fa " . ' 2000 !• 
 
 fcfrru 
 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 Remarks of Hon. 
 Conf Pam #637 
 
REMARKS 
 
 OF 
 
 HON. JOHN PERKINS, 
 
 OF LOUISIANA, 
 
 On presenting from the Oommittee on Foreign Affairs, Bes<h 
 littiona in regard to the Negotiations for Peace. ■. 
 
 . The Committee on Foreign Aifiirs, to whom waa referred 
 the special message of tht? President and the report of the 
 Com'tnissioners, have directed me to report those communica- 
 tions biick, with the recommendation that they be printed and 
 laid on the table. They have also directed me to present for 
 the adoption of the House the following resolutions: 
 
 Joint Resolutions expressing tJie sense of Congress on the sub- 
 ject of the late Peace Commission. 
 
 '' WiitREAS, The Congress of the Confederate States have 
 ever been desirous of an hon rable and a permanent settle- 
 ment, by negotiation, of all matters of differepce between the 
 people* of the Confederate States of America and the govern- 
 ment of the United States, and. to this, end provided, imme- 
 diately on its asseii bling at Montgomery, in February, -IHdl, 
 for the M-nding of three commissioners to Washington -to ne* 
 gotiate frien dy relations on all questions of disagreeriient be- 
 tween- the two governments on principles of right, jut-tice, 
 equity and good faith ; ami, whereas, these having been re- 
 fused * reception, Congress ag;iin, on the 14th of June, 1804, 
 adopteil and pu'dished a uianitehto to the civilized world, d( dar- 
 ing its continued desire to settle without further shedding of 
 bloo f, upon lionorabie terms, all questions at issue between the 
 people ol the Confederate States and those of the United 
 
States, to which the only response received from the Congress 
 ot the United States has been the voting down, by liirge ma- 
 jorities, all resolutions proposing an amicable settlement of 
 existing difficulties ; arid, whereas, the President has commu- 
 ijicated to this House that, in the same spirit of .conciliation 
 and peace, he recently sent Vice President Stephens. Senator 
 Hunter and Judge' Campbell, to hold conference with such 
 persons as the government of the United .States might desig- 
 nate to meet them ; and, whereas, these eminent citizens, after 
 a full conference v ith President Lincoln arid Secretary Sew- 
 »r<l, have reporred that they were informed explicitly that the 
 au'horities of the United States would hold no negot ations 
 with the Confederate States, or any of them separately ; that 
 BO terms, except such as a conqueror grants. to the subjug.ttecJ, 
 would be extended to the people of these States ; and that the 
 subversion of our institutions, and a complete submission to 
 their rule, was the only condition of peace: Therefore-, 
 
 Resolved, by {he. Congresx of the Confederate t^tutes of 
 .America, That, while Congress regrets that no alternative is 
 left to the people of the Coniederate States but a continuance 
 of the war, or Submission to terms of peace alike ruinou* and 
 dishonorable, it accepts, in their behalf, the issue tendered 
 them by the authorities of the United States Governrnt nt, and 
 jsoleranly declares that it is their unalterat)le determination to 
 prosecute the war with the United States until that power 
 ehall desist from its efforts to sur.jugate them, and the inde- 
 pendence of the Confederate Statos shall have been estab- 
 lished. 
 
 Resolved, That the Congress has received with pride the 
 numerous noble and patriotic resolutions passed by ttie army ; 
 and in the gallant and unconquered spirit which they hieathe, 
 coming from those who have for years endured dangers and 
 privations, it sees unmistakable evidence that the entiiusiastn 
 with which they first , dedicated their lives to the defence of 
 their .country is not yet extinct, but has been confirmed, by 
 baidships and suffering, into a piinciple of resistance to North- 
 ern rule, that will hold in contempt all di>graceful terms of 
 Bubmission ; and for these expressions in camp, as well -as for 
 their noble acts in the field, our fcoldiers deserve, and will re- 
 ceive, the thanks of the country. 
 
 Resolved, That the Congress invites the people of these 
 States to assemble in public meetings, and renew their vows 
 of devotion to the <;ause of independence; to declare their de- 
 termination to maintain their liberties ; to pledge themselves 
 
to do all ia" their power to fill the ranks of our army;' to pro- 
 vide for the support of the families of our soldiers ; and t,Q 
 cheer an<i comfort, by every means, the gallant men who for 
 years, through trials and dangers, have vindicated our rights 
 on the battle field. 
 
 Ri'solviki, That, invoking the blessing of God, and confiding 
 in the justice of our cause, in the valor and endurance of our 
 soldiers, and in the deep and ardent devotion of our. people to 
 thegreat principles of civil and political liberty, for which w« 
 are contending, Congress pledges itself to the passage of the 
 most energetic measures to secure our ultimate success. 
 
 ' These resolutions were adopted by the committee the daj 
 after the subject was referred to them, and have Ijeen on my 
 desk ever since, waiting an opportunity, under the rules of the 
 House, to be presented. 
 
