The Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1861-1862, 1861-11-23
Message Of President DavIs % fhs
Confeaerate Conrrene.

The Richmond papen Of Wednesday lasl
contain the message of President Davis to thl
Congress of tho rebel States Amer the u
al congratulations he says the opsfatioI
the army, soon to be partially interrupted
the approaching winter, have afforded prots
ton to the country and shed a glorious lus,sl
upon its arms through the trying vicjf DSE'
of more than one arduous campaign 80 !.
entitle our brave volunteers to eur pra.
gratitude. itfSf m a .lOtmel
Further on he says: !: After mOueth b.
months of war the enemy have not ol
ed to extend their occupancy of our HIM
new States and Territories have bf
to our Confederacy; while instead
threatened marches of unchecked conquest
they have been driven at more than one point
to assume the defensive, and upon fair COM
parison between the two belligerents as to
men, military means and financial condition,
the Confederates are relatively much stronger
now than when the struggle commenced
He speaks in high terms of the people of the
State of Missouri, who. he says, conducted the
:. war. IN the, ,faee of almost unparalleled DIM
culties, with spirit and success alike worthy
of themselves and of the great cause in which
they are struggling. He continues:
Finding the Confederate States were about
to be invaded through Kentucky, and that her
people, after being deceived into mistaken
security, were unarmed and in danger of be-
ing subjugated by the Federal forces our ar
mics were marched into that State to repel
the enemy and prevent the occupation of GER
tain strategetic points which would have Civ
en- them great advantage in the contest, ster
which was not only justified by the necessity
of self-defense on the part of the Confederate
States, but also by desire to aid the people
OF Kentucky. 1t was never intended by the
Confederate Government to conquer or coerce
the people of that State, but, on the contrary
it was declared by our Generals that they
would withdraw their troops if the Federal
Government would do likewise. A procla-
nation was also made of our desire to respect
the neutrality of Kentucky and the intention
to abide by the wishes of her people as soor
as the were free to express their opinions
These declarations were approved by me, and
| should regard it as one of the best effects o.
the march of our troops into Kentucky, if il
should aid in giving to her people liberty Of
choice, and free opportunity to decide thcil
own policy according to their own will.
While he says the army has been chiefly
instrumental in prosecuting the great contest,
the navy has also been effective in proportion
to its means. He speaks of the difficulties
attending mail transportations, some of which
he declares can be overcome only by time and
the improved condition of the country, or the
restoration of peace, but others by legislation.
As to the financial system, it has worked we'll
so far, and promises good results for the fu-
turc. To the extent that treasury notes may
be issued, the Government is enabled to bor-
row money without interest, and thus facili-
tate the conduct of the war; This extent is
measured by the portion of the field of circu-
lation which these notes can be made to occu-
py. The proportion of the field thus occupi-
cd depends again upon the amount of the
debts for which they are receivable, and when
due not only to the Confederate and State
Governments, arc payable in this medium. A
large portion oft may be circulated at par.
There is every reason to believe that the
Confederate treasury note is fast becoming
such medium. The proposition that these
notes shall be convertible into Confederate
stock, bearing 8 per cent interest, at the plea
sure of the holder, insures them against de-
probation below the value of that stock,
and no considerable fall in value need be
feared so long as the interest shall be punctu-
ally paid The punctual payment of this in
terest has been secured by the act passed by
you at the last session, imposing such a rate
of taxation as must provide sufficient means
for that purpose for the successful prosecution
of the war. 1t is indispensable that the means
of transporting troops and military supplies
be furnished as far as possible in such man
ner as not to interrupt the commercial inter-
course between our people, nor place check
upon their productive energies
In another part Of his message he says -
We have already two main streams of through
transportation from the North to the South !:
one from Richmond along the seaboard, and
the other through Western Virginia to New
Orleans. A third might be secured by COM
pleting link of about forty miles, between
Danville, Va, and Greenborough, NC. The
construction Of this comparatively short line
would give us q through route from North to
South in the interiorof the Confederate States,
and give us access to a population and to
military resources from whichwe are now. in a