Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-22
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
To he Senate and House Of Ropresenstipss Of lRs Con-

To tie Senate and House Of Representatives. Of the Con-
! tederGts States:
At the date of your ast adjournment the preparation
Of the enemy fer further hositiss had assumed
nseing aspect excite IN sCme minds apprehen
sion Of our ability 70 meet them with sufficient prompt
ness to avOi serious reverses. These preparations
were comreted shortly after your departure from the
Of government and the armies of the United States
| made simultaneous advance frontiers on the
western rivers and on the Atlantic coast 10 the
gre eyiBee thsir hope of overbe airing all re-
sistancs by weight Of numbers This hope how
ever IKE nOse previously tertsned by our foes, has
vanished In Virginia ther fourth attempt at invasion
by armies whose assured confidently pre-
dicted, has met with decisive repulse Our mob de-
Tenders under the coaummate leadership Of their gene
raj have again, at Fredericksburg, inf cted on the
forces under General Burnside the ike disastrous over
throw had been previously suffered by the successive
/ invading armies commanded by Generals Mcdowell
! Mcclellan and Pope
in the west obstinate battles have been fought with
varying fortunes marked by fIighfuI carnage on both
sides but the enemys hopes of decisive results have
again been baf1ed while at Veksburg another formda-
bic expedition has been repulsed with inc0nsjerable
| loss our side and severe damage to the assaing
forces On the Atlantic coast he enemy has been IN
able gain footing beyond the protecting shelter Of
bis fleets he city Of Galveston has Just been reeov.
cred by our forces which succeeded not only in the
capture Of the garrison, but Ct CT the enemys YES
ses of war which carried by boarding parties from
merchant river steam Our fortified pc itions have
l every where been much stTeng nened and inBroved
aording assurances Of our ability to meet with success
the utmost efforts Of enemies, in spite Of the magni.
tuds Of their preparations for attack.
review Of our history of the two years of our nation
al existence affords ample congrstulaton and
demands the most fervent expression of cur thankful.
the Almighty Father has blessed our eacse
We ale justified in asserting, with pride surely not
unbeeOmiug that these C0nfederts States have added
smother she lessons taught by history the nstrue
tion Of man; that they have afforded another example
Of mpossbility Of subugating people determined to
be ieei and nave oeinonsaed that no superiority Of
numbers avable resources can overcome the resist
offered by such valor in combat such constancy
under suffering and such cheerful endurance Of priva
ton have been uspcuOus displayed by this people
in the defense Of their rights and liberties The sntici
paons with which entered INTO the contest havenov
ripened into conviction which is not euv shsred with
by the opinion Of neutral nations but is evi-
IDENTIFY forcing itself upon our enemies themseves If
but remark the history of the present year b reso
Lutte perseverance in the psth have hitherto pursued;
by virtuous effort in the developments Of all resources
for defense and by the continued exhibition Of the same
unfaterng courage IN oar soldiers and able conduct IN
their leaders have distinguished the past we have
every to expect that this viii be the closing year
OF the WaI. rms war, which, IA lis inception,
waged for forcing bEck into the Unon having failed
to accomplish that purpose passed irto second stage
IN which it attempted to conquer and rule these
States dependent provinces Defeated in this second
design enemies have evidently entel ed upOn another
which can have 10 other purpose than revenge ard
thirst FOR blood and pluder Of private property But
however impacable they may be- they have neither
the spirit the resources required for fourth year of
struggle u1cheered By any hope Of success kept alive
solely for the indulgence Of mercenary and wicked pas
sions, and demanding exhaustive an expenditure of
blood and money has hitherto been imposed their
people The advent o. peace will be hailed with 10y
Oar desire for it has never been concealed Oar efforts
avoid the war, forced was by the lust Of
conquest and the insane passions Of foes are known
to mankind But earnest as has heen our wish for peace
aud great have been our sacrifices and surns dur
ing the war the determination of this people has with
each succeeding month become more unalteraby fixed
10 endure suy suerings and continue any sacrifices
however prolonged, un their right 10 selfoyernment
and tbe Sovereignty and independence of these States
