The New York Herald Newspaper, April 18, 1861, Page 1

WHOLB NO. 3967. | if “ of, Sauper says he camm through Rhmond yesterday, and conversed wifi the leader ef the sees. Bioniste there, who assured him that they were oaly awattiog the order of Geverwor Letcher ta setze the Nor- folk Navy i. Fe reports that the statement was Made | Litn tw the secession ordinance pasend the Oor M Breret ‘session yesterday, and that for T best MRown to themselves ihe fact has been kept ot, This f# not likely to be true, as there are loyal Union men in the Convention, who would have !mmadi- ‘Btely reported euch action to the govermment if it was true. dasper called wpon the Secretary of War this morning ‘and reported the above mentioned facts. Washington is full of Union mon, and rocruit- ing i geipg on with groat rapidity. Tho ns- tional feeling is raging at a high fever. The re- sponses to the call of the President in the North and Wert are a subject of much discussion and great re- joicing. Tho sirects present a very lively military ap seen’ floating ‘thé British Consul at Charleeton im Jasper’s behalf may de taken as evidence of the sympathies of the Rritish government towards tho North an] against the South A despatch has juet resched here from Dayton, Ohio, asserting that Mr. Vallandigham, a member of the las} Congress, has been mobbed and his house torn down, on account of bis sympathies With the secessionists. He pubMicly announced in ® speech in Richmond, lest winter, that when the stroggle camé he would take side with Virginia This declaration probably has bad something to do with the pearance, The drum and fife are constantly heard, acd from every public building the Stars and Stripes may be There is little’ doubt but that the prompt action of Proclamatios of the President of the THE AID OF PRIVATEERS SOLICITED. Rebels Taken Up. The Correspondence Between Mr. Seward and the Confederate Commissioners, Call for a Monster Mass Meet- ing in Union Square on Saturday Aftegneen, the Metropolis, Hang Out the Star Spangled Banner. MOVEMENTS OF THE VOLUNTEERS Eager for the Fray. ARRIVAL OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TROOPS. The War. Feeling Throughout the North, a, &o., OUR DESPATCHES FROM WASHINGTON. Wasaman., April 17, 1861. ‘The administration is considerably alarmed to-day les: ‘an attempt be made by the secessionists in Virginia to seize the government vessels now at Norfolk. Intima- tions of such & purpose on their part were received here this morning. ‘There aro now six vessels of war at Norfolk, namely, the Merrimac, Germantown, Bainbridge, United States, Pennsylvanian and Potomac. The three former are in excellent condition, and can soon be got ready for sea. ‘The three latter are in a disabled condition. Owing to the present precarious and unsettled state of affairs in Virginia, the government to-day decided to strengthen all the military posts in the State. Severa! companies will immediately be despatched to Harper's ‘The administration will at once take the necessary steps to remove them to some other point in the eyent of the Virginia Convention passing the secession ordinance. ‘The administration has not yet decided to blockade the Southern ports. They will probably wait until some- ‘thing definite is known respecting Fort Pickens. If the Fevolutionists ospture that fort, then the government ‘will be compelied to blockade every port from Charles. ton to the mouth of the Mississippi. Advices received to-day from Montgomery indicate &e. gion, it ig said, that Freuce will raiso it in less thah sixty day@. This is directly contrary to information in possession of the Lincoln government. It is the pre- gent polisy of both France and England, and the govern- ment is oo assured, not to interfere in any manner ‘with either scotion. Both these great Powers have in- @ieated, through the proper channels, their feeling of regret at the present deplorable eowaiticl of alfairs. ‘The greatest anxiety prevails in administration circles to hear from Pensacola. Up to this evening nothing has (been received. It is very probable that the revolutionary authorities will prevent anything being sent to the ad- ‘ministration, Gepecially if it should pe unfavorable to them. — Wasmncton, April 17, 1861. An Englishman named Jasper arrived here this morn- ng from Charleston, 8.0. He came by way of Rich- mond, Va. He reports that he was arrested in Charleston, charged with being the correspondent of the New York ‘Times, and that the British Consul interfered and de- manded of Governor Pickens his immediate release on the he should forthwith order the British ‘West India to blockade Charleston, and would de- ‘mand satisfaction of the United States government, and Intense Excitement in reported demonatration against Mr. Vallaudigham. ‘The Treasury Department has issued an order directing that the namé of First Lieutevant Rogers be strickes from the roll of the revenue service, for having, while in command of thé revenue cutter Henry Dodge, in viola. tion of his official oath, and of his duty wo the govern- ment, surrendered his vesee! to Texas. Gov. Bpregue has been telegraphed to come hither with Rhode Island’s.quota of troops without delay. SAdditional volanteer companies were mustere1 in to- day by the War Department, and others are forming to offer their services to government, THE BORDER SLAVE STATES. Reported Defeat of the Sccession Ordi- mance