Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-03-04
Manifesto of the Rebel Congress.
ALL ABOUT THIS WICKED WAR"

, ALL ABOUT THIS WICKED WAR.
, The rebel congress before its adjourn
ment adopted long address to the south
ern people, prepared by joint commit
tee. 1t is skiIIfulIy drawn for the pur-
pose, which is to make the southern peo
pie believe they are resisting a WICKED
war upon their rights, and if the UniteC
States government succeeds they will
be robbed Of their property and treateC
as slaves. They start by confessing thai
they seeded because of Mr.. Lincoln
election and that they based their new
confederacy ION the proper relations Of
labor and capital" which is careful and
yet broad statement of the real doc
trine of slavery, which prominent south
ern statesmen have long held, that the
ca pitalist ought to own the laborer. They
profess that they We're disappointed and
shocked when they f. u the North
would not let them go in peace, and they
entered upon defensive war with the
greatest reluctance. They have longed
for peace ever since and been ready to
accept if, but it could not be had except
on dishonorable terms. As to the pres
sent war policy of the United States they
say
1t is absurd TO pretend that a govern
ment, really DESTROYS of restoring the
Union, would adopt such measures as
the confscation Of private property, the
emancipation of slaves, systematic efforts
TO invite them to Instruction, forcibe alb
duction from their homes and compulsory
enlistment in the army, the division of a
sovereign state Without its consent, and
a proclamation that oue~tenth of the pop
ulaion of state, and that tenth under
military rule, should control the will Of
the remaining nine-tenths. The only re-
lation possible between the two sections,
under such IA policy, is that Of conqueror
and conquered, superior and dependent.
Rest assured, feIlow-cilizens, that al
though restoration may still be used as
war cry of the northern government, it is
only to delude and betray. Fanaticism
has summoned to its aid cupidity and
and nothing short our utter
suhjugation, the destruction of your state
governments, the overthrow of your so
,ial and political fabric, your personal
and ruin will satisfy
he demands of the North. Can there
,e man SO vile, so debased, SO unworthy
If liberty, as to accept peace on such
Iumiiiating terms A.?
They have some hope, however, from
political revolution in the North -
1t cannot be possible that this state of
hings can continue. The people of the
United States, accustomed to freedom, :.
annot consent to be ruined and enslayed !,
\ order TO ruin ana ensIave Us. Moral, 5
Ike physical, epidemics, have their al, y
1tted periods, and must sooner or later I
g exhausted n d disappear. When {,
eason returns, our enemies will proba- D
ly reflect that people like ours, who
ave exhibited such capabilities aud ex- {
'mporized such resources, can never be bt
lbdued; that vast expanse OF terrific 81
7, with such a population, cannot be "
overned as an obedient colony. Veto s.
: would not be conquest. The inextin. le
Unstable quarrel would be transmitted c,
rom bleeding sire to SON." and the strug ST
e would be renewed between genera =
ons yet u n b orn. To impoverish US as
ould only be TO cry up some of the ar
rings for northern prosperity TO des- tb
oy southern wealth is TO reduce north ell
n profits, while the restoration of peace tn
ould necessarily re-establsh some at
intercourse. On
The part of the address meant to be s,
ost effective in stirring the South to re- de
stance and vengeance 10 this catalogue fro
outrages - de
Instead Of conducting the war as be- tn
ixt two military and political organic ed
ons, it is war against the whole pop mt
alton. Houses are pillaged and burn de
Churches are defaued. Towns are da
nsacked. Clothing of women and in to
Its are stripped from TIL cir persons. de-
welry and mementoes of the dead are
len. Mills and implements of agri> the
ture are destroyed Private salt works thi
} broken up. The introduction of med pie
les is forbidden. Means of subsist- reb
,e are wantonly wasted to produce beg reb
y. Prisoners are returned with con- ha,
ious diseases. The last morsel of food rem
) been taken from families, who are sac
allowed TO carry on trade or branch as
industry. A rigid and offensive espi- tha
lge has been introduced to ferret out tres
sloyalty." Persons have been forced plo
choose between starvation of helpless sho