Montgomery, AL, April 29th – Great strides were taken this week here in the capital of the Confederacy to ensure that this nation is launched properly and legally into the world family of nations. President Jefferson Davies’ message to the Confederate Congress today detailed the reasons for secession and explained the incidents leading to the firing on Fort Sumpter.
The Congress reconvened this morning for its second session facing the huge task of getting legislation under way for the new government. The President’s message was read by congressional leader Howell Cobb because President Davis has been confined to his home with a severe cold for more than a week.
The first Confederate money appeared on Montgomery’s streets yesterday. The Central Bank of Alabama released the first of this printed currency in $50, $100, $500, and $1000 denominations.
Attorney-General Judah Benjamin has started work on the formation of a Confederate Supreme Court. However, despite his title of “brains of the Confederacy”, Benjamin is getting little cooperation on his court plan from Davis and the other cabinet members with so many pressing war problems to receive priority.
Volunteers Ease Threat to Capital
Washington DC, May 6 – An estimated 17,000 troops arrived here this past week to strengthen the capital garrison. Regiments from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and as far away as Vermont have streamed into the city since Monday.
There is still a great lack of organization but the immediate threat to the capital has been removed. If nothing else, the presence of these three-month volunteers has eased the tension in the city. The fear of a Rebel army moving in the District of Columbia no longer shoes on the face of every city resident.
But if all is going well in Washington, the Union was receiving some hard blows i other quarters this week. The governor of Missouri, Claiborne Jackson, in a letter to his state legislature has denounced Lincoln in no uncertain terms. Jackson declared the President’s call for troops “an unconstitutional and illegal act”. He said Missouri’s interests were identical with those of the other slave-0holding states, and that a the “proper time” it was the state’s duty to follow the secessionists example.
This is a stinging political defeat for the Federal government whose leaders have hoped to keep Missouri neutral in this sectional fight. The words of the Missouri governor have torn to shreds the famous David Wilmot paper, the Missouri Compromise.
Although it had been expected hourly, the wire to the White House yesterday from Nashville, Tenn., was another hard body blow to the Lincoln government. The Tennessee legislature has passed an ordinance of secession and is not allied with the Confederacy,. A White House spokesman said the wire was “particularly cutting” to the President. Is referred to the ordinance as a “Declaration of Independence”.
Fire Zouaves Arrive
Among the many and varied uniformed troops arriving in the capital this week was the much publicized and gaudy regiment of New York Fire Zouaves. This unit, under the command of dashing young Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, is attired in a unirform of Sky-blue trousers bloused over white leggins, short red jackets topped by an Eqyptian fez complete with tassel for headgear. The regiment is one of the best drilled outfits in the city today and is equipped with the new .58 cal. Sharps rifles.