in Virgin: ‘Wasnnatoy, April 17, 1861. Secretary Scward bas received private information within an hour, direct from Richmond, that the Virginia State Convention, in secret session, last night, decided against the act of secession by a majority of seven. Bince learning this I have seen another messenger, direct from Virginia, who confirms the report xcesived by Mr. feward, a A messenger has just come in from Alexandria, who esserta that it would be impossible for an act of seces- sion to pass the Richmend Convention without his know- ledge, and he this moment assures mo that when he left Alexandria, at eleven o’clock this forenoon, no such ao- tion had beep taken, and he does not believe it will hap- pen. He is @ well posted and intelligent gentleman, and can be relied upon. If the secession act should pass, it will bave to be submitted to the people, ‘There have been all corts of rumors in the city to-day about the concentration of troops in Virginia for the purpose of attacking Washington; also a report thate Virgisia, instead of a John Brown raid, has been made upon Harper's Ferry. Bu! the government has no tn- formation confirmatory of such reports. ‘There ig, nevertheless, apprehension that, in the event of the passage -of an act of secession by the Richmond Convention, that an attempt will be made, not only to seize the arsenai at Harper's Ferry, for thé purpose of getting possession of the arms deposited there, but also to take the Navy Yard at Norfolk, and Fort Washington, and Fortress Monroe. The government js not inactive relative to these points. A gentleman who left Richmond this mogning, says that business in that city is entirely ruined; that the peo- ple express the greatest bitterness towards the North, but that they exhibit little better feeling towards the States that have seceded, believing that by their head Jong and inane course the present melancholy state o affairs bave been precipitated. So determined are the middle groupd men—and they are a powerful class— that they openly declare, that if they have to secede from the Union, they will only do so upon the understanding that the border States will form a separate confederacy. But they t that they will never join the Southern confederacy; they prefer by far to remain in the Union. 1am certain that but for the fact that Virginia has voted to oppose any attempt of the federal government to ce- erce the seceded States, the feeling there would now be very differcnt, and no doubt the Governor would feel authorized to respond to the President's roquisit{on for tronps; but having taken that position, the leading men of the State, who feel bound by it, do mot seo how they can retreat with honor. They seem to lose sight of the fact, that the seceded States have posi 8.25 coerce the federal government until for! s ceases to boa virtue. The government has no quarrel with Virginia, and Virginia can have n> quar. rel with thé government, unless she insists that disloyal States, unlike herself, shall be alowed to commit trea- fon, steal the public property, fire upon unarmed versels bearing the flag of the country, and with seven thousand men assault, with all the modern weapons of warfare, a peaceable yet starving garrison of federal troops number- jog only seventy men. If she seeks to present herself to the world in thm light, she will find no sym- pathy from, the federal government, and will only incur the natural calamity which isso fast befalling the dis_ oyal States that have preceded her. A secret Convention of secessionists, called to meet at Richmond yesterday, assembled there to-day. My in- formant says quite a number of them were in secret cau- cus in Richmond last night, and the belief is that their Convention has more to do witha raid upon the capital than anything else. Among those present last night was Mr. Ashby, who commanded the Virginia troops at Har- per’s Ferry at the trial and execution of John Brown. Instead of waiting the assembling of the Convention to-day, Ashby left Richmond this mé@ming, and came on as far towards Washingtén as the branch road to Harpor’s Ferry, when he changed cars for the latter Companics hafe been ordered to Harper's Ferry, and unless an attack is made before they reach there no fear te expressed on the part of the government that the Arsenal will be seized. Ricumonp, Apil 17—6 P. M. The ordinance of secession has not as yet passed the Convention, and they are stil] in secret session. Nothing certain is known of the proceedings transacted. Bavtrwors, April 1%, 1861. It is not thought hero that there is apy truth in the rumor about Harper's Ferry. There is a company of regulars there. . REPORTS FROM MARYLAND. Wreminorox, April 17, 1861. ‘The administration have determine! to give the Union men in Maryland all required aid to prevent Maryland joining the South. It is believed, by leading and intiveritial gentlemen from Baltimore now here, that she can be heldj in the Union. It is of the highest importance to the government that Maryland should remain with the North, for if she should go with the South it would be almost impossible for Washington to remain the seat of government. Therefore it is that the administration has determined, at all hazards, to keep Maryland with the North. I learn from Baltimore to-night, that the secession movement in that city is wholly based upon the proba bility that Virginia will secede. It ie