Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-26
ADDRESS or THE REsEL CONGRRss.

/ NEW YORK teO.
The address OF the Rebel Congress to the peo-
pie ofthe Confederate States is published. Il is
very lengthy. It says the course of the Federal
| Government has proved that it did not desire
peace and would not consent to it on any terms
| that we could possibly cOncede. In proof of
/ this We refer to the repeated rejection OF all
| terms Of coneiliation and compromise, to their
contemptuous refusal to receive the Vice Pres
ident who was sent to negotiate for softening
the asperltes Of war, and their scoTnful rejec-
ton OF the offer ofa neutral power to mediate
between the contending parties. The motive Of
such strange conduct Is obvious. The rcpubli-
crn party vas formed to destroy slavery and the
equality of the states, and Lincoln was selected
as the instrument to accomplish this object
The Union a barrier to the consummstion
Of this policy, because the Constitution which
was ts bond, recognized and protected slavery
and the sovereignty Of the States. The Union
must therefore be sacrificed and 10 insure its
destruction was determined on, Inc mass
of the Northern people were not priTy to, and
sympathzed in no such design.
They loved the Union and wished to preserve
it to rally the people to the support Of tine war.
Its object was proclaimed to be restoration OF
the Union, ss if that which implied voluntarily,
& sss6T sl ,rah sha csaTn5ito1 conId T % ,ssi
by coercion.
1t Is absurd to pretend that E government,
really desirous Of restoring the Union, would
adopt such measures as the cOnhsestion OF pri-
vate property, the emancipation of slaves, sys-
tematic efforts to incite them to insurTection,
forcible abduction from their homes, and COM
DulsOry enlistment OF them In the army, the d.
vision OF a sovereign State without its consent,
and proclamation that one tenth Of the pspu-
iation of State, and that one-teuth, under mill
tary rule should control tbs will Of the remain
ing nine-tenths. The only relation between the
two sections under such policy is that Of con-
auerer. and conquered superior and dependent.
It would hardly be fair TO sssert thata northern
people participate in these designs. On the con-
.rary, there exists powerful political party,
who openly condemns them. The adminlstra-
ton have, however, been able thus far by its
enormous patronage, and ITS lsrge expenditures,
to seduce, or by its leglons OF Hessian mercena-
RES to overaW the masses, to control the elec-
tions, and to establish an arbitrary despotism.-
It cannot be possible that this state Of things can
continue. The people Of the United States, ac-
customed to freedom, cannot consent TO be ru-
ined and enslaved in order TO ruin and enslsve
US. Moral, like physcsl e0idemics, have their
allotted periods, and must sooner or later be eI-
hausted and disappear.
When reason returns our enemies will proba-
bly, reflect that people like ours who have ex-
hibited such capabilities and eItempori7ed such
resources can never be subdued.A vast expanseof
territory, with such population cannot be gov
erned as an obedient colony. Until some evis
dence is given of q change Of policy on the part
Of the Government and some assurance is re-
ceived that efforts at negotiation will not be
spurned, the Congress are of opinion that any
direct oVertures for peace would compromise our
selE-respect, be frutless ofgood, and interpreted
by the enemy as an indication OF weakness.
We can only repeat the desire of the people
for peace, and our readiness to accept terms con-
sistent with the honor, integrity and indepen-
deuce Of the States and compatible with the
safety Of our domestic institutions. We have no
alternative but to do our duty. We combat for
property, homes, the honor Of our wives, the
future Of our children, the preservation OF our
fair land from pollution, and to avert 8 doom
which we can read both in the threats Of our en-
emies, and acts of oppression we have allowed
The 81 ustion is grave, but furnishes no Just eI-
cuse for despondence. Instead sf harsh crit
csms on the Government aud our Generals, in
,F to eh
possibilities, we should rather be grateful for
the results that have rewarded our laboTs. Re-
membenng the disprOportiOn In population, in
military and naval resources, and the deficiency
ments haye.sur Passed those OF any people in
the annals Of the world. There is no just rea-
son 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 the
Federal occupancy is not conquest. The fires Of
patriotism still burn unquenehahle in the breasts
Of those who are subject to Foreign domination.
We yet have in uninterrupted control ter
ritory which, according TO the past progress,
will require the enemy ten years to overrule.
The enemy is not free from dfficuties with an
enormous debt the financial cOnYulson which Is
so long postponed, is surely coming.
The short crops in the United States, and the
abundant harvest is Europe will hasten what
was otherwise inevitable. Many sagacious per-
sons at the North discover in the usupatIons Of
their government, the certain overthrow Of their
| liberties. large NUMBER reOVlts nom the
unjust war and would gladly bring it TO an end.
Others look with alarm on the complete subVer-
/ sion Of constitutional freedom by Abraham
Lincoln and feel in their own persons the bitter
I ness Of the slavery, which three years Of war
/ have failed to iniilct on the South.
brave and earnest men at the North have
| spoken out against the usurpation and cruelty
/ daily practced. The success Of these men over
| the radical and despotic faction which now rules
/ the North, may open the way to peaceful nego
tiations and cessation Of this bloody and un-
nessary war.
In conclusion, we exhort our fellow citizens to
be of good cheer and spare no labor nor sacrifices
that may be necessary to enable us to ruin the
| campaign upon which we have Just entered
] We have passed three great trials of afiiction,
| but suffering and humiliation are the school
masters that lead nations TO self reliance and in
/ dependence. We beg that the supplies and re-
sources Of the country, which are ample, may be
sold to the Government to support and equip its
|