shall have been triumPhantly vindieated and firmly
established
In this connectop the occasion seems not unsuitable
for some reference 10 she relations between the Con-
federeey and the neutral powers Of Europe since the
separation Of these States from the former Union
-Four Of the States now members Of the Confederaev
were recognized by independent sovaregrties
in treaty Of peace concluded in the year l793 with
one Of the great maritime powers of Western Fu
rope, and had been prior TO that period allies in war
of the other. Iu the year l77S they formed 8 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 Of the United States seeded from
it N l7s9 and these eleven seeding States formed
second unon although by the terms Of the articles Of
Confederation express provision made that the first
union should be perpetual Their right to secede not
withstsnding this provision, neither contested hy
the States from which they separated nor made the
subject of discussion with sny third power Them Al
la'er period North Carolina, acceeded to that second
unicn, and when still ster the other ssven States now
members Of this Confederacy became also members of
the Union, il upon the recognized footing Of
equal and independent soveregBties nor had it then
entered into the minds OF men that sovereign States
could be compelled by force 10 remain members of
confederation into which they had their own
Tree WILL IL az subsequent period, the defense of their
safety and honor should in their Judgment Justify wi
drswaL The experience Of the past had evineed the
futiy of any renUncstisn Of such inherent rights and
accordingly the provision for perpetuity contained in
the Articles of Confederation of rs was omitted in The
Constitution Of l7sQ When therefore in 1861 eleven
Of the States again thought proper reasons sstsfae
tory themselves, to seeede from the second union
and 10 form third one under amended Constitution
they exercised right which, being inherent REQUIRED
no Justification foreign nations and which infera-
tioua law did not permit them question The usages
Of intercourse between nations do however require
that official communication be made TO friendly powers
OF ali organic changes in the Constitution Of States and
there was obvious proprey in giving prompt
OF our desire 20 continue amcsble relations with all
kind. It under the influence of these consdera-
tions tbat your predecessors, the provisional govern
ment took early measures for sending &c FuroDe Com
mss 7ner che ged with the duty Of visiting the capitals
Of the different powers and msng arrangements for
the opening Of more formal diplomatic intercourse.
PriOr however, to the arrival abroad of those com
missoners the United States had commenced hOsties
against the C0rfedsTacy by dispatching secret exps
dtion TO- the reinforcement of Fort Sumter after an
express promise 70 the contrary, and with dupicty
which has been fully unveiled in q former message
They had also addressed communications 10 the differ
ent cabinets o. Europe, IN which hey the atti
tude OF being sovereign this Confederaey al eeing
that these Independents States in rebellion against
the remaining States OF the Union and fbresteninv
Europe with manifestations of their disnleasure if il
should treat the Confederate States as having an indie
pendent existence. IT soon became known that these
prete usion not considered abroad 10 he as sbsu6
they known 20 be at home nor had Eurene vet
learned what reliance 20 be placed on the ofeisI
statements Of tbs Cabinet st Washington The deiees
to7 Of power granted by these States the Federal
government 20 represent them in foreign inerco,,ra
had led Europe into the grave error Of supposng thaI
their separate sovereignty and Independence had been
merged into common sovereignty and had ceased to
have distinct existence. Under the influence of this
error, which all appeals to and historical fact
were vainv ed to dspei commissioners yyere met
By the caraton that foreign governments could not
assume 10 judge between the con6icng Representations
of the two parties 70 the true nature Of their previ
oug mutual relations. The governments of Great
Britain and France accordingly signfel their deternn-
alton 10 eonne themselves recognizing the selfevi
fact Of the existence Of war aud to maintaining
strict neutrality during its progress Some Of the
other powers Of Europe pursued the same course Of
DO icy and il became apparent that by some under
standing express or tct Europe had decided to leave
the nitsve in all action touching the contest this
continent to the two powers juEs named, Who were
recognised have the largest interesss involved both
BY reason OF proximity ami ef the extent and intimacy