The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-31
Munchausen Oat.Hsd.
IEFF. DAVIs, mEssAoE.

~ ~ again our tortuue 10 meet luf We"
vising measures necessary TO the public
welfare, whilst our country IS involved IN
a desolating war. The suiferings endured
by some portions Of the people excite the
deepest solicitude Of the Government I;
and the sympathy thus evoked has been
heightened by the patriotic devotion with
which these suflerings have been borne.
The gallantry and good conduct Of our
troops, always claiming the gratitude Of
the country, have been further illustrated
on hard fought fields, marked by exhi-
bitions Of individual prowess which can
find but few parallels in ancient or mod
ern history. Our army has not faltered
in any of the various trials in which it
has been subjected, and the great body
of the people have continued 20 manifest
a zeal and unanimity which not only
cheers the battle.siained soldier, but
gives assurance TO the friends Of oOnsti-
tutional liberty Of our FINAL triumph in
the pending struggle against despotic
usurpation.
The vast army which Threatened the
capital of the Confederacy have been de-
feated and driven from the lines Of in
vestment, and the enemy, repeatedly
foiled in his efforts for its capture, is now
seeking TO raise new armies on a scale
such as modern history does not record,
TO effect that subjugstion Of the South so
often proclaimed as on the eve Of accom-
plishment.
The peridy which disregarded rights
secured by compact the madness which
trampled on obligations made sacred by
every consideration of honor, have been
intensified by the malignity engendered
by defeat These passions have changed
the character of hostilities waged by our
enemies, who are becoming daily less
mindful of the usages of civilized war
and the dictates of humanity. Rapine
and wantOn destruction of private pro-
perty, war upon non-combatanis, murder
of captives, bloody threats 20 ayenge the
death Of an invading sOldiery by the
slaughter of unarmed citizens, orders of
banishment againB peaceful farmers, en-
gagged in the cultivation Of the soil, arc
some Of the means used by our Northern
invaders TO enforce the submission of q
free people TO foreign sway. ConGscation
bills of n character 30 atrooi0us AZ 10 en-
sure, ii executed, the utter ruin Of the
entire population Of these States, are
passed by their Congress pnd approved
by their Executive, The moneyed obli-
cations of the Confederate Government
are forged by citizens of the United
states, and publicly Edvertised for sale
In their cities with a noforiefy that sufll-
GENTLY atteEts the knowledge OF their
Government, and its completely in the
crime is further evinced by the fact that
the soldiers of tho invading armies are
found supplied with large quantities Of
these forged notes az means Of despoil'
ing the country people by fraud, out Of
such portions of their property as armed
violence may fail TO reach. Three, at
least, Of the Generals Of the United States
are engaged unchecked by their Govern
ment in exciting serVile insurrection, snd
in arming and training slaves for war
fare against their masters, citizens OF
the ConTederaey. Another has been
found Of instincts so brutal az TO invite
the insolence OF his soldieFy against the
women of = captured city.
Yet, the rebuke Of civilized man has
failed 10 evoke from the authorities Of
the United States one mark Of disappro
baton Of his acts; nor is there any rea-
son 70 suppose that the conduct of Benz
+. Butler has failed TO secure from his
Government the sanction and applause
with which il is known TO have been
greeted by public meetings and portions
Of the press Of tho United States. To
inquiries made of the Commander in
Chief of the armies Of the United States,
whether tho atrocious conduct Of some
of their military commandants met the
sanction of that Government, answer has
been eVaded on the pretext that the in
quiry was insulting, and no method re-
mains for the suppression Of these enOrmi-
ties but such retribuiiye justice as il may
be found possible to execute.
Retaliation in kind, for many of them,
is impracticable, for have had occasion
to remark in a former message, that un-
der no excess of prOvOcatiOn could our
noble-hearted defenders be driven 70
wreak vengeance on unarmed men, on
women or on children. But stern and
exemplary punishment can and must be mete9
ont 10 a5uidererS and Jeloas, who, disgrace
ing the profession Of arms, seek TO make
Of public war the occasion for the COM
mission of the most mOnstrous crimes.
Deeply as we regret the character Of
the contest into which we are about 10 be
foced, We must accept il as an alternative
which recent manifestations give us lit
tle hope can be avoided.
The evaporation Of failure has aroused
the worst passions Of our enemies; a
large portion Of their people, even of
their clergymen, now engage in urging
an excited pOpulace TO the extreme Of
ferocity, and nothing remains but 10 vim
dicate our rights and 10 maintain our
existence by employing against our foe
every energy and every resource at our
disposal.
/ append for your information . copy
Of tho papers exhibiting the action Of
the government, up 10 the present time,
for the repression Of the outrages con-
mitted on our people. Other measures
now in progress viii be submitted here
after.
In inviting your attention 10 the legis-
lation which the necessities Of our con-
dition require, those connected with the
prosecution Of the war command almost
undivided attention.
The acts passed At your last session
intended TO secure the public defence by
general enrolment, and 10 render uniform
the rules governing troops In the service,
have led 20 some unexpected criticism
that iS much 10 be regretted
The efficiency Of the law has been
thus somewhat lEPEiTed, though Il is not
believed that In any OF the States the
popular mind hRs withheld lie sanction
nom either the necessity or PropEisty Of