The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-20
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To tie Congress of the Contcderast


The few weeks which have ELAPSED since
your adjournment have brought us SO near
the close of the year, that we are now able
to sum mp Its general results. The retrospect
is such as should I'LL the hearts of our people
with gratitule TO Providence for His kiod In.
terposition in tht ir behalf. Abundant Yields
have rewarded The labor of the agriculturist,
whist the manufacturing industry Of the
Confederate States was never SO prosperous
now. The necessities of the times have
called into existence new branches OF manu-
iartures, and given fresh impulse 10 the ae-
tiyity OF those heretofore in opera ton. The
meaus Of the Confederate States for manu-
featuring the necessaries and com for Is OF iife
within themseiV increase as the cOnfiict
continues, anu We are gradually becoming
independent of the rest OF the world for the
suppiy of such military stores and muniuon
- are indis pensable for war.
| The operations OF the army, soon to be par
| tally interrupted by the approaching via
| ter. have Afforded a protection 10 the country,
| and shed Il Iustre upon its arms through III,
| ,rslng vIcissIiudes OF more than one arduous
| Campaign, which entitie our brave volun-
| ,e-rs to our praise and our gratitude.
| From It's commencement up to the present
period she war has been euiargIng It's
| proportions and expanding its boundaries,
| so as to include new nrlLs. The conflict now
extends lrOi.i he sn creS OF the Ches Ipeake To
me coniln.s OF Missouri and ARR ma; yeg
Sudden calls from the reMotest points loT
| military all have beeu met win proInptnes-
| <nough not only 10 avert disaster IN the iact
| il uperfor uuIi bers, but also roll back thE
| ud., OF invasion from The DuGier.
| Wlen the + commenced the enemy WeTs
| Joss. ssed OF certain strategic points ano
! strong places Wilntn The Confederate States.
iAe, greatly eXcee ed us III number in avail
/ ,bIe resources, and in the sup dies necessary
| TOR wax. Military establishments had been
! .cHg orgallLed, and were Complete; the navy
.tIit, tor The most L IT, The al my, once cOm-
| mou 10 pJth, were in their possession. To
| inert oil Ills, We mad to create not only III,
al army III face Of war Itself but also the
| MILITARY establishments necessary To equip
| and place it III the tcld. ought, indeed, 10
ue IL su D,ect OF graduation that the spirit OF
| the volunleers, and The patriotism of the PEG
| pie, have enabled Us, under Providence, to
| srapp.e successfully with these ltticuiues.-
A succession OF glorious victories, at Bethel,
| Bull Kun, MANASSAS, Spring hcid, Lexington,
| i.eesburg, and Belmont, mas checked the
| wicked InyasiOn which greed OF gain ana
| The un haiiowt lust OF power brought upon
| our soil, ana has proved that numbers cease
10 avail when directed ag aims PEG pie fighiEg
for The sICred right of self oy erumrnt ana
| the privileges OF Ireemen. Alter seven mon tbs
| II war, the enemy have not only faiied to eX-
| tend theft occupancy OF our soil, but new
| States and TeIriLories have been added TO cur
,Ionfeueracy, while lii : teau O; their lErea Ten
cd march Oh Unchecked cong utst. they have
q, e; driven, al more THAN one poiGt, 10 II
tht. defensive ana, upon :. fitr Gem parlsJu be-
tceen the tWo b-,ngeren Is rs 80 en-, militia
~ means, and nnahcial Condi lion the Con led
crate States are re!atiVel, much stronger now
! than when the struggle commenced.
~tocs yuur adjournIueiit the people of Mis-
| sonr, have conducted the war in the tace of
aI,no.t unparalleled difficulties, with Il spirit
and success alike worthy Of themselves and
~ he rreat cause in which they ara strug-
rlfo0 Since that time Ken lucky, too, has
become the theatre oil active hostiliIies. The
Federal Iol ces have not only refused TO ac-
| knowledge IT," right to be neutral, and have
insisted upol making her party 10 the war
| INT have Invaded her Tor the purpose Of at
4 tur s,.f
the most desp otic character have been perpe
| rated upon her people; some OF her most
eminent citizens have been eeiZ ID and borne
| away 70 anguish in foreign prisons without
| knowing VINO were their accusers, the pc
| ciiic charges made against them, while others
| nave been forced 10 abandon their homes
families. and properly, ana seek a. refuge 10
| distant lands.
