The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-08-10
Manifesto of the Confederate
States to the World.

the Senate by Mr. Hill, of Georgia,
adopted in secret session, and sent to the
House on Friday night. The House af
ter secret debate Of several hours du-
ration, adopted them substantially as thoy
came from the Senate, with some slight
modification of language. The unjunc-
ton of secresy having been removed from
this important document by the House,
though not by the Senate, We lay it be-
fore our readers this morning :-Er.
" JOINT RESOLUTIONS DECLARING THE
DISPOSITION OF PRINCIPLEs AND PUR-
POSES OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES IN
RELATION TO THE EXISTING WAR WITH
THE UNITED sTATEs.
Whereas, 1t is due to the great cause
of humanity and civilization, and espe-
cially to the heroic sacrifices of their
gallant army in the field, that no means
consistent with proper self-respect and
the approved usages of nations should be
omitted by the Confederate States to en-
Tighten 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 actuated; therefore
" Resoloed by the Confederate States of
america, That the following manifesto be
issued in their name. and by their author
ity, and that the President be requested
to cause copies thereof to be transmitted
70 hrool 70 i
that the same may be laid before foreign
governments. 9ef
g ManJesto Of the Congress of the Con-
fsderdts States Of America relatiue to
the eristing aoar acith the United States
"The Congress Of the Confederate
States of America, acknowledging their
responsibility to the opinion of the civ
ilized world, to the great law of Christian
philanthropy, and to the Supreme Ruler
OF the Universe, for the part they have
been compelled to bear in the sad specta-
Gle of war and carnage which this CONT
nent has, fer he last three years, exhib-
tied to the eyes of afflicted humanity,
deem the present fitting occasion to de-
clare the principles, the sentiments aud
purpose by which they have been, and
are still, actuated.
g They have ever deeply deplored the
necessity which constrained them to ia ke
up arms in defense of their rights, and Of
the tree institutions derived from their
ancestors; and there is nothing they more
their enemy, by ceasing from the unhal-
lowed war wagedupon them, shall permit
them TO enjoy in peace the shsltering
protection of those hereditary rights and
those cherished institutions The series
ef successes with which it has pleased
Almighty God in so signal a manner to
bless our arms on almost every point OF
our invaded border since the opening Of
the present campaign, enables us to pro-
fess this desire of peace in the interest
of civization and humanity, without dan
ger of having our motives misntsrpreted
or the declaration being ascribed to any
unmanly sentiment or any mistrust of ouI
ability fully to maintain our cause. Ths
repeated and disastrous checks, foreshad
owing ultimate discontinue, which theil
gigantic army, erected against the capital
Of the Confederaey, has already met with
are but continuation Of the same provi
Dental successes for US We do not re
cur to the successes IN any spirit Of vaiT
boasting, but in humble Acknowledgment
of that Almighty protection which ha.
vouchsafed and granted them t
g The world must now see that elgh
millions Of people, inha biting SO sxten
siye territory, with such varied resour
ces and such pumsrous facilities for de
fence as the benigpant bsunty of natur,
has bestowed upon US. and animated will
one spirit to ensountsr every sacrifice 0
ease, of health, of property, Of life itself
rather than be degraded trem the cendi
ton of free and Independent States, int,
which they were born, can never be con
lquered Will not our advsrsaries them
selves begin to- feel that humanity ha
5led long enough; that tears and bloot
fand treasure enough have bsen expended
in bootless undertaking, covering thei
own land, ne less than ours, with pal
of mourning, and exposing them far NOR
than ourselves, to the catastrophe of huan
cial exhaustion and bankruptcy not t
speak of the loss of their liberties by tn
despotism sngendered in an aggrsssiy
warfare upon the liberties of another an
kindred people? Will they be willing
by longer perseverance, in wanton an
J hopeless contests, to make this continent
which they so long boastsd to be th
chosen abode of liberty and self govern
ment. of peace and higher civilization
the theater of the most causeless an
{ prodigal effusien of blood which the worl
has ever seen, of avirtual relapse int
; the barbarism ofathe ruder ages, and {
' the destruction of constitutional fresdsl
by the law lessness of usurped power?
r "These are questions which eur &C
t versaries will decide for rethe mselves w
desire to stand acquitted before the tr
a bunal of the world, as well as in the eye
5 of omnisoent Justice, of any responsible
q ity for the origin or prelongation of
war as contrary to the spirit of the az
r as to the traditions and acknowledge
principles ofthe political system of Anne
s ica.
"On this continent, whatever opinion
!. may have prevailed elsewhere, it has sv,
been held and acknowledged by all pa
: ties that government, to be lawfnl, nu
be founded on the consentsof the govern
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