tcnv 
 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 Response of Sec 
 Conf Pam #474 
 
 DTTD2EDblT 
 
[3EQRET ] 
 
 SENATE, r)e(emT)er l7. lSs04^.— .Qrderfd'm'"Be pHnied. 
 
 RESPONSE OF SECRETARY OF WAR, 
 
 To the ResolutioDs of the Senate, adopted Deeemhre'r 5t'h, 1864, re- 
 specting operations usder the act of 6th February, lb64. 
 
 Confederate STATi!;s of America, ) 
 
 War Department, > 
 
 Richmond, December lO, 1864. ) 
 
 To the President : 
 
 I have the honor to su: mit uiy . uswer to the enclosed resolutions 
 of the ;*enate, transmitted by you to me. (Resolutions adopted on 
 the 5th inst., in relation to the act of Gth February, l8!]4.) 
 
 1. The tenth clause ot tie regulations established under the act 
 of February 6:h, 1864, is as follows: 
 
 •' IS'otl.inu in,the>e regularicns shall bes'> construed as to conflict 
 with the proviso of the lav which declares ' that aothins? in this act 
 shall be Cv^nsirued to prohibit the Confederate States, or any of 
 them, from exportina: any of the articles herein ennmerated on tiieir 
 own account," nor shall a bond be required of a State in any case." 
 
 In executing this clause no restrir tion has been imposed upon 
 any State, ar.d no l>tate has been asked to give a bond, as ijequired 
 of all private owners. All vessels, except those owned cxclasire- 
 ly by states, a e subjected to the *' Regulations," and compelled to 
 carry out cotton and bring in supplies for the C. S. Government. 
 If a state should be a subscriber to one of the joint st.ck compi- 
 nies for runnii g the blockade, or in partnership with private indi- 
 viduals in a ve-sel. such ves-el would beheld r-s subject to the 
 " Kegulations,'" but all vessels and cargofs belon.'! ng to states are 
 held to be entirely exempt and no restriction attacaes to them. 
 
 2. rhe number of vessels engaged in running the blockade has 
 steadily increased since the establishment of the " Regulations," 
 and is now larcrer than at any time before. Many new steamers 
 are undo stood to be on the way to engage in the business ; this too, 
 though the stringency of the blockade is supposed to have been 
 constantly augmenting. 
 
 3. The ••Regulations" have been beneScial te the C. S. Govern- 
 ment in furnishing the means abroad to purchase supplies and mu- 
 uiiionaof war, atd the tonnage required to transport them to oar 
 ports. Prior to the passage of tiio Act, owners ot steamers, upon 
 application of tiie Secretary of War, conceded to the C. S. Govern- 
 
ment a portion of their tonnap^e for outward and inward cargoes, 
 but the Act of Con,<?ress, and the "Regulations" under it, were ne- 
 cessary to secure uniformity, and to compel such persons as were 
 reluctant to make the concession. The annexed statement, show- 
 ing : (1) qrantity of cotton exported for the C. S. Government and 
 its estimated value; (2) the leading articles imported, exhibits some 
 of the substantial advantages that have accrued to the C. S. Go- 
 vernment. 
 
 0»r apents abroad represent that the Act and " Regulations " 
 have been in the highest degree beneficial in appreciating the pub- 
 lic credit, and enabling them to procure additional supplies at re- 
 duced rates 
 
 4. It would be exceedingly inexpedient to repeal the Act, and 
 experience has not suggested to me any modification or amendment 
 as necessary. On the contrary, the Act jand "Regulations" are fast 
 becoming well understood, and the C. S. Government is apprecia- 
 ting more and more the benefits resulting from them. 
 
 The duty attaches peculiarly to the C. S. Government to provide 
 supplies and munitions of war for the public defence ; and it is bet- 
 ter, in every respect, that this duty should be wholly performed by 
 the C. S. Govenment, especially when in devolving any portion of 
 it upon the states, the means, to that extent, are withdrawn from 
 the C. S. Government. If a concession is made for the states to 
 chaner vessels, and if such vessels be exempted from the operations 
 of the "Regulations." each state becomes a competitor with every 
 other state and the C S. Government. The uniformity contempla- 
 ted by the Act of Congress will be destroyed. Cqmpetitive char- 
 ters will be 1) ade, not only to secure ships, but to secure the entry 
 to particular ports. If one state undertakes to supply its troops, 
 every other state will be compelled to undertake the same duty. 
 Unequal provision for the soldiers of different states will create 
 jealousy and dissatisfaction among them, and ultimately the C S. 
 Government will have to reimburse the states. The competition 
 of the states with each other, and with the Confederate States, 
 would, i fear, extend to transportation over the railroads, where 
 it was inadequate to the delivery at the seaports of cargoes for all 
 vessels partially owned or chartered by them. Agencies at home 
 and abroad would be largely multiplied, which would aggravate 
 this competition in every form. It may be safely assumed that all 
 vessels will run under the "Regulations," carrying out cotton and 
 bringing in supplies, for the C. S. Government, unless they can 
 make more advantagrous arrangements with particular states. 
 Whatever, therefore, is gained by sucn arrangements will accrue 
 to individuals, and will be so much substracted from the U. S. Go- 
 vernment. 
 
 The resolutions are general in their charar-ter, and seem to justify, 
 indeed to call for, the expression of these views. 
 1 have the honor to be, 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 JAMES A SEDDON, 
 Secretary of War. 
 

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 Packages Revolvers 
 
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 Baies Blankets. 
 
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 Packages Meat. 
 
 Cases Rifles. 
 
 Packages Coffee. 
 
 Canoon. 
 
 to » 
 
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 Packages Copper. 
 
 Casks Lead, 
 
 Cases Swerils. 
 
 OolU Rope. 
 
 Packages Medicine. 
 
 
 
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SHIPMENTS nf Ooiton since 1st March, 1864. 
 
 "Account Nitre and Mining Bureau, 
 " Medical Dejartaiont, 
 " Engineer Department, 
 " CoiDmissary Departiut'nt, 
 *• Quartermaster's Department, 
 " Or-h^ance Department, 
 
 To say War Department, 
 " NiTy Department, 
 " Treasury Department, 12.840 and one-half of 
 
 Contract bteamers, G,974-a.4?7, 10,327 
 
 873- 
 
 328 
 
 57 
 
 1,248 
 
 1,829 
 
 1,776 
 
 6.111 
 
 4 8G1 
 
 Bsh?: 27.299 
 
 Bales, 27,299 at ,£40 .average ; value Xl.091,960 at 
 $4 85, $5.29fi,00fi 
 
 Equal in currency at 25 to 1. $132,400,160- 
 
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