the Government Treasury notes on deposit and | Banks, and they recommend an adoption of in payment of debts due the Banks, and pay the same. out the same to their customers; and this They ask leave to sit again, having not disConvention, representing nearly all the bank-posed of other matters committed to them. ing interests of the States, with the exception of our sister State Louisiana, have determined upon and adopted the aforesaid policy; and, whereas, it is understood that the Banks of Louisiana are willing to cooperate with those of her sister States in aid of the Government, but it is understood that there is a constitutional barrier in the way of their immediate cooperation, this Convention, believing that it is so vitally important to have a complete concentration of the credit of all the Banks as to fully justify the assembling of a State Convention, if need be, to remove the barrier. Be it, therefore, Resolved, That the Banks of Louisiana are hereby urgently requested to take the earliest opportunity, by their combined influence, to procure the removal of the prohibition alluded to. Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor of Louisiana is hereby respectfully requested to take such action in the premises as will most promptly effect the desired object. After some debate, in which Messrs. Coffin, Bee, McFarland, and Trenholm participated, the recommendation of the Committee as to the disposition of the Whiting resolution was adopted. Mr. Trenholm's resolution was adopted, and is as follows: Resolved, That the planters of cotton and other produce having responded with great spirit and liberality to the calls of the Government, and subscribed largely in produce to the proposed loan for the defence of the Confederate States, it is hereby recommended to all the Banks throughout the country, to make to planters who have thus subscribed a portion of their cotton or other produce in aid of the Government, such moderate advance on the remainder of their crops as their necessities may require. Referred to Committee on Business. On motion of Mr. J. G. Holmes, his plan for arranging the Confederate loans, also a plan for equalizing the value of certain portions of Resolved, That the Secretary is hereby di- Bank notes of such Banks as have subscribed, rected to forward to the Executive, and each or may subscribe, to the Confederate loan, was of the Banks of Louisiana, a copy of the pro-referred to the Committee on Business without ceedings of this Convention. Mr. George A. Trenholm, from the Committee on Business, made the following report: The Standing Committee of the Bank Convention instruct me to report that they have bad the subjects committed to them under consideration, and have made some progress, and ask leave to sit again. They now recommend the adoption of the following resolution by the Convention : Resolved, That it is recommended to all the Banks in the Confederate States to make arrangements with the Banks in Richmond, Va., and in other important cities, to receive their notes in payment and on deposit; and to the end that soldiers may not be subjected to any discount on their money, the Banks making such arrangements be requested to give public notice of the same. being read. On motion of Mr. G. A. Trenholm, Mr. James G. Holmes was added to the Committee on Business. The President read the following communication from Messrs. Tompkins and Nixon, of Louisiana : RICHMOND, VA., July 26, 1861. Gentlemen: The undersigned, representing the Crescent City Bank, of New Orleans, in your Convention, feel a delicacy in acting in the Convention, as they have received information that no other Bank in Louisiana will be represented. They therefore ask leave to withdraw their names from the list of delegates. With our best wishes for the success of the Convention in the objects for which it has assembled, we are, Very respectfully, &c., W. C. TOMPKINS. On motion, the above resolution was adopted. On motion of Mr. J. G. Holmes, the ConMr. G. A. Trenholm, from the same Com-vention took a recess until 5 P. M. mittee, submitted the following additional report: EVENING SESSION. The following important report, from the Standing Committee of the Bank Convention, was unanimously adopted at the afternoon session of that body: The Committee beg leave to report, that they have had under consideration the resolution offered by Mr. Whiting, and they recommend that the action of the Convention, or so much of the same as relates to advances on The Standing Committee of the Convention cotton by the Government, and on other pro- of Banks, beg leave to report on the following duce, or the purchase of the same, be post-matters submitted to their consideration: poned until an adjourned meeting of the Convention. And they have also considered the resolution offered by Mr. Trenholm, recommending advances be made to planters by the On so much of Mr. Whiting's resolution as relates to a further issue of Treasury notes by the Government, they are of opinion that at least one hundred millions of dollars, in addi tion to the notes already authorized by law, may be safely issued and put in circulation by the Government. They