reported here that Mr. Kane, Chiof of Police o Baltimore, said last night that there were ten thousand secessionists in and about Baltimore pledged to prevent any Northern or Western military companies from passing through that city. There are known to be twen- ty-four hundred organized Bnion men in Baltimore, who will stand by the Union atgil hazards. They aro backed by the great commercial and monetary interests of Bal- igor, Hicks was waited upon last night at his hotel ty Company F, the Governor's Guard, who informed him that they had come to sing the “Star Spangled Banner’ wih him. The Governor expressed pleasure at the visit, and said he was too hoarse to join with them, but no ‘would tell them he was still under the Stars and Stripes. The ‘Star Spangled Bannge” was then gung by ayey sty OMIT GHA orieas ia eee MORNING EDITION—THDHRSBAY, APRIL 18, 1861. ‘On wearares Kve PRICE TWO CENTS. voices, with fine effect. The Governor thanked the visit- ere for the courvesy, and said he hoped the song would bo wupg cn ail fitting occasions forever. The Union mus: be preserved. A Vous—Governer, you have done your duty #0 far, GovEBNOoR— Yes, and I intend to keep aoing a0. Vomas—We'll stand by you. - Mucb enthusiarm was manifested. MISSOURKKEFUSES TROOPS. Sr, Lovis, april 17, 1861, ‘The Slate Journal pudiishes the following repiy from Governor Jackson to Secretary Cameron:— Execenve Dxparrceyr, Jervensow Crry, Mo., Aprit 17, 1881 S&x—Your ¢espaten of the loth instant, maki. g 4 cal OR bMuesour: for four réegimente of meu four immedisic eervice, hag been received. Therocan be, I ayprevend, no-douhs bi these men are intended to form a part o of the eecoded States, Your requisition, “in my > ie Megas, unconsti and Housry in ite on. inhugpan ind diabolical; and cannot, be complied wi OL one man wilt. of Loe State of Mis. souri, furnish or carry op such an unholy crusade, ©. F. JACKSON , Governor of Missouri, REPORTS FROM TENNESSEE AND KEN- TUOKY. New Onmans, April 17, 1861. At Memphis an immense mecting was held last night, and resolutions passed declaring Memphis out of the Union ard her determination to stand by the South, Accounts from Kentucky state that large numbers are enrolling under the Confederate flag. HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM THE SOUTH. Proclamation of the President of the Confederate States, THE SERVICES OF PRIVATEERS SOLICITED &e., ao. &o. PROCLAMATION OF JEFFERSON DAVIS. Moyrcomeny, April 17, 1861. PROCLAMATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, Whereas, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United Btates, has, by proolamation, announced intention of in vading the confederacy with an armed foroe, for the pur- pose of capturing its fortresses and thereby subverting its independence and subjecting the free people thereof to the douzinion of a foreign power; and whereas, it has thus become the duty of this gove:nment to repel the threatened invasion and defend the rights and liberties of the people by all the means whiab the lowe of netions and usages of civilized warfare Place at its disposal. Now, therefore, I, Jefferson Divia, Presiden: of the Confederate States of Ameries, do issue this, my procia mation, inviting all those who may desire, by service if private armed vessels on the high seas, to aid this government in resisting so wanton and wicked an azgres- sion, to make application for commissions or letters of marque and reprisal, to be isgued under the seal of those Confederate States; and I do far- ther notify all persons apply ing for letters of marque, to make « statement in writing, giving the mame and guita- ble description of the character, tonnage and force of the ‘veesel, name of the place of residence of each owner oom cerned therein, and the intended number of crew, and to sign each statement, and deliver the same to the Secretary of State or collector of the port of entry of these Confederate States, to be by him trans mitted to the Secretary of State, and Ido further notify all applicants aforesaid, before any commission or letter 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 Pater, with atleast two responsible sureties not in- ‘terested in such vessel, in the penal sum thou. sand dollars, or if such vessel be wit more than one hundred and fifty men, then peual sum of ten thousand dollars, with the condition that the owners, officers and crew whoshall be employed on board such commigsioned vessel shall observe the laws of these Confederate States, and the instructions given thom for the regulation of their conduct, that shall satisfy all da- mages done contrary to the tenor thersof by such vesse! during her commission, and deliver up the s’me when rapper et od Lean Lehertre pape tae And I do further specially enjoin on persone holding offices, civil and military, unfor the authority of the Confederate States, that they be vigilaat and zealous in the discharge of the duties incident 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 goveruament— as they feel the wrongs of the past, anJ ihose now ‘threatened in an aggravated form by those whose enmity js more implacable, because unproyoked—they exert themselves in preserving order, in promoting concord, in maintaining the authority and efficacy of the laws, and in supporting, invigorating all the measures which may be adopted fora common defence, aud by which, under the blessings 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 America to be at tached this Seventeenth day of April, inthe year of ow Lord, @e thousand eight hundred and sixty-one. JEFFERSON DAVIS. Rorxrr Thomns, Secretary of State. