for many places of those 

 accepted. On the 17th, two days later than 

 the proclamation of President Lincoln, one was 

 also issued by President Davis, offering let- 

 ters of marque to all persons who might desire 

 by service in private armed vessels to aid the 

 Government. The proclamation was as fol- 

 lows : 



Whereas Abraham Lincoln, President of the United 

 States, has by proclamation announced the intention 

 of invading the Confederacy with an armed force for 

 the purpose of capturing its fortresses, and thereby 

 subverting its independence and subjecting the free 

 people thereof to the 'dominion of a foreign power ; 

 and whereas it has thus become the duty of this Gov- 

 ernment to repel the threatened invasion and defend 

 the rights and liberties of the people by all the means 

 which the laws of nations and usages o"f civilized war- 

 fare place at its disposal : 



Now, therefore, I, Jefferson Davis, President of the 

 Confederate States of America, do issue this my proc- 

 laiinition, inviting all those who may desire by service 

 in private armed vessels on the high seas to aid this 

 Government in resisting so wanton and wicked an ag- 

 gression, to make application for commissions or letters 

 of marque and reprisal, to be issued under the seal of 

 these Confederate States ; and I do further notify all 

 persons applying for letters of marque to make a state- 

 ment in writing, giving the name and suitable descrip- 

 tion of the character, tonnage, and force of the vessel, 

 name of the place of residence of each owner concerned 

 therein, and the intended number of crew, and to sign 

 such statement, and deliver the same to the Secretary 

 of State or collector of the port of entry of these Con- 

 federate States, to be bv him transrnitte'd to the Secre- 

 tary of State ; and I d"o further notify all applicants 

 aforesaid, before any commission or letter of marque 

 is issued to any vessel or the owner or the owners 

 thereof and the commander for the time being, they 

 will be required to give bond to the Confederate States, 

 with at least two responsible sureties not interested in 

 such vessel, in the penal sum of five thousand dollars, 

 or if such vessel be provided with more than one hun- 

 dred and fifty men, then in the penal sum of ten thou- 

 sand dollars, with the condition that the owners, 

 officers, and crew who shall be employed on board 

 such commissioned vessel shall observe the laws of 

 these Confederate States and the instructions given 

 them for the regulation of their conduct that shall 

 satisfy all damages done contrary to the tenor thereof 

 by such vessel during her commission, and deliver up 

 the same when revoked by the President of the Con- 

 federate States ; and I do further specially enjoin on 

 all persons holding offices, civil and military, under 

 the authority of the Confederate States, that' they be 

 vigilant and zealous in the discharge of the duties in- 

 cident thereto; and I do, moreover, exhort the good 

 people of these Confederate States, as they love their 

 country, as they prize the blessings of free govern- 

 ment, as they feel the wrongs of the past and those 

 now threatened in an aggravated form by those whose 

 enmity is more implacable because unprovoked, they 

 exert themselves in preserving order, in promoting 

 concord, in maintaining the authority and efficacy of the 

 laws, and in supporting and invigorating all the meas- 

 ures which may be adopted for a common defence, 

 and by which, under the blessing of Divine Providence, 

 we may hope for a speedy, just, and honorable peace. 

 In witness whereof, I have set my hand and have 

 caused the seal of the Confederate States of Amer- 

 ica to be attached this seventeenth day of April, 

 in the vear of our Lord one thousand eight hun- 

 dred and sixty -one. JEFFERSON DAVIS. 

 ROBERT TOOMBSJ Secretary of State. 



The following is a copy of the form in which 

 these letters of marque were issued : 



Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States 

 of America, to all who shall see these presents, greet- 

 ing : Know ye that, by virtue of the power vested in 

 me by law, t have commissioned, and do hereby com- 

 mission, have authorized and do authorize the scboou- 

 er or vessel called the , (more particularly de- 

 scribed in the schedule herewith annexed,) 



is commander, to act as a private armed vessel in 

 the service of the Confederate States, on the high 

 seas, against the United States of America, their ships, 

 vessels, goods, and effects, and those of their citizens, 

 during the pendency of the war now existing between 

 the said Confederate States and the said United States; 

 this commission to continue in force until revoked by 

 the President of the Confederate States for the time 

 being. 



Given under my hand and the seal of the Confed- 

 erate States, at Montgomerv, this day of , 



A. D. 1861. 



By the President : JEFFERSON DAYIS. 



R. TOOMBS, Secretary of State. 



All privateers which sailed under one of 