| F,pdiug that the Confederate States were
about to be invaded through kentucky, and
| tnat her people, after being deceived into
| mis- AIKEN security, were unarmed, and IL
| danger Of being subtuEated by the Federal
forces, oar armies were marched into that
| state TO repei the enemy and prevent their
| 0ccupat lion of certain strategic points which
| would have given them great advan tages in
| the con tesla step which WAS justified, not
| only by the necessities of seif-defence on the
| part of thu Confederate States, bat, also, by
| a desire 10 aid the people of Kentucky. Ii
was never intended by the Confederate Gov
| eminent to conquer or coerce the people of
| that State but, tue contrary, il was de-
| ciared ny our Generals that they would wi tn
| draw their troops if tie Federal Govern
meat would do likewise Proclamation was
| also made of the desire to respect the nau-
trality OF Kentucky, and the intention to
| abida by the wishes of her people rs soon as
| thew were free 10 express their opinions
These declarations were approved by he,
| aud should regard it as one Of the best et
| facts of the march Of our troops In TO Ken
| lucky if IL should end ia giving 10 her people
| liberty of choice and a free opportunity 10
-. T,ti fl..aty
own will.
The army has been chiefly instrumen tai il
| prosecuting the great contest Ill which we
are Ell gagged but the navy has also been etfec-
| tive in full proportion TO its means. Tne
naval officers deprived to great extent of an
opportunity 10 make their professional skill
| AVAILABLE a sea have served with commend
| able zeal and galiantTy on shore aad upoH in
land waters, further detail OF which W III De
| found in the reports of the Secretaries Of the
| Navy and War.
| In the transport ation of the mails many
| 'ifticu,ties have arisen which will be found
fully developed In The report Of the Post
master General. The absorption of the Or
| iinary means OF transportation TO the move
uent of troops and military supplies, the in
| snttic;eEcy of the rolling stock OF railroads
| for the accumulation OF business resulting
Doth from military operations and the OBJ
struction of water comm unieation by the pre-
sence of the enemy's hae the failure and
| aven retu al OF contractors o comply with
he terms OF thHir agreements, the difficulties
Inherent III inaugurdting so vast and com
| dictated a system as that which requires po
al facilities for every town and village in q
.eI ritory so extended as ours, have Ill com
bined to i'm pede the best directed efforts of
| he Pos tmas ter General. whose zaal, indus
| try, and ability have been taxed 10 the Ut
| most extent. Some OF these difficulties can
only be overcome by time and an i'm proved
| condition of the country upon the res toration
! IF . ace, but other may be remrdiai by legis-
| iation, and your attention Is inv ted In the
recon III en- dat ions contained in the report of
| the He I'd of that Department.
| The condition OF the Treasury will, doubt.
| less, be a subject OF anxious inquiry on yonr
| part. am happy to say that the financial
| system already adopted has worked well 30
| far. and promises good results f)r the future.
| To the extent that Treasury notes may be is
sued the Government Is enabled to borrow
money without Interest and thus facilitate
| the conduct of the war. This extent il mess
| ured by the portion of the field of cir. uation
which these notes can be made TO occupy
! The proportion of the field thus occupied de-
ponds again upon the amoant Of the debts
| for which they are receivable and when
| dues, not only 70 the Confederate and State
Governments, bus also to corporations and
individuals, are paya BILE in this medium, a
targe amount of it may be circulated at par
There Is every reason 10 believe that the Con-
| isderate Treasury note IL fast becoming such
medium. Ihe provision that these notes
shall be- convertible INTO Confederate stock
| bearing eight per cent. interest, at the pleas
uTe OF the holder, ensures them againsta de-
probation below the value of that stock. and
10 consider BILE fall in that value need bs
feared so long the interest shall be pune
| tualiy paid. The punctnal payment OF this
| interest has been secured by the act passed by
| you 1T tho last session, imposing such rate
of taxation as must provide sufficient means
| for that purpose.
For the successful prosecution of this war;
1t is indispensable that the means OF trans-
porting troops AID military supplies be fur
ished, as far rs possible, Ia such manner as
not to interrupt the commercial intercourse
between our reople, nor place y check on
their productive energies. To this end the