Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-26

! Cur Earopean Relations Proposition 90
Recall eur Representative.
Mr.. Foote, cf Tennessee offered the following
resolutions IN Congress:
4" WHEREAS More than two years have now
passed away since the Confederate States Of
America deliberately promulgated Their declare
tiOn Of national Independence, and during that
period tbeg have given conclusive evidence of
. their ability to maintain thst declaration by
arms against one Of the most powerful nations
both by land and seq that the 5Vorld has yet
known; and whereas, during the said spaces
Of two years, every effort, consistent with our
own dignity a8d compatible with the nsages Of
civilized nations, has been made by The govern
ment Of the Confederate States to procure recog-
milton Of our Independence st the hands Of the
principal powers Of Europe, and to open mu-
tually edFeu tsge0us commerce with them, which
efforts have been, notwithstanding these facts,
almost wholly unavaiing; and whereas, the
proof which we have already given Of wisdom
in counsel Of decOrum and dignity in action, Of
general concord and hearty cooperation, both
among our States ard people, Joined 70 eminent
success In war, and noble n7oderation both iR
seasons of suffering and Of triumph, has enrolled
our name and our achievements upon the enduT-
ing record Of history as q great and powerful
community Of sovereign States, equal ia III the
essential features Of trus nationality, to the
proUdest potentstes that have ever yet elsimed
the respect Of civilized men-se that It is com
psrativelY imu7a terial to rs whether We are ever
formally recognized by foreign nations OK lot,
they being st least as much interested IN holding
kindly intercourse with Us as We with them; and
whereas, It you'd be wholly Incompatible with
our own selfTespect much longer to retain
diplomatic agan-s at the courts TO which they
have been heret0f0 e sent, whilst no indications
o. Tpcipr5cal regard and sympathy have been
Afforded by foTeigu government; therefore,
- I'D - L. tc.Tf -
earnestly recommended 20 the President that he
do, as early as the fest day Of May next, with
draw our present diplomatic agents from every
foreign capital the government OF which shall
not have at that time agreed to leeognizs our
independence; and that, afier said first day Of
May, no foTeiga consul BOW acting sach,
within the lmits-of sail C0nlsdeTate States,
shaa be longer allowed to exercise consular
power awCng Us, except upon an exequatuT ask
ed for at the hands Of the government Of said
COnfsderats States, asd granted by the same.
ReSOtDed, Ihat the conduct Of the Emperor
Of France in proposing, as he has recently dOnes
to the several European Powers that they should
unite with him in an act of peaceful and amics-
bic intervention in the contest now in progress
betw en- the government Of the United Staies
and thai of the Confederate States Of America,
has been highly gratifying both 70 the govern
meut and peope Of the Confederate States, and
the hope is INDUCED thai this wise and mag
nanimOU5 movement of the Emperor of France,
so fully in harmony, as it is, with the principles
which be has heretofore emphatically avowed in
well known published writings and upOn which
he has uniformly acted since his elevation 70 the
imBerial throne, may soOu eventusle in the es-
ta6hshment of relations between his govern
ment and that of the Confederats States of
America, Of close commercial smity sad Of en-
during concord
Mr.. Foete said that he believed that there was
10 proposition involving higher interests and
more of the welfare of the country than that
embodied in the resolutions before the house.
The facts which it stated were familiar to all In
the progress of this war, which had lasted more
tlah two years, we had given the most COM
pleie assurance Of our ability to eOmplets Our
fortunes and achieve our independence; we had
shown wisdom in council and eminent success
in arms II was also historically true that,
within this period of two years, every effort con-
sistent with our dignity had en- made TO OBJ
tsias our recognition in the family Of nations
There coRld be no doubt of the suecee ling
proposition that nc disposition had been shown
by foreign governments TO cOncede the justice
of our recognition Could any one doubt the
concluding proposition that, under these cireunz-
stances, it would be incompatible with our Dig
nifty and injurious TO cur interests to keep at the
courts of these governments diplomatic repre-
sentatives to urge the recognition of our indie
pehdence, which we had already, in fact, &C
eOmDlished. The fact was that we needed no
more the recognition Of foreign nations than
they did own The dispassionste page of his
tory would record that already the States of this
Confederacy were as much an established power
as any other nation or pOtentate on earth. We
had no particular object in seeking recognition,
and If foreign powers chose to withhold them
selves from as II was a matter of choice and dis
cretion with them But The question that
pressed upon US was one personal to ourselves,
involving our own dignity and it was on this
ground that the resolutions he offered claimed
the attention Of the mouse.
The speaker made an eloquent review of what
be considered TO be the noble and magnanimOus
action Of the Emperor Napoleon, applying some
interesting. passages of history and referring to
the writings of the Emperor, which justified his
present action aud enlightened the whole ques-
tioD Fifteen years before Napoleon had been
elevated to the imperial throne he had, IN his re-
marksble writings (copies of which were in the
State library of Virginia., denounced the gov
ernments Of Louis XVIII, Charles y, and LOuis
Philippe, as legitimate, because they had not
received the popular sanction, which he pro-
claimed as the true and severe test Of legiti-
macy. These recorded opinions OF the French
Emperor and his action on the Italian questions
wers plain guarantees Of what wore bis senti-
ments wish respect to this revolution, and indi-
Gated thst his recent action with respect to this
war was the result of what were established
opinions, and were not prompted By any new
or extraordinary considerations. On the con-
clusion Of peace be would favor measure sur
rendering 0nr carrying trade for a term Of
years to Franco with 8 discrimination against
those goVsTnmens which had been Unfriendly
TO our recognition, and with a further discrimi-
patton il favor of French goods.
The resolutions were referred to the committee
on fose5ea sfaiTs.