are persuaded that all the citizens of the Confederacy will readily accept them in payment in their mutual transactions; and the Banks, with equal unanimity, will adopt them as the curency of the country. As the resolutions upon this subject adopted by the Convention held at Atlanta, Georgia, applied necessarily only to the notes then authorized by law to be issued, they recommend the adoption of the following resolution on this subject: Resolved, That the Banks here represented agree that they will receive in payment and on deposit, and pay out again, the Treasury notes that may be issued by the Government; and they recommend to all such Banks in the Confederate States as may not be represented in this Convention, to adopt the same resolution, and communicate their concurrence to the Secretary of the Treasury. MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR PETTUS. THE Mississipppi Legislature convened at Jacksonville on the 25th of July. The Nashville papers of the 28th give the following extracts of the Governor's Message : It affords me pleasure to announce to you that the revolution which you inaugurated last fall has so far been prosperous and successful. The people of this State have united in approving your action and sustaining the Confederate Government, with a unanimity which surpasses the expectations of the most sanguine. The call to arms has been responded to in a manner unknown in modern times, and the call for means to support our volunteers is now being answered with such liberal devotion to the cause as to gratify the heart of the patriot, and convince both friends and foes that Mississippi is determined to make this a successful struggle against Northern tyranny, if the united efforts of all classes, ages, sex, and conditions of our people can accomplish it. To enable a people thus willing and anxious to aid in the successful prosecution of this just and necessary war with the least injury to themselves, and to make some effort to prevent the ruinous sacrifice of the property, at forced sales, of those against whom constables and sheriff's now have executions in their hands, and of a much more numerous class against whom suits have been and will be instituted, I have again called you into extra session. The object of the Government being to adapt these notes to perform the functions of currency, the Committee are of opinion that the notes should bear the same date and carry the same rate of interest. It will be impossible for the tellers of the Banks, and other persons engaged in handling money, to use these bills as currency if they varied in date and in the rate of interest. If, on the contrary, they all bore the same date and the same rate of interest, they could be conveniently counted, and the suni ascertained as in the case of Bank notes; for it would be as easy to compute the interest on a hundred bills as one. No loss would accrue to the Government, because in paying out the bills the disbursing officer would be careful to charge the rescinder with the interest as well as with the principal of the notes. The interest should be two per cent. on every one hundred dollars, or at the rate of 7 3-10ths per annum. That the notes should be redeemable in three years, at the option of the Government, and be receivable in all public dues, except the export duty on cotton, and be fund- The people of Mississippi, on a former occaable at the will of the holder in 8 per cent. sion of great pecuniary embarrassment, refused stock or bonds. Notes of the denominations to permit forced sales, and sheriffs found themof $5, $10, $20, in the opinion of the Commit- selves powerless to enforce the law, and unless tee, ought not to bear any interest. These some remedy can be devised by this Legislawould more appropriately perform the func- ture they will, in my opinion, resort to a simitions of a currency, and they are of opinion lar course in the next few months. Is it wise that the larger notes, such as $20 and $100, or safe for the law-making power to permit a would be largely taken up by a class of our free people to be goaded to lawlessness if a citizens who are not in the practice of making remedy can be found? The action of this such investments. These notes would pass Legislature has resulted in war; one of its ininto their hands in the course of business, and cidents is the closing of our ports, which dethey would very soon discover the advantage bars the debtor from the means of meeting the as well as the merit of thus contributing their demands of his creditor, and if the laws for the aid in support of the Government of their collection of debts are now permitted to be enchoice and affections. The Committee gave forced, as in times of peace, the debtor class also a respectful consideration to the plan sub-are hopelessly ruined, and the property of the mitted by Mr. Holmes, for the adjustment and country passes into the hands of the creditors final extinguishment of the public debt; but, and money-holders at one-fourth its real value. without in any way impeaching its acknowl-The war will thus build up the fortunes of one edged merit, they decided not to express any class while its