Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-15
pREsrnEHTs MESSAGE.
TO The Senate and House Of Representative

ress N avoid serious reVerses These preparations we're
completed shortly after your departure from the seat OF
Government and the armies OF the United States mace
Simultaneous advance frontiers, on the western
rivers and cd the Atlantic coast in masses so great as 10
vinca their hope of oYerbearing all resistance by mere
aoht Of numbers This hope, however, like those pre-
vously entertained by foes, has vanished IL 'ir
Onia their fourth attempt at invasion by armies whose
sssd success was confidently predicted has met with
decisive repulse Our noble defenders, under the con-
summate leadership of their general have again, al
Fredericksburg inflicted on the forces under Genera
Burnside the ike disastrous overthrow as had been pre-
yousy suffered by the successive invading armies com
nondsd nv Generals Mcdowell, Mcclellan and Pope
In the West obstinate battles have been fought with
varying fortunes marked by fghtfu carnage on both
sides but the enemys hopes of decisive results have
aoain been bafed while at Vicksburg another formula
bic expedition has been repulsed with nconsderaDle
loss on our side and damage to the assailipg
forces On the Atlantic coast the enemy has been una
HE 70 Gain footing beyond the protecting shelter Of
h fleets and the city of Galveston has just been re
covered by our forces which succeeded not only p the
CAPTURE of the garrison bnt Of one Of the enemy yes
se of war which was carried by boarding parties Prom
merchant river steamers. Our ioruned ppsuonS nave
every where been much strengthened and improved,
ardne assurance of our ability to meet with success
the utmost efforts of our enemies IN spite OF the magn
tude of their prepsyatiOns for attack. 49, ~ ~
review OF our history during The two years OF our
national existence affords cause Tor congatuatlon
aund
fitness TO the Almighty Father who has blessed our
cause We arejustied in asserting, with pride surely
NOT unbecOming that these Confederate States have
added ano her TO the lessons taught by history Tor the
instruction of man that they have afforded another e1
ample of the impOssibIhy OF suDJugailng people de-
ermined 10 be free and have demonstrated that no SUI
aioritv of numbers or Available resources can over
come the resistance offered by such yalor in combat
such constancy under suffering and such cheerful endu
r1e of priyation as have been conSpcuoasy displayed
by this people in the defence OF their rights and hber
tics The anticipatons with which entered into the
contest have now ripened into conviction WHICH is
only shared with us by the opinion OF neutral
nations lint ia evidently forcing itself upon enemies
hDSoIvs If we but mark tue history of the present
year by resoutS perseverance IN the pain We have ht
erto pursued by vigorous effort in the development of
al on resources for defence and by the continued ex
bibton of the same uniering courage in Our soldiers
aud able conduct in their leaders IS haye distinguished
tLe nast we have every reason to expect that this will
ho L Iosino wear of the war. The War which in its
ncepon was waged for forcing us back into the Union
having failed to accomplish that purpose, passed
into a second stage, III which 1t was attempt
cd TO conquer and rule these States Deepen
dent provinces Defeated in this second design,
emies have evidently entered upon another, which
have no other purpose than revenge and thirst for blood
and plumber of private property But however mpac-
able they may be- they hqye neither the spirit nor
the resources reqpred for fourth gear OF struggle
the indulgence of neFcenary and wicked passions, AID
demanding so exhaustive expenditure Of blood and
money as has hitherto been imposed on their people,
The advent of peace will be hailed with JOY. Our de-
sire for it has been concealed. Our efforts to
avoid the war forced on us il by the lust OF
quest and the insane passions of our foes are known 70
mankind But earnest has been our wish for peace
and great as have been sacrifices and suterngs du
ring the war; the determination OF this people has with
each succeeding month become more unalterably fixed
to endure any sufferAgs and continue any sacrifices,
however prolonged until their right TO sellgoyeEnnent
and the sovereignty and independence Of these States
shall have been trumphAnty Vndicsted and firmly es
tabishcd
I'm this connection the occasion seems not unsuitable
for some reference the relations between the COnede
Vacy and tv sessal powsss Of garope since the sePara
ton of these States from the former Union ~
-Four of the States now members of the Conederacy,
were recognized independent soVereignes in treaty
of peace concluded in the year 1888, with one OF the
two great maritime powers of Western Europe, and had
BEEN prior that period, allies in war with the other
In the year Ills 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 nov members
of the United States seeded from il in $780, and these
eleven seeding States formed second unon although
by the of the articles OF confederation express
provision was made that the first union should be per-
petus Their right to secede Notwithstanding this pro-
they separated nor mede the subject OF discussion with
any third power. When, 81 a later period, North Caro-
lima acceded TO that second uDioD and when, still later,
the other States, nov members OF this Conied-
eracy became also members Of the same Dnlpn 1t was
upon the recognized footing Of equal aud ipdepen-
dent soyereignties nor had il then entered iuto
the minds of men that sovereign States could be COM
PEELED by force TO remain members OF a confederation
into which they had entered Of their own free will, it,
subsequent period, the defense OF their safety aud
honor should, in theig judgment justify withdrawal.
The experience of the past had eynced the tUtity of
any remuneration Of such inherent EgEt and according
Is the provision for pepetuity contained IL the Articles
Of Confederation of 1913 omitted in the COgctitu-
ton Of 1888. When, therefore in 1861 eleven OF tue
States again thought proper for satisfactory to
themselves 10 secede from tho second union and to
form a third one under an amended constitution they
exercised right which, being Inherent, required no
justification foreign nations, and which international
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 constitution Of States and there
was obvious proprety in giving prompt assurance of
our desire continue ancable relations with all mau-
kind IL was under the influence of these conSdera-
ons that your predecessors the provisional govern
men took early measures for sending to Europe Com
missoners charged with the duty Of visiting the cap;
tails of the different powers add making arrangements
for the opening OF formal diplomatic intercourse.
Prior, however, to the arrival abroad of those Com
missoners the United States had commenced h0stties
against the COufederacy by despatching secret expe
dition for the reinforcement Of Fort Sumter after
express promise to the contrary, and with dupcity
which has been fully unveiled in former message
They had also addressed communications to the differ
Cabinets of Europe in which they assumed the att
tude of being sovereign over this Coniederaey, alleging
that these independent States were in rebellion against
the remaining States of the Uniol and threatening En-
rope with manifestations of their dspeasure if it should
treat the Confederate States having independent
existence. IL soon became known that these preen-
sions were not considered abroad to be absurd
they were known to be at home, nor had Europe yet
learned what reliance to DO placed the olleai
statements ofthe Cabinet at Washington The delegation
of power granted by these States the Federal
represent them in foreign Intercourse had led Europe in
the grave Of surprising that their separate SOW
eregnty and independence had been merged into one
common sovereignty aud had ceased to have distinct
existence. Under the inf renee of this error which all
appeals reason and historical fact vanly used 10
mo nv tha