Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-11-25
JEFF. DAVIS MESSAGE.


The rebel congress, or that irregular and
trpi,souabe collection OF men which lie JEFF.
Davis traitors cali congress, has assembled
at Richnond JEFF has delivered a message
TO them ia which lie discusses the war and at
,empts 10 put hopeful face ON the present
condition OF the coniederacy of treason. His
message appears in the Richmond papers, and
a Summary Of il has beeu sent by telegraph.
He says =
'rhe operations OF the army are soon TO be
partially interrupted by the APP roaehing win
ter, We have afforded projections TO our coull-
try aud shed a lustre upon lis arms through
the rs ing vicisstudeS OF more tnan one ar
duous campaign, W hlCh cntitle our brave vol
uuteers 10 our praise and our gratitude. Atter
more than seven. months ct war the enemy
have not only failed 10 extend their occupancy
o! our soil, but new states and territories have
been added to our conIederacy, while, instead
OF their threatening march VI unchecked COLI
quest, they have been drl:en ut more than one
point TO assume the defensive, and upon fair
comparison betw cen the two bcllgerentS as 10
men, military means, and financial condition,
the confederate states are relatively much
stronger now than when the struggle com
mruCed.
He speaks in high terms of the people OF
| Missouri, who have conducted the war II the
face OF almcst unparalleled difficulties, with
spirl and success alike worthy OF themselves
ard Of the great cause in which they are strug
| Cling. fiudiug the confederate states were
about to be iny AIDED through Kentucky, and
that her people, alter being deceived INTO
| mistaken security, were unarmed aud in dan
ger OF being subjugaiCd by federal forces, our
armies were marched into that state to repel
the enemy and prevent their occupation OF
| certain strategic points which would have CIV
en- them great advantage iii the contest.
This step was justified not only by the me-
cessity OF selt-,leiense on the part OF The con-
fpderate states, bnt also by desire TO aid the
| people OF Kentucky Ii was never intended
| by the confederate government to conquer or
! coerce the people OF that stale, but On the
| contrary it was declared 10y our generals that
they would Withdraw their troops il the fed.
| eral government would do likewise Proca-
| nation was also made of our desire to respect
the neutrality OF Kentucky, aud OF the inten-
tiou to abide by the wishes OF her people, as
soon as they were free to express thelr opin-
| iors These declarations were approved by
me, and | should regard il as one OF the best
effects OF the march Of our troops into Ken
lucky, if il should aid in giving to her people
the liberty ul choice, and tree opportunity
to decide their own destiny according TO their
own will.
lie speaks of difficulties attending mail
transportation, some at which can be over
come only by time and the improved condition
OF the country and restoration oil peace, but
others hy legislation As to the financial sy s.
TEN, it has worked well SO far, and promises
good results Tor the future, to the extent that
Treasury notes may be issued the government
Is enabled to borrow money without interest
and thus facilitate the conduct OF the war.
This extent is measured by the portion OF tile
field o circulation which these notes can be
OF The debts Ter Which obey are receivable,
aud when due not only to tive Confederate and
state governments, hut also to corporations
and individuals are pay able in this medium, a
large amount OF it may be circulated at par.
He says there is every reason to believe the
confederate treasury note is fast becoming such
medium The provision that these notes
shall be convertible into confederate stock
bearing eight per cent interest at the pleasure
OF tile holder, insures them against depre
ciaiion below the value OF ihat stock, and no
considerable fall in Thar value would be feared
so long as the Interest stall be punctually paid.
Its puHctual payment had been secured by the
act passed at your last session, imposing such
rate Q! taxation as must provide sufficient
means Tor that purpose.
In the successful prosecution of this war, it
troops and military supplies be furnished as
far as possible in such manner as not to inter
rupt The commercial Intercourse between our
| people, nor place a cheek upon their produc-
tive energies. We have all eady two main
systems OF through transportation from north
| TO south one from Richmond, along the sea-
| board; the other through western Virginia to
| New Orleans. a third might be secured by
completing link Of about forty miles. This
comparatively short line would give us a
through route from north TO south in the inte-
rior Of the confederate states, and give us ac.
cess TO population and to military resources
from which we are now IN a great measure
| debarred.
II we husband our means and make judi
cious use of our resources it would be difficult
to fix limit to the period during which we
could conduct the war against the adversary
whom we now encounter. The very efforts
which lie makes to desolaie and invade us
mast exhaust his means, while they rye to
complete the circle and diversity the produc-
tionS Of our industrial system. The recon-
struction which he seeks TO effect by arms be.
comes daily more and more impossible. Not
only do the causes which induced us TO sep
arate still last in .ull force, but they have been
strengthened, and whatever doubt may have
fingered in the minds OF any must have been
/ dispelled by subsequent events.