Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-02-23
Wa ad0Dted no Sucu

s.;tn.oa authorities of the seeding otates.-
sttuteu ;. rsm;ttedto brute force or nutu-
we "e'e tho instincts of reason. The char
I"l s fr.sdom we're scrupulously preserved.
IN the English Revolution, of 1888, aud
nurs Of l776. there was no material alteration
in the Laws beyond what was necessary 20
r,dress the abuses that provoked the struggle.
! No attempt was made to build On $pectuattsc
principles. The effort was confined within
the narrowest limits Of historical and consti'
; ~tutioaal right. The controversy turned On
the records and muniments Of the past. we
merely resisted innovation and tyranny, aud
contended for our birthrighss and the cove,
nanted principles Of our race. Ne have had
our Governors, General Assemblies and
; Coarts; tho same electors, the same corpora
, tious, "thc same rules for property, the same
subo,dinations, tho sam order in tho law ana
in the msgistracy." When the sovereign
States met in ~ceunoil, they, IN truth ana SUP
stance, and in a constitutional Light, Old not
make, but prevented, q revolution;
Comm encins our new national lilo unoer
such circumstances, We had a right to expect
that we would DO permitted, without moleSt:-
tion. 20 cultivate the arts Of peace, and T!ndl-
,.;.s On our chosen arena, and with the se!ec'
ed tire Of social characteristics, our CLAIMS
10 civilization 1t WAS thought, too, by many
.hot var would not be resorted to by co en-
l;ohseped country, except on the dlrest neccs-
St.. That n people, protesting to DC Sni,
mc.ai Nv Christian sentiment, and VINO haa
rcya-dei our peculiar institution % d DICE
and blu upon tho fair esousci'ean OK th@r
common Christianity, should make war upon
the South Cor doing what they had o perfect
rivht to do, anu rJr relieving them Of the ln-
cubns which, they pr''l,ssed, rested upon
ther, by tho association, was deemed almost
bcvona belief by many OF our "ise's MINUS:
1t was hoped, toa, that the obvious lnteresO o,
the two sections would restrain the wiz
frenzy of excitement and turn into peaHeiui
channels the thoughts OF those VINO nao Out
re,sntly been invested with poser in tho
United States.
These reasonable anticipations were doomed
60 disappointment. The red glare oi "'S!e:
kindicd ut Sumter, disaipated all hopes Ut
neace. and tho tvo Governments ware array
81 in hostility against each other. We charge
| tic responsibility Of this g1r wponihc Gn'ted
| States. They arc accountable Tor the blood
and havoc anil ruin it he's caused. For such
Il war wo were not prepared. The difference
in military resources between our enemies ana
ourselves: the immense advantages poasesse1
in the organized machinery OF an Established
| government; & powerful navy: the nuciers OF
| an army credit abroad, aud ilimitable saclii-
t;ss in mechanical and manufacturing power,
,l.cei tham on the vantage GROUND" La
nur infancy, we were without q seaman or Sol
die-. without revenue, without gold and silver,
without q recognized place IN the family OF ne
tioas. without external commerce. without
foreign credit, with the prejudices OF the world
against US. While we were without mAnuiac-
turing facilities TO supply our wants, our ports
were blockadei we had % grapple Win j
cionc ad9ersary, defend 1000 miles Of sea-
coast and an inland frontier of equal extent.
If va had succeeded in preventing any spo-
casses On the part of our enemy, /. would nave
bean a miracle. What we have accomplished,
with a population 30 inferior in numbers, and
meaos 80 vastly disproportionate, has exclted
the establishment and admirationot the world.
The war in which We arc engaged was
wickedly, and against all our protests, and tho
most earnest efforts to the contrary, forced
unou US. South Carolina sent Il commission
to Washington to adjust all questions OF dis
pute between her and the United States. One
of the first acts Of the Provisional doVernment
was to accredit agents to visit Washington,
and use all honorable means to obtain o Salts
factory settlement of all questions OF dispute
with that Government. Both efforts failed
Commissioners were deceived and rejected,
and olandestine but vigorous preparations
we're made for war. In proportion to our per-
severance and anxiety have been the obstinacy
and arrogance in spurning offers OF peace. IL
seems we can BIO indebted for nothing to the
virtues Of our enemy. We arc Obliged to hls
vices, which have enured to our strength. Wo
ov, "a much 10 his insolence and blindness as
to our precaution.
The wager of battle having been rendered,
il was accepted. The alaority with which cur
people flew to arm is worthy Of all praise
Their deeds Of hcroio daring, patient cndu
rance, ready submission to discipline, and 2u-
merous Victories. are in keeping with the fHs-
7ent patriotism that prompted their early
volunteering. Onto recently, scores OF regl'
ments have re-enlisted for the war, testitYing
their determination to fight until their nber
hes were achieved. Coupled with and COD
rributing greatly 20 this enthusiastic ardor,
was the lofty courage, the iadomitaele resolve,
the eelfdeaYing spirit Of our noble women,
who, by their labors Of love, their patience oil
sope, their urhiDehins cons'aacy, their un-
complaining submission to privaHons OF the
war. have shed an immortal lustre upon their
sex and country.
Our army is no h~ircling ~soldiery. 1t comes
no. from paupcrs, criminals or cmlgrants. 1t
was originally raised by toe free, unconstrsin.
ed, unpurchascable assent Of the men. All
yocations and ~classc. contributed to the swell
ing numbers. Abandoning luxuries and
comforts to which they had bcea accustomed,
they submitted cheerfully to tho scanty fare
md e~zactive service Of the camps. Their
services above price, tina only remuneration
they have sought is the protection of their
liars, fsesidcs and liberty. In the Norwc-
.ian wars, tho actors were, every one OF them,
namcd and ~patronynically described as the
Kings friend and COMPANION. The same
wonderful individuality hss been seen in this
war. Oar soldiers are not q consolidated
mass, an unthinking machine, but an army of
intelligent units. To designate all who have
distinguished themselves by special valcr,
would he to cnumerate nearly all in the army.
| The generous rivalry between tho troGps from
different States has prevented any specialpre
eminencs, end hereafter, for centuries to
| come, the gallant bearing and uncorqucrahle
devotion Of Confederate soldiers will inspire
| the hearts, and encourage the hopes, and
strengthen tho faith, Of all who labor to OBJ
tain their freedom. 80,
For three years this cruel War has been
waeed against US, and it's continuance has been
seized upon Oh a preteXt by some dlscontented
| nersons to excite hostility to the Government,
Recent and public as have been the occur
~rences, il is strange that q Misrepresentation
| exists Us TO the conduct of the two Govern
ments in reference to peace. Allusien- has
been nude to the unsuccessful efforts, whom
separation took place, to procure IN amleabls
adjustment Of all matters in dispute. These
attempts at negotiation do not comprise all
that has been done. In every form in which
expression could be given to the sentimont-in
public meetings, through the press, by lcgisla-
tive rssolvss-the dssirs Of this people for
pescs, for the uninterrupted enjoyment oftheir
rights and prosperity, has been made known;
| The President, more authoritatively, in several
! of his messages, while protesting the utter