Shreveport semi-weekly news., 1861-11-28
THE PRESIDENT 5 MESSAGE.
TO the Congress Of the Co4tsde7ote

tStUJtS.
GENT EN1ES-The few weeks which have
ELAPSED since your adiournmen; has brought
us so near the close OF tho year. that we are
now able to sum up its genera! results. ana
its retrospect Is such as should illi'be hearts |
of our people with gratitude to Providence
tor His kind interpo>ition III their behalf
Abundant yields have rewarded tn" labor OF
the arrculturalst, whilst the nanUtaciuI-
inc industry of the Confederate States was
never so prosperous as now-. lhe nece-sI-
ties of the times have c&.."d INTO existence
new branches of mann fractures. and given
s.tresh impuiseto those .ieTci tore IN opera
ton The means of the {. nlCdcrate States
Ina r. ticturiug the ner,> ties and conf
forts of life within themselves, increases rs
the conflict continues, nnd sc are gradually
becoming Independent ol the rest OF the
world for the, supply OF such stores aud nut
nitious as are Indispensable tor wal.
The op Aations of the army. soon IN be
partially interrupted by the approaching
winter have afforded protection TO the coun-
try and shed a lustre upon It's arms through
the trying vicissitudcs of more than one ar
duous campaign, which entltie our brave
volunteers to our .praIse and our gratitude.
From its commencement up to the present
neriod. the war has been constantly cniarg-
| ing it's proportions and expanding its bound
aries SO as to include new fields until the
conflict now extends from the shores of the
| Cbesapeake to the confines of Missouri and
| Arizo,la The sudden calls from the rcInot-
est points for military aid have been met
with promptuess- enough sot only to avert
disaster in the face of superior numbers, in
| available resources, and IN the supplies ne
| cessarv for war; their military establish
| ments necessary to equip und place il in the
| field 1t ought. indeed. to be subject OF
graduation that the spirits of the volunteers.
| and by the patriotism of the people. have
| enabled us under Providence. ~ grappe
successfully with these difficulties, resulting
in n succession of glorious victories. at
Bethel, Bull Run, ManaSses. Springfield
Lexington. Leesburg and belmont. has
checked the wicked invasion which greed OF
gaiu, and the unhallowcd lust "t power
brought upon our soil and has proved that
numbers cease to avail when directed gains
a people fighting for the sacred right OF sci
government and the privileges OF frcemcn
! After more than seven months OF war The
enemy have not only failed to extend thei
occupations of our soil, but new States anc
r. Territories have been added 10 our Contcdc
racy; ; while instead of their thleatenct
marching in on conquest, they have heel
driven to assume the defensive, and upon
fair comparison between the beiigerents, TIL
, Confederate States are relatively much stron
ger now than when the struggle commenced
, The army has been chiefly instrumental il
prosecuting the great contest IN which :"
are engaged: but the navy has also bee
. effective in full proportion to its means. Ih
naval officers, deprived to great extent {
: an opportunity 10 make their professions
skill available at sea. have served wit
commendabie zeal and galiantry on shor
4 and upon the inland waters. a further deta
of which will be found in the report oi ih
Secretary of War.
0 In the transportation of the mails man
:, difficulties have arisen, which will be toun
1uly developed i'll the report of the Pos
: master General. The absorption OF tn
ordinary means of transportation for tn
movement of troops and military supplies
: the insui,iciency Of the rolling stock OF til