Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-06-22

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MANIFESTO OF THE CONGRESS OF CONFEDERATE STATES
OF AMERICA RELATIVE TO TIE EXISTING WAR WITH
THE UNITED STATES. ~ $50
3 The Congress Of the Confederate States Of Amer.
lea, acknowledging heirsfesponsibty to the bpin-
ion of the civilized world to the great law of Chris
tan philanthropy and to the Supreme Ruler of the
universe, for the part they have been compelled to
bear in the sad spectacle Of war and carnage which
this continent has, for the last three years. exhibi
ted to the eyes Of Inflicted humanity, deems the
present fitting occasion to declare the principles
the sentiments and the purposes by which they hsve
been and are still actuated. 90 .2s5
They have ever deeply deplored the necessity
which constrained then, to take up arms in defence
of their rights and Of the free institutions derived
from their ancestors; and there is nothing they
more ardently desire than peace, whatsoever their
enemy, by ceasing from the dihhallowed war waged
upon them, shall permit them to enjoy in peace the
sheltering protection Of those hereditary rights and
OF those cherished institutions. The series of sue
cesses with which it has pleased Almighty God, in
SO signal manner to bless our arms on almost ev.
cry point of our invaded borders SINCE the opening
OF the present campaign, enables tn profess this
desire OF peace in the interests of civilization and
humanity, without danger of having our motives
mlsnterpreted, or of the declaration being ascribed
D
ability fully to maintain our cause. The repeated
and disastrous checks, foreshadowing ultimate dis
coinhture which their gigantic army, directed
agsinst the capital of the Confederacy has already
met with, are but continuation of the same prov
ldentia successes for US. We do not refer to these
successes in any spirit of vain boasting but in hum
BILE acknowledgment of that Almighty protection
which has vouchsafed and granted them.
The world must now see that eight millions of
nhnhS Tine ko.u
such varied resources and such numerous iaclities
for defence as the benignant bounty of nature has
bestowed upon us, and animated with one spirit to
encounter every privation and sacrifice Of ease Of
health, OF property, Of life itself, rather than be
degraded from the condition of free and indepen.
dent States into which they were born, can never.
be conquered. Will not our adversares themselves
begin to feel that humanity has bled long enough
that tears and blood and treasure enough have been
expeaded III a bootless undertaking. covering their
own land, no less than ours, with pail Of mourn
ing, and exposing them far more than ourselves to
the catastrophe of financial exhaustion and bank
ruptcy, not to speak of the loss of their lbertes
by the 6espotism engendered in an aggressive war
fare upon the liberties of another and kindred peo
pie? Will they be willing, bya longer ~persever-
ance in wanton and hopeless contest, to make this
continent which they so long boastedto be the
chosen abode of liberty and self government of
most causeless and prodigal eusion of blood which
1.-The world has eve: SEEM Of A. virtual relapse into
the barbarism of tho ruder ages and Of the destruc
ton of constitutional freedom by the lawlessness Of
!. usurped power? = ..-,..-z Ara :
These are questions which our adversaries will
decide for themselves W desire to stand aequit-
ted before the tribunal of the world, as we'll IS in
the eyes Of emniscien justice Of any responsibility
for the origin or prolongaton Of a war as contrary
b 10 tho 0f IN tha trod
knowledged maxims Of the political system Of
America. ea, slji, Its'.dssgi i:sss5sz IT. z
. On this continent, whatever sopiniens may have
prevailed elsewhere, it has ever been held and &C.
knowledged by all parties that government, to be
lawful, must be founded on the consent IF the
governed We were forced to dissolve our federal
connection with,our former associates BY their ag.
gressons on the fundamental principles of our cons
pact of union with them and in doing so, we exer
cised right consecrated in the great charter Of
American liberty-the right Of free people, when
a government proves destructive Of ttss ends for
whichit was established to yecur to original pfin.
cples and to ihsitutsnew guards for their security
The separate independehceof the States, as soyer-
eign and co-equal members Of the Federal Union,
had never been su.rendereds and The p.etensiosfe
applying to independent cosimnaites, so consttut-
ed and organized, the ordinary rnles for coercing
and reducing rebeious subjects to obedience, was
solecism in TERMS as well as IN outrage on the
! principles. Of public law.s2asi II a"''e' 34''
The war made upon the Gonfederats States wss,
therefore, wholly one Of aggression. On our side,
it has been strictly defensive Born freemcn and
the descendants Of a gallant ancestry, we bad no
option but to stand mp in defence OF Dur invaded
6tessdes, Of our desecsated affairs, Of Our violated
liberties and birthright and Of the prescrptve in
situations which gusrdand protect them. We have
not intertered, nor do we wish, in any manner
,whateyer to interfere with the internal peace and
prosperity Of the States aSrayed IN hostility againsl
u.s. or with the freestI development of their desti
MES in any form of action or line Of policy they
may think proper toadopt for themselves, All Nc
ask, is like immunity for ourselves, and to be left
in the undisturbedI enjoyment Of those nstiehAbfi
rights of "life, liberty and tho pursuit Of happi
ness" which ourcemmon ancestors declared to b.
the equal heritage Of all the parties to the socia
compact. sa8 10 s1ars=,!'i
Lot them forbear aggressions upon ii, ssnd Ii,
| war Is at an end. If there be questions which 70
qare adjustment by negotiation, we haye eser beer
wiling and arestil willing tn enter into communi
cation with our slyersaries in . spirit Of peace,
equity, and manly frankness. Strong IN tie tJef
saasion of the Justice of our cause, in the ealan
devotion of our citizen soldiers, and Of the Who'll
body Of our people, and above all in the pracion
protection Of Heaven, we are not afraid to ayow
sincere desire for peace on terms consistent viii
our honor and the permanent security Of our rights
and an earnest aspiration to see the world ono
reafnY0d tn ho hooo r,,.,,,:xn