Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-01-20
Gbt 9tan6ar0.
MESSAGE
PRESIDENT JEFF. DAVIS

s~sumed so meaaciug an aspect as 70 eSciUe .. -,
minds appreheasiens Of our ao'nty 70 uee o,arsa
with sufficient prouptRess to ave,t SSortIv after
these preparations were completed sooius -
,-o,r danarture from the seat OF GovernHienH go
The armies of the United States maze 80 and
advance on our frontiers, on the "esIe. 49, ovirce
On the Atlantic coast in masses SO greN'S ~ n,are
their hope of overbearing all reSis ".or lie those
Is;cbt of numbers. This nope, however, M ouOo
r'-sS;o,sv entertained by our foes mas E@"s : -
+ viii. their fourth attempt AZ loTAS'o" y
.ruies whose assured success was Oo'uo o. yfnIo
,Ectad has met with decisive repulse' Uu' go;
defenders. uNaer the coRsummate teaue'ss " On
Ge"II have again at fredericksburg lnnlceeu U"
c.os nader General burnside the like disastrous
,.xertbrou as had been previously SuHereu W .u
successive invading armies eO"n~rueo of "e"e1" ''
Mcdowell, Mcclellan and Pope. srht
In the West obstinate battles nave oeen IouS
~ fortpnes marked by frghtful carnage
an 10Th sides bat the enemy hopes OF decisive re-
colts have AGAIN been baf1ed, while at flcSsUuis
another formidable expedition has oeeh ,ePuISeo
With iaconsidera5le loss on our Slde, anu So
damage to the assailIng forces On the h e,
coast The enemy has been unable 10 g'l. t tho
c;ty of Galveston has Just been recovered oy our
frcss ,Vbich succeeded not only in the capture OF
tha Garrison, bGt Of one Of the enemy s Vessels Oh
war. which was carried by boarding parties from
merchant river steamers. Our toruheo p"Sis'ons
have every where been much strengthened ana ihi-
With success the utmost efforts of our enemies, IN
.nite of the magnitude of their preparations ior
attack.
Areview of our history during the two years OF our
national exiS1nee affords amp cause Tor cohSraIu
lation and demands the most ferVent expression oi
our thankfulness to the Almighty Father VINO mas
blessed our cause. We are justified in asserting
with a pride surely not unbecoming, that these
Confederate States have added another to the les
sons taught by history for the instruction OF man
that they have afforded another example OF the in-
possibility of subiugating people determined 10 DC
free: and have demonstrated that no superiority OF
numbers or available resources can overcome tue
resistance offered by such valor in combat, such
constancy under suffering and such cheerful enou-
rance of privatioD have been consplcuousiy us
played by this people in the defence OF their rights
and liberties The anticipations with which we en-
tered into the contest have now ripened into con-
yiction which is not only shared with US by the
common opinion of neutral nations, but Is evidently
forcing itself upon our enemies themselves. II we
but mark the history of the present year oy reso-
lutte perseverance in the path we have hitherto pur
sued-by vigorous effort in the development oil all
our resources for defence and by the continued eX-
hibition of the unaltering courage IN our sol
diers and able conduct in their leaders as have dis
tnguished the past we have every reason to expect
that this will be the closing year of the war. The
war, which, IN its inception was waged for forcing
us back into the Union, having failed to accomplish
that purpose passed into second stage IN whlchlt
was attempted to conquer and rule these States as
dependent provinces. Defeated in this second de-
stg, Uur ~"o evidently entered upon an
other which can have no other purpose tnan re-
venge and thirst for blood, and plumber Of private
property. But however implacable they may be,
they can have neither the spirit nor the resources
required for fourth year of a struggle uncheered
by any hope of success kept alive solely for the in
diligence of mercenary and wicked passions, and
demanding so exhaustive expenditure Of blood
and money as has hitherto been imposed on their
people. The advent of peace will Oe hailed with
Joy. Our desire for it has never been concealed
Our efforts to avoid the war, forced it was
by the lust of conquest and the insane passions Of
our foes, are known to mankind But earnest as
has been wish for peace and great as have
been our sacrifices anil SutteringS during the war,
the determination Of this people has with each sue
ceeding month become unalteTably fixed, to
endure any Sutferings aud continue any sacrifices
however prolonged until their right to self govern
ment and the sovereignty and independence of these
States shall have been triumphantly yindicatcd and
firmly established
In this connection the occasion seems not I'M
suitable for some reference to the relations between
the Confederacy and the neutral powers of Europe
since the separation of these States from the former
Union.
Four of the States members Of the Confede-
racy, were recognized by name as independent SOW
erergnties in treaty Of peace, concluded in the
year l7S3 with of the two great maritime powers
rod, allies in war Of the other. In the year 1873
they formed Union with nine other States under
articles of Confederation. Dissatisfied with that
Union, three of them, Virginia South Carolina and
Georgia together with eight of the States now mem-
bers of the United States seeded from it in 7S9,
and these eleven seeding States formed a second
union although by the terms of the Articles Of Con-
federation express provision was made that the
first union should be perpetual. Their right to Sc
cede notwithstanding this provision, neither
contested by the States from which they separated
nor made the subject Of discussion with any third
power. When, at a later period, North Carolina
acceded to that second union, and, when still later
the other seven States members of this Con
federacy, became also members of the same Union,
It was upon the recognized footing of equal and in.
dependent soVereigntieS; nor had it then entered
into the minds of that sovereign Suites could
be compelled, by force, to remain members of con.
federation into which they had entered of their own
free WILL If, at asubsequent period the defence OF
their safety and honor should in their Judgment.
justify withdrawal. The experience of the past had
eVinced the futity of any remuneration of such in.
herent rights, and accordingly the provisions for
perpetuity contained in the Articles of Confedera
ton of ITS was omitted liz the Constitution of 1889
When therefore, in 1861 eleven of the States again
thought proper, for reasons satisfactory to them
selves to secede from the second union and to form
third one under an amended Constitution they
exercised right which, being inherent required ne
justification to foreign nations, and which interna
tional Law did not permit them to question. The
usages OF intercourse between nations do, however
require that official communication he made t.
friendly powers of all organic changes in the con
Gtituton of States, and there was obvious proprety
in giving prompt assurance of our desire to contin
uearAicable relations with all mankind. 1t was un
der the influence of these considerations that YOU
predecessors, the provisional government took early
measures for sending to Europe Commissioner.
charged with the duty of visiting the capitals of thu
o,A,,
opening of more formal diplomatic intercourse
Prior, howeyer, to the arrival abroad of those
Commissioners, the United States had commenced
hostilitics against the Confederacy by despaichng
secret expedition for the reinforcement of Fort Sum
ter, after an express promise to the contrary and
I,,o h,Sh oap e.,