 They state what has been the policy of Congress -on the 
 suhject of negotiating for peace with the United States from 
 the beginning of our government, and conclude with a hrief 
 but decided, expression of opinion on the result of the late 
 commis-ion or negotiation, brought to our attention by the 
 message of the President. 
 
 In the preamble of the resolutions reference is made to the 
 fact that the Montgomery Congress, even before it inaugurated 
 the President of the Confederate States, provided by an act 
 dated the 15th of February, 1861, for "a commission of three 
 persons," to be sent "as early as convenient," to negotiate 
 friendly, relations between the Confederate States and the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States, and "to settle all questions of 
 disagreement between th«m, upon principles of right, justice, 
 equity and good faith;" and that three commissioners, con- 
 sisting of Ex-Governor Roman, of Louisiana, a gentleman of 
 great influence and worth, and a distinguished- monber of the 
 old Whig party, and the Hon. John Forsyth, of Alabama, a 
 former minister to Mexico and a prominent member of the 
 DougliiS party, and the Hon. Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, a for- 
 mer member' of the United States Congress and of the Demo- 
 cratic party, were sent to Washington on this mission of peace 
 
immediately on the inauguration of President Davis ; but were 
 refused even an audience by the Federal authorities. The 
 preamble further states the fact that in the month of June, 
 1864, after the war had .progressed for- three years, the Con- 
 gress adopi^ed a manifesto, and published it to the world in the 
 most solemn and authentic manner declaring its desire to have 
 an amicable adjustment of all difficulties between, the people 
 of the Confederate States and the Government of the United 
 States; and that to this* expression no friendly response has 
 ever been made by the Congress of the United States, but 
 that, on the contrary, it has repeatedly voted down, by large* 
 majorities, ^'esolutions that merely expressed the hope that the 
 people of the South might enter again upon the peaceful en- 
 joyment of their rights in the Unioi. The preamble, in con- 
 clusion, approves the act of the President in again sending a 
 commission, on the 28th of January last, to negotiate for the 
 restoration of peace, composed of Hon. A. H. Stephens, of 
 Georgia,. Vice President of the Confederate States; Hon. R. 
 M. T. Hunter, Senator from Virginia; and Hon. J. A. Camp- 
 bell, of Alabama, late of -the United- States Supreme- Court, 
 and present Assistant Secretary of War of the Confederate 
 Btates — three of the most eminent and conservative of our 
 Southern statesmen; and gives as the result of their efforts at 
 negotiation, '■'• that no terms or proposals of any treaty or 
 agreement looking to an ultimate settlement would be enter- 
 tained or made by the federal authorities 'with the authorities 
 of the Confederate States or the States separately, and that 
 no extended truce or armistice would be granted or allowed' 
 without a satisfactory ansuranee in advance of a complete 
 submission to the rule vf the United- States government." 
 
 .The i-esolutio.ns, in view of these facts, express regret that 
 a peaceful settlement of our diifioulties has been rendered 
 impossible by the action of the United States authorities, and 
 declare, that sad and dreadful as the people.of the Confederate 
 Btates know from experience the evils qf war to be, they will 
 willingly encounter and resolutely endure all the sacrifices of 
 
a continued struggle rather than submit unconditionally to the 
 rule of a government that seeks -first to dishonor and then to 
 destroy them. 
 
 The second resolution thanks our gallant soldiers for their 
 patriotic expressions of devotion to our cause from the camp, 
 as well as'for their noble acts on the battle-field. 
 
 The third resolution calls upon the people of the country to 
 assemble in meetings and pledge themselves anew to furnish 
 food and clotiiing for our soldiers, to provide for their families", 
 and to do all in their power for the success of our arms. 
 • The Inst resolution is the utterance of Coni.Tress itself, and 
 says that, invoking the blessing of God, and relying on the 
 justness of our cause, the noble endul-ance of our soldiers, and 
 the patriotism of our people, Congress will adopt such ener- 
 getic measures as, in its judgment, will contribute to the 
 ultimate' success of our arms. 
 
 I do not suppose, Mr. Speaker, that more is necessary to 
 ensure the adoption of these resolutions than thus briefly to 
 call them to the attention of members; but as they are to be 
 the solemn legislative expression of. the country upon the 
 events of the day, they have an importance beyond ordinary 
 resolves, and as. the Oommittoe desire their immediate adoption, 
 I will add a few words in further explanation of their purpose 
 and character. ' • 
 
