The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-11
Foote's Peace Propositions.

The people Of the Confederate States
of America having, in the progress Of the
pending war, most clearly demonstrated
their ability to maintain by arms the
claim to separate Independence, which
they have heretofore asserted before the
world, and being infexibly resolved new
er 10 relinquish the struggle in which
they are engaged until the great struggle
for which they have been contending
shall have been finally accomplished /; in
view Of the fact that great political rO.
action in opposition 10 the bloody and
unnatural war now in q course of prosecu-
ton, has displayed itself in several Of the
most populous and influential States Of
what was once honorahly known as "The
United States Of America" and, in view
of the additional fact that, even among
the avowed opponents of despotism, and
the recognized friends of peace in the
North, a grave and deplorable misappre-
hension has Of late arisen in regard to
the true condition of public sentiment in
the South touching the question of recon-
structihg that political Union once ex-
listing under the protection of what is
known as the Federal Constitution. Now,
in order that no further misunderstand-
ing of the kind referred to may hereafter
prevail, and in order that the unchange-
able determination of our government
and people, in reference to the terms up-
on which alone they would bring the
sanguinary struggle to a close, may be
made known, the Congress Of the Con-
federate States of America do resolve as
follows: M
j. "There is no plan of reconstructing
what was formerly known as the Fede-
raj Union, to which the people Of the
Confederate States will ever consent
Wrongs too grevious and multiplied have
been committed upon us and upon our
most cherished rights, by a united
North, since this unprovoked and most
wicked war commenced a majority Of
the people of the Northern States have
too evidently shown themselves TO be
utterly incapable Of self-government and
unmindlul of all the fundamental prin-
ciples upsn which alone Republican in
stitutions can be maintained. They have
foo long Submitted patiently to the iron
rule OF tie basest and most degraded
despotism that the world has yet known;
for too long period of time they have
openly and unblushingly sympathized
with the lawless and ferocious miscre-
ants who have been sent into the bosom
of the unoffending South TO spill the pre-
cious blood Of our most valued citizens
! Ito pollute and desecrate all that we
hold in especial respect and vene; alton
Ito rob us of our property--to expel us
from our homes, and wantonly to devas-
tate our eountry--to allow even Of the
possibility Of our ever again consenting
, to hold the least po. itical connection
with those who have so cruelty outraged
our sensibilities and so profoundly dis
honored themselves, and in association
with whom we feel that We could not
2 expect that freedom which we love, that
self-respect which we are determined
ever 10 cultivate, and the esteem and SYM
: pathy Of civilized and Christian nations
2. While the Confederate States OF
America are not at all responsible for the
existing war, and have been at all times
r ready to participate in such arrange
I ments as would be best suited to bring
!. it TO a close, in a manner consistent with
b their own safety and honor, they could
not yield their consent TO an aYmistics Of Q
: single day or hour, so long as the incen'
diary proclamation of the atrocioui
J. monster now bearing rule in Washington
e City shall remain unrevoked nor could
the Government OF said Confederate
States agree TO negotiate at all in regarC
J, to a suspension of hostilities, except upor
the basis Of a formal and unconditiOnA
s recognition of their independence
8. whenever the friends of peace II
| ha orfh hal atR Aufrh 4
: cOnstrain Abraham Lincoln and his dagi
tiOus Cabinet 10 withdraw said PrOcla'
nation, and propose an armistice upoI
@ the basis Aforesaid, the Government o
# the Confederate States will be ready d
Il accede 10 said proposition of armistie
q with aview to the settlement Of all ex
II isting difficulties.
?. 4. "Should peace be at any tim
q brought about, the Confederate States o
America would freely consent TO the for
nation Of o Just aud mutually advantage
v Gus commercial treaty with all the State
"a now constituting the United States, ex
II cept New England--with whose people
~ and in whose ignoble love Of gold an
= brutifying fanaticism this disgracefu
IA war has mainly originated; in considera
ta ton OF which TACT the people of tho Gun
"a federate States of America are firmly an
"a deliberately resolved TO have no inter
course Whatever hereafter, either diret
or indirect, political, CONNER cial, or 90
ciAl, under any circumstances whio
m could be possibly imagined TO exist, wit
- said States Of New England or the pee
ru pie therein resident
We 5. "The Government Of the COnfederai
sh States, in consideration of the change
public sentiment which has occurred
several Of the Northern States, wherei
IL, political elections have recently bee
held-synpathising most kindly wit
on those by whose manly exertiOns thi
change has been brought abOut--woul
ry be willing TO conclude just and honOl
he able peace with any one or more Of sal
States who (renouncing all political COT
neotion with New England) may be fouu
n. willing to stipulRte for desisting at on,
-, from the further prosecution Of the vi
~. against the South, and in such case Il
,s Government of the Confederate Stat
Far would be willing TO enter into leagu
a. offensive and defensive, with the Stat
thus desisting, ofa permanent and endu
ing character,
6. "Tho Government Of the Conied
ad Safes is now willing, as ID has heretolo
ION repeatedly avowed itself to be- wheney
he the States bordering upon the Missi
me sippi river, or any Of them, shall ha
Ips declared their inclination 10 withdri
] a from the further prosecution Of the v
upon Che South (Which, could it bo 81