Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-05

To the Senate and House Of Representative Of tn
lnnE.Iarata Stet.a-

10 inc EFnELt hNl NAuusr VI hNEAr"NAN@-'-" va r
Confederate States:
In obedience to the constitutional provision
requiring the President, from time to time, 70 give TO the
Congre 3 information Of the state Of the Confectionery,
and recommend 70 their consideration sucn measures as
be shall Judge necessary and eXptdient nave 70 cplH
muuicate tina since my message az the last session OF
the Provisional Congress, events have demonstrated that
the government bad attempted more than 10 had power
successfully 70 achieve. Hence, In the effort 70 protect,
by our arms, the whole Of the territory Of tae Centedo-
rate States, sesbOari and inland, we have been so eE-
posed as recently 90 encounter -eri0us disasters. Whom
the Confedcracy WIS formed the States composing IL
were, by the peculiar character vi Their pursuits, aud q
misplaced confidence Ia their former associates, 70 a great
extent, destitute Of the means for the prosecution of the
war on so gigantic a scale rs shat which il has attained
The workshops and artisans were mainly 70 be found in
the Northern States and one of the first duties which
devoIyed upon this government was 90 establish the
necessary manufactures, and in the meantime 10 obtain,
nv purchase from abroad. az far "a practicable, whatever
was required for the public defense. No Sort has been
spared 90 effect both these ends and, though tie results
have not eQualed our hopes it is believed that am Impair
tal Judgment VIII, upon full investigation. award 20 the
various departments Of tie government credit for having
done all which human power and foresight enabled them
% accomplish
The vaIor and devotion Of the people have not only
sustained the efforts Of the government, but have gone
far % supply it's deficiencies.
The active state Of military preparation among the na-
lions Of Europe in April last, the date when our agents
first went abroad, i~uterpOsed unavoidable delays IN the
procurement Of arms, and the want Of a navy has greatly
lmpeded our efforts 70 import military supplies OF All
sorts.
L nave AthEA ID rNhrLd4 AtlN u eNA fAANA@ N' FNh@
in relation 70 our discontinue At Roanoke Island and the
fall of Fort Donelson- They have not yet reached me-
and l am, therefore, unable TO communicate to you sUen
information OF those events and the consequences result
ing from them, az would enable me 70 make
tons founded upon the changed condition which they
Lave produced. Enough Il known Of the surrender at
Roanoke Island 10 make Us feel thar It was deeply huuiL
latinR, however imperfect may have been the prepara-
tons Tor defense. The hope is still entertained that our
reported losses at Fort Donelson have been greatly exas-
gerated, inasmuch a. 1 an not only unwilling, but una
Die 70 believe that q large army Of our people have sur
rendered without a desperate effort g. cut their way
through investing forces, whatever may have been their
numbers, and to eHdeavor TO make a junction with Oth-r
divisions Of the army. But in the absence OF that exact
information which can only be Afforded by official reports,
it would be premature to pass judgment and my own Il
reserved, as l trust yours viii be. until that information
is received. In the mesntmr, strenuous efforts have
been made to throw forward reini5rcsmouts to the armies
AZ the positions threatened, and 1 cannot DOUBT max me
bitter dissppontmeuts we have borne. by nerving the
people to still greater exerti0ns, will speedily secure
results more aceordant with our just expectation, aud As
favorable 10 our cause as those which marked the earlier
periods If the war.
The reports OF the Secretaries Of War and the Navy
viii exhibit the mass Of resources for the conduct OF the
war which we have been enabled 10 -accumu-ate5 not
withstaudilg the very serious difficulties against which
we have conteuded.
they afford the cheering hope that our resources, linn
tied AS they were az the beginning Of he contest, viii,
during its progress, become developed 70 such an extent
a. fully to meet our future wants.
