Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-03-06
]isputed. but the goyernment at Washing

disputed, but the government at Washing
 ton, denying our right to self-gevernment
 refused even to listen to any proposals fo
 peaceful separation Nothing was thel
 left us but to prepare for war The hrs year of.our history has been the most event
 ful in the annals of this. continent X new government has, been established over al l area exceeding 7o0.0o square miles. and the great principles upon which we have
 been willing to hazard everything dear tc
 man, have made conqnests for us which
 could never have been achieved by the
 sword. 4t
 i Our Confederacy has grown from six tc thirteen States, and Mary land, already l united to us. by hallowed memories and material interests, will, I believe. when
 able to speak, with united voice connec, their destiny with the South. Our people
 have rallied with unexampled unanimity to
 the support of the great principles of con, stitutional government, with firm resolve to perpetuate by arms the rights they could not peacefully secure, against a million, which 1t is estimated Is the standing hos tile army, and waging war along a from I tier of thousands of miles, battles have ! been fought aud siegess conducted, and although the contest has not ended, and did l for the moment go against us, the final re- suit in our favor is not doubtful The period is near at hand when our foes must 1 yield under the immense load of debt in- curred-a debt which,. in their effort to subiugate us, has already attained such fearful dimensions as will subject them to 1 burthens which must continue to oppress them for generations 10 come,
 We, too, have had our trials and difficult ties, and that we are to escape them ill the future is not to be hoped. It was to be expected, when we entered on this war, 1t
 would expose our people to many sacrifices, and cost them much both in money and blood But we knew the value of the ob-
 feet for which we have struggled and un- l derstood the nature of the object for which we engaged, and that nothing could be so bad as failure, and any sacrifice will be cheap as the price of success in such con test. But the picture has its lights as well as it's shades. This great strife has awaken ed in the people the highest emotions and qualities of the human soul. It is culti- vating feelings of patriotism, virtue and courage; and instances of elfsacriices and generous devotion to the noble cause for which we are contending are rife through out the land. Never has people erinced so determined spirit as that now animating the men, women and children inevery part of our country. Upon the first call men fly to arms and wives and mothers send their husbands and sons to battle without mulmur or regret. 1t was, perhaps, in the ordination of providence that we were to be taught the value of our liberties by the price we pay for them.
 The recollection of the great contest, with all its common traditions of. glory, sacrifices and of blood, will be bond of harmony and enduring affection among the people, producing unity in policy, frater- nity in sentiment, and joint effort in war The material sacrifices of the past year have not been made without some cores bonding benefits. If the acquieScence of foreign nations in the pretended blockade has deprived us of our commerce with them, it is fast making us selfsupporting and independent people. The blockade, if eff actual and permanent, could only serve to divert our industry from the production of articles for export, and employ it in sup plying commodities for domestic use.
 It is satisfaction to inCw that we have maintained the war by our own unaided exertons We have neither asked nor re-
 ceived assistance from any quarter. The interests involved are not only our own; the world at large IS concerned in tie opening of our markets 50 it's commerce, and when the independence ot the G0nted 2 crate States is recognized by the nations ot the earth, and we are free to follow our in
 terests and inclnations by cultivating for eign trade, the Southern States will offer the manufacturing natioas the most tavoia- ble market which ever invited tbeir com merce. Cotton, sugar, rice, tobacco. pro visions, timber and naval stores, wllEfur- nish attractive exchanges, nor would the constancy Of these supplies be likely to be disturbed by war. Our Confederate strength will be too great to tempt aggress-
 ion, and never YES there a people whose interests and principles eQmmitted them so fully to a peaceful policy as these 1pn
 tederate States. e- By ite character of their productions they are too deeply interested in foreign commerce to want war only 10 disturb the world, and war of conquest they can not wage, because the constitution of the Confedelacy admits no coerced association A civil war there cannot be between States held together by their volition only, and this rule of Yoiqa tary association, which eaanot fail to be conservative, as, by secu- ring fiat and impartial government at home, it does not diminish the security o, obligations by which the Confederate States may be bound to foreign nations. In proof, it is to be ramembered that, at the first moment of asserting thcir right to secession, these States proposed settlement on the basis of common liabilities for the obligations of tie general government.
 Fellow citizens After tic struggle of ages had consecrated the right of Engiisi
 men to a constitutional representative government, our colonial ancestors were forced to vindicate that birthright by an appeal to arms. Success crowned their efforts, and they provided for their posleri- ty peaceful remedy against future aggres- sions. The tyranny of an unbridled mar icrity, the most odious and least responsi- ble form Of despotism, has denied us both the right and the remedy. Therefore we are in arms to renew such sacrifices aa onr fathers made to the holy cause of constitu-