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND MEN CALLED FOR. Moytoomery, April 17, 1861. ‘The Cabinet had a long seasion to-day. A proclama- tion will be issued to-morrow calling 160,000 more troops into the field. Tenders have been made for letters of marque and re- prisal. Fifty thousand Tennessee and Kentucky troops were offered this morning at Mentgomory to the War Dopart ment. One gentleman of this city has taken one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars of the Confederate loan at par, and paid the amount in gold. ‘There will bé from 75,000 to 100,000 men in the fold in less than thirty days. The government is likely to got large amounts of money from European hip builders, THE FIVE MILLION LOAN OF THE RE- VOLUTIONISTS. Cnanteston, April 17, 1961 Charleston has taken $2,008,000 ef the loan at par. $1, 200,000 was paid in cash. The city subscription to the confederate loin thir morning is $2,008,000, The booke will be opened again to. morrow. New Orleans took $2,700,000 at par, and the poopie are not done subscribing at either place. Mobile took $900,000; ail taken by small bidders. Capi- talists hold off till to-morrow. The government has been asked from New Crieans for the $15,000,000 loan. Nothing of stirring importance has occurred to day. New Onveans, April 17, 1861. Subscription books for the Confederate States loan was opened to-day, andthe rush of subscribers are very great. TEXAS. Gatvaatox, April 17, 1861. On Sunday the Star of the West was still off Indianola, The Empire City and Mohawk left on Friday evening with troops. Their destination is unknown, THE FLEET OFF CHARLESTON: Captain Crocker, of the steamship R. R. Caylor, from Savannah, arrived yesterday morning, reports that on the 14th inat., fifteen miles north of Cape Roman, passed a steamtug, painted black, with sidewheols, the smoke stack gone, bound south (The Yankee). Same day, at two P. M , spoke stoamahip Baltic off Charleston bar. The captain of the Baltic said to him:—‘Wo take Major Ander- son and his command to New York.’ The Harriet Lane ‘was inside the bar. They both had steam up. There ‘was also a steamer inside tho bar, bark r! probably the Isabel. Saw Fort Sumter; there were no breaches in the walls; the outside looked somewhat battered. When some four ar five miles away heard a» mute fired, proba- bly Majcr Anderson leayipg the fort, the President’s army to make war upon the people IMPORTANT FROM W The Correspondence Between Mr, Seward and the Confederate. -Commusions ers—The Gage of War Chrows Down and dccopied, ae. Mees ae ‘The following @ the correspondence between the tary of State and the Commissioners from the Confed: states:— MESSRS. FOBSYTH AXD CRAWFORD TO MR. SEWARD, OPENING NEGOTIATION AND BTATING THE CASE. Wasuincron Crry, March 12, 1861 Fem. We. Hy Sewarn, Secretary of State of the Uuited Cn Tel Sun— Phe undersigned have been duly secredited by the government of the Confederate States o’ America as Com- Mijesiomers jo the gevercment of the United States, aut im pursuanee 01 -ibeir iusiructions have now the hoaor to acquaint you with thet fot, and to make known, through you, to the'President of the Urited States, the objecta of their presence in this capiix!. Beven Statds of the late fodera! Union having, ia the exercise of the inherent rizht «1 every freo people to change or reforam their politics! {ce \tutios, and through conventions of their people, withd:awn from the United States and reassumed the attributes of sovereign power delegated to it, havo forme! « governmentof their own. The Confederate States cous :tute an independent mation, de facto and de jure, and presess a government perfect in all ite paris and endvwed wth a) the means of welf-qupport. ‘With a view fo a speedy a” jus'ment of all questions growing Out Of this political separation, upon such terms of amity and good wiii ae the respective interests, geo graphical contiguity and future welfare of the two na- tions may render necessary, the undersigned are instruct: ed to make tothe government of the United States over tures for the opening of negotiations, asguring the govern- ment of the United States that the President, Con gress, and the people of the Confederate States earn sitly cesire a peadoful solution of these great questics; chat it is neither their intercet nor their wish (in ky any cemand whi¢h is not founded in strictest jisice, mor do any act to injure their late confederates. The undersigned have now the henor, in obedience w the instru ctious of their governmunt, to request you to appoint as égrly a day as pose ble im order that thoy may Preeent to the Preeident of the United states the oreden- tials which they bear and the objects of the mission with which they ave charged. We aro, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servants, JOHN FORSYTH, MARTIN J. CRAWFORD, THR REPLY OF MR. SEWARD. ‘MEMORANDUN. Drrartwent oF State, ‘Wasmorox, Merch 15, 1861. } Mr. John Forsyta, of the state of Alabama, and ur. Martin J. Crawford, of the State of Georgia, on the 11th wat; OUR. tos ind cMiees of @ distinguished Sensor. submitted to the Seorétary of Ctato their’ desire for an unofficial interview. This request was, «=,:he 