Year: 1862

kind, we determined to make a new associa-
ton, composed of States homogeneous in
interest, in policy and feeling.


True to our traditions of peace and cur
love of justice, we sent Commissioners to
the United States to propose fair and ami
cable settlement of all questions Of public
debt or property which might be in dispute.
But the Government at Washington, deny
ing our right to self government. refused
even to listen to any proposals for peace
full separation. Nothing was then left to
us but to prepare for war.


The first year in our history has been the
most evcntful in the annals of this continent
A new government has been established,
and its machinery put in operation over an
area exceeding seven hundred thousand
square miles The great princi Piles upon
which we have been willing to hazard every
thing that is dear to man have made con-
quests for US which could never have been
achieved by the sword. Our Confederacy
has grown from six to thirteen States; and
Maryland already united to US by hallowed
memories and material interests, will, be-
li"ve, when able to speak with unsatisfed
voice, connect her destiny with the South.
Our people have rallied with unexampled
unanimity to the support Of the great prin-
ciples of constitutional government, with
firm resolve to perpetuatc by arms the ri ghts
which they could not peacefully secure. A
million of men, it is estimated, are now
standing in hostile array, and wagng war
along frontier Of thousands of miles. Bat
ties have been fought. sieges have been con-
Quoted, and although the contest is not
ended, and the tide for the moment is against
US. the final result in our favor is not
doubtful


The period is near at hand when our foes
must sink under the immense load Of debt
which they have incurred, debt which in
their effort to subjugate us has already at
tanned such fearful dimensions as will SUBJ
ject them to burdens which must continue
to oppress them for generations to come.


We. too, have had our trials and difficult
ties. That we are to escape them in future
is not to be hoped. 1t was to be expected
when we entered upon this war that it would
expose our people to sacrifices and cost them
much. both of money and blood. But We
knew the value of the object for which we
struggled, and understood the nature of the
war in which we were engaged. Nothing
could be so bad as failure, and any sacrifice
would be cheap as the price Of success in
..s...-
+ Bnt the picture has its lights as we'll as
its shadows. This great strife has awaken
ed in the people the highest emotions and
qualities of the human soul. It is cultivat-
ing feelings of patriotism, virtue and cour-
age. Instances Of self-sacri6ce and of gen.
erous devotion to the noble cause for which
we are contending are rife throughout the
land. Never has people evinced a more
determined spirit than that now animating
men, women and children in every part of
our country. Upon the first call the men
fly to arms; and wives and mothers send
their husban.ls aud sons to battle without a
murmur of regret.


It was, perhaps, in the ordination of Pro-
violence that we were to be taught the value
of our liberties by the price which we pay
for them


The recollections of this great contest.
with all its common traditions of glory. of
sacrifice and of blood will be the bond of
harmony and enduring affection amongst
the people, producing unity in policy fra
ternity in sentiment and joint effort in war


Nor have the material sacrifices of the
past year been made without some CORES
ponding benefits. If the acquiescence of
foreign nations in pretended blockade has
deprived us of our commerce with them. it
is fast making US self-supporting and an
independent people. The blockade. if eff
fectual and permanent. could only serve to
divert our industry from the production of
articles for export and employ it in supply
ing commodities for domestic use.


1t is satisfaction that we have maintain
ed the war by our unaidcd exertions. We
have neither asked nor received assistance
from any quarter. Yet the interest involved
is not wholly our own. The world at large
is concerned in opening our markets to its
commerce. When the independence of the
Confederate States is recognized by the ma.
tions Of the earth and we are free to follow
our interests and inclinations by cultivating
foreign trade; the Southern States will offer
to manufacturing nations the most favorable
markets which ever invited their commerce
Cotton, sugar, rice, tobacco. provisions.
timber and naval stores will furnish attrac-
tive exchanges. Nor would the constancy
of these supplies be likely to be disturbed
by war. Our confederate strength will be
too great to tempt aggression; and never
was there people whose interest and prin-
ciples committed them SO fully to peaceful
policy as those of the Confederate States. ~
BY the character Of their productions they
are too deeply interested in foreign COM
merce wantonly to disturb it. War of con-
quest they cannot wage, because the Consti-
tuition of their Confeleracy admits of no
coerced association Civil war there cannot
be between States held together by their
volition only. This rule of voluntary asso-
citation, which cannot fail to be conservative.
by securing just and impartial government
at home, does not diminish the security of
the obligations by which the Confederate
States may be bound to foreign nations
In proof of this it is to be rememb berea that.
at the first moment Of assertipO their r;rb+