Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-17
FROM THE SOUTH.


Mr. Davis Introduces his last message with
short but gloomy account of the disasters which
have befallen the Confederate arms since the ad
journmens of Congress He finds little consola-
ton in the defence of Charleston. the operations
ia Pennsy Wv snia. and some minor Affairs in Louis
lana and Texas
Speaking of the surrender of Cumberl md Gap
to Gen Burnside. he hints treason The bat
tie OF Chicka miugiis considered one of the "mos,
brilliant and decisive yictories OF the war" Of
the fight with Gen Grant. he says:
after a long and severe btttle. in which great
carnage was inflicted on him. some OF our troops
inexpcablv abandoned positions of great strength
and by disorderly retreat compelled the com
mander to withdraw the forces elsewhere sue
cessful. and finally to retire with his whole army
to position some twenty or thirty miles to the
rear. lt is believed that if the troops who Weld
ed to the assault had fought with the valor which
they had displayed previous occasions and
which WAS manifested in this battle on the other
parts OF the line. the enemy would have been
pulsed with very great slaughter, and our cOun
try would have escaped the misfortune and the
army the modification OF the first defeat that has
resulted from misconduct by the troops"
This retreat of Bragg compelled Longstreet to
fall back from Knoxville.
FoREIGS RELATIONS.
On this point:the message SAYS:
Improvement in the state of relations with
foregs countries since my message 4 January
last. On the contrary. there has been a still
greater divergence in the cnEiuct of Europe u
nations from that practical impartiality which
alone deserves the name OF neutrality. aud their
action. in some csses, has assumed characttS
positively unfriendly
You have heretofore been informed that, bv
common understanding the initiative in all action
had
left by foreign powers to the two great maratime
nations OF Western Europe. and thst the govern
ments of the two nations had agreed tn take no
measures without previous concert The result
OF these arrangements has therefore. pl tceI il
in the power OF either France or England To ob
struct at pleasure the recognition To which the
Confederacy j. justly entitled, even 10 proloug
the continuance OF Eo>tllities on thi, side OF the
Atlantic if the policy of either could be promo
ted by the DostpOnement of peace. f sch, too.
thus became pp-sessel of great influence in SO
shaping the general exercise OF neutral rights in
Europe "a ~ render them subServ ent 20 the pur
pose OF aiding one OF the beiigerents to the def
riment of the other. referred AT your last ses
sion. to some OF the leading points IN the cou Sc
pursued bv pro- essei neurals which betrayed n
partisan leaning to the side of our enemies but
events have since occurred which induce me Ia
renew the subject in greater detail than was then
deemed necessary
The message thsu T capabilities the action of
England in reference TO the observ ance of the
blockade. and discusses at length the validity OF
that action under international law In this con
nection ii SAYS:
The intimation that relations with these States
would be discreditable because they are slave
holding. would probably have been omitted if the
official parsonage who has published il to the
world had remembered that these States were
nh 4. h,-, 80
exercise of the power of Great Britain whose lie
tendencies they were. and whose interests in the
slave trade were then supposed 10 require her
colonies should be made sl,veholding."
IL Is compltined also. that England has acted
unfairly in permitting the Federals to obtain sup
plies in that country. while denying the SINE
privilege O. the rebels
The course of France is thus referred to
1T il not in NV power To apprise YOU To what
extent the Government of France shares the
views unieseryedly avowed hv that OF Great
Britain, published respondence OF the
French Government on the subject having been
received. No public protest nor opposition how
ever has been made bv his Imperial Majesty
against the prohibition OF trade with US imposed
French citizens by the paper blockade of the
United States although | have reason 10 DE ieve
that an unsuccessful stiempt made ON his
part N secure the assent OF the British Govern.
the dictates OF public la~ and With the demand
of Justice toward u"
IA 10 the right of the rebels 10 claim recogni-
ton a. a nation the message saws:
For nearly three wears this Govesnment has
exercised unquesrored jurisdiction over many
millions of sillinc and united people lthas met
and defeated vast armies of invaders vho have
IN vain sought its subversion Supported nv the
conhdenee OF ~ citizens. the Confedsrscy has
laCke3 no element ~hich di-iiu guish hes IN inds-
pendent nation. according 70 the principles of
public Law. IT, legislative. executive and Judi
cal departments. each ln is sphere. have per
formed their appropriate functions With regu-
lariiy as undisturbed a. IN a time OF profound
peace. md the whole energies OF the people have
been developed In the organization OF vast =
ni,e- while their rights and liberties have re~tei
secure under the protection oi the courts OF jus
tee. THIS Conieieracy n either independent or
II Is dependency OF the United States. for no
other earthly power claims the right to govern
Il Without one historic fact on which the pre-
tension Gao rest. without one line or ~onl ol
treats ~ covenant. which can give color to title