Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-03-14
JEFF. DAVIS MESSAGE.

rs the prospect is rather slim that JEFF.
Davis will ever deliver another Annual Mes
sage to his Rebel Confederacy, we copy his
late one at length. 1t may be a great curl
osity hundred years hence.
| To the Senate and House Of Representatives.
Of the Confederate SAFES
In obedience to the constitutional
! provision requiring the President from time
! to time to give to Congress information OF
| the state Of the Confederacy, and recommend
| for their consideration such measures as he
| shall Judge necessary and expedlent, have
| 10 communicate that since the message at
! the last session of the Provisional Congress,
events have demonstrated that the Govern
ment had attempted more than it had power
successfully to achi We. Hence in the effort
TO protect by our arms, the whole Territory
of the Confederate States, seaboard and in
land. we have been 50 exposed as recently to
encounter serious disasters.
When the Confederacv was formed the
States comprising It were, in the peculiar
character of their pursuits, and misplaced
confidence in their former associates, TO
great extent, destitute OF the means for the
prosecution OF the war on 80 gigantic scale
as that to which it has attained. The work
shops and artisans were mainly to be found
in the Northern States, and one Of the first
duties which devolved upon this Government
was to establish the necessary manufactures,
and, in the mean time, to obtain. by puT-
chase from abroad, as tar as practicable.
whatever was required for the public defence.
No effort has been spared to effect both these
ends. and tho the results have not yet equal
Ell our hopes, 1t is believed that an impartial
judgment will, upon iull Investigation, award
to the various departments Of the Govern
ment credit for having done all that human
power and foresight enabled them 10 accom-
plish.
The valor and devotion Of the people have
not only sustained the efforts of the Govern
ment, but have gone tar 10 supply lts def
ciences. The active state oi military pre-
paratians among the Latlors II Europe IN
April last, the date when our agents first
went abroad, interposed unavoidable delays
in the procurement OF arms, and the want OF
navy has greatly impeded our efforts to
import military supplies OF all sorts.
have hoped for several days to receive the
official reports in relation to our discontinue
at Roanoke Islani, and the fall of Fort Don
nelson. They have not yet reached me, and
am therefore unable to communicate to you
such information Of past events, and cOnse-
quences resulting from them, as would enable
me 10 make recommendations founded upon
the changed condition which they have pro-
duced. Enough is known Of the surrender
of Roanoke Island 10 make us feel that ii was
deeply humiliating, however imperfect may
have been the preparations for defence. The
hope is still entertained that our reported
losses at Fort Donelson have been greatly ex-
aggerated, inasmuch as | am not only un-
willing but unable 10 believe that a large
army Of our people have surrendered without
"A desperate effort to cut their way through
! the investing forces, whatever may lave been
their numbers, and TO endeayor TO make
! junction with the other divisions OF the army.
But in the absence of that exact inior-
nation, which can only be afforded by OIL
cial reports, it would be premature to pass
| Judgment, and my own IS reserved, as
! trust yours will be. until that information
| is received In the meantime strenuous ell
| forts have been made to throw forward REIN
| forccments to the armies at positions threat
ened and | cannot doubt the bitter dis.
appointments we have borne, by nerving the
| people u still greater exertions, will
| speedily secure results more accordant with
cur lust expectations and as favorable 10
our cause as those which marked the earlier
Teriod Of the war.
The reports Of the Secretaries Of War and
| Navy will exhibit the mass OF resources for
! the conduct OF the war, which We have been
enabled TO accumulate notwithstanding the
very serious difficulties against which We
have contended. They afford cheering hope
tnat our resources. limited rs they were at
the beginning of the contest, will during It's
progress. become developed TO such an extent
as fully u meet our future wants. The
policy Of enlistment for short terms, against
which have steadily contended from the
commencement Of the war, has, in my judg-
ment, contributed In no immaterial degree
TO the recent reverses which we have suit
fered, and even now renders it difficult tC
furnish YOU au accurate statement of th'
army.
When the war first broke out. many of Oul
people could with difficulty bc persuaded
that 1t would be long or serious. ltwas no
deemed possible that anything 50 insane as I
persistent attempt to subJugate these State
could be made, still less that the dclusiOI
could 60 fur prevail as to give to the wa
the vast proportions which 1t has assumed
The people, incredulous of long war, wer
naturally averse to long enlistments, and tn
carly legislation OF Congress rendered it i'm
practicable to obtain volunteers for create
period than twelve months.
Now that it has become probable that th
war will be continued through q series G
years, our hi:h-spirIted and gallant soldiers
while gecoTally re-eni.sting. are, from th
! fact Of having entered tie service for shol
term, compelled in many instances to &
home to make necessary arrangements fo
|, their families during their prolonged abscnct
The quota of new regiments Tor the wa
s called for from the different States, are
q rapid progress Of organization. The whol
BODY Of new ievies and re-snlisted men wi
probably be ready in the ranks within ii
i next 80 days. But, in the meantime, 1t
: exceedingly difficult to give an accurate est
mate of the number of our forces in the felG
Il They may, in general terms, be stated at AZ
4 regiments Of Infantry, with proportions
a forces of cavalry and artillery, the details
which will be shown by the report OF Il
Secretary of War. l deem it proper to ~
, vert to the fact that the process of furloug
n and re-enlistment in progress for the Ia
month, had 70 lar disOrganIzed and weaken'
> our forces as to impair our ability for succes
fol defence; but hereby congratulate u
4 that this evil, which bad foreseen and W