Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-03-04
THE LAST REBEL MANIFESTO.

The address Of the rebel congress to the
people Of the Confederate States is published.
1t is very lengthy. II says;
"Commencing our new national life under
such circumstances, we had rightta expect
that we would be permitted without molestu-
tion to cultivate the arts Of peace, and vindi-
cate on our own chosen arena and with the
selected tyre Of social characteristics, our
claims to civilization. II was thought, too,
by many that war would not be feeorted to
by an enlightened country, except on the
direst necessity. These reasonable antici-
pations we're doomed to disappointment The
red glare Of battle kinded at Sumter disa-
pated all hopes Of peace, and the two gov
e'nments were arrayed in hostility against
each other. We charge the responsibility OF
this war upon the United States They are
accountable for the blood and havoc and ruin
it has caused. For such a war we were not
prepared. What we have accom- plished with
a population inferior in number, and means
so vastly disproportioaate, has excited the
astonishment and admiration of the world 49,
/ This cruel war has been waged agsinst "
and its continuance has been seized upon as
a prctext by some discontented persons to ex-
cite hostility to the Government Recent and
public as have been the occurrences, it is
strange that a Interpretation exists as to
the conduct Of the two Governments In refer
ence to peace. Alusion has been made to
the unsuccessful efforts when separation took
place to procure amicable adjustment Of all
matters in dispute. These attempts at nego-
tiation do not &C mprise all that has been done
In every form IN which expression could be
/ given to the sentiment--in public meetings.
through the press,by legislative resolves---the
desire Of this people for peace, for the unin-
interrupted enjoyment Of their rights and
prosperity, has been made known. The
course Of the Federal Government has prov
ed that it did not desire peace, and would not
consent to it on any terms that we could pos
sibly concede
The Republican party was founded to de-
stroy slavery and the equality Of the States
and Lincoln was selected as the instrument
TO accomplish this object. The Union was
barrier To the contamination OF this policy,
because the Constitution, which was it's bond,
recognized and protected slavery aud the SOW
ereignty Of the States. The Uton must,
therefore, be sacrificed, and to insure its de-
suucuon war was determined on. The mass
Of the Northern people were not privy to and
sympstbized in no such design They loved
the Union and wished to preserve it.. To rail-
ly the people to the support Of the war, its
object was proclaimed to be restoration Of
the Union, as # that which implied vounta-
ry assent Of which agreement was an ihdis-
pensable element and condition, could be pre-
served by coercion. II is absurd to pretend
that government really desirous OF restor-
ing the Union would adopt such measures as
the condscation fpriyate property, the eman-
cipation Of slaves, systematic efforts TO incle
tharr To &.
their homes aud compulsory enlis istments in
the army, the division Of sovereign State
without its consent, and a proclamation that
one-tenth of the population of a State, aud
that tenth under military rule, should control
the will Of the remaining niao-te -tenskss The
only relation possible between the two Sec
tions under such policy is that Of conquer
or and conquered, superior and independent
1t would hardly be fair to assert that all
the Northern people participate in those de.
signs. On the contrary, there exists a pow
erful political party which openly condemns
them. The Administration mas, however,
teen able thus far, by its enormous patron
age and its lavish expenditures, to seduce or
buy its legions of Hessian ncendiaries to
overcome the masses, TO control the elections
and establish an arbitrary despotsm. 1t can
not be possible that this state of things can
continue. The people Of the United States,
accustomed to freedom, cannot consent to be
ruined and enslaved in order to ruin and en-
slave US. Moral, like physical epidemics,
have their allotted periods, and must sooner
or later be exhausted aud disappear
When reason returns our enemies will
probably reflect that peoole like ours. who
have exhibited such capabilities and extern
porized such resources, can never be subdu-
ed /; that vast expanse OF territory, with
such population, cannot be governed as an
obedent colony until some evidence is given
of change of policy on the part Of the gov
ernment, and some assurance is received that
efforts at negotiations will not be spurned.
The Congress are of opinion that any over
lures for peace would compromise our self
respect, be fruitless of good and interpreted
by the enemy an indication Of weakness.
We can only repeat the desire Of the peopl
for peace aud our readiness to accept terms
consistent with the honor and integrity and
independence of the States, and compatible
with the safety Of our domestic institutions.
The situation is grave, but fuIniste. no ju.t
excuse for dependency. Instead of harsh
criticism on the governments and our gener-
ais, instead of bewaiing the failure to ac-
compish impossibiities, we should rather Re
grateful, humbly and profoundly. to benig-
nant Providence for the results that have re-
warded our labors. Remembering the dis
proportion in population, in military and
naval resources, and the deficiency of skilled
labor in the South, our accomplishments have
surpassed those recorded OF any people in
the annals of the world. There is no Just
reason for hopelessness or fear. Since the
outbreak of the war the South has lost the
nominal possession of the Mississippi river
and fragments of her territory, but Federal
occupancy is not conquest. The fires OF
patriotism still burn unquenchably in the
breasts Of those who are subject 10 foreign
domination. We yet have ia our uninter-
rupted control territory which, according
to past progress, will require the enemy ten
years to overcome.
The enemy is not free frcm difficulties.
With an enormous debt, the financial convul-
sion long postponed is surely coming; the
short crops in the United States, and abun-
dant hAryests in Europe, will hasten what
was otherwise inevitable many sagaoious
persons at the North discover In the usurpa-
tions Of the government the certain overthrow
of their liberties large number revslt from
the unjust war waRed upon the South and