Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-12-31


tertained at the commencement Of the
campaign, his further progress has been
checked. II wo are forced to regret los
ses in Tennessee and Arkansas we are
not without ground for congratulation
success in Louisiana and Texas. On
the sea.coast he is exhausted by vain eff.
forts to capture our ports, while on the
Northern frontier he has in turn felt the
pressure and breads the renewal of inva-
sion. The indomitable courage and per-
severance Of the people in the defense of
their homes have been nobly attested by
the unanimity with which the Legsa-
lures Of Virginia, North Carolina, and
Georgia have recently given expression
to the popular sentiment; aud like mani
estations may be anticipated from all
the States. Whatever obstinacy may be
displayed by the enemy in his desperate
sacrifices Of money, life, and liberty in
the hope of enslaving us, the. .ex perience
of mankind has too conclusively shown
the superior en- Iurance OF those who fight
for home, and liberty, and independence,
to permit any doubt of the result.
'ONbiuN hELAllONS.
| regret to inform you that there has
been no improvement in the state of our
relations with foreign countries since nv
Message in January last. On the contra
ry, there has been still greater diver
gence in the conduct of European nations
from that practical impartiality which
alone deserves the name of neutrality,
and their action, in some cases has as
sumed a character positively uniriendly
You have heretofore been informed
that, by common understanding, the
initiative in all action touching the con-
test on the continent had been left by for.
eign Powers to the two great maritime
nstions of Western Europe, and that
the Government of these two nations
had agreed to take no measures without
previous concert. The result of these
arrangements has, therefore, placed it in
the power of either France or England
to Distinct, at pleasure, the recognition
to which the Confederacy is Justly enti-
tied, or even prolong the continuance of
hostiities on this side Of the Atlantic, if
the policy of either could be promoted
by the postponement of peace. Each,
too, thus became possessed of great in
tiuence in SO shaping the general exercise
OF neutral rights in Europe as to render
them subservent to the purpose of aiding
one of the belligerents, to the detriment
of the other. l referred at your last ses-
sion, to some of the leading points in
the course pursued by the rrotessed neu-
trails, which betrayed passisan leaning
to the side of our enemies; but events
have since occurred which induce me to
renew the subject in greater detail than
was deemed necessary. In calling your
attention to the action OF these Govern
mehts, l shall refer to the documents ap-
pended to President Lincoln's Messages,
and to their own correspondence, as dis
closing the true nature of their policy
and the motives which guided it. To
this course no exception can be taken,
inasmuch as our attention has been in
vited to those sources of information by
their official publication.
In May, 1861, the Government os her
Brittanic Majesty informed our enemies
that it had not "allowed any other than
an intermediate position on the part of
the Southern States" and assured them
that the sympathies of this country
Great Britain) were more with the
North than with the South"
On the first day of July, 1861, the
British Government interdicted the use
OF its ports :" to armed ships and priva-
teers, both of the United States and the
SO called Confederate States" with their
prizes. The Secretary of State of the
United States fully appreciated the char
acter and motives of this interdiction,
when he observed to Lord Lyons, who
communicated it, "that this measure and
that of the same character which had
been adopted by France, would provo
DEATH blow to Southern privatcering."
Here President Davis goes into an
extended review of his relations with
England, occupying several columns.
refer you for fuller details on this
whole subject to the correspondence of
the State Department, which accompa-
nies this message. The facts which l
have briefly narrated are. | trust, suffi-
cient to enable you to appreciate the true
nature of the neutrality professed in this
war. 1t is not in my power to apprise
you to what extent the Government of
France shares the views so unreservedly
avowed by that of Great Britain, no pub
lished correspondence of the French
Government on the subject having been
received. No public protest or opposi-
tion, however, has been made by his I'm
perial Majesty against the prohibition to
trade with us, imposed on French citi-
zens by the paper blockade of the United
States, although l have reason to believe
that an unsuccessful attempt was made
on his part to secure the assent of the
British Government to course of action
more consonant with the dictates of pub.
lie law and with the demands of justice
toward us.
Mr.. Davis accuses England of mark
ed partiality toward " our (his) enc.
mics"
1t is due to you and to our country
that this full statement should be made,
of the just grounds which exist for dis
satisfaction with the conduct of the Brit
ish Government. am we'll aware that
we are unfortunately without adequate
remedy for the injustice under which we
have suffered at the hands OF powerful
nation. at n iunctpre whan our ont;ra ra