Their last dispatch, before
leaving, shows that they were still dependent upon public rumor and the
newspapers for information as to the real purposes and preparations of
the Federal Administration. It was in these words:
"Washington, _April 10, 1861_.
"General G. T. Beauregard: The 'Tribune' of to-day declares the
main object of the expedition to be the relief of Sumter, and
that a force will be landed which will overcome all opposition.
"Roman, Crawford, and Forsyth."
The annexed extracts from my message to the Confederate Congress at the
opening of its special session, on the 29th of April, will serve as a
recapitulation of the events above narrated, with all of comment that it
was then, or is now, considered necessary to add:
[_Extracts from President's Message to the Confederate Congress,
of April 29, 1861._]
"... Scarce had you assembled in February last, when, prior even
to the inauguration of the Chief Magistrate you had elected, you
expressed your desire for the appointment of Commissioners, and
for the settlement of all questions of disagreement between the
two Governments upon principles of right, justice, equity, and
good faith.
"It was my pleasure, as well as my duty, to cooeperate with you
in this work of peace. Indeed, in my address to you, on taking
the oath of office, and before receiving from you the
communication of this resolution, I had said that, as a
necessity, not as a choice, we have resorted to the remedy of
separating, and henceforth our energies must be directed to the
conduct of our own affairs, and the perpetuity of the
Confederacy which we have formed.
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