Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-11-28
TELEGR APHTC.
gem. Davis Message.


Congress of tile rebel States. After the
usual congratulations, he says:
The Opera tions of the army, soon to
he partially interrupted by the approach
ing winter, have afforded a protection to
our country and shed glorious lusler
upon its arms, through the trying vicis-
situdes of more than one arduous cam
paign which entities our brave volunteers
to our praise and gratitude.
Further on he says: After more than sew
Ell months of war the enemy have not only
failed to extend their occupancy of our soil
but new States and territories have been
added to our Ccnfedoracy; which instead
of their threatened marches of unchecked
conquest, they have been driven at more
than one point to assume the defensive;
and upon fair comparison between the
two belligelcnts as to men, military
means and financial condition. the Con
Tolerate States are relatively much stron-
ger than when the struggle commenced.
He speaks in high terms of the people
of Missouri, who he says conducted the
war in the face of almost unparalleled
difficulties, with spirit and success a
like worthy of themselves an of the
great cause in which they are struggling.
lie continues: Findingthe Confederate
Statos were about to be invaded through
Kentucky, and that her people, after be-
ing drawn into a mistaken security, were
unarmed and in danger of being subjuga-
ted by the Federal forces, our armies
were marched into the State to repel the
enemy and prevent their occupation of
certain strategic points, which would
have given them great advantage i'll the
conteSt-a step which was not only JUS
tilted by the necessity of self defense on
the part of the COME crate States, but
also by desire to aid the people of Ken
tucky. 1t was never intended by the
! Confederate Government to conquer or
cocrce the people of that State; but, on
the contrary, it was declared by oui Gen
erals that they would withdraw their
troops if the Federal Government would
do likewise. A proclamation was also
made of our desire to respect the neutral
ity 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;
and | should regard it as one of the best
effects Of the march of our troops into
Kentucky, if it should aid in giving her
people liberty of choice and free op-
portunity to decide their own policy ac.
corling to their own will.
While, he says, the army has been
chiefly Instrumental in prosecuting the
great conflict, he..navy has also been ef
icciive in full proportiont to its means.
In an other part of his message lie says
we have al ready two main systems OF
through transportation from the North
to the South one from Richmond along
the seaboard and the other through West
ern Virginia to New Orleans; third
might be secured by completing link of
about forty miles between Danvile in
Virginia, and Greenborough, North
Carolina. The construction of this co m
paritively short line would give us a
through route from North 10 South in the
give us access to to the population and to
military resources from which we are in
Il great measure debarred.
If, he says further on, wo husband our
means and make judicious use of our re-
sources, it would be difficult to fix & limit
to the period during which we could con
duct war against the adversary whom
we now encounter The very efforts
which he makes to dessolate and divide
us must exhaust his means, whilst they
$ serve to complete the circle and diversity
the productions of our industrial system
= The reconstruction which he seeks to ef
@ feet by arms becomes daily more anC
: more pal pable impossible. Not only
I do the causes which induced us to scpar
ate, still last in full force, but they hav,
Q been strengthened. and whatever doub
S may have fingered in the minds of an
Y must have been completely dispelled by
IS the subsequent events. -
@ If, instead of being dissolution of
y league, it were indeed rebellion il
t which we were engaged we might fin,
d ample vinlication for the course we hav
IS adopted in the scenes which are now be
Is ing enacted in the United States,
IS Oar people look with contemptuou,
g astonishm mt on those whom they hav
y been so recently assembled. They shrinl
/; with aversion from the base idea of re
" moving such Il connection. With sucl
people, we may be content to live a
peace; but our separation from them j
final, AMI for the independence we hav,
assumed we will accept no alternative.
President Davis characterzes the ma
ture of hostilities on the part of thu
United States as barbarous Whencvo
it is understood, he adds, if they con
, vert their soldiers into incendiaries an,
~ robbers, and involve us in a species o
j., war which claims non.combatants, wo
: men and children, as its victims, the
: must eXpeetto be treated as outcasts an,
, enemies of mankind. There are certai
, rights of humanity which are entitled t.
respect, even in war, and he who refuse
to regard them, forieits his claim, if cap
tured, to he considered prisoner of war
must expect to be dealt with as an Office
against all laws-human and divine.
But not content with violating on
! rights under the law of nations at home
y they have extended their injuries to III
within other jurisdictions, The distin
Snished gentlemen whom, with your ap
r proval at the last session, were commits
=, stoned to represent the Coniederacy a
certain foreign courts, have been recent,
! seize by the Captain Of a United State
= NnSSpl # war ,vhil, on koorl N n,;tt; 4