Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-16
A MOURNFUL CIRCULAR.
HIS CoNFEDERACY PERISHING.

CHICAGO, May ia dispatch to the Tri-
bune from Cairo says THE subjoined cir
cular from JEFF. Davis explains itself":-
''PRTvAvE AND CONFIDENTIAL.
Capital OF THE C. S. A., RICHMOND,
April IS, l862.-Sir: 1t can no longer be de-
MED that the prospects Of success for the
southern confederacy are gloomy and forbid
ding. On every hand, whether through lack
of skill or the open treachery of the officers of
our army and navy, it matters not, we have
met with disasters and defeats With a con-
tinuance of such results, ere the month shall
have passed away our boosted confederacy
will exist only in history. The past shows
that we need larger displays of patriotism,
military skill, personal bravery, and a tirmer
spirit of devotion to the great cause in which
we have enlisted. Unless these requisites de-
velop themselves soon to a fitting extent, we
fight in vain. Unless we have more clear IN
dicatons that the great heart of the people is
with us, our efforts will be futile.
The government is impatient to retrieve
the disasters that have betallen us and that
vet stare US in the face on every hand
unless the people rally to its assistance
hASClOIidh 10 tNilS LlONillS Oll bilt L OtO-
mac. Halleck's operations in the south
west are at every step successful against
us. The federal army and navy are already
nearing the metropolis of the southwest, and
the key to our granaries, Florida, is oyerrun
by northern invaders, while wherever we look,
we gaze on an advancing army. In this trying
emergency the government appeals to the
people, to the brave hearts and sturdy wills of
the SOUTH 1t cries, - ''awake, your hands
have been put to the pillow and will you
now look back and repent your past acts ?
You have struck out boldly for independ-
ence, pledging your lives and fortunes
to its procurement. Will you submit quietly
to the invasion and desoation of your homes,
the destruction or confscation of your pro-
perty, and the abandonment of your insttu-
tions? Arise and convince the world that the
boosted chivalry Of the south is more than a
traditional myth.
This appeal is made to the country not
openly, for obvious reasons. We make this
appeal to the people through the governors of
the several states comprising the confederacy,
and to officers in command of our armies
To these the circular is sent with the urgent
request that its spirit if not its letter be CON
veyed to every citizen Of our struggling re-
public
First of all we ask for material aid in
money or such equivalent therefor as will en-
able us to maintain our army, Clothing and
provisions will be acceptable as substitutes
for money where the latter cannot be obtained.
Second, we need men. The ranks of our
army in the field are constantly being thinned
by the casualties Of battle, the sickness Incl
dent to camp life, and the expiration of enlist
ments. We cannot close our eyes to facts
that the places are not filled so promptly as
should no Lot tho ,f Il,
country to our cause by their willingness to
fight its battles, and if need be, pour out their
blood in its support.
Third we need the encouragement of the
people by a more liberal display of patriotism
than has been yet made. The tame submits
sion yielded to the invader, wherever he APP
pears is in striking contrast to the boast we
have hitherto heard of the readiness that pre-
vailed on every hand to welcome the hirelings
with bonfires composed of the dwellings and
property of the people. If our land is to be
over-run and the people subjugated, let us
leave our cOnquerors a smOuldering waste
to reward them for their toll and palms.
Burn every hamlet, village, and city. Give
the torch freely to your cotton and houses.
Let the product of your lives be laid waste
Fly yourselves before the INVADERS where re-
sistance shall no longer avail, and thus dis
play determination and spirit in the cause
in which we are enlisted, which will give us
encouragement to continue the struggle.
Whenever the enemy achieves victory, let
it be bootlesS victory, so that their bands led
on by the hope of plumber may be discouraged
and we cheered by the manifestations of de-
votion and patriotism. Once more we eXhort
you to awake and shake off the lethargy that
hangs over you. Strike for the freedom Of
yourselves, your families, and your homes.
Strike promptly and boldly, and our confed-
eracy may yet be firmly established. This is
our last and only resource. Those who re-
ceiye this circular will be also summoned as
agents of the government to advance the pur-
pose advocated. Full letters Of instruction
will be furnished them.
JEFFERSON DAVIS, Pres't c. S. a.
This document, purporting to be Il secret
circular of jeff. Davis, comes to us by tele-
graph. As the telegraph wires are under mil
tary supervision, it ought to be authentic, and
yet it is in our view a forgery. We have it in
type and print it, but, although it comes by
telegraph, we advise our readers not to re-
gard it as genuine. We have stopped here;
but, as if to confirm our suspicious, the last
dispatch that came last night was the follow
ing:
Chicago, May 15.-The Times special
from Cairo says the famous secret circular,
purpOrting to emanate from jeff. Davis, was
got up in Cairo by reporter as a sell.
If this is true, that reporter is a very des-
picable scamp."l