CONGRESS, CONFEDERATE. 



267 



tributaries, and the opening of the market of 

 the South to the inhabitants of the Northwest- 

 ern States upon certain terms and conditions- 

 reported : 



A majority wore in favor of the resolutions, 

 and a minority opposed. The majority recom- 

 mended a vigorous prosecution of the war with 

 invasion of the enemy's territory. Relative to 

 a proclamation of the freedom of the Mi-- 

 pi and the opening of the Southern markets to 

 the inhabitants of the Northwestern States, 

 they said: 



Such a proclamation as that recommended in the 

 resolution referred to the committee, it is confidently 

 believed, would have a tendency greatly to strengthen 

 the efforts of the advocates of peace in the Northwest- 

 ern States, be calculated to bring those States quickly 

 into amicable relations with the States of the South', 

 withdraw them ultimately altogether from their pres- 

 ent injurious political connection with the States of 

 the North and East, with which they have really so lit- 

 tle in common, and thus enable us to dictate the terms 

 of a just and honorable peace from the great commer- 

 cial emporium of that region through wnose influence 

 mainly has this wicked and unnatural war been thus 

 far kept in progress. 



The minority of the committee reported, 

 that in their opinion it was a work of superero- 

 gation for the House to decide on the policy 

 on which the war should be conducted. As to 

 opening the Southern markets to the inhabi- 

 tants of the Northwestern States they say : 



The undersigned dissent from the recommendation 

 that this Government should tender to a portion of the 

 citizens of the Government with whom we are at war 

 exclusive commercial privileges. It is not the part of 

 wisdom to commit our Government to any fixed policy 

 in advance. Legislation should not be anticipated, 

 but should be shaped by existing events. If a devia- 

 tion from this plain suggestion of wisdom be advised 

 in the present instance upon the idea of the influence 

 of an appeal to the self-interest of the inhabitants of 

 the Northwestern States, it should not be forgotten 

 that the same argument might, with equal propriety, 

 be addressed to the inhabitants of the New England 

 States. The manufacturers of that section would be 

 conciliated by pledges that a discriminating tariff 

 would at the close of hostilities, be put into speedy 

 operation for building up their interests, and ship- 

 owners would be propitiated by pledges that they would 

 be permitted to perform the carrying trade of the South 

 as under the old Union. And the city of New York 

 would be induced to pause in her course of folly and 

 wickedness toward the Confederate States if assured 

 that they would confer upon her the privilege of con- 

 ducting their commercial affairs, and enriching herself 

 upon the proceeds of her labor. 



The Northern people derived, under the former Gov- 

 ernment, an annual profit of not Jess than $100,000,000 

 upon Southern trade. Their implements of war will 

 be laid aside when assured that their coffers shall be 

 filled with the proceeds of Southern labor. But the 

 undersigned do not hesitate to repel the suggestion 

 that the people of the South are willing to purchase 

 peace by such a sacrifice of their rights, and by so de- 

 grading a concession to Northern cupidity. To be re- 

 spected, our course must be firm and our legislation 

 rational and just. 



At an early period after the organization of the Gov- 

 ernment of the Confederate States a law was passed 

 declaring the free navigation of the Mississippi river, 

 with certain salutary restrictions. The policy of the 

 Government has not been changed on this subject. It 

 is presumed to have been known to the inhabitants of 

 the Northwestern States before they embarked in a 

 wicked and unjustifiable war against 'the people of the 



Confederate States. To proclaim this poiicv at the 

 present time, coupled with offers of their lucrative 

 trade, in the manner suggested by the majority, would 

 be, in the highest degree, derogatory to the dfgnity of 

 the Government. It would bnng upon it the imp'uta- 

 tion of pusillanimity. It would be accepted by the 

 enemy as a confession of conscious weakness, and its 

 inevitable tendency would be to prolong the war. 



The undersigned are firm in the opinion that the 

 most effective mode of conquering a peace is not to be 

 found in extending to the enemy propositions of re- 

 conciliation, but in the vigorous prosecution of the 

 war. 



The signs of returning reason, indicating a desire for 

 peace among the inhabitants of the Northwesten States, 

 upon the discovery of which the majority have con- 

 gratulated the House, are believed to be delusive. The 

 undersigned regret to say that they have not been able 

 to discern them. But, in the event of the actual exist- 

 ence of these alleged pacific indications, it is clear 

 that they are the result, not of temporizing expedients 

 on the part of the Government of the Confederate 

 States, but of its manifestation of purpose to prosecute 

 the war with vigor and effect. 



For these reasons the undersigned dissent from the 

 views of the majority, and ask the concurrence of the 

 House in the opinion that they should be rejected. 



E. BARKSDALE, 

 J. R. McLEAN, 

 W. R. SMITH. 



The second conscription bill to call into ser- 

 vice all persons above thirty-five years of age, 

 led to a disagreement of the two Houses, when 

 a committee of conference was appointed by 

 each. In the House the following debate took 

 place on the report of the committee. 



A message was received from the Senate 

 stating that they had agreed to the report of 

 the committee of conference in relation to the 

 bill " further to provide for the public defence." 



Mr. Miles, of South Carolina, from the com- 

 mittee of conference, reported that the com- 

 mittee recommended that the House concur in 

 the report of the committee of conference. 



Mr. Boteler, of Virginia, obtained the floor. 



Mr. Foote hoped the gentleman did not rise 

 to call the question. If he did, he appealed to 

 him by every consideration of courtesy and pa- 

 triotism not to do it. 



Mr. Boteler replied that he was blind to any 

 appeal to courtesy, and to everything but the 

 welfare of his country, at the present moment. 

 Whatever his will might have been, his patience 

 was exhausted, and many an hour had been 

 lost already in discussion. He had recently 

 returned from the army of the Potomac, and 

 he had heard the appeals of soldiers made again 

 and again, asking when reinforcements were 

 coming. It is now time that the eternal talk 

 on this bill should cease. It was an easy mat- 

 ter to vote down the question if gentlemen did 

 not desire to sustain it ; but he was impelled 

 by a sense of duty. He did call the question 

 npon the bill, and he should adhere to it. 



The call of the question having been sustain- 

 ed, the bill was passed, 59 to 24. 



Mr. Kenan, of Georgia, moved to reconsider 

 the vote by which the bill had been passed. 

 The measure just passed struck out the only 

 adjustment looking to peace between the State 

 and Confederate Governments that by which 



