The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-07-26
JEFF. Davis's Message to the Rebel
Congress.

Z
and says sit is now only necessary to call
attention to such facts as have occarred
during the recess, and 10 matters in connec.
ton with the public Defense" He congrat-
uletes Congress on the accessions to the
Confederacy of the Stree and equal sovey,
eIgn States" mentioning several States, and
says "it was deemed advisable to remove
the several departments and achieves to
Richmond, to which place Congress has
already been removed as the seat of govern.
ment: After the adjournment of Congress,
the aggressive movements of the enemy re.
quired prompt and energetic action.
The accumulation of the enemys forces
on the Potomac sufficiently Demon
strates that his efforts are directed
against Virginia, and from no point could
measures for her defence and protection be
so efficiently directed as from bis own CAPT.
tai. The rapid progress of the last few
months has stripped the veil behind which
the true policy and purposes of the Lincoln
government were previously concealed,
which are fully revealed. The message of
their President, the action OF their Congress
at the present session, confesses the intention
OF subjugating the seeding States by war,
the Jolly OF which is equaled only by its
wlckedness; war by which it is impossible
to attain the proposed result. Whilst its
dire calamltes cannot be avoided bv US
they will fall with double severity on them.
selves. Commencing in March last with an
atfectatlOn of ignorance of the secession of
seven States which organized the Conted-
crate government, persisting in April in the
absurd assumption Of the existence of a
riot, which was to be dispersed by posse
comatdtus, representing that these States
intended an Offensive war in spite of con-
elusive evidence to the contrary; furnishes.
as we'll as by the official action of the Pres.
ident of the United States the evidence that
they have succeeded in driving the people
OF these States into the belief that the pur.
pose OF this Government is not peace at
home, but conquest abroad not the defence
OF our liberties, but the subyersion of the
people of the United States Fortunately
for the truth of history, Lincoln's message
mlnutely details the attempt to reinforce
Fort Plckens in violation OF the armistce,
of which be coniesses that he has been in
formed only by rumors, too vague and un-
certain to create attention. The hostile ex-
petition despatched to supply Fort Sumter
is admitted to have been undertaken with
the knowledge that its success was impos-
sible; the sending of notice to the Gov.
ernOr of South Carolina of the intention to
use force to accomplish the object, and
quoting from the Inaugural that there
will be no conflict unless these states are the
aggressOrs, he proceeds to declare that his
conduct in the past, as well as for the future
was in performance of this promise, which
could not be misunderstood. He charges
these States with being the assailants of
the Union, and states that the world cannot
misunderstood this unfounded pretence.
Lincoln promises to make the contest
sharp and decisive, and confesses that even
an increased force is required. These enor-
nous preparations are a distinct avowal that
the United States is engaged in a conflict
with great and powerful nation, and they
are compelled to abandon the pretence of
dispensing rioters and suppressiDg insurrec-
ton, and are driven to the acknowledgment
that the Union is dissolved. They re-
cognize the separate existence of the Con.
federate States by the Introduction of an
embargo and blockade, by which all COM
merce between the two is cut of. He re-
pudiated the foolish idea that the inhab,
itants of the Confederate States are still
citizens OF the United States, for they are
now waging an indiscriminate war upon
them, with savage ferocity unknown to
modern civilization. He compares the pres.
ent invasion to that of Great Britain in
1881, switch was conducted in more civ.
ilized manner" Mankind shoulders at the
outrages committed on defenceless females,
who depict their horror at the deliberate
malignity, by which, under the pretext of
SURPRISING insurreqtio1, they make special
war on sick women and children, by care.
fully devised measures to prevent their OBJ
tanning medicines necessary for their care.
The sacred claims of humanity are respected
by all nations, even in the fury OF battle, by
careful deviation Of an attack on hospi-
tails, which are now outraged by govern.
ment which pretends to desire to continue
fraternal connections. Such outrages admit
of no retaliation, unless the actual perpe.
traitors are captured.
TaylOr's mission to Washington was to
propose an exchange of prisoners taken on
the privateer Savannah, and to inform Lin.
coin of the determined purpose to check all
barbarities on prisoners of war by such re.
talation, and effectually put an end to such
practices. Lincoln promises to reply, but
none has yet been received.
In reference to the peculiar States usually
termed Border Slave States, which cannot
properly be withheld from notice, the hearts
of our people are animated by the senti~
ments towards the inhabitants of these
States which found expression in your
enactment, in refusing to consider them
enemies or authorize hostilities against
them. A large portion of the people of
those States regard US as brethren, and if
unrestrained by the actual presence of large
armies, and the subverson OF civil authors
ity by the declaration of martial law, soma
of them at least would joyfully unite with
US, that they are almost with entire una
nimity opposed to the prosecution of the
war
Most active exertiOns are being nsed in