13th inst. , upon exclusively public considerations, 7@ipecttaily de- clined. On the 13th inst., while the Secretary was preoscuping, Mr, A. D, Banks, of Virginie, called at this department ana was received by the Agsisiart Secretary, to whom hede livered @ sealed commuuica:ion, which he Bad been charged by Meters. Foreyth and Crawford to present to im person. anication Messrs. Foreytbh and Crawford of State that they have peca duly ‘Union, in tho exercine of a right People, have withdrawn, through conventions people, from the United Staten, re of sovereign power, and formed of their own, and that those Confederate an independent nation de facto and ‘government perfect in ail ite parts ‘with all the means of self-support. and Crawford, in sheir aforessid communiestion, thereupon proceed to inform the Secre- tary that, with a view to a speedy adjustment o all questicns growing out of the political eepa ration thus assumed, upon such terms of amity ani good will as the respective interests, geographical con- tiguity and the future welfaro of the supposed two na. tions might render necessary, they aro instructed to make to the government cf the United States overtures for the opening of negotiations, assuring this government that the President, Congrees and people of the Confeile- rate States earnestly desire a peaceful solution of these great questions, and that it is neither their interest nor their wish to make any demand which is not founded in strictest justice, nor to do any act to injure their late confederates. After making these statements, Messrs Forsyth and Crawford close their communication, as they say, in obedience to the instructions of their government, by requesting the Secretary of State to appoint as early a day as possible, in order that tney may present to the President of the United States the credentials which they bear and the objects of the mission with which they are charged, The Secretary of State frankly confesses that he under. stands the events which have recently occurred, and the condition of political affairs which actually exists in the part of the Union to which his attention has thus been directed, very differently from the aspect in which they are presented by Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford. He sees in them, not a rightful and accomplished revolution and an independent pation, with an established government, but rather @ perversion of @ temporary and partisan excite, ment to the inconsiderate purpoees of an unjustifiable and unconstitutional aggression upon the rights and the authority vested in the federal government, and hitherto benignly exercised, as from their very nature they always must be 80 exercised, for the maintenance of the Union, the preservation of liberty, and the security, peace, wel- fare, happiness and aggrandizoment of the American people, The of Btate, therefore, avows to Mesere. Forsyth and Crawford that he looks patiently but confidently for the cure of evils which have sepulted from proceedings #0 unnecessary, 80 unwise, 80 uourual and 60 unnatural, not to irregular negotiations, having in view new and untried relations with agencies unknown toand acting in derogation of the constitution and laws, but to regular and considerate action of the people of those States, in co-operation with their brethren in the other States, through tho Congress of the United States, and such extraordinary conventions, if there shall be need thereof, as the federal constitution coutem- plates and authorizes to be assembled. It ie, however, the purpose of the Secretary of State on this occasion not to invite or engage in any discussion of there subjects, but simply to set forth his reasons for declining to comply with the request of Messrs, Forsyth and Crawford. On the 4th of March inst., the then newly elected President of tho United States, in view of all the facts bearing on the present question, assumed the excoutive administration of the government, first de- livering, in a¢eordance with an early and honored cus- tom, an inaugural address to the people of the United States, The Secretary of State respectfully submits a copy of this address to Mosars. Forsyth and Crawford. Aximple reference to it will be sufficient to satisfy those gentlemen that the Secretary of State, guided by the principles therein announced, is prevented altogether from admitting or assuming that the States referred to by them have, in law or in fact, withdrawn from the federal Union, or that they cou'd do so inthe manner described by Mosars. Forsyth and Crawford, or in any other manner than with the consent and concert of the people of the United States, tobe given through a na- tional convention, to be assembled in conformity with the provisions of the constitution of the United States. Of course the Secretary of State cannot act ¢pon the assump- tion or in any way admit that the so-called Confederate States constitute a foreign Power, with whom diplomatic relations ought to be established. Under these circumstances the Secretary of State, whose official duties are confined, subject to the direction of the President, to the conducting of the foreign rela- tions of the country, and do not at all embrace domestic questions or questions arising between the several States and the federal government, is unable to comply with the request of Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford, to