July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
Confederate imprint “JOINT RESOLUTIONS Expressing the sense of Congress on the subject of the late Peace Commission.”4pp. octavo, February 20, 1865, and reads in part: “...Whereas the Congress of the Confederate States have ever been desirous of an honorable and permanent settlement, by negotiation, of all matters of difference between the people of the Confederate States of America and the government of the United States, and to this end provided, immediately on its assembling at Montgomery in February 1861, for the sending of three commissioners to Washington to negotiate friendly relations on all questions of disagreement between the two governments on principles of right, justice, equity and good faith: And whereas these having been refused a reception, Congress again, on the 14th of June 1864, adopted and published a manifesto to the civilized world, declaring its continued desire to settle without further shedding blood, upon honorable terms, all questions at issue between the people of the Confederate States and those of the United States, to which the only response received from the Congress of the United States has been the voting down, by large majorities, all resolutions proposing an amicable settlement of existing difficulties: And whereas the President has communicated 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 designate to meet them: And whereas those eminent citizens, after a full conference with President Lincoln and Secretary Seward, have reported that they were informed explicitly that the authorities of the United States would hold no negotiation with the Confederate States, or any of them separately; that no terms, except such as a conqueror grants to the subjugated, 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 the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That while Congress regrets that no alternative is left to the people of the Confederate States but a continuance of the war, or submission to terms of peace alike ruinous and dishonorable, it accepts, in their behalf, the issue tendered them by the authorities of the United States government, and solemnly declares that it is their unalterable determination to prosecute the war with the United States until that power shall desist from its efforts to subjugate them, and the independence of the Confederate States shall have been established...” With an additional amendment offered by Mr. Gilmer stating in part “That there be a separation between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America - each one perfectly free and independent of the other; the rights of navigation, trade, transit &c. properly and fairly agreed on and settled...” Fine.
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