 In oflFering them' as pledges of renewed devotion to Southern 
 independence on the part of this Congress, I am reminded of 
 the occasion when, four years ago this very month, I first pre- 
 sented in the Congress, at Montgomery,, resolutions pledging 
 the Confederate States to permanent separation from the 
 United States. Since that time the country has given more 
 substantial pledges to the cause in its noble sacrifices on the 
 battle-field. Many of the eminent men who then shared* our 
 councils have disappeared; some in the natural course of 
 events — but most have sealed with their lives the dedication 
 tliey then made of themselves on the newly erected altar of 
 their country. The names, too, that were associated with our 
 
early victories liaA'c given place for the most part to those of 
 newer men that, born with the occasion, have risen to fill their 
 places. And yet, sir, with undiminished impetaosity the 
 bloody stream of events which engulfed those men still £ow3 
 on. Sir, if humanity, outraged by the needless shedding of 
 blood and the perpetration of atrocities such as heretofore have 
 only characterized war among savage people, shall at last lift 
 her voice and call upon Christendom io mark with its reproba-' 
 tion the present barbarous contest, the responsibility will be 
 seen not to have been with us. If hereafter the historian, in 
 drawing the gloomy picture of the fall of the great republic 
 of the West, shall find the cause of its destruction in the pre- 
 sent contest, the records of this Congress will show that the 
 Southern States were from the first desirous in every way by 
 negotiation to avert its catastrophe. 
 
 But there will be a responsibility attaching to us in the 
 passage of these resolutions that I wisli to record and which 
 will be the source of just pride. If, sir, it is ever honorable 
 in a nation's history that in defence of its liberties it gave up 
 the ease and comfort of peace, and hailed with enthusiasm even 
 war, with all its sufferings, rather than submit to dishonor; 
 and that in the progress of war it could be generous in the 
 midst of passion, and so temper justice with humanity as to be 
 willing at all times to negotiate peace with those from whom it 
 had received only wrong ; then it will indeed be a circumstance 
 in our history full of dignity and honor, that with cool and 
 resolute determination the people of the Confederate States, 
 though surrounded by the evidence of wide-spread suffering, 
 and with the most earnest desire for peace, accepted, with an 
 unanimity equalled onl}^ by that with which they entered upon 
 the contest, the cruel and stQrn issue presented by the enemy, 
 and that from the people and the army there came up alike the 
 expression of a. fixed resolve to continue the struggle until 
 their rights as freemen should be acknowledged. 
 
 Mr. Speaker, the expressions that reach'us daily from the 
 army are no idle and unmeaning resolves. They come from 
 
tlie hearts oT men who know what war is, an.d who have not 
 forgotten the enjoyments of peace. They have all the elo- 
 quence of heroic acts, and when read at your desk excite 
 within nae emotions that I find difficult to express. Sir, the 
 enemy may penetrate our borders, and with ruthless barbarity 
 burn our towns and lay waste our territory, but if tlie spirit of 
 this government and. the people remain as unbroken as that of 
 our goldiers, our final triumph is certain. Such successes, 
 while they do not permanently weaken our power of resistance, 
 will bring them no strength. 
 
 A.devastateu but not a conquered people will rise up behind 
 the march of their armies, and soon, while boasting from victo- 
 ries, they will be suing for peace of those they proclaimed 
 vanquished. A people of the numerical strength, and of the 
 spirit of ours, and inhabiting a country of the extent of ours,- 
 with its facilities for military defence, if true to themselves, 
 cannot be conquered. There is a patriotism independent of a 
 man's possessions, or of the particular spot of land, on whicj;^ 
 be lives, and that links the aflFections to one's country, because 
 it is his country, by ties as strong and holy as those that place 
 man in sympathy with his God. 
 
 The home of our infancy, the hallowed localities of religioa 
 and the dead, and the scenes of our daily life, into which have 
 been woven our dearest associations, may be all desolated by 
 the foe, and yet, if there be that strength of soul that comes 
 of noble* ends, there will be no despondency. On the con- 
 trary, from the very de(jth of our suffering there will be safety 
 in the determination that is inspired. Sir,! have the same 
 confidence in ihe success of our struggle at this moment of 
 apparent gloom, that! had at its commencement. There are 
 yet trials before us,, the severest we have yet encountered — but 
 I believe our people will bear them with fortitude, and that 
 their resolution will b'e increased rather than diminished by 
 their sacrifices. I believe that their confidence in the justice 
 of our cause is such that they are ready to say in the words 
 and with the faith of tiie Apostle :■ — " We are troubled on evert/ 
 
8 
 
 side, yet not dismayed ; tve are perplexed^ but not in despair ; 
 persecuted, but not forsaken ; cant down, but not destroyed." 
 Feeling thus, you will see the resolutions, as I have offered 
 them, do not admit the idea of failure. There ca7i be no 
 failure in the presence of the fate that awaits .us if we do not 
 succeed. In such a contingency history offers nq parallel of 
 what would be our condition. Poetry woMld find no numbers 
 mournful enough for our funeral dirge. The saddest picture 
 of extinguished nationality ever drawn was that of the Prophet 
 of God, weeping over the desolation of his chosen people, and 
 yet he could only speak of a country laid waste, cities 
 destroyed, and a whole people scattered dver the face, of the 
 earth. But in our case, it will be far worse. An heroic peo- 
 ple-^with all the evidences of their separate existence — their 
 honored history and their chei-ished memories — will be forever 
 merged in, and made to complete the glory of the nationality 
 that crushed them. 
 
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