The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-07-23
President Davis Message.

RICHMOND July 2O.-The following is the message of
the President the Congress of the Confederate States
of America:
Gentlemen: Ny message addressed to YOU at the COM
Of the session. contained such full informa
ton of the state Of the Cenederacy render it
necessary that should do than call your atten-
ton to such important facts as have occurred during
the recess, and TO matters connected with public de-
fence.
have again to congratulate you on the accession Of
new members to our confederation of free and equal
sovereign States. Our loved and honored brethren of
North Carolina and Tennessee have consummatcd the
action foresoen and provided for your last session.
and have had the qualification of announcing, by
proclamation in conformity with law, that those States
admitted into the Conederacy. The people Of
Virginia Also by majority previously unknown in her
history have ratified the action of her Convention uni
ting her fortunes with ours. The States of Arkansas
North Carolina and Virginia have likewise adopted the
Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States and
doubt is entertained of its adoption by Tennessee at
the election to be held early next month deemed it
advisable direct the removal of the several Executive
Departments with their archives, to this city, which
you had removed the scat of Government.
Immediately after your adjournment the aggressive
movements of the required prompt and energetic
acea- The accumulation of his forces the Potomac
sufficiently demonstrated that his efforts to be di
rected against Virginia, and from point could the
necessary for her defence and protection be
efficiently directed from her capital. The rapid
progress of events for the last few weeks has fully
suficed strip the veil from behind which the
policy and purposes of the Government of the United
States had been previously concealed-ther Odious
their President and the action of their Congress during
the present month confess the intention of subugatng
these States by whose folly i. squaed only by its
wickedness-a by which it is impossible attain
the proposed result; whilst it, dire caamties
to be avoided by u.s. will fall with double severity
themselves. Commencing, in March last, with the
aecaton of ignoring the secession of the States
which first organized the Government; perssting, in
April in the idle and absurd assumption of the exist
Pnce Of riot, which to be dispersed bS posse
eOmidt"S, and continuing in successive months the false
representation that these
in spite of the conclusive evidence the contrary fur
nished well as by official action by the very basis
which this Government is constituted the President
of the United States and his advisers succeeded in de-
ceivng the people of those States into the belief that
the purpose of this Government was peace
home but conquest abroad not the defence of it's
liberties but the subvesiOn of those of the people Of
the United States. The series Of manGuVres by which
this impression was created and the art with which
they were devised, and the perfdy with which they
were executed were already known to you, but you
scarcely have supposed that they would he openly
aVowed and their success made the subject of boast
and self-laudatiOn III an Executive message. FOrtu
natey for the truth of history the President of the
United States details with minucness the attempt 10
reinforce Fort Sumter in violation of armstice of
which he cOneSses to have been informed but only by
rumors too vague and uncertain to fix attention. The
hostile expedition despatched supply Fort is
admitted to have been undertaken with the knowledge
that its success was impossible. The sending of
notice 10 the Governor of South Carolina of his inten
tion to force to accomplish his object aud then
quoting from his inaugural address the that
could ne no cOutct unless these States
Rrcssve and the nggressors he proceeds de-
clare that his conduct, just related by himself
the performance of this promise; free from the power
of ingenious sOphstry that the world should be
able to misunderstood it, and in defiance of his
statement that he gave notice of the approach Of the
hostile fleet he charges these States with becoming the
assaiants of the United States without gun in sight
or IN expectancy TO return their fire. only the few
in the fort He is indeed fully justified in saying that
the case is so free from the power of ingenious sophs
try that the world will not be able misunderstood it,
led that he
Confederate States the assailGnts. That high func
donary after expressing his that foreign
nations had shaped their action they supposed
the carly destruction of national Union proba-
bic, abandons all further disguise and proposes make
ths contest short and decisive one by placing the
control of the Government for the work least 400.
600 men and $500. 900 900. The Congress concurng
in the doubt thus intimated the suicency of the
force demanded has increased it to half million men,
This enormous PREPARATION in and money for the !
conduct OF the war scale more gigantic than that
which the New World witnessed, is distinct !
nvowal in the eyes of civilized that the United |
States are engaged IN conflict with great and pow
sru! nation that they last compelled ADAM
don the prctence Of being engaged in dispensing rioters
and suppressing Instructions and driven the |
acknowledgment that the ancient Union has been dis
solved they recognize the separate existence Of these
Confederate States, by Introduction, embargo, and the
blockade of all commerce between them and the Uni /
ted otatcs not only by sea, but by landnOt only in
ships, but in carsnOt only with those who bear arms
but with the entire population of the Confederate
States Finally they have repudiated the foolish
COnfeQeraCv
citizens Of the United States for they waging
indiscriminate war upon them all, with savage
fcrocity unknown to modern civilization In this war
lapne is the rule and private residences peaceful
rural retreats are bombardcd and burnt grain crops
IN tie field consumed by the torch, and when
torch is not convenient careful labor is bestowed to
render complete the destruction Of article of use
or ornament remaining in private dwellings after their
inhabitants have fed from the outrages of the brutal
soldery. In 1881, Great Britain, when invading her !
Eevoled Colonies took possession of every district of
INC country Fortress Monroe occunied hv
troops of the United States and the houses then in
habited by the people, after being respected pro-
tected by avowed invaders, now pill.ged and de-
stroyed by who pretend that the victims are their
fellow citizens. Mankind will shudder to hear the !
tales OF outrages committed dsfenceless females bv
the soldiers Of the United States now invading our
homes yet these outrages are prompted by innam.d |
passions and madness Of inoxication but who shall |
depict the horror with which they regard the cool and
deliberate magnity with which, under the pret.1t Of
suppressng instruction, said by themselves up
held by minority only Of people, make especial
war on the sick, including women and children, and,
by carefully devised measures prevent their obtaining
medicines necessary for their The sacred claims
of humanity, respected during the fury actual
battle hy careful diversion of attack from the hosp
tails containing wounded enemies outraged in cold
blood by Government and people that pretend de-
continuance of fraternal connections All these
outrages must remain unavemged by the universal
Reproduction of mankind, in all where the actual
perpetrators of the wrongs escape capture. They adj
NIT of retaliation: the humanity Of our people
would shrink instinctvcy from the ba idea of wagng
like war upon the sick, the women aud the children
OF an enemy; but there other savage practices /
which have been resorte6 by the Government
United States which do admit Of repression by rctala