Newbern weekly progress., 1862-09-06
MEETING UFTasE RE8EL CON-
tra GREAk
Message OF Jefferson Davis.

~ ne ooHHP ,Ah1 U0Us6 or NfpFeSeHCdttVeS
q He C0Gtederate States - q. ...
, II is again our fortune to meet for dcvsing
measures necessary to the public welfare,
whilst our country is involved in desolatng
war. The suffering endured by some portions
of the people excite the deepest solicltude Of
the government, and the sympathy thus evoked
has been heightened by the patriotic devotion
with which these suiferings 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 exhibitions Of individual
prowess which can find but few parallels in
ancient or modern history. Our army has not
laltel ed in any of the various trials to which 1t
has been subjected and the great body of the
people have continued TO manifest zeal and
unanimity which not only cheer the battle
stained soldier, but gives assurance to the
friends OF constitutional liberty OF our final
triumph in the pending struggle against des-
potic usurpation. 'a.
The vast army which threatened the capital
Of the conIederacy has been defeated and driven
liom the lines of investment, and the enemy,
repeatedly loiled in his Efforts for its capture,
is now seeking to raise new armies on u scale
such as modern history does not record 10 effect
that subjugatlon oil the south so often pro-
claimed as on the eve Of accomplishment.
The pel6dy which disregarded rights secured
by compact, the madness which trampled on
obligations made sacred by every consideration
oil honor, have besn intensified by the tnalgnity
engendered by defeat. These passions have
changed the character Of the hostlIties waged
by our enemies who are becoming daily less
regardlul Of the usages of cyliz d war and
the dictates oil humanity. Rapiuo and wanton
destruction Of private property, war upon non
combatanIS, murder OF cap'i'cs, bloody threats
to avenge the death Of an invading spldIery by
slaughter o! unarlned cltzes orders OF banSh-
ment against peaceful farmers engaged IN the
cultivation of the soil, are some OF the means
used by our ruthless invaders to enforce the
submission of a free people to foreign sway
COntiscatIOn bills Of Il character so atrOcious as
to ensure, if executed, the alter ruin of the
entire population OF these States, are passed by
their Congress and approved by their Exccu.
tive. The moneyed obligations Of the Con
fcderatc government are forged by ctizsns Of
the United Sa.es, and publicly advertised for
sale in their cities with notoriely that sullic-
emily attests the Knowledge ol their govern.
meni, and its completely in The crime is further
evinced by the TACT that the sold crs Of the
invading armies are found supplied with large
quantities of these forged notes as means OF
dcSpoilIng the country people, by fraud, out oi
such portions OF their property AS armed vio'
lencc may fall 10 reaoh. Two, at least, Of the
generals of the United States are engaged,
unchecked by their government, in exciting
scrye Instruction, and ~ arning and training
slaves for warfare against their masters citizens
of the conlcderacy. Ano'hcr has been found
of instincts SO brutal as to invite the violence OF
EiS Sodery against the women o! a captured
ciy. ...... ..........
Yet, the rebuke of civilized man has failed
to evoke from the authorities Of the United
States one mark of di~approbalion of his acts
nor is there any reason to suppose that the
conduct Of Bejann F. Butler has tailed 10
secure from his government the sanction and
applause With which it is known TO have been
greeted by public meetings and portions oil
the press of the United States The inquiries
made of the Command rim Chief Of the armies
of the Unitcd States, whether the atrociuGs
conduct ol some Of their military command
ants met the sanction Of that government
answer has been cyaded on the pretext that
the inquiry vas insulting, and no method re
mans for tho suppression Of these enormite'
but such retrbutlYe justice as may DC iounc
possible to execute,
Retaliation IN kind, for many OF them, is
in,practicablc Tor ! have had occasion to re
mark in former message, that under n,
excess Of provocaton could our noble heartct
defenders be dliv,n to ~rcak vengeance on un
armed men, women or children But stern an,
exemplary punishment can and must be mete,
ont to NE murdrrers and ltlous, uh no, disgrac
lng the profession Of arms, seek TO make o
public war ,hc occasion for the comm ,sion o
the most mons,rcus crimes Deeply as w
regret the character OF the contest into wuicl
We are about 10 be forced, We mus accept /
as an alternative which recent manifestations
give us little hope can be avoided.
The exaSperation OF failure has aroused tn,
worst passions Of our enemies; large portlol
oil their people, even OF their clrrgymer, nov
engage III urging an excited popuIace 10 tn
cxir me- Of lcrocIy, AID nothing remains bu
to vindca,c our rights and 10 maintain on
existence by employing against our foe ever!
energy aud every resource at our disposal
append Tor your information copy Of tn,
papers exhibiting the action of the govern
meut, up TO the present time, for the rcpreSsio,
Of the outrages committed on our people
O,her measures now in progress will DC sub
United hereafter In inviting your attention t.
the legislation which the necessities Of ou
condition require, those connected with tb,
prosecution o' the war command almost undi
sldcd attention. ........... ....
The acts passed at your last session, intend