The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-03-04
MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT DAVIS.

quirng the President, from time to time, to give
10 the Congress information of the state OF the
Confederacy and recommend to their considera-
ton such measures be shall judge necessary and
expedient, have to communicate, that since my
message at the last session of the Provisional
Congress events have demonstrated that the Gov
eminent had attempted more than it had power
successfully to achieve. Hence, in the effort to
protect, By arms, the whole Of the territory Of
the Confederate States, seaboard and inland, we
have been SO exposed as recently to encounter
serious disasters. When the Confederacy
formed the States composing it were, by the
peculiar character of their pursuits, and mis-
placed confidence in their former associates, to
great extent destitute of the means for the pros
ecution of the war on gigantic scale as that
which il has attained. The workshops and arti
cans were mainly to be found in the Northern
States; and one of the first duties which devoved
upon this Government was to establish the ncces-
sary manufactures, aud in the meantime to obtain,
by purchase from abo DAD, far as practicable,
whatever was required for the public defence.
No effort has been spared to effect both these
ends; and, though the results have not equaled
our hopes, it is believed that impartial judg-
ment will, upon full invest CATION, award TO the
various departments Of the Government credit for
having done ali which human power and fore
sight enabled them to accomplish.
The valor and devotion of the people have not
only sustained the efforts or the government, but
have gone far to supply its deficiencies.
The active state of military preparation among
the nations of Europe in April last, the date
when agents first went abroad, nterposed un-
avoidable delays in the procurement of arms, and
the want of a navy has greatly impeded
efforts to import military supplies of all sorts
I have hoped for several days to receive official
reports in relation to our discontinue at Roanoke
Island, and the fall of Fort Donelson They
have not yet reached me- and | am therefore,
able to communicate to you such information of
those events and the consequences resulting from
them, as would enable me to make recommenda-
tions founded upon the changed condition which
they bave produced. Enough is known of the
surrender at Roanoke Island to make US feel that
it was deeply hunlating, however imperfect may
hare been the preparations for defence The hope
is still entertained that reported losses Fort
Donelson have been greatly exaggerated, inasnuch
as am not only unwilling but unable to believe
that a large army OF our people have surrendered
without desperate effort to cut their way through
investing forces, whatever may have been their
numbers, and to endeavOr to make junction with
other divisions of the army. But III the absence
Of that exact information which can only be
afforded by official reports, it would be premature
TO pass jud gment, and my own is reserved, as |
trust yours will be, until that information is
ceived. In the meantime, strenuous efforts have
been mace to throw forward IeiHfurcementS to the
armies at the positions threatened, and | cannot
doubt that the bitter disappointments have
borne, by nerving the people to still greater ex-
ertions, will speedily results accord
mt with cur just expectation and as favorable to
cause those which marked the earlier
periods of the war.
The REPORTS of tie Secretaries of War and the
Navy will exhibit the of resources for the
conduct of the which have been enabled
10 accumulate, Notwithstanding the very serious
difficulties against which we have cOnteuGed.
They afford the cheering hope that our re-
sources, limited they at the beginning of
the contest will, during its progress, become de-
veloped to such extent fully TO meet our
future wants.
The policy of enlistment for short terms, against
which, have steadily contcndcd from the Commence
ment of the war, has, in my judgment, contribu-
ted in no mmaterial degree to the recent reverses
which we have suffered, and even now render it
difficult to furnish you an accurate statement of
the army. When the war first broke out many of
our peoplec oud with difficulty be persuaded that it
would be long or serious. it was deemed mpossi-
BILE that anything insane persistent attempt
subiugate these States could be made still less
that the deluson would far prevail give
TO the war the vast proportions which it has
assumed. The people, incredulous of long war;
were naturally averse to long cnllstments, aud the
early legislation of Congress rendered it impracti
cable to obtain volunteers for greater period than
twelve months. Now that it has become probable
that the will be continued through a series of
years, our hish-Sprited and gallant soldiers, while
generally re-enlstnc, are, from the fact of having
entered the service for a short term, compelled in
many instances to go home to make the necessary
arrangements for their families during their pro-
longed absence.
The quotas of regiments for the war;
called for from the different States, are in rapid
progress of organization. The whole body of new
levies aud re-enlisted men will probably be
ready in the ranks within the next thirty
days. But, in the meantime, it is exceedingly
difficult to give accurate statement of the nun
Der of our forces in the field. They may in
general terms, be stated at four hundred regiments
of infantry, with pro2ortionate force of cavalry
and artillery, the details of which will be shown
by the report of the Secretary of War. | deem
it proper to avert to the fact that the process of
furloughs aud re-enlisment in progress for the last
: month had so far disorganized aud weakened our
forces to impair ability for successful de-
fence; but heartily congratulate you that this
evil which | had foreSeen aud was rowerless to
prevent, may be said 10 be substantially at an
end, aud that we shall not again during the war
be exposed to seeing strength diminished by
this fruitful of dsaster-short cnlistments.
The people of the Confederate States being prin-
/ cipally engaged in agricultural pursuits, un-
i provided at the commencement of hostilities with
IL Rhips ship-yardS materials shin huil