American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-01-30


Recall our Representatives,.
Mr.. Foote. OF Tennessee. offered The
resolutions in Congress
.WHERsAs. More than two years have
now passed away since the Confed-
crate States Of America deliberately pro
mulgated their declaration Of independ-
ence, and during that period they have
given conclusive evidence Of their ability
10 maintain that declaration by arms
against one Of the most powerful nations.
both by land and sea. that the world
has yet known and whereas. during the
said space of two years. every effort.
consistent with our own dignity and
with the usages Of civilized
nations. has been made by the governs
ment Of the Confederate States 10 pro-
cure recognition Of our independence at
The hands of the principal powers Of Eu-
rope. and TO open a mutually advantage
eous commerce with them. which Efforts
have been. notwithstanding these facts.
almost wholly unavaiing and whereas.
the proof which We have already given of
wisdom in counsel. of decorum and dig
nifty in action. of general concord and
hearty cooperation. both among our
States and people. joined to eminent sue
cess in war. and noble moderation.
both in seasons of suffering and OF tri-
umph. has enrolled our name and our
achievements upon the enduring record
OF history as q great and powerful COM
munity Of sovereign States. equal in all
the essential features of true national
ity. to the proudest potentates that have
ever yet claimed the respect Of civil
lied men-so that it is comparatively
immaterial to US whether We are ever
formally recognized by foreign nations
or not. they being at least as much in
terested in holding friendly intercourse
with US as We with them and whereas.
it would be wholly Incompatible With
our own self respect much longer to re
tain diplomatic agents at the courts TO
which they have been heretofore sent.
whilst no indications of reciprocal regard
and sympathy have been offered by
foreign governments therefore.
lie Il Resoleed. That it be respectfully.
but earnestly recommended to the Presi-
dent that he do as early as the first day
Of May next. withdraw our present di
ital. the government of which shall not
have at that time agreed 10 recognize our
independence aud that. after said first
day Of May. no foreign consul. now act
ing as such. within the limits OF the said
Confederate States. shall be longer al
lowed to exercise consular power among
US, except upon an ex-quatur asked for
at the hands of the government of said
Confederate States. and granted by the
same.
.Resolved. That the conduct of the
Emperor of Franse in proposing. as he
has recently done. to the several Euro
pean Powers. that they should unite
with him in an act of peaceful aud ami
progress between the government OF the
United States and that Of the C,nleder-
ate States of America. has been highly
gratifying both to the government and
people Of the Confederate States, and
the hope is INDUCED in that this wise
and magnanimous movement of the En-
peror of France. so fully in harmony. as
1t is. with the principles which he has
heretofore avowed in we'll known pub
lished writings. and upon which he has
uniformly acted since his elevation 10 the
imperial throne. may soon eventuate 10
the establishment of Relations between
his government and that Of the Confed-
crate States of America. Of close com
mercial amity aud Of enduring concord !"
Mr.. Foote said that he believed that
there was no proposition involving high
er interests and more Of the welfare Of
the country than those embodied in the
resolutions before the house. The facts
which it stated were familiar to all In
the progress of this war. which had last
ed more than two years. We had gives
the most complete assurance Of our abil
ity to conplete our fortunes and achieve
our independence we had shown wisdom
IN council and eminent success in arms.
1t was also Historically true that. within
this period of two years. every effort con
sistent with our dignity had been made
TO obtain our recognition in the family OF
nations. There could be no doubt Of the
succeeding proposition that no disposi-
ton had been shown BY foreign govern
ments to concede in the justice Of our
recognition. Could any one doubt the
proposition that. under these
!. would be incompatible
with our dignity and injurious to our in
terests to keep at the courts of these
diplomatic represe natives
to urge the recognition of our independ-
ence. which We had already. in fact. ac-
The fact was that We nred
ed no more the recognition OF foreign
nations than they did ours The dis
passionate page of history would record
that already the States Of this Confeder-
acy were as much an established power
as any other nation os potenta,e on earth
We bad no particular object in seeking
recognition. and if foreign powers chose
to withhold themselves from as il VAS
matter Of choice and discretion With them.
But the question that pressed upon US
Was one personal to ourselves. involving
our own dignity and it was on this