Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-06-13
Joint RESOLUTION
DECLARING TIE DIsPosIIIONs PRINCIPLES AND PURPOSES
or THE cOSTEDERArE STATES IN RELATION TO rHE TX
r1Sa War WIFE rHE UNITED STATS.

mol AIRING TIE DIsPosIIIONs PRiHcIPLEs AND PURPOSES
OF TIE CONFEDERATE STATES IN RELATION TO TIE TX
TING WAR WITH TIE UNITED STATES.
WHEREAs. il e due 10 TIE great cause OF humanity
and civilization and especially 70 the heroic sacrifices
of their gallant army in the hsld thas no means COL
sistent with Q proper self respect and the approved
usages Of nations should be omitted by toe
states to enghten the public opinion of the world with
regard TO the tue character of the stru gle IN which
bsv are engaged and the dispositions, principles and
purposes by which they are actualed; therefore,
Rssoved by the Congress Of the Confederate States
Of America That the following manifesto be issued IN
tnsir name and by Their authority, that the PTes-
dent be requested copies thereof to be trans
mittod 10 our commissioners Abroad to the end that
he same msy be laid before foreign Governments.
MANIFESTO or TIE CONGRESS OF ooSy1DERATE STATES
CT AMEs1oA RELArIvE - TIE KISSING WAR WITH
TIE USTID srArEi.
The Congress of the Confederate States of America,
acknowledging their responsibility 10 the option OF the
civilized world to the great law Of Christian phllnthro.
pV and 70 the SUpreme Ruler Of the universe for TIE
nsrt thew have been compelled TO bear in the sad spec
acle of was aud carnage which this continent ha Tor
the last three yeArs exhibited to the eyes Of a ced
humAoiEy deems th9 p6sent fitting occasion % de
clare the principles the sentiments and the purposes by
/ VII ch they have been and are still aGtuated.
They have ever deeply deplored the necessity which
cons rsned them 10 iAke up arms in defence of their
rights and OF the free Institutions derived fro their
cssos aad there is soothing they more ardenty desire
| an peace whatsoever their enemy, by ceasing from
/ the unhaloEed war Waged upon them, shall permit
than 10 eroy In peace the sheerng protection Of those
dtary rights and Of those cherished institutions Tee
series of successes with which it has pleased Almighty
God in so signal a manner, TO bless our arms on
every point of invaded borders sncs' the
opening of the present campaign enables Us 70 profess
This desire of peace in tue interests Of civil ration aud
humanity without danger of having our motives mis-
Interpreted or OF the declaration being ascrbed to any
unmany sentiment or any disTuss Ct our ability fully
/ 10 maintain our cause. Toe repeated and disastrous
checks foreshadoWiDg Ultimate discontinue, which
their gigantic army directed against the capital Of the
OocFederaey, hiss already met WITH are but contilua-
lion of the same proVidental successes for u' We do
not refer 70 these successes any spirit Of vain boast
inc lint In humble Acknowledgement of that Almighty
protection which has yOuchsafed and granted them.
Toe weird must now see that tight millions OF
i prople nhabtug so extensive q territory, with
inch varied resources ard euch facilities
for defence as toe benignant bounty CT nature has
besosed upon us and animated with spirit to tn
counter eV,ry prvaou and sacrifice OF ease, Of health
of property oil life ITSELF rather than be degraded from
the coneton Ct free aod independent States into which
they we're bern can never be conquered. VIII not our
sdysrsares themselves begin TO feel that humanity has
bled long enough; that tears and blood and treasure
enough have been expended in bootless undertaking.
covering their own land no less than ours win pail
| Of mourning, and exposing them far more than our
selves 10 The catastrophe Of hnarclRl exhaustion and
bankruptoy not speak of the oss Of their bertes by
the despotism enFendered in aggressive warfare upon
the ber,iss of another and kindred psopleI Will hey
be willing by a longer perseverance in Wantcn and
homeless contest to make thi continent which they
long boas5ed 70 the chosen abode OF liberty and
selfRoVernmen OF peace and bighercviz alton, the
theatre Of the most causeess and pEodgal etusion OF
blood which the would has ever scen OF virtual re-
lapse into the ba baism the Tuder ages aud Of the
destruction Of constitutional freedom by the laNless
ness oil usurped pOHeri
These are quest OILS whoh our adVersaries will de-
eide for themselves We desire to stand acquitted be-.
foie TIE tribunal OF the Eol well as in the eyes Of
Ohm scient Justice, OF aoy responsibility tor the origin
contrary 60 the spirit Of the
age as to tbe traditions and acknowledged ma1ms of
the political system OF America.
On this continent, whatever opinion may have pre-
vailed elsewhere it has ever been he'd and acknoW
edged by all parties that Government to be lawful,
must be founded the consent OF the governed. We
were forced dissolve federal connection With or
former associates by tier aggessons on the iundAmen
ta principles Of our com OF union with them and
In doing so exercise right consscra ed in the great
charter of American hbeTty-the right free oPes
Wher govern ment prov, destructive OF the ends for
which is was established, 70 rGeur 10 original pIinci
pies and 70 institute guards for their security The
separate Independence OF the States sovereign and
co equal members of the FEDERAL Union, had never
been SURF ndered and the pretension Of applying to IN
dependent communi les, 20 constituted and Organised,
the ordinary ru,s Of coercion, and reducing rebeOus
subjects 70 obedience, was BOlecism III eTu5I Is Wen
as an outrage on the principles of public law.
The war made upon the Confederate States was,
therefore, wholly Of aggression. On our tide, IL
has been strictly defensive. Born freemen, and the
descendants Of a gallant ancestry, we had no option
but to stand up in defence Of invaded hresdes, OF
our decorated aars of violated lbers and birth
right and of the prescriptVe Institutions which guard
and protect them We bave rot interfereo nor do We
wish in any whatever 10 Interfere with the IN
teTnAl peace and prosperity Of tie States arTayed IN
hostility sinsI us, with the treess Development
Of their des1nies in any form Of action, or lima OF
policy they may think proper ADOPT for themselves
All We ask 10 alike immunity for ourselves and to be
lsf in the undisturbed enjoyment Of those naenabAe
rights Of ellie, liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness"
which our common ancestors declared 10 be the equal
heri age Of all the parties to the social compact
Let them orbsAF aggressons upon "a, and the is
as an end If there be questions which require adj list
ment by negotiation We have ever been siling and
still Wiling to enter into communication With our
adVtrslries in spii of peace, Of equity, and manly
frankness. Strong in tie persua ion Of the justice OF
cause in Ihe gallant devotion Of our teen soldier,
and Of The wi ole body Of people, and sboVS ell in
the gracious protection Of Heaven not afaid TO
ayoW sincere desire for pesos on terms conssieIst
with cur koHof and tie permanent security oil our
rights and earnest asi iraOn zee the WoIi ce
more restored benehcent pursuits of industry and
Of mutual Intercourse and eGehangos, essential ia