Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-22
sHK G0HsFITVTIOE-sTATE Rights.
RICHMOND WHIG.
MONDAY mORNINe, FEE. "a. 1894.
The Twentv-Second.

The Say ever TO be held memorable for tbs birth Of
nan whose lie was made iusrious BY rare virtues Snd
great deeds has come again. To Us it has a1diIopH
interest As marking the nativity aud Inauguration OF an
organized general government for these Confederate
states washington devoted his life to the vndicstiOn
Of the rsbt of se government to the assertion OF the
principle that all just governments are based upon 'ne
consent Of the governed that the only legitimate emo
Of government is the protection Of the governed IN the
enjoyment Of life liberty and the pursuit OF happiness
.ns that when any government becomes destructive oil
these objects it is the right aud the duty of the govern
ID TO alter or abolish It. and TO set up Whatever other
form Of government they may think best calculated to
secure..these ends.
II il a ieloi,ous and natural coincidence that the
mt which owes its origin TO the disregard ana
violation by others of these principles, and its own IN
yielding purpose to indicate and maintain them, should
h.vs the same birthday with him who was their so re
aoSred defender. For three years now that govern
man. has stood the everest ss which nationAlies
can be subiecLsd Beginning without an army or reA-
sury, and while in the midst Of organizing its own DO
nestle departments and deTsDg measures OF peaceful
,dninssrasion, was sssaied by muster OF armies
sucA as no rstOn now existing, the Oldest and the
strongest has ever had to encounter All rnprePared
a 1. was without aid and With scarcely word OF en-
couragsmsnt from any quarter, the young Republic
brsced herself to receive the impending shock she
did not sink bsnsath IT, but graphing her giant adVer-
sy che has for three long years wresled successfully
Win him. The world has ceased to doubt what the
result will be. History affords no example Of reVOlu-
iopary peope las We are consdsred after resisting so
long a. We have done the attempt TO subdue them, being
conquered.
TIE governments Of Europe refused Us recognition a.
rst because they lacked evidence that We were in earn
eat. Do they lack Il LoWi They did not know that
20 had the unsniuy ofpurposO and the material pow
r 70 maintain separate existence. Are they still IN
,nkornedg Time was required to ascertain Nhsther
a could form and set in operation the machinery OF
government and take care of the interests that gov
ernmeu.s are designed to protect Arc they not rats
isdS Wte:s has there been more order' Where
more aeuueseenoe on the part Of tie people With all
heir authorities have donei Where a heArtier rally
~ the people to sustain ard uphold their Government
Where f1eer expenditure of life and treasurer Are
ther proofs required that Government is based upon
he consent Of the people, when they are defending 1t
eth their lives and sustaining IL With thsir means, to
ae last life and the last dollar If necessary But the
eson Of recognition hA,ong since pissed the bounds
a-sunent and reason, as 1t has, happily for OUT
elves, passed Aso beyond the limits OF anxiety or eI-
ose alton. 1t u mainly of interest nov a. test Of the
alousness and uareAiou of the diplomacy and states
uanship of certain nations that like to be thought the
ssdsrs of civilization and the brightest exempArs Of
christianity