Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-30
Manifesto Of the Confederate states
20 the World.

tat 1tNatt " UT klAts VI OtotkAas aNoptCA III
secret session. and sent to the House on Friday
night. The House, after a secret debate Of sew
eral hours duration, adopted them substantially
as they came from the Senate. with some slight
modification Of language. The injunction Of
secrecy having been removed from this impor-
tant document BY the House, though not by ths
Senate We lay il before our readers this morn
ing:
Joint RESOLUTIONS DECLARING THE DISPOSITION
OF PRINCIPLES AND PURPOSES or THE coSFEDER-
ATE STATES ~ RELATION TO THE EXISTING WAR
Win THE UNITED STATES.
WHEREAS. 1t is due to the great cause of hu-
maniiy and civilization, ami especially 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
enlighten the public opinion of the world with
regard 10 the true character of the struggle in
which they are engaged, and the dispositions,
principles and purposes by which thew are actua-
ted therefore,
Resolved by the Congress Of the Confederate
States of America, That the following manifesto
be issued in their name. and by their authority
and that the President be requested to cause
copies thereof 70 be transmitted 10 our commits
sioners abroad, to the end that the same may be
laid before foreign governments.
States Of America reiatiue 10 The existinq ,car
,ciu The United States.
The Congress OF the Confederate States of
America, acknowledging their responsibility to
the opinion of the civilized world, TO the great
law OF Christian philanthropy, and to the'Supreme
| Ruler of the Universe, for the part they have
been compelled 10 bear in the sad spectacle of
war and carnage which this continent has. for the
last three years, exhibited TO the eyes OF afflicted
humanity, deem the present fitting occasion to
declare the principles, the sentiments and the
purposes by which they have been, and are still
actuated
They have ever deeply deplored the neces
sity which compelled them to take up arms in
defense of their rights and OF the free institutions
derived from their ancestors; and there is moth
| ing they more ardently desire than peace, when
soever their enemy, by ceasing from the unhal
! lowed war waged upon them, shall permit them
70 enjoy in peace the shelterng protection o.
those hereditary rights and those cherished nsti-
tutions. The series Of successes with which il
has pleased Almighty God, in so signal man
ner, to bless our arms on almost every point of
our invaded border since the opening of the pres
ent campaign enables Us to confess this desire Of
peace in the interest of civilization and humanity,
without danger of having our motives misinter
preted; of the declaration being ascrbed to any
unmanly sentiment or any mistrust of our ability
fully to maintain our cause. The repeated and
disastrous checks, foreshadowing ultimate dis
comtture, which their gigantic army. erected
against the capital of the COnfederacy, has al
ready met with are but continuance of the
same prOvdential successes for Us. We do not
recur to the successes in any spirit of vain boast
ing, but in humble ackno wledgment of that AL
mighty protection which has vOuchsafed and
granted them
1.-The world must nov see that eight millions
OF people, lnhabltlng so extensive territory,
with such varied resources and such numerous
facilities for defence as the benignant bounty OF
nature has bestowed upon Us, and animated with
one spirit to encounter every sacrifice of ease. of
health, of property, Of life itself, rather than be
degraded from the condition Of free and indepen-
dent States, into which they were born, can new
er be conquered viii not our adversarieS them
selves begin to feel that humanity has bled long
enough; that tears and blood and treasure enough
have been expended in bootess undertaking,
covering their own land no less than ours with
a pail OF mourning, and exposing them far more
than ourselves, To the catastrophe of financial ex
hauston and bankruptcy, not to speak of the
loss of their liberties by the despotsm engen-
dered in an aggressive warfare upon the liberties
of another and kindred people! Will they be
willing, by longer perseverance in wanton
and hopeless contest, TO make this continent
which they so long boasted TO be the chosen abode
of liberty and self government, of peace and
higher civilization, the theatre of the most cause
less and prodigal efiuson of blood which the
world has ever seen. of vir sua relapse into the
barbarism of the ruder ages. and of the destruc-
ton Of constitutional freedom by the lawlessness
of usurped powerI
These are questions which our adversaries
will decide for themselves We desire to stand
acquitted before the tribunal of the world, well
in the eyes of Omniscient Justice, OF any re-
sponsibility for the origin prolongaton of
contrary to the spirit of the age TO the
traditions and acknowledged principles of the po'
| ltical system of America.
"On this continent, whatever opinions may
have prevailed elsewhere, it has ever been held
and acknowledged by all parties that govern
ment to be lawful, must be founded on the con-
sent of the governed. We were forced to dis
solve Federal connection with our former
| associates by their aggressiODs on the funda
mental principles of our compact of union with
| them; and in doing exercised right
consecrated IN the great charter OF American
! llberty-the right of a free people, when
| Government proves destructive of the ends for
which it was established. TO recur to the Origi
nal principles and to institute guards for
their security. The separate independence of
the States, "a the sovereign and co-equal mem
bers of the Federal Union. had never been sur
rendered, and the pretensiOns of applying 70
| independent communities, so constituted and
organized. the ordinary rules for coercing and
reducing rebellious subjects to obedience was
| solecism in terms, as well as an outrage on the
principles of public law
The war made upon the Confederate States,
was therefore, wholly one of aggression. On
our side it has been strictly defensive. Born
free men and descendants of a gallant ancestry,
we had no option but to stand up in defense of
our invaded fresides, OF our desecrated affairs,
of our violated liberties and birthright, and of
/ the prescriptive institutions which guard and
| protect them. We have not lnterfered, nor do
we wish in any manner whatever, 10 interfere
with the internal peace and prosperity of the
States arrayed in hostility against Us. or with
the freeest development of their destinies in any
form of action or line of policy they may think
proper to adopt for themselves. All We ask is
like immunity for ourselves, and to be left to
ourselves in the undisturbed enjoyment of those
nalenable rights of life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness which our common ancestors
declared to be the equal heritage of all the par
ties to the social compact
Let them forbear aggressOns upon Us, AID
the war is at an end Ii there he questions which
require adjustment by negotiation, we have ever
been willing, and are still willing, TO enter into
communication with our adyersaries 10 a spirit of
/ peace. of equity, and of manly trankness. Strong
/ in the persuasion OF the justice OF our cause, in
! the manly devotion of our citizen soldiers, and
of the whole body of our people, aud above all,
| in the gracious protection OF Heaven, we are not