The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-11-29

stronger now than when the struggle
commenced.
Since your adjournment, the people of
Missouri have conducted the war in the
face of almost unparalleled difficulties,
with spirit and success alike worthy Of
themselves and of the great cause in
which they are struggling.
Since that time. Kentucky, too. has be-
come the theatre of active hostilities.--
The federal forces have not only refused
to acknowledge her right to neutrality in
the war, but have invaded her for the
purpose of attacking the Confederate
States. Outrages Of the most despotic
character have been perpctrated upon her
people. Some Of her most eminent citi-
zens have been seized and borne away to
languish in foreign prisons. without know.
ing who were their accusers, or the speci-
fications of charges made against them,
while Others have been forced to abandon
their homes, families. and property, and
that the Confederate States were about TO
be invaded Through Kentucky, and that
her people, after being deceived into a
mistaken security. were unarmed and in
danger of being subjugated by the Fede-
raj forces, our armies were marched into
that State, to repel the enemy and pre-
vent their occupancy of certain strategic
points which would have given them great
advantages in the contest---a step which
was justified, not only by the necessity of
selfdefence, on the part of the Confede-
rate States, but also by the desire to aid
the people of Kentucky. II was never in
tended by the Confederate Government
to conquer or coerce the people Of that
State. but on the contrary, twas declared
by our Generals, that they would with
draw their troops, II the Federal Govern.
ment would do likewise. Proclamation
was also made of the desire to respect the
neutrality Of Kentucky, and to abide by
the wishes Of her people. as soon as they
were free to express their opinion. These
declarations were approved by me, and
should regard it as one of the best Of.
fects of the march ofour troops into Ken
lucky, if it should end in giving to her peo
pile the liberty Of choice and free oppor.
tunity to decide their own destiny accord
ing to their own will.
The army has been chiefly instrumental
in prosecuting the great contest in which
We are engaged; but the navy has also
been effective. in full proportion to its
means. The naval officers. deprived, to q
great extent, of an opportunity to make
their professional skill available at sea,
have served, with commendable zeal and
gallantry. on shore and upon inland wa
ters; further details of which will be
found in the reports of the Secretaries of
the Navy and War.
In the transportation Of the mails, ma
ny difficulties have arisen, which will be
found fully developed in the report of the
Postmaster General. The absorption of
the ordinary means Of transportation. for
the movement of troops and military sup
plies, the insufEciency of the rolling stock
OF railroads for the accumulation of bus-
ness, resulting both from military opera
tions, and the obstruction of water COM
munication by the presence OF the enc
my's fleet, the failure and even refusal Of
contractors to comply with the terms of
their agreements, the difficulties inherent
in inauEurating so vast and complicated
system as that which requires postal fa-
cilities for every town and village in ter.
ritory so extended as ours, have all COM.
bined to impede the best directed efforts
of the Postmaster General, whose ZEAL
HuNo Dcbn UiNcu 10
the utmost extent. Some Of these diff
culties can be overcome by time, and an
improved condition of the country, by
the restoration of peace; but others may
be remedied by legislation, and your at
tention is invited to the recommendations
contained in the report of the head Of the
The condition of the Trea-
sury will, doubtless. be subject of anx-
ious inquiry on your part. am happy
to say that the financial system already
adopted, has worked well, 81 far, and
promises good results for the future. TO
the extent that Treasury Notes may be is-
sued, the Government is enabled to bor-
row money without interest. and thus "a
cilitate the conduct of the war. This ex-
tent is measured by the portion of the
field of circulation which these notes can
be made to occupy. The proportion of
the field thus occupied depends, again,
upon the amount of the debts for which
they are receivable; and when dues, not
only to the Confederate and State Gov
ernments, but also to corporations and in
dividuals, are payable in this medium, a
par. There is every ressen to believe that
the Confederate Treasury notes are fast
becoming such medium. The provision
that these notes shall be convertible in
to Confederate stock, bearing eight per
cent interest, at the pleasure of the hold
er, ensures them against a depreciation
below the value Of that stock; and no
considerable fall in that value need be
feared, so long as the interest shall be
punctually paid. The punctual payment
Of this interest has been secured by the
act, passed by you at the last session, i'm.
posing such rate of taxation, as must |
provide sufficient means for that purpose. |
For the successful prosecution of this |
war, it is indispensable that the means of |
transporting troops and military supplies,
be furnished, as far Ms possible, in such |
manner as not to interrupt the CONNER
cial intercourse between our people, nor
place check on their productive ener-
gies. To this end, the means Of trans
portation from one section OF our country
to the other, must be carefully guarded
and improved, and this should be the OBJ
jeot of anxious care on the part of the
State and Confederate Governments, so
far as they may have power over the SUBJ
ject. We have already two main systems
of through transportation from the North
to the South: one from Richmond along
the seaboard; the other through Western
Virginia to New Orleans. A third might
be secured, by completing link of about
forty miles between Danville, in Virginia,
and Greensboro, in North Carolina. The
construction of this comparatively short
line would give us through route from
North to South. in the interior of the
Confederate States, and give us access to
a population and to military resources,
from which we are now, in great meas.
ure, dabsrred. Weshould increase great
ly the safety and capacity of our means
for transportating military supplies. II