burdens press grievously on Mississippi bears an equal portion of the expense of manning and arming small steamerssuited to shallow waters of the lakes and sound to keep the enemy's gun-boats from our shores. I have also ordered one company of field artillery and four companies of Mississippi volunteers to the coast, to act in conjunction with the Confederate troops commanded by Gen. Twiggs. another. Ought not the Legislature which | Governors of Louisiana and Alabama by which brought on this revolution to equalize its burdens as near as possible? As the war is made for the benefit of all, its inconveniences and burdens should be made to bear equally on all. I, therefore, recommend that a law be passed postponing the sales of property under all judgments heretofore obtained in any court, for twelve months, and prohibiting the issuing of executions on judgments hereafter rendered until twelve months from and after the adjournment of the next regular session of the Legislature. This, while it may inconvenience, cannot ruin the creditor, his judgment can remain a lien upon the property of the debtor, and when peace is restored he can receive his debt with interest. There is a still weightier reason which impels me to ask the passage of this law. The safety of the State, the existence of our free institutions, demand that all the available means of the whole people should be brought to the aid of the State in the fierce and protracted conflict on which she has now entered. Another subject which I have deemed of sufficient importance to claim the attention of an extra session of the Legislature, is the raising of a revenue sufficient to meet the extraordinary demands on the State treasury for the next several years. Some increase in the present rate of taxes will be necessary to keep the revenue up to the present amount. I, therefore, recommend that the present assessment of lands be continued during the war, and the revenue law be so amended as to impose an ad valorem tax of one-fourth of one per cent. on lands and slaves. As a means of retaliation on a people who are raising large armies for our subjugation, and of strengthening our defences against them, and at the same time relieving the people from much of the burden imposed by this war, I submit it to legislation would it not be expedient and just to confiscate all the property of alien enemies within the limits of the State? In regard to arms and military stores, I have to report that about sixteen thousand stand of arms for infantry and cavalry have been brought to the State during my administration. This number has not, by thousands, supplied the demands of volunteers willing and anxious to receive them; and all the efforts heretofore made by the Military Board and myself have failed to procure a sufficient number; and to supply the deficiency we are now collecting the rifles and double-barrelled shot-guns throughout the State, to be used until better can be procured. Ten companies of cavalry and ten of artillery have been organized, and will soon be armed and equipped ready for the field. The sea coast being considered the most assailable portion of the territory of this State, and most likely to be annoyed by the enemy, an agreement has been entered into with the The message closes with the following allusion to the success of Southern arms thus far in the contest: Victory has so far crowned the efforts of our armies. The God who loves justice and defends the right seems to have inspired the Confederate generals with wisdom and our troops with valor. But, while rejoicing over our victories, we are called to shed tears over the fallen brave who have watered the tree of liberty with their patriot blood. Mississippi will remember and honor their names. May the God of Justice give success to our arms and safety to our sons. JOHN J. PETTUS. Doc. 126. MISSISSIPPI RESOLUTIONS ON THE BATTLE OF MANASSAS, ADOPTED Resolved, 1st. That the Senate of Mississippi most heartily participates in the universal rejoicing of the people of the State of Mississippi and of the Confederate States, over the late brilliant victories achieved by the Confederate arms. 2d. That we tender to the gallant surviving sons of Mississippi, who participated in the heroic achievements of the 18th and 21st inst., the assurance of our liveliest gratitude, and that while they crowned themselves with unfading laurels they have added another chaplet to the crown won for our State on the bloody fields of Mexico. 3d. That a triumphant death having removed some of the brave and noble sons of Mississippi beyond the reach of words, it is ours to enshrine their names and deeds in the hearts and memories of a grateful people. To their bereaved kindred and friends we offer profound condolence, and share with them the consolation of knowing they fell in the arms of victory beneath the consecrated flag of their country. 4th. That we extend to the brave Mississippians on other and less active fields, our admiration for the patient endurance of all the duties and hardships of camp without sharing the brilliant victories that crowned our arms, and that we have full confidence in their will and ability to maintain the high position of Mississippi soldiers whenever an opportunity offers. 