Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-01-21
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Nj e SAGE
PRESIDENT JEFF. DAVIS.

NI u - - "A " -
PRESIDENT JEFF. DAVIS. .
10 tho Senate eaad House Of
A. the date of your last adjournment the Pre-,
narar:ons of the enemy for further hosIities mao
assumed SO menacng an aspect as TO eAc'te III s"e
minds spprehenssons OF our aosy m,. ra,orsss
with sufficient pronptness to avoid serious reverses
These preparations were completed shortly after
Cour departure from the seat Of Government ana
She armies of the United States made simultaneous
advance on our frontiers the western rivers ana
on the Atlantic coast in SO greatas to eqine
their hone of overbearing all resistance 'by mere
weight Of numbers. This hope, however, IKE snosa
previously entertained by our Toes, aas vatNs'se =,
In Virginia, their fourth attempt at 4avss.on oy
armies whose assured success was confidently pre-
dicted, has met with decisive repalses Our noble
defenders under the consummate leadership OF their
General have again, at fredericksburg inflicted on
the forces under General Burnside the like disastrous
overthrow as had been previously suffered by the
successive invading armies commanded oY Generals
Mcdowell, Mcclellan and Pope.
In the West obstinate battles have been fought
with varying fortunes, marked by frightful carnage
on both sides but the enemy hopes of decisive re-
suits have again been bafled, while at Vicksburg
another formidable expedition has been repulsed
with inconsiderable loss on our side, and severe
damage to the assaillng forces. On the Atlantic
cosst the enemy has been unable to gain footing
beyond the protecting shelter of his fleets and the
city Of Galveston has just been recovered by our
forces which succeeded not only in the capture of
the garrison; but Of one of the enemys vessels of
war, which was carried by boarding parties from
merchant river steamers. Our fortified positions
have every where been much strengthened and i'm
proved atfordng assurance Of our ability to meet,
with success, the utmost efforts of our enemies in
spite Of the magnitude of their preparations for
attack.
Areview of ourh history during the two years ofour
national existence affords ample cause for congratu-
lation and demands the most fervent expression OF
our thankfulness to the Almighty Father who has
blessed our cause. We are justified in asserting,
with 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 i'm
possibility of subjugating people determined to b"
free; and have demonstrated that superiority -
numbers or available resources can overcome the
resistance offered by such vaor in combat, such
consistency under suffering and such cheerful endu-
rance of privation as have been conspicuousiy dis
played by this people in the defence of their rights
and liberties. The anticpations with which We
tered into the contest have ri pened into con-
viction which is not only shared with US by the
common opinion Of neutral nations, but is evidently
forcing itself upon our enemies themselves. If we
but mark the history of the present year by reso-
Lutte perseverance in the path we have hitherto pur
sued-by vigorous effort in the development of all
resources for defence, and by the continued ex-
hibition of the same unfalterins courage SOL
ders and able conduct in their leaders as have dis
tingushed 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 which it
was attempted to conquer and rule these States as
dependent provinces. Defeated in this second de-
sign, our enemies have evidently entered upon an
other, which can have other purpose than re-.
venge and thirst for blood and plumber of private
property. Bat however implacable they may be,
they can have neither the spirit nor the resources
required for fourth year Of struggle uncheered
any hope of success kept alive solely for the in.
adtseaeee OF mercenary and wicked passions and
demanding so exhaustive an 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 on us as it was
by the lust of conquest and the insane passions OF
our foes, are known to mankind. But earnest as
has been our wish for peace and great as have
been our sacrifices and sutferings during the war;
the determination of this people has with each sue.
ceeding month become more unalterably fxcl t..
endure any suherings ard continue any sacrifices,
however prolonged until their right to self govern
ment and the sovereignty and independence OF these
States shall have been trumphantIy INDICATED and
firmly established.
In this onEection, the occasion seems not I'M.
suitable for some reference to the relations between
the Confederacy and the neutral powers of Europe
since tho separation of these States frou the former
Union.
Four of the States now members of the Confede.
racy, were recognized by name as independent soy.
ereignties in treaty of peace, concluded in the
1865 win one OF the two great maritime powers
Of Western Europe, and had been, prior to that De-
Rod, allies in war Of the other In the year ITS
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 men,
bcrs OF the United States seeded from it in 1889
and these eleven seeding States formed second!
union, although by the terms of the Articles Of Con-
federation, express provision was made that tho
hrst union should be perpetual. Their right to Sc
cede, notwithstanding this provision. was neither
contested by the States from which they separated
nor made the subject of discussion with any third
power When, at later period, North Carolina
acceded to that second union, and when still LATER
the other seven States, now members of this Con.
fedcracy, became also members Of the same Union
it was upon the recognized footing of equal and in
dependent s'verelgntles; nor had it then entered
into the minds of men that sovereign States could
90 compelled by force, to remain members Of a con.
federation into which they had entered Of their own
free WILL it. at asubsequent period, the defence of
their safety and honor should, in their judgment,
justify Withdrawal The experience of the past had
eVlnced the utility 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 1883.
When therefore, in 1861, eleven of the States again
thought proper, for reasons satisfactory to them.
third one under an amended Constitution. thew
exercised right which, being inherent equircd no
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 be made to
friendly powers of all organic changes in the con.
stitution Of States and there was obvious propretv
in giving prompt assurance of our desire to contn
ue arnicable relations with all mankind, It vas nm,