Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-20


soxous the part ofste and Confederate Govern
IN O. as far they may have power over tie subject
We have already two main systems OF through trans
portaion from the North to the South-one hom Rch-
mond along the seabosrd the other through Western
Virginia to New Orleans A third might be secured by
completing link Of about forty miles between Danvie,
in vrgipia, and Greensborough in North Carolina The
construction of this comparatively short line would give
us through from North TO South in the interior
Of ths Confederate sates and give US access to
ation and military from which we are row, la
great measure debarred We should increase greatly
the safety and capacity Of fer Transporting
men and military supplies. II the construction OF this
road should In the judgment OF Congress as u Is ~
mine, be indispensable for the most successful proetcu
ton Of the war the action OF the Government VII NOT
be restrained by the constitutional obi scton which rcud
attach to work for commercial purposes, ard attention
Is invited to the practicsby Of securing its early ccn-
peiion by giving TIE needfu aid 10 the company organ
lied for lis construction and administration.
II we husband our means and make judicous use OF
our resources Il would DO difficult to fx limit to tho
period during which We could conduct sgainst the
adversary whom we now encounter, The yeFy fnuu
whici he makes to Isolate and Invade us Dast sxbA%t
bis means whilst they to complete the circle erd
diversity tee productions Of industrial system. The
recoustrucon which he seeks TO Effect by arms becomes
daily more and more palpiby impossible. Not only Go
the which induced us TO separate still exist In r
force bu. they have been strengthened and whatever
doubt may have In the minds OF any, must have
been completely dspeIed by subsequent events. fin.
stead OF being dissolution Of league IL were indeed
rebellion in which We are engaged, we might find am
pie vindcation for the have adopted In the
scenes which are now being enacted in the United
States. Our people now look with contemptuous as'
constituent on those with whom they had been so
recently associated They shrink with aversion from the
bare idea Of renewing such connection. When they
see President mskiDg without the assent Of Cen.
gres when they behold judges threatened because they
msilain the writ OF hdb.as corpus sacred to eemen
when thev justice and law trsmped under the armed
heel of military authority. and upright and lnnocnt
women dragged to distant dungeons upon the mere
edict of desfot when they fad all this tolerated and
appauded by people who bad been In the full er joy
ment OF freedom but a few months ego-they believe
that there mus. be radical incompatbty between
such pc and themselves. With such y people we
may be content to live at peace, but the separation Is
final aud for the Independence we have asserted We will
accep. no alternative
The raturo of the hostiles which they have waged
against US be characterized barbsrous wherever
i, Ia understood. They have bombarded unde!ended
villages without giving notice 10 women and children 70
enable them TO escape and in one instance selected the
right the period when they might surprise them most
efecuay whilst asleep aud unsuspC Cous Of danger Ar
and rapne the destruction of private houses and
property, sad injuries Of the most wanton character,
even upon noncombatsnts, have marked their forays
along our borders ard upon territory. Although
ought have been a6mopihed by these things that
they we're disposed 10 axe upon Us In the most
cruel and relentless spirit, yet not prepared to
SEQ them fl. out large naval expedition, with the con.
essed purpose not only to plage but to nce servile
insurrection in our midst.
II they convert their soldiers into incendilres and
robbers and involve in spScies Of which claims
noncombatsnts and children lis victims, they
expect to be treated outlaws aud enemies Of
MANKIND There are certain rights Of humanity which
are entitled respect in war and be who refuses
to regard them foreis his claim II captured to be con-
sdered as a prisoner Of war but must expect 70 be
dealt with as an offender against all law, human and d
vine.
But not content with violating our rights under the
law OF nations home, they have extended these ja-
ries within other jurisdictions. The distinguished
gentlemen yhom, with your approval, 9. the lAst ses:
sion, commissioned 10 represant Ale coufnsfacy NJ
certain foreign cour have been recently sexsd by the
Captain OF United States ship-of-war, board Brit
ism steamer, their voyage from the neutral Spanish
port Of Havana to Eogand. The United States have
thus claimed general jurisdiction the high seas
and entering British snip, sailing under is counrys
flag, violated the rights Of embassy, for the mcet
part held sacred even amongst barbarans, by se;1-
ing our ministers whilst undur the protection ard
within the domiriona oi a neutral patton. These
gentlemen mach under the jurisdiction of
the British Government upon that ship and beneath It's
flag IL they had been on It's SOIL aud claim on the
part of the United States 10 seize them in the streets Of
London would have been as well fOuaded as that to sp
ptehend them where they taken. Had they been
m,efGctofs and citizens Of the United States they
could not have been arrested Oh q British ship or on
British SOIL unless under tie express provisions OF
treaty and according 10 the ions therein provided for
the extradition OF criminals.
Bu. rights the most sacred TO have lost all resp'ct
in their eyes. When Mr.. Faulkner, former minister Of
tie United States 10 France commissioned before the
sect son Of Virginia, bis native State returned in good
faith to Wasbiogon settle lis accounts and fulfil a
the obligations into which he had entered he peid
ou5y arrested and imprisoned in New York, where he
now is The ubsaspecting confidence with which he
norled to bis government was abused and his desire to
fl fiji bis trust to them used 10 his injury.
In conducting this war, NO haye sought 10 aid and
proposed 10 alliances Iensye and defensive abroad
We asked for recognized place in the great family
OF nations but in doing have dmanded nothing for
which did not offer fair equivalent The advanta-
ges OF intercourse mutual amongst nations, and in
seeking 10 establish diplomatic relations we were only
endeayorng place that intercourse under the regula
ton cf public law. Perhaps we had the right II we had
chosen to exercise it, to ask to know whether the prnc
pe ths. "blockldes be binding mus. be eeeius"
olr mny announced by the great Powers Of Europe at
Paris is to be generally enforced or applied only to par.
tcular parties.
When the Confederate States at your last session be-
came party TO tie declaration re-aiming this prinei-
pie of international lav, which has been recognized
org BY publcis,s and Governments we certainly sup
posed that it 10 be universally enforced. The Gus
t,mary law Of Iaons u made up OF their practice rather
than their decar atoms and such declarations are oLIy
20 be enforced in particular instances at the pleasure Of
those who make tbem then the commerte Of tho world
so far from being placed under the regulation Of gen
eral w will become sui &C. to the caprice OF those who
execute suspend at will II such Is 10 be the course
Of nations in regard TO this law plain that il will thus
become rule for the weak and not for the strong.
Feeling that such views must be taken BY the neutral
n,tions OF the GARTH have caused the evidence to be
COLI ed which proves completely the utter inefcency
of the proclaimed blockade Of coast and shall direct
Il to be laid before such Governments shall soud us
the means Of b,ing heard. But although should be
benefited bsthe enforcement of this Law 20 solemnly
declared By the great powers Of Europe are not de-
pendent on enforcement for the successful prosecu
ion Of the war. As long hostties continue Confed-
crate States viii exhbi. steadily increasing capacity
furnish their troops with focd clothing and arms II
they should be forced to forego many Of the Injuries
and some Of the comforts Of life, they will at leas
have tho consolation Of knowing that tey thus daily
becoming more and independent bf the rest Of the
world. IT. In this process, labor In the Confederate
States should be gradually div,Sed from those great
Southern staples which have given life 10 so much p The
commerce oil mankind into other channels 10 make