Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-11-22

conduct war against the adversary whom
we now encounter. The very efforts which
he makes to distract and divide us, must ex-
haust his means, whilst they serve to COM
plete the circle and diversity the productions
of cur induatrial system. The reconstruc.
ton which he seeks to effect by arms becomes
daily more and more palpably impossible
Not only do the causes which induced us to
separate, still last in full force, but they have
been strengthened, and whatever donbts NAV
have existed in the minds of any, must have
been completely dispelled by subsequent
events. II, instead of being dissolution of
. league, it were indeed a rebellion in which
We were engaged, we might find ample vindl-
cation for the course we have adopted, in the
scenes which are now being enacted in the
United States.
As for the financial system, it has worked
well SO far, and promises good results for the
future, to any extent that treasury notes NAV
be issued. The Government is enabled TO
borrow money without interest, and thus IA
cilitate the conduct of the war. This extent
is measured by the portion of the field of cir
culation which these notes can be made to
occupy. The proportion Of the field thus
occupied, depends again upon the amounto of
the debts for which they are receivable, and
when due, not only to the Confederate States
government are payable in this medium. A
large portion may be circulated atpar. There
IS every reason to believe that the Confeder-
ate notes are fast becoming such 4 medium.
Inc proposition that these notes shall be con-
vertable into Confederate stock, bearing per
cent at the pleasure of the holders, insures
them against their falling below the yalu. of
that stock, and no considerable fall in their
value need be feared so long as the interest
snan De ponctuslly paid. The punctual pay
menu "a OF TINS interest has been required by
inc act passed by you at the last session i'm
posing secn rare Of taxation as must pro-
vac sumciently 1or that purpose, for the sue
cessl1i prosecution OF thu war 1t is indis-
Pensioie tna1 tne means ofTansporting troops
and military supplies be furnished, as far as
possible, IN such manner as not to interrupt
the commercial intercourse between our peo-
pie, nor place check upon their productive
energies.
Our people now look with contemptuous
astonishment to those with whom they have
been SO lately associated. They shrink
with aversion from the base idea of remain
ing in connection with such people. We
may be content to live at peace, but our sep
aration is fixedand for the independence we
have asserted We will accept no alternative
President Davis characterizes the nature
of the war on the part of the United
States as barbarous wherever it is
understood. He adds: If they convert their
soldiers into incendiaries and robbers, and
involve us in series of wars which claim
non-combatants, women and children as its
victims, they must expect to be treated as
outlaws and enemies of mankind. There
are certain rights of humanity which are en-
titled to respect, even in war, and he who
refuses to regard them forfeits his claims, if
captured, to be considered prisoner of war,
and must expect to be dealt with as an
offender against all law human and divine.
But not content with violating our rights
under the law of nations at home, they
have extended their injnries to other iuris-
dictions. Tae distinguished gentlemen who,
with your approval, at the last session
were commissioned to represent the COnfed-
eracy at certain foreign courts have been re-
Gently siezed by the Captain of U. s. YES
sci of war, while on board British mail
steamer, on a voyage from the neutral Span.
ish port Of Havana to England. The United
States have thus claimed general jurisdic.
diction over the high seas, and entering
British ship sailing under its country's flag,
Violated the rights of ambassadors, which
are for the most part held sacred even among
barbarians, by Selling our ministers while
under the protection and in the dominions
of a neutral nation. These gentlemen were
as much under the protection of the British
government, upon that ship and beneath
that flag, as if they had been on it's soil, and
claim on the part of tho UHsted States to
seize them in the streets Of London
would have been as well founded as that
to have apprehended them where they were
taken. Had they been malefacto,s and citi-
zens even, Of the United States, they could
not have been arrested on board of British
ship, or OF British soil, unless under the ex-
press provisions of treaty and according to
the forms therein provided for the extradition
of criminals.
President Davis further speaks of Mr..
Falkneras having been perfidiously arrested,
and says that in conducting this war .we
have sought no alliances, offensive or defen-
sive, abroad. Perhaps we have the right, if
we chose to excise it, to ask to know
whether the principle that a blockade to be
binding must be effective, so solemnly an.
nounced by the great powers Of Europe at
Paris, to be generally enforced or applied
only to particular parties. a9a9
Mr.. Davis says he has caused evidence to
be collected which proves completely the ut
ter ineffciency of the proclaimed blockade
of the Southern coast, and shall direct it to
be laid before such governments as shall af
ford the means of being heard. g ~
Although they should be be benefited by
the enforcement of this law so solemnly de.
clared by the great powers Of Europe, we
are not dependentupon that enforcement for
the successful prosecution of this war. As
long as hostilities continue the Confederate
States will expedite steady increasing ca
pacity to furnish their troops with clothing,
food, and arms. If they should be compell-
ed to forego many of the Injuries and some
of the comforts of life, they will at last have
the conscienticu ness of knowing that they
are becoming mere and more independents
of the world. .,,- ,. ,....,..s =. ......
He concludes as follows: "While the war
is waged to deprive us Of the rights of self.
it can never attain that end. 1t
remains to be seen how far it may rev.
olutionize the industrial classes of the world.
1t may carry suffering to other lands as well
as our own, In the meanwhile we shall con-
tinue this struggle in humble dependence up
on Providence, from whose scrutiny we can
not conceal the secrets of our hearts, and to
whose rulings we confidently submit our
destinies. For the rest we shall depend
upon ourselves. Liberty is always where
there exists an uncomfortable will to be free,