The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-07-29


been al least equal, while our finances would
have undergone no perceptible arrangement
, World
Manifesto Of the Confederate Congress
We are indebted to friend for copy of the
Richmond Whg of the 18Th inst, from which
we copy the following manifesto which has been
adopted by joint resolution of She rebel Congres,
declaring the dispositions, principles and purpo-
ses OF the seeding States In relation to the ex-
isilng war. It reads as follows:
lVdertas, 1t is due to the great cause OF hu-
rnanlty and civilization, and especially to the
heroic sacrifices of their gallant army in the
field, that no means, consistent with q proper
self-resPeet and the approved usages Of nations
should be omitted by the Confederate States To
enhghten the public opinion of the world with
regard to the true character Of the struggle in
which they are engaged and the dispositions.
principles and purposes by which they are act
uated; therefore
! Resotred By the Congress Of tie Confederate
! States Of America, That the following manifesto
/ be issued in their name and by their authority.
and that the President be requested 10 cans.
/ copies thereof to be transmitted to our commits
sioners abroad 10 the end that tbs same raay be
/ laid before foreign Governments.
MANIFESTO or THE CONGRESS or THE coSrEDER-
ATE STATES or AMERICA RELATIVE TO TIE EXIST
ING WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES.
The Congress Of the Confederate States Of
America, acknowledging their responsibility to
the opinion of the civilized world, to the great
law, of Christian philanthropy and to the Su-
preme Ruler Of the universe, for the part they
have been compelled to in bear the sad spectacle
of war and carn&ge which this continent has.
Tor the last three years, exhibited to the eyes Of
afflicted humanity, deems the present fitting
occasion to declare the principles, the sentiments
and the purposes by which they have been and
are still actuated
They have ever deeply deplored the necessi-
ty which constrained them to take up arms in
defence of their rights and the free institutions
derived from their ancestors; and there is moth
ing they more ardently desire than peace, when
soeyer their enemy, by ceasing from their un-
hallowed war waged upon them, shall permit
them TO enjoy in peace the sheltering protection
OF those hereditary rights and of those cherish
! ed institutions.
1 he series of successes with which il has
ID -ors9 o. O.
invaded borders since the opening of the pres
eEt campaign, enables US TO profess this desire
OF peace in the interest of civilization ana hu-
manity without danger Of having our motives
naisinterpreted, or of the declaration being as
cribed to any unmanly sentiment or any distrust
of our ability to maintain our cause. The re-
peatad and disastrous checks, foreshadowing ul-
innate discontinue, which their gigantic army,
directed against the capitai of the Confedeacy,
has already met wiLh are but q continuation of
/ the same proyidential success ;es for us. We do
not refer to these successes in any spirit Of vain
/ boas;ing. but in humble acknowledgment of the
| A mighty protection which has vouchsafed and
/ granted them.
The world must now see that eight millions
of people, inhabiting SO extensive territory,
with such varied resources and such numerous
! facilities for defense as the benignant bounty
of nature has bestowed upon US, and, animated
with one spirit to encounter every privation and
1 sacrifice Of ease, health, of property, OF life
itself, rather than be degraded from the condi-
tion of free and Independent States into which
: they were born, can never be conquered. viii
not our adversaries themselves begin 10 feel
that humanity has bled long enough; that tears
and blood and treasure enough have been eX-
pended in a bootless undertaking covering their
own land, no less than ours, with pail Of
mourning, and exposing them, far more thaa
ourselves, to the catastrophe of financial ex-
haustion and bankruptcy, not to speak of the
loss Of their liberties by the despotism engen-
dered in an aggressive warfare upon the Hber
ties Of another and kindred people? Win they
be willing. by longer perseverance in 8 wanton
and hopeless contest, to make this continent,
which they so long boasted to be the chosen u
bode of liberty and self government, of peace
and higher civilization, the theatre of the
most causeless and prodigsl effusion of blood
which the world has ever seen, of a virtual re-
lapse into the barbarism of the ruder ages, and
of the destruction Of constitutional freedom by
the lawlessness of usurped power7
These are questions which our adversGries
will decide for themselves. We desire TO stand
acquitted before the tribunal of the world, us
well as in the eyes of Omniscient Justice, of
any responsibility for the origin or prolongation
Of war so contrary to the spirit of the age as
to the traditions and acknowledged maxims OF
the political system of America.
On this continent, whatever opinion may
have prevailed elsewhere, it has ever been held
and acknowledged by all parties that Govern
ment, to be lawful, must be founded on the
consent of the governed. We were forced to
dissolve our federal connection with our former
associates by their nggressions on the funda'
mental principles of our compact of union with
them and in doing SO we exercised right
consecrated in the great charter of American
t liberty--the right of a free people, when Gov
ernment proves destructive of the ends fo
: which il was established, to recur to origlna
principles and to institute new guards for thel
security. The separate independence of thi
: States, rs sovereign and co-equal members o
a the Federal Union, had never been surrendered
9 and the pretsnsion of applying to Independent