The Van Buren press., 1861-02-22

1t ILLUSTRATES Ln0 xAmSiiCoA |
ments rest upon the consent Of the govern
ell and that it Is the right of the people to
alter and abolish governments, whenever
they become destructive to the ends for
which they were established. The declared
compact of the Union from which we have
withdrawn, was to establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility. provide for the COM
mon defence, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings to ourselves and
our posterity, and when in the Judgment OF
the sovereign States, now composing this
Contederacy, it has been perverted from the
purposes for which it was ordained and
ceased to answer the ends sor which 1t was
established, a peaceful appeal to the ballot
box declared that SO far rs they were con-
cerncd the Government created by tol
| exists-ihey merely asserted the right
| which the declaration of independence OF
/ l776 defines to be inalienabe OF the time
and occasion OF its exercise. They are
soverigns-they were the final Judges, each
for itself The impartial. enlightened ver-
dict of mank ind will vindicate the rectltude
of our conduct and He who knows the
hearts of men will judge of the sincerity
with which we labored to preserve the gov
ernment of our fathers, in its spirit. The
right solemnly proclaimed at the birth OF
the States and which has been affirmed and
re- affirmed in the bill of rights, proclaimed
at the birth of the States, subsequently ad-
mitted in the union of 1889, undeniably
recognizes in the people the power to re-
posed Of government. Thus the sovereign
States here represented, proceed to form
this Confederacy, and it is by the abuse Of
I A. l. L.. l.. 4
ed revolution-they formed new alliance
but within each State its government has
been reclaimed-the rights of person and
property have been disturbed-the agents
with which they communicated with for
eign powers is changed, but this does not
necessarily interrupt their International re-
lations. Sustained by the consciousness
that the transition from the former Union
to the present confederacy has not proceed
ed from disregard, on our part, of our
just obligations, any failure to perform
every constitutional duty. Moved by no
interest or prejudice to invade the rights of
others-anxious to cultivate peace and COM
merce with all nations, if we may not hope
to avoid war. we may at least expect that
posterity will acquit us of having needless
ly engaged in it. Doubly justified by the
absence of wrong on our part and by want
on aggression on the part Of others, there
can be no cause to doubt the courage and
patriotism of the people of the Confederate
States. will be found equal to any measures
of defence which their country may require.
An agricultural people whose chief interest
is the export of a commodity required in
every manufacturing country-our true
policy is peace. 1t is alike our interest and
that of all those from whom we would buy
that there should be fewest practicable re-
strctions upon the interchange of comm od
tiles. There can be but little rivalry be-
/ tween ours and any manufacturing or navi
CATION community-it must therefore fol-
low that mutual interests would invite good
will and kind offices. If however preiu
dice or lust of dominion should cloud the
Judgment or influence the action of those
/ States. we must prepare to meet the emer
gency and maintain by the final abatement
nf the sword. the position which we have
assumed among the nations of the earth.
We have entered upon career of independ
ence which rAust be inflexibly pursued.
Through years of controversy with our
late associates of the norther states, we
have vainly endeavored to restore tranquil
iy and obtain respect for the rights to which
we were entitled. AS a necessity, not as
choice we have resorted to the remedy of
separation, and henceforth our energies
must be directed to the condition of our
own affairs and the perpetuity Of the Con-
federacy which we have formed. If Just
perception of the mutual shall permit US
peaceably TO pursue our separate political
career, my most earnest desire will have
been fulflled-but if this be denied us, and
the integrity of our territory and jurisdic-
ton assailed. 1t will but remain for us with
firm resolution to appeal 20 arms, and in
woke the blessings of Providence upon a
Just cause AS consequence Of our new
condition and with a view to meet antici-
pated wants, it will be necessary to provide
speedy and efficient organization of the
branches of the Executive Department,
having special charge of foreign intercourse,
finance, military affairs and postal service
tor Gefence. The Confederate States NAV
under ordinary circumstances, rely mainly
upon their military-but it is deemed ad-
vlsable In the present condition of affairs.
that their should be we'll instructed disci-
plined army, more numerous than would
usually be required in peace establish
ment.
| FAYETTEVILLE, Ark, 81.
The Official vote of Washington County
is 974 majority against Convention. The
average majority of the Union ticket is
400. Prominent Secessionists are gradu-
ally conceding that the State has gone
against convention by a large majority.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81.
SENATE-On motion of Mr.. Wade the
House bill, to authorize the Postmaster
General to discontinue mail services in
States where it is liable to be interfered
with. was taken up. Mr.. Green moved that
the Sec. of the Treasury be directed to pre-
vent any attempt to collect revenue-but
subsequently withdrew it. Mr.. Hamphill
offered the following: Whereas several
States have withdrawn from the Union and
the laws of the United States are no long.
enforced. therefore resolved that the Posi-
master. Ger eral be directed to discontinued
the postal services in said States, and MAKE
arrangements with the governments of the
same for inter postal communication there
in. MIR. Clingman said he believed those
States were out Of the Union and FOREIGN
States. as much SO as Great Britain. and
thought the mail service ought to be ston-
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