The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-11-26
Message of President Davis.
L. Cannress of the Confederate .Stutes:


general results. The retrospect is such as should
fill the hearts Of our people with gratitude to
Providence for his kind interposition in their be-
half
Abundant yields have rewarded the labor of
the agricuturist, whilst the manufacturing In
dustry of the Confederate States was never as
prosperous as nov. The necessities Of the times
have called into existence new branches OF manu-
features, and given fresh impulse to the activity
of those heretofore in operation. The means OF
the Confederate States for manufacturing the
necessities and comforts of life, within themselves,
increases as the conflict continues, and
gradually becoming ind ependent of the rest of the
world for the supply of such military stores and
munitions are indispensable for war.
The operations of the army, soon 10 be partially
interrupted by the approaching winter, have
afforded 4 protection to the country and shed
lustre upon its arms, through the trying vlclSsi-
tudes of more than arduOus campaign, which
eutite our brave volunteers to our praise and
our gratitude From its commencement up to the
present period, the war has been constantly en-
larging its proportions and extending it's bounda
ries, as to include new fields. The conflict nov
extends from the shores of the Chesapeake to fhe
confines of Missouri and Arizona. Yet. sudden
calls from the remotest points for military aid
have been met with promptness enough not only
TO avert disasters in the face of superior numbers,
but also to roll back the tide of invasion from the
border.
When the war commenced, the enemy were
possessed of certain strategic points and strong
places within the Confederate States. They
greatly excelled in numbers in available resources,
and in the supplies necessary for war; military
establishments had been long organized and were
complete; the navy, and for the most part the
army, once common to both, were in their posses
SION To meet all this we had to create not only
army, in the face of war itself, but also the
military establishments necessary to equip and
place it in the field. 1t ought indeed. to be a
subject of qualification that the spirit of the peo-
pie have enabled u.s. under Providence to grapple
successfully with these difficulties A succession
of glorious victories at Bethel, Bull Run, Ma
nassas, Springfield, Lexington, Leesburg and
Belmont has checked he wicked invasion which
greed of gain and the unhallowed lust Of power
brough upon soil, and has proved that num-
bers cease to avail when directed against a people
fighting for the sacred right of selfgovernment
and the privileges Of freemen. After than
seven months Of war, the enemy have not only
falleo to extend their occupation of soil, but
States and Territories have been added to
Confederacy; while, instead Of their threatened
march Of conquest, they have been driven to
assume the defensive; and upon fair comparison
between the two bcgerents, to men, military
and financial condition, the Confederate
States are, relatively, much stronger now than
when the struggle commenced.
Since your adjournment, the people Of Mis-
souri have conducted the in the face of
almost unparalleled difficulties with spirit and
success alike worthy of themselves and of the
great cause in which they struggling.
Since that time Kentucky, too, has become the
theatre Of active huStilities. The Federal forces
have not ony refused to acknowledge her right
to neutrality in this war, but have invaded her
for the purpose Of attacking the Confederate
States Outrages Of the most dcspotic character
have been perpetrated upon her people Some of
her most eminent citizens have been seized and
borne away to languish in foreign PRISONS without
knowing who were their accusers, or specifications
of charges made against them. while others have
been forced to abandon their homes. families and
property and seek refuge in distant lands. Find
ing that the Confederate States were about to be
invaded through Kentucky, and that her people,
a fter being deceived into a mistaken security,
were unarmed and in danger of being subugatcd by
the Federal forces, our armies marched into
that State to rcpel the enemy and prevent their
occupancy of certain stragetic points which would
have given them advantages in the contest-a
step which was justified, not only by the necesSi-
ty Of self defence, on the part of the Confederate
States, but also by a desire to aid the people of
Kentucky. 1t was never intended by the Con
federate Government to conquer or coerce the
people of that State, but, on the contrary it was
declared Dy our NeneralS mat Jney would VIII
draw their troops if the Federal Government
would do likewise. Proclamation vas also made
of the desire to respect the neutrality Of kentucky
and the intention to abide~by the wishes of her
people, as soon they were free to express their
opinions These declarations were approved by
me, and should regard it as one of the best eff
fects of the march of our troops into Kentucky, if
it should cad in giving to her people the liberty
of choice and free opportunity to decide their
own destiny according to their own will
The army has been chiefly instrumental in pros
ecuting the great contest in which we engag-
ed; but the navy has also been effective in full
proportion t. its The naval officers, deprived
to great extent of an opportunity to make their
professional skill available at sea, have served
with commemorate zeal and gallantry shore
and upon inland waters; further details of which
will be found in the reports Of the Secretaries OF
the Navy and War.
In the transportation of the mails many diff
culties have arisen, which will be fully developed
in the repor. Of the Postmaster General The
absorption of the ordinary means of transportation
for the movement Of troops and military supplies,
the nsufhciency Of the rolling stock of railroads
for the accumulation of business, resulting both
from military operations and the obstruction of
water communication by the encmy's feet, the
failure and even refusal Of contractors to comply
with the terms of their agreements, the dificIl-
ties inherent in inaugurating so vast and compli-
Gated system as that which requires postal tacili-
ties for every town and village in a territory SO