Whereas, the earnest efforts made by this government to establish friendly relations between the government of the United States and the Confederate States and to settle all questions of disagreement between the two governments upon principles of right, justice, equity and good faith, have proved unavailing, by reason of the refusal of the government of the United States to hold any intercourse with the Commissioners appointed by the government for the purposes aforesaid or to listen to any proposal they had to make for the peaceful solution of all causes of difficulties between the two governments; and

Whereas, the President of the United States of America has issued his Proclamation, making the requisition upon the states of the American Union for seventy-five thousand men, for the purpose as therein indicated of capturing forts,  and other strongholds of the jurisdiction of, and belonging to the Confederate States of America, and has detailed Naval armaments upon the coast of the Confederate States of America, and raised, organized and equipped a large military force to execute the purpose aforesaid, and has issued his other Proclamations announcing his purpose to set foot a blockage of the ports of the Confederate States;  and

Whereas, the State of Virginia has seceded from the Federal Union and entered into a convention of alliance, offensive and defensive, with the Confederate States, and has adopted the provisional Constitution of said states and the states of Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Missouri have refused, and it is believed that the state of Delaware and the inhabitants of the territories of Arizona, and New Mexico and the Indian Territory south of Kansas, will refuse to cooperate with the government of the United States in these acts of hostilities and wanton aggression, which are plainly intended to oppress and finally, subjugate the people of the Confederate States;  and

Whereas, by the acts and means of aforesaid war exists between the Confederate States and the government of the United States and the states and territories thereof, except the states of Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Missouri and Delaware, and the inhabitants of the territories of Arizona and New Mexico and the Indian Territory south of Kansas.