February 23, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
The Confederate States want nothing but their rights under the laws of nations at the hands of European Powers. They object decidedly to any kind of armed intervention, having in view a compulsory peace on terms dictated from Europe. Any settlement of the war must be of their own arranging, without foreign dictation, and free from coercion after the precedents of Greece and Belgium. We wish no interference which may involve either our boundaries or our institutions, or our free trade policies. These matters are our own, with which it is the business of none to meddle, and with which no outsiders can meddle without injuring us. All we ask is justice according to national law. Receiving this at the hands of the nations of Europe, we are quite capable of achieving our own destiny, and of readily establishing peaceful relations with the United States by treaty, and creating such relations with our European neighbors as will be redound greatly to the mutual interest and prosperity of ourselves and them.
The discrimination made abroad between the two Powers engaged in this war in America, by which the sovereignty of the rump United States is recognized, and that of the Confederate States practically denied, is unjust. We desire intervention to the extent of correcting this injustice, according to law and usage.
The acquiescence in a paper blockade of the Confederate coast, contrary to the law of blockade, which the Powers of Europe solemnly agreed to in 1856, and which they successfully proposed to the Confederate States, is unjust. We desire intervention to the extent of correcting this injustice by the law laid down and unmistakably plain.
The prohibition of Confederate cruisers from carrying their prizes into the ports of European nations, under a profession of impartiality between acknowledged belligerents, operating only to protect Yankee commerce and to cripple the Confederate navy, is unjust. We desire intervention to the extent of correcting this injustice according to national law and custom.
Action, in these particulars, will suffice to give us fair play and allow free scope to the operation of our great resources and power. It will amply suffice to close the war with the Yankees. We repeat, the Confederate States want no such intervention as that discussed in England. The Emperor NAPOLEON appears to have much more correct views concerning this matter.