sppolnt a day om which they may present the evidences of their guthority amd the objects of their visit to the President of the United States. Om the ountrary, he je ebiiged to atate to Messrs. Foreyth and Crawford that be has no authority nor is he ut Wherty to recognise them as diplomatic agents, or hold correspondence or other communication with them. Fually, the Secretary of State would observe that, although ho has supposed that bo might safely and with propriety have adopted these cepcluswnes without making auy reference of tho fubjrct to the Pxecutive, yet so strong bas been his de- tive 10 practise entire directness and to act In a spirit of Perfect respect and candor towards Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford, and that portion of the people of the Union in whee name they present themselves before him, that be bes cheerfully submitied this paper to the Presi- dent, who ecincides generally in the views it expresses, exd sanctions the Secretary’s decision deciining official intercourse with Mesers. Forsyth and Crawford. Avni. 8, 1861. Tho foregoirg memorandum waa filed in this De- partment on the. 26th) of March last, A delivery of the same, however, to Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford wen delaye!, x» was understood with their consent. They have now, through their secretary, communicated their deetre for @ definitive dixpesition of the subject, Th Secretary of State therefore directs that a duly verified copy of the paper be now delivered. A true copy of the original, delivered to me by Mr. F. W. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, on April 8, 1861, at 2:15 P. M., in blank envelope. Aticat, J. T. PICKETT, Secretary to the Commissioners. THES COMMIESIONERS IN REPLY TO MR. SEWARD, ACCUSING THE GOVERNMENT OF DECEPTION, AND ACCEPTING A BOLUTION BY THE SWORD. Wasuineron, April 9, 1861. Hon, Wa. H. Sxwanp, Secretary of State of the United States, Washingtoa:— ‘The ‘memorandum’ dated Department of State, Wash- ington, March 15, 1861, with postecript under date of 8th instant, has been received through the hands of Mr. J. T. Piekett, Secretary to this commission, who, by the in- structions of the undersigned, called for it on yesterday at the department. 1m that memorandum you correctly state the purport of the official note addressed to you by the undersigned on the 12:h ultimo, Without repeating the contents of that note in full, it is enough to say here that ite object was to invite the government of the United States to a friend!y consideration of the rela- tions between the United States and the seven States lately of the federal Union, but nOw separated from it by the sovereign will of their peoplo, growing out of the pregnant and undeniable fact that those people have rejected the aathority of the United States and established @ government of their own, Those relations had to be friendly or hostile. tne people of the old and new go- vernments, occupy ing contiguous territories, had to stand to each other in the relation of good neighbors, each seek- ing their bappiness and pursuing their national destinies in their own way, without interference with the other, or they bad to te rival and hostile nations. The govern- ment of the Confecterate States had no hesitation in elect- ing its choice in this alternative. Frankly and unre- fervedly, peeking the xood of the people who had en- trusted them with power, in the spirit of bamanity, of the Christian civilization of the age, and of that American- jem whieb regards the true welfare and nappiness of the enple, the government of the Vonfederate States, among its fre acts, commissioned the undersigned toapproach the pr thagh typ the United States with the olive branch of peace, “0 Offer to adjust the great questions pending between them ™ the only way to bo justified by the con- +elences and comton pense of good men who had nothing but the welfare of thy of the two confederacies at heart. Your government signed in the eonciliatory bave produced their natural and the destruction of the Dutow;eadér continued to livé happly and gloriously spirit of the ancestry who framed the tion ailmited the hearts of all their sons, a persistence untanght and uncured by the ru) been wrought, refuse to recognise the sented to you of a completed and successful ri you close your eyes to the existence of the ment founded upon it, and ignore the high ties of moderation and humanity which attach to you in dealing with this great fect. Had you met these issues with the franknees and manliness with which the under- signed were instructed to present them to you and treat them, the undersigned had not now the melancholy duty to return home and teil their government and their coun- trymen that their carncst and ceaseless efforts in behalf of peace had been futile, and that the government of the United States meant to subjugate them by force of arms. Whatever may be the result, impartial his. tory will record the inaosence of the government of the Confederate States, and place the réspon sibility of the blood and mourning that may ensue upon those who have denied the great fundamental dos. trine of American liberty, that ‘‘governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed,” and who have eet naval and land armaments in motion to subject the people of one portion of this land to the will of another portion. That that can never be done while a