5th. That we recognize in the success of the Confederate arms the hand of the Divine Arbi Doc. 127. BISHOP OTEY'S PASTORAL LETTER. TO THE CLERGY OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE. gled the wailings of many for the fall of those near and dear to their hearts. In every part of the land this terrible conflict has made widows and orphans-bereaved parents of their sons, and severed other and tender ties of the domestic and social circles. Let us remember such in our prayers. No better forms to express our sympathy for them and for the wounded and sick can be found, than those which the care and love of the church have furnished for use in the following among her occasional prayers: I. FOR PERSONS IN AFFLICTION.-O, merciful God and Heavenly Father! who hast taught us in thy holy word that thou dost willingly afflict or grieve the children of men, look with pity, we beseech, upon the sorrows of thy servants, for whom our prayers are now offered. In thy wisdom thou hast seen fit to visit them Dearly Beloved Brethren: The Congress of the with trouble and to bring distress upon them. Confederate States having, by resolution, unani- Remember them, O Lord, in mercy; sanctify mously "invited the people to offer up their unit- thy fatherly correction to them-endue their ed thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, souls with patience under their affliction, and for the glorious victory and mighty deliverance," ," with resignation to thy blessed will; comfort vouchsafed to our army at Manassas, on the them with a sense of thy goodness, lift up thy 21st inst., the following form of thanksgiving is countenance upon them, and give them peace set forth, to be used in all the congregations of through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! this diocese, at morning prayer, and immediately before the general thanksgiving, on Sunday, the 28th of this month, and in those congregations to the ministers of which this letter shall not come in time, on Sunday, the 4th of August: THANKSGIVING FOR VICTORY.-O, Almighty God! the sovereign commander of all the world, in whose hand is power, and might, which none is able to withstand, we bless and magnify thy great and glorious name for the happy victory which thou hast been pleased to grant to our arms, the whole glory whereof we do ascribe to thee, who art the only giver of victory. And we beseech thee give us grace to improve this great mercy to thy glory, the advancement of thy gospel, the promotion of a speedy and permanent peace, the honor of our country, and as much as in us lieth, to the good of all mankind. And we pray thee, O Lord, to give us such a sense of this great goodness as may engage us to a true thankfulness, such as may appear in our lives by an humble, holy, and obedient walking before thee all our days through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, as for all thy mercies, so in particular for this victory and deliverance, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen! I appoint for the first lesson at morning prayer Nahum i. 2 to the end; 2d lesson, St. Luke xxi. 25 to the end. The psalter for 27th July and 4th August, are so appropriate to the occasion as to require no substitution of other psalms. II. FOR THE Wounded, the SICK, AND DYING. O, most gracious Father! we fly unto thee for mercy in behalf of those, thy poor servants, lying under the sudden visitation of thy hand, suffering from wounds and sickness threatening death. If it be thy will, preserve them that there may be place for repentance, but if thou hast otherwise appointed, let thy mercy supply to them the want of the usual opportunity for the trimming of their lamps. Stir up in thein such sorrow for sin, and such fervent love to thee, as may in a short time do the work of many days, that among the praises which thy saints and holy angels shall sing to the honor of thy mercy through eternal ages, it may be to thy unspeakable glory that thou hast redeemed the souls of thy servants from eternal death, and made them partakers of the everlasting life which is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! I desire that these prayers be used on the occasion above referred to, and so long as shall seem proper and expedient to you, and in that part of the service which the rubric and canons direct. If I have been correctly informed, the ordinance of secession passed by the legislature has been ratified and confirmed by the vote of the people. Hence, I suggest to my reverend brethren of the clergy-for I have no authority to order or direct the change-that in the prayer for the President of the United States, etc., and in the prayer for Congress, also, the words "United States " be omitted, and the words "Confederate States " substituted in both places. The victory, for which we are called on to offer thanksgiving, has been achieved at an Commending you, dear brethren, and your enormous sacrifice of life. With rejoicings for flocks, to the grace and protection of our Heavthe success of our brave soldiers, will be min-enly Father, and praying that