The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-01-23

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ofthe great law Of cause and effect. for one
| am Wiling to yield him the palnl-but only
50 FAR as his power of divining events is con
: eefned, Tor ind chat he like most mortals.
mas been liable to be led astray in his state
asitt OF facts and still farther. like other NOR
sals, tespec'aily when they have been afflicted
~ an lnordlnate amount Of self coneeit, has
heen prone to talk about things of which he
knew nothing nlore than the man in the moon:
] VERITAS. :,
| Abingdon. Jan. 18th, 1868.
Synopsis of the Presidents Mes
sage.
RICHMOND. January II. The annual mes.
sage OF President Davis was read in Congress-
to-day e s'' :
/ 1t opens with view Of the military nos;-
ton OF affairs, which are described as very
! satisfactory.
The fourth great army of invasion has been
| aesea5ed IN Virginia, and General Burnside
| inexperienced the fate Of his three predeces-
sois, Mcdowell, Mcclellan and Pope.
IN the West the fortunes of war have been
various. Battles have been fought with fear
fai carnage on both sides, but the hopes Of the
en- enemy Of any decisive result bsye been bafl-
On the Atlantic coast the enemy are still
conhned to the protecting cover of their fleets.
a review OF our history shows that the war
mas now entered It's third and last stage. The
nrst effort was to restore the Union. and has
been abandoned. The second was to conquer
the south and govern it as dependency Of the
North; tins too has proven impossible and has
oeen abandoned The third design is to de-
sstfoy and piunder what they could not sub
Jagate. Ii we tinue the same efforts as in
the past this design will likewise be defeated,
aud we may confidently expect thatthis is the
closing year OF the war. The enemy will pos.
sess neither spirit nor resources for continu-
ing it the fourth year in so exhaustive . scale
We desire peace, but viii continue the war at
any sacrifice until our rights to selfgoyern-
ment and the sovereignty and independence
OF the States are indicated and established
Our foreign relations are next reviewed =
oar rlght 70 recognition is shown bs reference
10 the past history of other States, some of
which were recognized as independent by
threat Britain in the treaty of peace of 1888.
q and mad been previously allies in war with
france. When our commissioners demanded
recognition, they were told that foreign GOV
efnments could not decide between the con-
alcting statements made by our government
ana that OF the United States in respect to our
mutual relations. and that Europe could sim
ply recognize US as belligerents and preserve
STREET neutrality. This apparent refusalto
'ecide was IN reality against US. because we
we're then anjustly deprived of diplomatic in.
ercoufse On the same footing as our enemies.
ihe question OF the blockade is discussed at
ength. It's invalidity is shown, as tested bv
he principles of the Congress of Paris in 1856.
Inc Whole conduct of neutral nations is sum-
ned up SO as to show that they have enforced
II neutral rights that effected us iniuriously.
nd refrained from asserting those that would
njnre the United States
The correspondence between the Courts of
rance, Great Britain and Russia, is adyerted
;. The language of the French dispatch is
onstrued as a formal admission Of our ability
, MAINTAIN our independence, and iustifes
Ne hope OF early recognition.
The barbarltles committed by the Northern
oops are referred to, and the action taken In
,tat,on 70 the atrocities committed by Gene
lis Butler, Mcneil and Milroy explained
ne opinion is expressed that the infamy Of
leir Supporters, who have, in no one instance.
lnished the perpetrators Of these crimes.
In relation to Lincoln's proclamation. the
resident says our detestation is tempered 5y
oiound contempt for his impotent rage
ne acton OF the government will be confined
'deiFerisg up al commissioned officers here
ter captured in the ten States named in the
exclamation, to be tried by the States under
laws which punish those that excite SER
e instruction. The proclamation is treat
as possessing great significance in a politi-
view. II proves what were the designs of
2 republican party from the beginning, not
thstandIng their efforts to conceal them by
Sc declarations. The proclamation is next
lsldered as guarantee against the possi-
ity OF reconstruction. 1t is also treated as
OF incapability to subiugate the
nth, which Europe will be bound to consid-
as Jlustifying our immediate recognition or
1ntlmation to the people of the North, that
y must submit to final separation of the
ties.
The message, which is the longest yet issu-
by the President, embraces a comprehen-
review of the whole internal and external
ations OF the country. tt confident, even
imphant In tone, and closes with tribute,
'ur women without whose sublime sacri-,
$ 1t declares that our success would. have
n impossible
The Confederate Finances.
RICHMOND, Jan. 18th.
he report of the Secretary of the Treasu-
shows that from the commencement of the
manent Government, to 3lst December.
receipts We're ss437, S55, 600; expenditures
!, 400 100000 s3
s go amount to be raised by Con-
y, to slst July, ST 900.
ne DEBT OF the; efoF3 rnment on the stinst.
q