freeman survives in the Confederate States to wield a weapon, the undersigned appeal to past history to prove. These military demonstrations against the people of the seceded States are certsinly far from being in keeping and consisteney with the theory of the Secretary of State, maintained in his memorandum, that these States are still component parts of the Iate American Union, as the undersigned are not aware of any constitutional powor in the Preejdent of the United States to levy war, without the consent of Congress, upon a foreign people, much lees upon apy portion of the people of the United States. Tho undersigned, like the Secretary of State, have no purpose to ‘invite or engage in discussion’ of the subject on which their two governments are #0 irrecoucilably at variance. It is this variance that bas broken up the old Union, the disintegration of which has only begun. It is proper, however, to advise you that it were well to dis mies the hopes you seem to entertain that, by ay of the modes indieated, the people of the Confederate States will ever be bronght-to submit to the authority of the government of the Wnited States, You aro dealing with delusions, too, when you seek to separate our people from our government and to characterize tho deliberate, sovereign act of that people “perversion of a tempo- rary and partisan excitement.’ If you cherish these dreams you will be awakened from them and find them a8 unreal and unsubstan‘ial as others in which you have recently indulged. The undersigned would omit the per. formance of an obvious duty were thoy to fail to make known to the government of the United States that the people of the Confederate States have declared their in- dependence with a full knowledge of all the responsibilities of that sot, and with as firin a determination to maiptain it by all the means with which nature has endowed thom ag that which sustained their fathers when they threw off the auth ority of the British crown. The undersigned clearly understand thet you have de- clined to appoint a day to enable them to lay the objects of the miesion with which they are charged before the President of the United States, because #0 to do would be to recognise the independence and separate nationality of the Confederate States. This is tho vein of thought that pervades the memorandum before ua, The trath of hiatory requires that it should distinctly appear upon the record that the undersigned did not ask the government of the United States to recognise the independence of the Confederate States. They only asked audionce to adjust, in a spirit of amity and pease, the new relations springing from a manifest and accomplished revolution in the gov ernment of the late federal Union. Your refusal to enter. tain these overtures fora peaceful solution, the active naval ad military preparation of this government, and a formal notice to the commanding general of the Confede- rate forces in the harbor of Charleston that the President intends to provision Fort Sumter by forcible means, if ne- ceseary, are viewed by the undersigned, and can only be received by the world, as a declaration of war against the Confederate Etates; for the President of the United States knows that Fort Sumter cannot be provisioned without the effusion of blood. The undersigned, in behalf of their government and people, accept tho gage of battle thus thrown down to them ; and, appealing to God and the judg- ‘moup of mankind for the righteousness of (Leis Gawoe, tig will defend thetr ither. View to th last against this dagrant and open attempt at their subjugation to sectional power. ‘This communication cannot be properly closed without Advertivg to the dateof your memorandum, The official note of the undersigned, of the 12th March, was delivered to the Asristant Secretary of State on the 18% of Uhat month, the gentleman who delivered it informing him that the Secretary of this Commission would call at twelve At the 1, and was informed by o’clock, noom, on the next day, for an answer. appointed hour Mr. Pickett di tho Assistant Secretary of State thas the engagements of the Secretary of State had prevented him from giving the note his attention. The Assistant Secretary of State thet ked for the addrei of Messrs. Crawford and For- syth, the members of the Commission then presentim this city, took note of the addrees on a card, and em Baged to send whatever reply might be made to their lodginge. Why this was not dono it is proper should be-here explained. The memorandum is dated Maraly 16, and was not delivered ‘until April 8. Why waa it withheld during the intervening twenty-three days? Im the postscript to your memorandum you eay it ‘was de- layed, as was understood, with their (Messrs Forsyth and Crawford’s) consent,” This is trae; bat it ia alao truo that op the 15th of March Mesers. Forsyth and Crawford were asgured by a person occupy ing: @ high official porttion in the government, and who, ag they believed, was speaking. by authority, that Fort Sum- ter would be evacuated within a very few days, and that no measure changing the existing status prejudicially to the Confederate States, as reepects Fort Pickens, wasthen contemplated, and these aesurances were subsequently repeated, with the addition that any contemplated change 98 respects Pickens would be notified to us. On the leg of April we were again informed that there might be aa attempt to