he will restore to RICHMOND, July 10, 1861. JEFFERSON DAVIS' LETTER. RICHMOND, July 6th 1861. To Abraham Lincoln, President, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States: Sir: Having learned that the schooner Savannah, a private arined vessel in the service, and sailing under a commission issued by authority of the Confederate States of America, had been captured by one of the vessels forming the blockading squadron off Charleston harbor, I directed a proposition to be made to the officer commanding that squadron, for an exchange of the officers and crew of the Sarannah for prisoners of war held by this Government "according to number and rank." To this proposition, made on the 19th ult., Captain Mercer, the officer in command of the blockad To His Excellency Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States:SIR: In obedience to your instructions, I left the city of Richmond on the morning of the 7th of July, at 6 o'clock A. M., as bearer of despatches to His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States. At Manassas I received from Gen. Beauregard a let-ing squadron, made answer on the same day that "the prisoners (referred to) are not on board ter to Gen. McDowell, commanding the U. S. of any of the vessels under my command." forces at Arlington. that they have been put in irons, confined in jail, brought before the Courts of Justice on charges of piracy and treason, and it is even rumored that they have been actually convicted of the offences charged, for no other reason than that they bore armis in defence of the rights of this Government and under the authority of its com From Manassas I proceeded to Fairfax C. H., contradiction in newspapers published in New It now appears by statements made without where I was furnished by Gen. Bonhamn an York, that the prisoners above mentioned were escort of fourteen cavalry, under the command conveyed to that city, and have there been treatof Lieut. Breckinridge, of the Virginia cavalry.ed, not as prisoners of war, but as criminals; Proceeding on the direct road to Alexandria to its junction with the road to Arlington, I met a detachment of cavalry under the command of Colonel Porter, U. S. A., about three miles from the junction, from which place I sent back my escort. Capt. Whipple, U. S. A., accompanied me to Arlington, where I arrived about 4 o'clock P. M. Monday the 8th, Gen. McDowell not being at Arlington, my arrival was telegraphed him to Washington City. About 9 o'clock P. M., Col. Van Renslaer, senior aidede-camp to Gen. Scott, was sent to convey me to Gen. Scott's head-quarters, where I found Gen. McDowell, to whom I delivered Gen. Beauregard's letter. After reading General B.'s letter he passed it to General Scott, who, being informed in this letter that I desired to deliver your communication in person, received it of me. After reading your communication to Mr. Lincoln, General Scott informed me that a reply would be returned by Mr. Lincoln as soon as possible -and at the same time instructed me to return to Arlington with Gen. McDowell, thence to proceed in the morning back to our lines, which I did, under an escort of twenty United States cavalry, coinmanded by Lieutenant Putnam. In my intercourse with General Scott and the other officers of the United States Army, I have to say that I was received with marked consideration and attention, and with that courtesy and kindness which should ever characterize the diplomatic relations of great nations, in war as well as in peace. Understanding that the object of my mission was the delivery of your letter to Mr. Lincoln, I have the honor to state that it was done, and subscribe myself, Your obedient servant, THOS. H. TAYLOR, mission. I could not, without grave discourtesy, have made the newspaper statements above referred to the subject of this communication, if the threat of treating as pirates the citizens of this Confederacy, armed for service on the high seas, had not been contained in your proclama tion of the however, seems to afford a sufficient justification April last. That proclamation, for considering these published statements as not devoid of probability. It is the desire of this Government so to conduct the war now existing as to mitigate its horrors as far as may be possible; and, with this intent, its treatment of the prisoners captured by its forces has been marked by the greatest humanity and leniency consistent with public obligation: some have been permitted to return home on parole, others to remain at large under similar condition within this Confederacy, and all have been furnished with rations for their subsistence, such as are allowed to our own troops. It is only since the news has been received of the treatment of the prisoners taken on the Sacannah, that I have been compelled to withdraw these indulgencies, and to hold the prisoners taken by us in strict confinement. of this Government now requires me to state A just regard to humanity and to the honor explicitly that, painful as will be the necessity, this Government will deal out to the prisoners held by it the same treatment and the same fate as shall be experienced by those captured on |