Shreveport daily news., 1861-05-11


nies until they shall have attained the
age and shall have acquired the knowJ-
edge to fit them for the duties Of lieu
| tenants.
I also call your attention to an
omission in the law organizing the ar
my, in relation to military chaplains,
and recommend that provision be
made for their appointment.
In conclusion, congratulate You
on the fact that in every portion of
our country there has been exhibited
the most patriotic devotion 70 car
common cause. Transportation com
panies have freely rendered the use
Of their lines tor troops and supplies.
The Presidents Of the railroads of
the Confederacy, in company with
others who controllines Of communi-
cation with States that we hope sopp
to greet as sisters assembled ia con-
vention in this city; have not only
reduced largely the rates heretofor.
demanded for mail service and CON
veyance Of troops and munitions,
but have voluntarily profered to re
celve their compensation at their re
duced rates in the bonds Of the Con,
federacy, for the purpose Of leaving
all the resources Of the Government
at its own disposal for the common,
defence.
acquisitions for troops have been
met with such alacrity that the nam
bers rendering their service have in
every instance greatly exceeded the
demand. Men Of the highest official
and social position are serving as vol
unteers in the ranks, The gravity
Of age, the zeal of youth, rival each
other III the desire to be foremost ia
the public defences, and though Il,
no other point than the one hereto
fore noticed have they. been sti1nula-
ted by the excitement incident to ac-
tual engagement and the hope of dis
tinction for individual department,
they have borne, what to new troops
is the most severe ordeal, patien,
toll, constant vigil, and all the e:S-
posnre and diseomforts of active ser
vice with a resolution and fortitud.
SUCK as to co,nnand the approha-
ton and justify the highest especta-
ton Of their conduct when active W.
lor shall be required. IN place O.,
steady endurance.
A, people thus united and resolute
cannot shrink from any sacrifice
which they may be called on to make.
nor can there be reasonable doubt
of their final success.
However long and severe may be
the test Of their determination to
maintain their birthright Of freedom
and equality as a trast which ii IS
their duty to transmit anble1nishe4
to their posterity.
A bounteous Providence cheers Us
with the promise of abundant crops.
The fields of grain which will,
within a few weeks. be ready for tbs
sickle, give assurance of the amples,
supply oftood, whilst the corn, cotton
and other staple production Of our
soil afford abundant proof that up ta
this period the season has been pro
pitious.
We feel that our cause is last and
holy.
We protest solennly, in the face
ofmankind, that We desire peace at
all sacrifice, save that OF honor.
In independence we seek no cog
quest, no aggrandizelrent, no cession
ofany kind from the States witt.
which we have lately cot1federatcd
All we ask is 70 be let alone~-that
those who never held power over us
shall not. now attempt our suhiuga
ton by arms. this we will, we
must resist to the direSt extremity.
The moment that this pretension is {.
abandoned, the sword will drop from
our grasp, and We si,al! be ready to.
enter into frnatieS of arnitr and com