supply Fort Sumter with provisions, bat that Governor Pickens should have previous notice of this at- tempt. There was no suggestion of any reinforcement. The undersigned did not hesitate to believe that these as- surances expressed the intentions of the administration at the time, or at all events of prominent members of that administration. This delay was assented to for the ex- Press purpose of attaining the great end of the mission of the undersigned, to wit:—A pacific solution of existing complications. The inference deducible from the date of your memorandum, that the undersigned had, of their own volition and without cause, consented to this long hiatus in the grave duties with which they were charged, is therefore not consistent with a just ex- position of the facts of the case The intervening twenty- three days were employed in active unofficial efforts, the object of which was to smooth the path to a pacific so- lution, the distinguished personage alluded to cxope- rating with the undersigned, and every step of thaveffors ig recorded in writing, and now in possession of ibe un~ dersigned and of their government. I¢ was only when all these anxious efforts for peace had been exhaceted, and it became clear that Mr. Lincoln had determiné’ to appeal to the sword to reduce the people of the Confede~ rate States to the will of the section or party whose Pre- sident he is, that the undersigned resumed the official negotiation temporarily suspended, and sent their Secre- tary for a reply to thelx official note of March 12. It is proper to add that, during these twenty-three days, two gentlemen of official distinction as high as that of the personage hitherto alluded to aided the under- signed as intermediarics in these unofficial negotiations for peace. ‘The undersigned, Commissioners of the Confederate States of America, having thus made answer to ali they deem material in the memorandum filed in the Depar? ment on the 16th of March last, have the honor tobe, JOHN FORSYTH, MARTIN J. CRAWFORD, A. B. ROMAN. terday morning at ance with the follow’ ‘The several commit formed for the purpose sion to the sentime: citizens of New York and ing the authority of the country Vited to meet at of Com: },0n the corner of Will! on Wednesday, at eleven o'clock A/M., cessary arrangements for a general meet! of cur government, irrespecttye of former nions or organizations. ~ At the hour before named a very large assem! prominent men, including the Hon. John A. Dix, Fish, Messrs. R. Phelps, H. Ketchum, R. B. Minturn, &, Baldwin, T. B, Stillman, P. Cooper, 8. Draper, G. Opdyke, P. Perit, Evarts, Obittenden, Partridge, W. E. Dodge, E. Minturn, J. S. T. Stranahan, Professor wrant, R. H. McCurdy, ©. H. Marshall, W. H. Neilson, Blant, W. Smith, 8. Brown, A. V. Stout, E. A. Lambert, D Duer, L. B. Cannon, 8 B. Ruggles, 0. R. Roberts, 8. B. Hunt, J. H. Gourlie, W. ©. Noyes, H. Maxwell, R. T. Hawes, W. Vv. Brady, J. Gallatin, J, H. Titus, D. F, Maurice, J, D. Jones, J. Hoxie, 8. Knapp, J. A. Stevens, B. F. Manierre, N. Francis, W.A. Butler, T. G. Glaubeusklee, Fisher, M. Taylor, FE. Walter, F. E. Winston, and several members of the Stock Exchange, Chamber of Commerce and other or- ganizations, were present. At half-past eleven the chair was taken by Captain Mancnart, who etated that the object of the meeting was to organize & mass meeting to express @ deyotion to the government end the constitution, He eald that ® preliminary meeting had deen held the previous day, on which occasion Friday evening had been named as the time for holding the said mass meeting. The resolutions for the occasion had been left in the hands of a committee, and as he was not aware whether they were prepared to reply, he would request the meeting to proceed with other business, A call for the mass meeting had been prepared. He would remark, however, before the meeting commenced, that there were other asscciations for the same purpose, a representative of one being present, and he would pro- pose that they ail unite to produce one unanimous meet- ing, Instead of two or more, The subject was then be- fore them, and he would call upon the Secretary to read the resolutions convening the meeting. Mr, 8. P. Hunt, the Secretary, then read the resola fora. 2 Mr, Gor vam, of the New York Stock Exchange Board, read the following resolution of that body, stating that the document was_eo expressive In iteeif as to require Bo further remarks from himself in support of it. e members of the New York sod Exchange, Stora wit. deep aenae ofthe Gaby which should animate every heart of sustaining the go- vernment of the United States in support of the constitn« tion and laws, desire, in this period of public exigency to scouragement to the government by ‘our Heenty oe Union and our resolute determination 80 stand by it under all circumetances. Toeolyed, That a committee of five te appointed to re. nent the New York Stoc! at a meeting of Committees repreeonting the citizens of New York, w be held thie day at (he Chamber of Commerce. Mr. P. Perit moved that the members of the Co amittee of the Stock Exchange be received as members of this committee, Unanimously adopted, p It was then moved that the resolution of the New York Stock Fxchange Board be received and uled for reference. Adopted, Mr, Caanues Partamor stated that there wore several (wu AAN ins Viv each Samim) of the original by one delivered to Mr. F*