American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-02-01
FROM RICHMOND.
Peace i'm the Rebel Congress.
Special to the Pittsburgh Commercial
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26

AsHINGTON, Jan. 26.
Files Of the RICHMOND papers Of the
24th, received here to-day, contain the
following
In the rebel House Of Representatives
on Monday, Mr.. Leach, Jr., of North
Carolina, offered the following resolutions,
more eGectually to strengthen the Con-
fedcrate cause preserve peace, and re-
store harmony among the people
Whereas, The protracted struggle on
the part Of tho Confederate States for
their Constitutional rights, against the
Federal Government. who claim the ex-
crcise Of right over States and property
of citizens not guaranteed by the Con-
stitution of the United States, nor laws
of Congress, is just cause Of alarm to the
friends of civil liberty; and,
Whereas, The cruel manner in which
war has been conducted on the part Of
the Federal authorities in the destruction
oil private property Of non eombatants, and
other acts of wantonness not tolerated by
the usagcs Of civilized natio-s, justfios
the painful apprehension that the Feder-
al authorities are blind to their constitu-
tional obligations, deaf to the demands Of
justice, the app ais Of suffering humani-
ty, the groans of the dying, and cries and
tears of the helpless mothers and weeping
orphans,
Res0lyed, Therefore. for the purpose of
ayerting, if possible, the further horrors
Of this bloody fratricidal strife, revolving
alike to the feelings of statesmen, patri-
OTIS, and christians, and to add more to
our physical strength, that we, the mem
bcrs of the House of Representatives of
the Confederate Congress, in behalf of
Justice and the suffering community, ap-
peal most earnestly to the President, and
Senators Of the Confederate Congress, to
appoint such number of Commissioners
as in their judgment the importance Of
the occasion demands, and offer au armis-
tice to the Federal authorities, prepara-
tory to negotiations for peace.
ResolUed, That should the Federal au-
thorities agree to an armisticc and con-
sent to negotiate for peace, that the Presi-
dent by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, be requested to appoint
Commissioners for the purpose Of con
ferring with the Federal authorities, and
that such terms of peace as may be agreed
to by them, and certified by the Presi-
dent and Senate, two thirds of the Sen
ate concurring, shall constitute the kind
of peace between the belligerants
Resolved, That should the Federal au-
thorities refuse to entertain terms of peace
by negotiation, and thereby deny us our
constitutional rights, that for the purpose
of more effectually maintaining those
rights, and at the. same time avert, if pos
sible, the fearful and humiliating fate of
subjugation, alike revolving to the feel
ings of freemen and repugnant to the de-
mauds of justice, that we, the Represen-
tatives of this House, do unanimously
pledge the undivided resources of the
Confederate States in defense of our ina
lienable rights as freemen.
Mr.. M'Mullen, of Virginia, moved
that the resolutions he considered in Sc
cret session, as the same question is now
before the House in another form.
Mr. Atkins, of Tennessee, moved that
the resolutions be referred to the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations, which was SO
ordered by an almost unanimous vote.