Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-06-23

rit of vain DO stipg but in humble acknowledgment
of that Almighty protection which has vouch5afed and
| granted them.
The world must now see that eight millions of pee
pie, inhabiting extensive territory, with such var
led resources and such numerous facitis for 6eence
as the bengnant bounty of nature has bestowed upon
u.s. and animated with spirit to encounter every
privation and sacrifice of ease of heah of property
life ITSELF rather than be degraded from the condition
of free and Independent States into which hev were
born can never be conquered Will IEot our adversa-
res themselves begin to feel that humanity has ed
long enough that tears blood and treasure enough
have been expended in bootess undertaking. cover
ing tEeir land no less than ours with pail OF
mourning, and exposing them far than ourselves
to the catastrophe of financial exhaustion ard bank
ruptcy not to speak of the loss of their liberties by the
despotism engendered in aggressive warfare upon
the liberties o another and kindred people? Will they
be willing, by longer perseverance in wahton and
hopeless contest to make this inent which they so
org boasted to be the chosen abode Of liberty and self
government of peace and a higher civilization, the
the atre OF the most causeess and prodis al euson
bocd which he world has seen, of virtual relapse
into the barbarsm Of the ruder ages, and of te de-
struction of Constitutional freedom by the lawessness
OF usurped power?
These are questions which our adVersares will decide
for themselves. We desire to stand acquitted before
the tribunal of the world as well in the eyes of ON
nscient justice OF any responsibility for the origin or
proongatio' OF contrary to the spirit Of the
age to the traditions AID acknowledged maxms of
the political system of merca
On this continent, whatever opinions may have pre-
vailed elsewhere it has been hd aud acknow!ed-
ged by all parties that government to be lawful must
be founded the consent of the governed. We were
forced to dissolve federal connection with our for
associates by their aggressons the fundamental
principles of compact of union with them and in
doing exercised right consecrated in the great
charter of American lberty-tbe right Of free peo-
ple when government proves destructive Of the ends
tor which it established, to to original prin-
ciples and to institute new guards for their security
The separate independence of the States, sovereign
and coqual members of the Federal Union, bad
been surrendered AID the preenslon OF applying to
Independent communities constituted and organized
the ordinary rules for coercDg and reducing rebeions
subjects to obedience, solecism in terms well
as an outrage on the principles of public law.
The war made upon the Confederate States was,
therefore, wholly one Of aggression. On SIDE it
has been strictly defensive Born treemen, end the
descendants OF gallant ancestry, we had 10 option
but to stand up in defence of invaded fresdes Of
our desecrated atars, OF violated" liberties and
blrthrght and OF the prescriptive institutions which
guard and protect them. We have not interered, nor
do we wish, in any whatever to interfere witt
the internal peace and prosperity of the States arraye
In hostility against with the freest developmen
OF their destInes IN any form OF action or line ct
policy they may think proper to adopt for themselves
All we ask iE like immunity for ourselves, and to be
left 10 the undsturbad enjoyment of those inaienable
rights of lie, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,
which common ancestors declared to be the equal
Let them forbear aggressions upon Us, and the war
is at end. If there be questions which require ad
jusmen by negotiation, have ever been willing and
still willing to enter into communication with
adversaries in spirit of PEACE Of equity and manly
tranknss. Strong 10 the persuasion of the justice of
cause, in the gallant devotion of ctlzen-sol
dlers and Of the wbGle body of people, and above
all in the gracious protection of Heaven, are not
afraid to sincere desire for peace terms COO
sstent with the honor and the permanent security
rights, and earnest aspiration to the world
restored TO the benecent pursuits of industry
and OF mutual intercourse and exchanges so essential
to its webeipg and which have been 80 gravely in
terrupted by the existence of this unnatural in
America.
But if our adversaries. or those whom they have
placed in authority deaf to the voice of and
JUSTICE steeed against the dictates of both prudence
and humanity by presumptuous and deusive conf
dence in their numbers, Or those of their black
and foreign mercenariee shall determine upon ndef
mite proongation of the contest, upon them be the
responsibility of q decision runous to themselves
and injurious to the interests and repose of mankind
For ourselves. we have no fear Of the result The
widest picture Drawn of disordered imagination
comes short of the extravaganza which could dream OF
the conquest of eight millions of people, resolved with
mind "o die freemen rather tnan live saves and
foreW armed by the savage and extermnatng spirit in
which this way has been waged upon them, and by the
mad avowas of its patrons and supporters of the
than Egyptian bondage that awaits them in the event
Of their subjugation.
With these declarations of our dispositions our prn-
clpes, and our purposes commit our cause to the
enlightened judgment of the world, to the sober re-
Elections of our adversares themselves and to the solemn
and righteous arbitrements OF Heaven.