Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-11-23
Tks sIsAaafo,.
PRESIDENT DAVIS.
MEssAGE

tiournaieht Exve brought near the close OIL the
year tlfatse are now able to sum up us general re-
suits. Tke retrospect Is such as should M the
.heasssef our people with gratitude to Providence
for HIS kind interpositiea in their beham AbaH-
salt Yields have rewarded the labor Of the agficu-
e1tsst willis; the manufacturing Industry on the
t0ohfederate States was never prosperous as now
qne necessities ef the times have called ate exfS-
tence new branches ef Manufactures, anu gwen
fresh impulse to the activity Of hose heretotcge IN
operation The meaus Of the Confederate States Tor
notwithstanding the necessaries and comforts OF HE
wittin themselves increase as the conflict continues
and weasre gradually becoming indepeadent OF the
rest ofrAe Sorid for the supply Of such military
stores ss1 uuHieons as are Indispensable Tor war.
The eserations Of the arrsy, soon TO De partially
interrvpced by the approaching wiRter have AFFORD
ed Broteetiun to the country, aad shed lustre
Gpsnfts arms through :he trying ytcssitudes OF more
tkan one arduous campaign (which entite our brave
volunteers to our praise and Gar gratitude.
From its commencement uf to the present PERIOD
the war has been enlargiRg its proportions and ex-
banding It's boundaries, Sc to inclade new fields
The conflict now extends from the shores OF the
Chesapeake to the consnes Of Missouri and Arizona
yet sudden calls from the remotest points Tor mill
tary aid have bpen met with promptness enough
not caly 10 avert disaster in the face OF superior
numbers bat also to roll back the tide of invasion
from the border. $50 --
When the war commenced, the enemy were pos
sessed Of ceraia strategic points and strong places
within tho Confederate States They greatly ex-
ceeded rs M numbers, in available resources, anu
in the supplies necessary for war. Military estao
lishmegss had been long organized, aud were com
plete; che navy, and for the most part the army,
once common to both, were in their possession 10
meet all this we had to create not only an army IN
the face of war ITSELF but also the military establish
pents necessary to equip and place in the field
1t ought indeed to be subject OF graduation that
che spirit of the volunteers and the patriotism OF
est.eseeopie have enabled US, under Providence, to
vranble successfully with these difficulties. sue
cessiea Of glorious victories at Bethel, Bull Run,
Manassas, Springfield, Lexington, Lees6urg and
Belmont has checked the wicked invasion which
greed of grain and the unhallOwed lust OF power
brought upon our soil and has proved that numbers
cease to avail when directed against people nght-
ingfor the sacred right o. self government and the
privileges of ireemea. After more than seven
saoa:hs Of war. the enemy have not only failed to
exteRd their occupancy of our soil, but new States
and Territories have been added to our COntederacy
while inead of their threatened march OF uncheck-
ed conquest they have been driven at more imam
enc point to assume the defensive; and upon ialr
cenparison between the two bellgerents rs TO men,
sailitary means, and financial condition, the Conted
crate States relatively much stronger 10" IMAM
when the struggle commenced
Since your adjournment the people OF Missouri
have conducted the war in the face OF almost I'M
raralleled difficulties, with spirit and success
alike worthy of themselves and of the great cause
an which they are struggling. Since that lime,
Eenlucky, too has become the theatre OF active
hostilipies The Federal forces have not only re-
fused to acknowledge her right to be neutral, and
have Insisted upon making her party to the war,
but have invaded her for the purpose of attacking
the Confederate States. Outrages o! the most des-
potic character have been perperated upon her peo
pie; some Of her most eminent citizens nave been
seized and borne away to anguish In foreign prl-
sons, without knowing who were their accuSerS, OF
the specific charges made against them, While oth'
ers have been forced 10 abandon their homes, taml-
lies and property and seek a refuge in distant lands
Finding that the Confederate States were about
to be invaded through Kentucky, and that her peo-
pie after beng deceived into mistaken security,
were unarmed, and in danger OF being su6Jugated
by the Federal forces, armies were marched into
nhat State to repel the enemy and prevent their oc
cupation of certain Stragetic points which would
have given them great advantages in the contest
step which was Justified not only by the necessl-
ties of selfdefenee on the part OF the Confederate
States, but also by desire to aid the people OF
Kensaeky 1t was never intended by the Conied-
Government to conquer or coerce the pepie oil
that State: but on the contrary, it was declared by
eur Generals that they would withdraw their troops
If the Federal Government would do likewise
Proclamation was also made Of the desire to respect
the neutrality of Kentucky, and the intention to
abide by the wishes Of her people as soon as they
were free to express their opinions
These declarations were approved by me, aud
should regard it as Of the best effects OF the
march of oursiroops Kentucky If 1t should end
in giving to her people liberty of choice, and free
opportunity to decide their own destiny according
TO their own will.
The army has been chiefly instrumental in prose-
cnting the great contestin which We are engaged )
but the navy has also been effective in full proper
ton to its means. The naval officers, deprived to
great extent of an opportunity to make their pro-
fessional skill available at sea, have served with
commemorate zeal and galantry on shore and upon
Inland waters further detail of which will be found
IN the reports of the Secretaries of the Navy and
War
In the transportation of the mails many difficult
ties have arisen which will be found fully developed
in me report Of the Postmaster General The ab-
sorption of the ordinary means of transportation
for the movement Of troops and military supplies,
the insufcency of the rolling stock of railroads for
the accumulation of business resulting both from
military operations, and the obstruction of water
communication by the presence of the enemyS fleet
the failure aud refusal of contractors to comply
with the terms Of their agreements; the difficulties
inherent in inaugurating vast and complicated a
system as that which requires postal facilities for
every town aud village in territory so extended as
ours have all combined impede the best directed
efforts of the Postmaster General whose zeal, in
ddstry and ability have been taxed to the utmost
extent Some of these difficulties only be over
come by time and an improved condition Of the
country upon the restoration Of peace, but others
may be reiuedied by legislation, and your attention
is invited to the recommendations contained in the
report Of the Head Of that Department
The condition Of The Treasury will doubtless be
subject Of anxious enquiry on your part. | am
happy to say that the financial system already
adopted has worked well so far, and promises good
results for the future To the that Treasury
notes may be issued, the Government is enabled to
borrow mones without interest, and thus facilitate
the conduct Of the war. This extent 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
aed when dues not ooly to the Confederate and
State governments but also to corporations and In
&bsiduals, are payable in this medium, large
amount oft may be circulated at par There is
1850 ~ 81 IL ~