The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-11-29

system already adopted has worked well 80
tor, and promises good results for the future.
To the extent that treasury notes may oe
Issued the government is enabled to borrow
money without interest. and thus facilitate
the conduct of the war. This extent i
measured by the portion Of the field OF circu'
lation which these notes can he made to oc'
cupy. The proportion OF the field thu,
occupied depends again upon the amount OF
the debts for which they are receivable, and
dues not only to the Confederate and State
governments. but also to corporations and
individuals, are payable in this medium. A
largo amount OF it may be circulated at par.
:. There is every reason to believe that the
Confederate Treasury note is fast becoming
such medium. The provision that these
notes shall be convertible into Confederate
stock, bearing eight per cent. interest, at the
pleasure OF the holder nsures them against
depreciation below the value of that stock
and no considerable fall in that value need
be feared so long as the intesest shall bt
punctually paid. The punctual payment Of
this interest has been secured 10y the act
passed by YOU at the last session, imposing
such rate of taxation as must provide sui
fcicnt means for that purpose.
For the successful prosecution OF tins war,
it is indispensable that the means OF trans
porting troops and military supplies be
furnished as far possible in such manner a
not to interrupt the commercial intercourse
between our people, nor place cheek on
their productive energies. To this end the
means of transportation from ono section Of
4, thn nthar la. RlrpIlllx
guarded and improved and this should b.
the object OF anxious care on the part OF TIT
State and Confederate governments, so lar al
they may have power over the subject.
We have already two main systems oil
through transportation from the North to
the South, one from Richmond along the sea.
board, the other through Western Virginia
to New Orleans. A third might be secured
by completing link of about forty miles
between Danyille. Va, and Greenborough,
NC. The construction of this comparative.
ly short line would give us through route
from North to South in the interior OF the
Confederate States, and give us access to a
population and to military resources, from
which we are now in a great measure debar-
red. We should increase greatly the safety
and capacity for our means for transporting
men and military supplies. II the construc.
ton Of the road should, in the judgment OF
] Congress. as il is in mine, be indispensable
for the most successful prosecution of the war,
the action OF the government will not be
restrained by the constitutional objection
which would attach to work for commercial
purposes and attention is invited to the
practicability of securing its early completion,
by giving the neediul aid to the company
organized for its construction and admins
tration.
i II we husband our means and make ju-
dicious use of our resources il would be
difficult to fix limit to the period during
which we could conduct the war against the
adversary whom we now encounter. The
very efforts which he makes 10 isolate and in
wade us must exhaust his means whilst they
serve to complete and diversity the prOduc-
tons of our industrial system.
The reconstruction which he seeks to effect
by arms becomes daily more and more palpa.
bly, impossible. Not only do the causes
which induced us to separate still exist in
full force, but they have been strengthened,
and whatever doubts may have fingered in
the minds of any, must have been completely
dispelled by subsequent events.
Ii instead o. being the dissolution Of a
league, it were indeed rebellion in which
we are engaged, we might find ample yindi.
cation for the course we have adopted in the
scenes which are now being enacted in the
United States. Our people now look with
contemptuous establishment on those with
whom they have been so recently associated.
They shrink with aversion from the bare idea
Of renewing such q connection.
When they see o President making war
without the assent of Congrcss-when they
behold Judges threatened because they main
tain the writ of habeas corpus, so sacred to free,
men-when they see justice and law trampled
under the armed heel of military authority,
and upright men and innocent women dragged
to distant dungeons-when they find all this
tolerated and applaudcd by people who had
been in the full enjoyment Of freedom but u
few months ago, they believe there must be
some radical incompaiibility between such
a PEOPLE and themselves. With such pco-
pie we may be content to live ut peace, but
the separation is final, and for the indcpen.
dence we have asserted we will accept no
alternative.
The nature of the hostilities which they
have waged against us must be characterized
as barbarous wherever understood. They
have bOmbarded undeiended villages, with
out notice "a women and children to enable
them to escape, and in one instance selected
the night rs the period when they might
surprise them most eiIactually whilst asleep
and unsuspcious OF danger. Arson and
npine, the destruction OF private houses and
property, and injuries of the most wanton
character. even upon non-combatants, have
marked their forays along their borders and
upon our territory.
We ought to have been admonished by
these things that they were disposed to make
war upon us in the most cruel and relentless
spirit. yet we were not prepared to sec them
fit out large naval expedition with the con-
fessed purpose not only to pillaSe, but to in
cite seryile war in our midst. IL they
convert their soldiers into incendaries and
robbers, and involve us in species of war
which claims non-combatants, women and
children, as its victims, they must expect to
be treated rs outlaws and enemies OF man.
kind. There are certain rights of humanity
which are entitled TO respect even in war,
anu Hc Wuo teiuscs w IVSufu thVih lorci's
his claim. If captured, to be considered a
prisoner Of war, and must expect to be dealt
with as an offender against law, human and
divine.
But not content with violating our rights
under the law Of nations ut home, they have
extended these injuries TO us within other
Jurisdictions. The distinguished gentlemen,
Fwhom with your approval at the last session.
commissioned to represent the Coniederacy
at certain foreign courts, have been recently
seized by the captain Of a United States ship
oi.war. ON board a British steamer, on their
voyage FROM the Neutral port of Havana to
England.
The United States have thus claimed a
general jurisdiction over the high seas, and
| eptering m British shin sailing under It's