The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-31 00:00:00

The Message of Jefferson Davis.

The message of Jt-fferson Davis to the Confede-
rate Congress was delivered at Richmond on the
12th January. It is a long document, occupying
six columns in the New York journals. The follow-
ing isa summary of its contents :

Mr. Davis starts by declaring that the war has
passed through three stages. In the first the Fede-
rals attempted to bring back the South into the
Union, and in the second, they attempted to con-
quer the Confederate States as dependent provinces.
" Defeated in this second design," sip Mr. Davis,
" our enemies have evidently entered upon another,
which can have no other purpose than revenge and.
thirst for blood and plunder of private property."
He then says—

" The advent of peace will be hailed with joy.
Our desire for it has never been concealed. But
earnest as has been our wish for peace, and great
as have been our sacrifices and sufferings during the
war, the determination of this people has with each
succeeding month become more unalterably fixed,
to endure any suffering and continue any sacrifice,
however prolonged, until their right to self-govern-
ment, and the sovereignty and independence of
these States, shall have been triumphantly vindi-
cated and established." He then refers back to the
history and to the days when four of the States, now
forming a portion of the Confederacy, were recog-
nised as independentsovereignties by the two great
maritime powers of Europe, i❑ a treaty of peace, con-
cluded in 1783. He reviews the history of the Confe-
deration, and the ultimate reunion of the States, and
asserts that the now Confederate States were mem-
bers of the Union, with the right as equal and inde-
pendent sovereignties to secede, when in their judg-
ment their safety and honour required such a step.
He speaks of the early determination of England
and France and other European powers to confine
themselves to a strict neutrality during the progress
of the war, but draws from this the conclusion that
their course of action was but an actual decision.
against the South, and in favour of the Union, and
at the same time tending to prolong hostilities. He
complains of European injustice in other matters,
cit►ng the conclusion of a treaty with the United.
States for the abolishment of privateering, thus pre-
venting the Con eierates from disposing, in foreign
ports, of the prizes which their privateers mignt
capture. This he thinks one of the direct shafts
aimed at the success of the Confederacy. Notwith-
standing the repeated remonstrances by the Confe-
deracy to the neutral European powers, and. their
ewe admission as to the inefficiency of the Federal
blc ckade of the Southern ports, neutral Europe has
received these remonstrances in almost unbroken
silence, submitting to the wrong inflicted on her
commerce by the United States. He, however,
asserts that, while thus speaking of the European
powers, he has no complaint to make that these
nations have declared their neutrality.
In speaking of the war, he says:--" It is my
painful duty again to inform you of the renewed
examples of every atrocity committed by the armed
forces of the United States at different paints within
the Confederacy. Since my last communication one
111• Neil murdered seven prisoners of war in
cold blood, and the demand fee his punishment has
remained unsatisfied. The Government of the
United States, after promising examination and ex-
planation in relation to the charges made against
General B. F. Butler, has by its subsequent action,
after repeated efforts on my part to obtain some
answer on the subject, not only admitted his guilt,
but sanctioned it by acquiesence. I have accord-
ingly branded this criminal as an outlaw, and.
directed his execution in expiation of his crimes if
he should fall into the hands of any of our forces.
Recently I have received apparently authentic in-
telligence of another general, named Mtlroy, who
has issued orders in Western Virginia for the pay-
ment of moneys to him by the inhabitants, accom-
panied by the most savage threats of shooting every
recusant, besides burning his house, and threatening
similar atrocities against any of our citizens who
shall fail to betray their country by giving him
prompt notice of the approach of any of our forces.
leis subject has also been submitted to the military
authorities of the United States, with but faint
hopes that they will evince any disapprobation."
Of the act in relation to President Lincoln's
Einincipation Proclamation he says he may " well
leave it to the instincts of that common humanity
which a beneficent Creator has implanted in the
breasts of our fellow-men of all countries to pass
judgment on a measure by which several millions
of human beings of an inferior race, peaceful and
contented labourers in their sphere, are doomed to
extermination, while at the same time they are en-
couraged to a general assassination of their masters
by the insidious recommendation to abstain from
violence, unless in necessary bb If-defence. Our
own detestation of those who have attempted the
most execrable massacre recorded in the history of
guilty man is tinctured by a profound sentiment
for the impotent rage which it discloses. As far as
regards the action of this government on such
criminals as may attempt its execution, I confine
myself to informing you that I shall, unless in your
wisdom you deem some other course more expe-
dient, deliver to the several State authorities all
commissioned officers of the United States that may
hereafter be captured by our forces in any of the
States embraced by the Proclamation, that they
may be dealt with in accordance with the laws of
those States, providing for the punishment of
criminals engaged in exciting servile insurrections.

"In its political aspect this measure possesses
great signification, and to it, in this light, I invite
your attention. It affords to our people the com-
plete and crowning proof of the true nature of the
designs of the party which elected to power the
present occupant of the Presidentship at Washing-
ton, and which sought to conceal its purpose by
every variety of artful grace, and by the perfidious
use of the most solemn and repeated pledges on
every practicable occasion."

Mr. Davis, in conclusion, draws the following
highly attractive picture of the condition of the
Confederate States :

" Our armies are larger, better disciplined, and
more thoroughl,y, armed and equipped than at any
previous period of the war; the energies' of a whole
nation, devoted to the single object of success in
this war, have accomplished marvels, and many of
our trims have by a beneficent Providence been con-
verted into blessings. The magnitude of the perils
which we encountered have developed the true
qualities and illustrated the heroic character of our
people, thus gaining for the Confederacy from its
birth a just appreciation from the other nations of
the earth._ Tne injuries resulting from interruption
of foreign commerce have received compensation by
the developments of our internal resources. °lnnen
crown our fortresses that were cast from the pro-
ceeds of mines opened and furnaces built during the
war. Our mountain caves yield much of the nitre
for the manufacture of powder, and promise increase
of product. From our own foundries and labora-
tories, from our own armouries and workshops, we
derive in a great measure the warlike material, the
ordnance and ordnance stores which are expended
so profusely in the numerous and desperate engage-
ments that rapidly succeed each other. Cotton and
woollen fabrics, shoes and harness, waggons and
gun are produced in daily increasing
quantities carriages,ntitiesbyhe factories springing into existence.
Our fields, no longer whitened by cotton that can-
not be exported, are devoted to the production of
cereals and the growth of stock formerly purchased
with the proceeds of cotton. In the homes of our
noble and devoted women—without whose sublime
sacrifices our success would have been impossible—
the noise of the loom and the spinning wheel may
be heard thr3ughout the land.
With hearts swelling with gratitude, let us, then,
join in returning thanks to God, and in beseeching
the conticuance of His protecting care over our
cause, and the restoration of peace with its manifold
blessings to our beloved country.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Richmond, Jan. 12, 1863.

TH
E ACCIDENT AT THE PRINCESS'S THEATRE'
—A subscription list for the benefit of Miss Hunt
and the mother of the deceased Ni iss Smith has been opened
at the theatre, and about £l5 has already been collected
within the house. Any large or small sums sent to Mr:
Robert Roxby, the stage manager, will be acknowledge'
and judiciously applied,