Daily union appeal. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-186?, 1862-08-29
JEFF. DAVIS MESSAGE.

SEW loEKt Aug. 25.-,After alluiing 10 the
sunerings oI the peoples and the kallantrv Of
me troops JET. DAVIS, in bis message, SAYS:
The vasl army which. threatened tba can't
Isl of the gonfederacy has been defeated and
driven from the lines of investment, ard the
-enemyi repeatedly foiied in his efforts for its
capture, Is now seeking to raise new armies on
scale such as modern history does not record,
70 effect that subjugation of the South Sc often
proclaimed ss on the eve Of accomplishment
Davis then charges the United States with
rapina, wanten destruction of private proper
ty, murder Of eaptives, and speaks of the con-
hscation bill a. atrocicus, while the meneyed
obligations of the Confederate Government are
forged BY citizens Of the United States. and At
least two Generals Of the United States are
engaged in melting servile insurrection. An
other has been found Of stincts so brutal IS
70 invite the violence of his soldiery against
the women Of captured city. He mentions
Gen. Butler subsequently.
Davis then says TO inquiries made of the
coEnmander-in.ehiefo ofthe armies of the United
States: SSxes, aea
- Whether the ssrocious conduct Of some OF
tneir military commandants meet The sanction
of that GoTernment, an answer hsd been
eyadedson theApretext that the inquiry wss in.
| sulting, and no method remains for the sun.
preston of these enormities, but such retribu.
tive justice as it may be found possible T.,
execute. Retaliation in kind for many Of
| them Is simpraeticahle, and have had occasion
to remark in former message that under no
excess of proyocation could our noble-heartel
defenders be driven to wreak vengeance OH
Eunarmed men, or on women orchiIdrln. But
stern and exemplary punishmentcana and must
be meteo out to the rnurdeners and felons who
disgr&cing the profession of arms, seek to make
or Pdblic war the oecasfon for the commission
OF the most monstrous crimes. Deeply as we
regret the character of contest into which
We are about to be forced, we must accept 1t as
| an alternative which recent manifestations
| give US little hope can be avoided The exas-
perstion of failure has aroused the worst pas
sions of our enemies and a large portion of
their people-eyen their clergymen-are now
| engaged in urging an excited populace to the
extreme of ferocity, and nothing remains but
to vindicate our rights, and maintain our ex.
istence, by employing against our foe every
energy and resource at ou- disposal"
| Davis recommends further legislation to
make the cor scription universal to allow the
| issue of additional treasury notes; also some
legislation for controlling military transporta-
| ton.
| He says the very large increase of forces
called into the field by the President Of the
/ U. s. may render it necessary hereafter to
extend the provisions of the conscrpt law, 30
rs to embrace persons between the ages of 35
and 80 years. The vigor and efficiency of cur
present force, and their condition and the skill
and ability which distinguish their leaders, in
spire the belief that no further enrolment will
be necessary but wise foresight requires
that if necessity should be suddenly devel-
1 oped during the recess of Congress, requiring
increased forces for our defense means should
exist for calling such forces into the held, with
out awaiting the re-assembling of she legsla-
i tive department of the government.
In the rebel House of Represen tatives, FoOts
of Tenness ee, offered bill for re .aliatory pur-
poses. 1t recites that the enemy refuse to
| treat our partisan soldiers as prisoners, and
have also punished innocent private citizens
for their acts. 1t provides that any officer
who may have ordered such atrocities be put
to death if captured; an equal number of
| prisoners, officers to be preferred, taken from
the enemy, to suffer the fate inflicted on our
captured soldiers or citizens. Also, bill to
punish negroes in arms 1t provides that the
/ Federal armies anonymously composed of
4 whites and blacks shall not be held to the
privileges of war or to be taken prisoners; of
such Is may be captured, the negroes shall be
returned to their masters or publicly sold, and
their commanders be publicly hung or shot, %
may be most convenient He also offered q
hill to retaliate for the seizure of citizens by
the enemy. d
It provides that of the prisoners held by us
a number equal to that of the citizens seized
shall be held as hostages for their safety, and
subject to like treatment. Any officer, civil
or military, concerned in their seizure, shall
| be imprisoned during the war.
I