The policy Of enlistment for short terms against which
l have steadily commended from the commencement of the
war, has, in my Judgment. contributed In no immateriai
AHklft 10 lWU 4EteAL IENtEHen WHICH We nave FAlElcAs
and even now render it difficult TO furnish you an accu
rate statement Of the army. When the war FIRST broke
out many Of our people could with difficulty be- per
suaGed that Il would be long or SERIOUS. Il was not
deemed possible that anything 10 insane a. q persistent
attempt 20 suhjuEste thess States could be made stll
le-s that the deiusiOu would 80 fur prevail as to give e
the war the vast proportions which it has a. umed The
people, incredulous of a long war were naturally sTerse
20 long e~ul5tmsRis. and the early legislation of Congress
rendered 1t impracticable 10 Obtaiu iuLueersf0 for q greater
period than twelve months. Now that II has become pro
bable that the war will be continued through a series Of
years our high-spiried and gallant soldiers, while gene
rally re-enlstlug, are, from the Tact OF having entered
the service for a short term, compelled IN many instances
to 10 home to mase the necessary arrangements for their
families during their prolonged absence.
The quotas Of new regiments for the war. called for
from the different States are In rapid progress of Orgaud-
cation. The whole body Of new levies and resuisted
men viii probably be ready in the ranks within the next
thirty days. Bot, In the meantime, 1t Il exceedingly
difficult 20 give en- accurate statement f the number OF
our forces in the field. They may, in general terms, be
stated at four hundred regiments Of infantry with a pro
portonate force Of cavalry and artillery. the details
Of which will be shown by the report Of the Secretary Of
War deem It proper to advert to the fact that the pro-
cess Of furIouRhs and ro-enlstmsnt in progress for the
last month had 20 far disorZsni1ed and weakened our
forces As to impair our ability for successful defense; but
I heartily congratulate you that this evil, which / had
ior"seen ana was ToWeriess 20 prevent may now be said
10 be substantially at an end and that we shall not again
during the war be exposed to seeing oar strength dimiu-
ished by this fruitful cause Of d~issster-EhOrte~ ulstmentA
The people Of the Confederate states being principally
engaged IN agricultural pursuits, were unprOvided at the
commencement Of h~OslLtes with ships, ~Fhip-yards, mate
IlAls Tor -lup-DulQlnEf or hkulrQ mechanics and sedllen
in sufficient numbers. to make the prompt creation Of a
navy a practical task even if the required appropriations
bad been made for the purpose. Notwithstanding our
very limited resources. however the report Of the ssc-
rotary viii exhibit to you a satisfactory progress in prep
arauon, and a certainty Of early complexion Of vessels Of
a number and class on which we may confidently rely
for coutesting ths Wanted control OF the enemy over our
waters.
The financial system devised by the wisdom Of your
predecessors, has proved adequate 10 supplying all the
wants Of the government, notwithstanding the uueX-
pected and very large increase Of expenditures resulting
from she great augmentation ia the necessary means Of
defense. The report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
VIII exhibit the gratifying TACT, that We lAve 10 floating
debt; shat the credit Of he government is uHimparei
and that the total expenditure OF the government for the
year, has been, in round numbers, one hundred aHd sew
enty millions Of d1llarl less than one-tlird % the sum
wasted by the enemy, in his vain effort 70 conquer us
less than the value Of a single article q eEpOrt-the cot
ton crop of the year.
The PostmasierG General will show the condition Of
that department to be steadily improviug-its revenues
increasing, and already ahOrdius the assurance that it
wiz De seltsUgtaiulug az the date requires by the COusti-
tuition, while %sfordins ample mail facilities Tor the PEG
pie.
IN the Department Of Justice. which includes tho Pat
ems Omce and Public Printing, some legislative provisions
VIII be required, which viii be specifically stated in the
report Of the head Of that department. Invite the a.
tenton Of Congress to the duty Of organ Hug a Supreme
Court Of the Confederate States, In accordance with the
mandate Of the Constitution.
refer yOn 70 my message communicated TO the Pro
yiional Congress in November last for such further In
formation touching She condition Of public affairs ~ II
mig"t be useful TO lay before you; the short interval
which ba4 since elapsed NOT having produced any mate
rial changes in that condition other than those to which
reference has already been made.
In conclusion. I cordially welcome Representative,
who, recently chosen by the people, ars fully imbued
with thalg views and feelings, and can so ably advise me
sure you of my hearty cooperation in al your efforts for
the common welfare q the country.