The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred so much of the
President’s Message as relates the affairs of the Confederate States
with the United States, respectfully report :
That the truthful and able narration of the facts and principles
involved in the contest between the Confederate States and the United
States, which the President’s Message contains, constitutes a
vindication of the course of the Confederate States, which ought to
satisfy the world of the justice of their cause. But all who propose to
change the general order of things amongst nations, stand at
disadvantage. They are looked upon as assailing the peace of the world;
and hence those who break up a long established government, and effect
thereby the interests of other nations, owe it to them, as well as
themselves, to make the justification of their course as complete as
possible.
The contest between the Confederate and the United States, is
not merely a contest of war. Wars too often determine nothing, but which
nation is the strongest or bravest. This contest is a contest for
constitutional government, in which the interests of all mankind are
concerned. Your committee therefore propose on the wide subject
committed to them, briefly to present some views in support of the
President’s positions, which may not be useless in elucidating the
relations between the Confederate and the United States.