Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-13
IFrom The Ricbmond Whig, May Al

The message of President Davis, as was
to be supposed, considering the snort tline
which has elapsed since the adjournment OF
the last Congress, Is not very long docu-
ment, vet short as it is it will be found, we
think. to embrace all the important topics
which it was to be presumed, would he pre-
sented for the consideration of Congress-
1t is, likewise, marked by that purity, as
well as energy of diction which character
ize all the productions OF the Executive
pen. IN.
The President, speaking er cdthedrd, tells
us that he sees no prospect OF an carry
change in the course heretofore pursued Dy
those (the European) Governments. In ms
words, which are true enough ana 1orciDie
enough to commend them to every citizen
of the Confederacy it is enough for us to
know that every avenue of negotiation IS
closed against us; that our enemy. is MAX
ing renewed and strenuous efforts for our
destruction, and that the sole resource for
us, as people secure in the justice of our
cause and holding our liberties to be more
precious than all other earthly possessions,
is to combine and apply every available ele-
ment of power for their defense and pres
ervation. it'
We are glad to learn that the efficiency of
our armies i'm the field is all that can be de-
sired; and that 1.-The discipline and instruc-
tion of the troops have kept pace with
their improvement in material and equip
ment."
The recapitulation of the recent successes
of our army is sufficiently encouraging,
and we can not, perhaps, do better than to
quote the paragraph in which it is contain
ed:
"The recent events of the war are highly
creditable to our troops, exhibiting energy
and vigilance combined with the habitual
gallantry which they have taught us to ex-
pect on all occasions. We haye been
cheered by important and valuable successes
in Florida, Northern Mississippi, Western
Tennessee and Kentucky, Western Louisi-
ana and Eastern North Carolina, rejecting
the highest honor on the skill and conduct
of our commanders, and on the incompara-
BILE soldiers whom it is their privilege to
lead. A naval attack on Mobile was so sue
cessfully repulsed 1T the outer works that
the attempt was abandoned, and the nine
months siege of Charleston has been prac-
tically suspended, leaving the noble city
and its fortress imperishable monuments to
the skill and fortitude Of its defenders. The
armies i'm Northern Georgia and Northern
Virginia, still oppose, with unshaken front,
a formidable barrier to the progress of the
INVADER and our Generals, armies and peo-
pie are animated by cheerful confidence"
There is passage in the message which
deserves more than casual notice. He calls
attention to the fact that the Congress un-
der the provisional government held four
sessions, and the first Congress of the per-
manent government also held four sessions,
and now the second Congress under the
permanent government is assembled at the
time and place appointed by law:
All these events have passed into history,
the threat of our prompt
subjugation made three years ago by peo-
pie that presume to assert a title to govern
States whose separate and independent SOW
ereignty was recognized by treaty with
France and Great Britain in the last CEN
tury, and remained unquestioned for near
ly three generations. Let these very gov
in disregard of duty and treaty
which bind them to recognize
as independent Virginia and other Confed-
crate States, persist in countenancing, by
moral influence, if not in aiding by unfair
and partial action, the claim set up by the
executive of foreign government to exer-
else despOtic sway over the States thus re-
and treat the invasion of them
by their former limited and special agent, as
though 1t were the attempt of sovereign
to suppress rebellion against lawful au-
thority. '
Though apparently aimed at foreign
powers, this paragraph has point also for
parties at home, as the words which we have
will show. The "separate and
sovereignty of the States" and
the "limited and special" nature of the
agency, is here admitted in terms which
must satisfy the most ardent lover of State
rights, in the teeth of such admissions, is it
probable that President Davis will abuse
5he absolute powers conferred upon him by
,he last Congress and seek to erect here a
permanent ''despotsm worse than that of
rurkey?" We think not. Has he used the
lespotic powers which he now enjoys to the
letriment of States and individuals? That
S a question which the parties interested
nay answer for themselves. Congress will
lot fail to appreciate the discrepancy of
limited agent being invested
with absolute powers, and
will at an early day adjust the functions to
he admitted nature of the office.