Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-01-20
NO xXXIV.
The Presidents Message.

4
The message of Preside mt Davis is a very abl
document, and will produce aa effect in Europe
1t cannot fail to show European Government
that they have been doing great injustice to the
Southern Confederacy under the guise of neu
trality. We are sorry that we have not space to
publish the message in full. We publish below
brief synopsis of it, which will serve to furnish
| the reader with acknowledge of he chief subjects
discussed in it:
1t opens with a view of the military position
of affairs, which are described as very satisfac-
tory.
The fourth great army of invasion has been
defeated in Virginia, and Gen. Burnside has ex-
perenced the fate of his three predecessors.
Mcdowell, Mcclellan and Pope.
In the West the fortunes of war have been va
rious. Battles have been fought with fearful
carnage on both sides, but the hopes of the ene-
my OF any decisive result have been baffled
On the Atlantic coast the enemy are still con-
lined to the protecting cover of their fleets
review of our history shows that the war has
now entered its third and last stage. The first
effort was to restore the Union, and has been a.
oandoned. The second was to conquer the South
ana govern it as dependency of the N orth ]; this
TOO has proven impossible and has been abandon
ed The third design is to destroy and plunder
what they could not subjugate. If we continue
the same efforts as in the past this design will
likewise be defeated, and we may confidently ex-
pect that this is the closing year Of the war
fHe enemy VIII possess neither spirit nor resour-
ces for continuing it the fourth year in SO ex.
haustive scale. W o desire peace, but will
continue the war at any sacrifice until our rights
TO elf-government and the sovereignty and in
dependence of the States are vndicated and es-
tabIished. 8
Our foreign relations are next reviewed Onr
right 70 recognition is shown by reference to the
past history of other States, some of which were
recognized as independent by Great Britain il.
the treaty OF peace of 1888, and had beon previ
ously allies in war with France. When our com
mlssioners demanded recognition, they wer o
eo,d tnat foreign governments could not decide
between the conflicting statements made by onr
government and that of the United States in re-
pect to our mutual relations; and that Eurone
could simply recognize US as belligerents and
preserve a strict neutrality. This apparent re-
iusal to decide was in reality against us, because
we were men unJustiy deprived of diplomati
intercourse on the same footing as our enemies
The question OF the blockade is discussed at
length Its invalidity is shown, as tested bv the
principles of the Congress of Paris in 1856 The
whole conduct of neutral nations is summed mn
SO as TO show that they have enforced all neutral
rights tnat eHected US lnJurionsly, and refrained
from asserting those that would injure the Uni
ted States. sssyaffffe~ -.
Inc correspondence between the Courts of
France, Great Britain and Russia is adyerted to-
fheIianguags of the French dispatch is construed
as formal admission of our ability to maintain
our independence, and jussifies the hope of early
recognition.
The barbarities committed by the Northern
troops are referred to, and the action taken in
relation to the atrocities committed by Generals
Butler, Mcneil and Mllroy explained The O.
pinlon Is expressed that the infamy of their con-
duct must be shared by their superiors. who
nave, In no one instance, punished the perpetrA-
tors OF these crimes.
In relation to LncC ln's proclamation. the
fresidentsays our detestatioD is tempered by
profound contempt for his impotent rage The
action OF the government will be confined to de-
ilvering up all commissioned officers hereafter
captured IN the ten States named in the procla-
nation, to be tried by the States under the laws
Whlch punish those that excite servile insurrec-
tion. The proclamation is treated as posses
sing great significance in political view. 1t
proves what were the designs of the republican
party from the beginning, notwithstanding their
efforts TO conceal them by false declarations
Inc proclamation is next considered as guaran-
Tee against the possibility of reconstruction
1t is also treated as confession of incapabihty
10 suoJugate the South, which Europe will be
bound to consider as justifying our immediate
recognition an intimation to the people of the
North, that they must submit to a final separa
tion ofthe States.
The message, which is the longest vet issued
by the President, embraces a comprehensive re-
view of the whole internal and external relations
OF the country. 1t is confident, even triumphant
IN tone, and closes with tribute to our women,
without whose bime sacrifices it declares that
our success would have been impossible.