Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1862-03-07
JEFF. DlVIS'S ANNUAL MESSAGE.
DoLEFUL STATEMENT OF MIsHAPs.
BALTIMORE, Friday, Feb. %, 1862.


BALTIMORE, Friday, Feb. %, 1862.
The following is a copy of JEFF. Davies
Message to the Rebel Congress:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.
Of tie Confederate STATES
10 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 eoI-
| sdvration such measures as be shall judge ne
cessaFY and txpediont, have TO communicate
that since rhe message at the lest session of
the Provisional Congress, events have demon-
streted that the GOVerumsnt bad attempted
more than it had power successfully to achieve.
Hence in tbs effort to protect, by our arms,
the whole territory of the Confederate States,
sesboard and inland, We have been SO exposed
| as recently to encounter serious disasters
When the Uonfederaey was formed the States
comprising it were 10 the peculiar character Of
their pursuits, and misplaced confidence in
their former associates, to great extent, des-
titute OF tue meaus for the prosecution Of the
war on SO gigantic a scale as that TO which lt
has attained. The workshops aud artists were
mainly TO be found in the Northern States, and
one of tho first duties which devoIved upon
this Government was to establish the ueeessa-
ry mauufactorIes, aud, 10 the mean time, to
| obtain, BY purchase from abroad, as tar as
practicable, whatever vas required Tor tne
public defense. No effort has been spared IN
effect both these ends, and though the results
have not equeled our hopes, it is believed thas
an impartial Judgment will, upon full iGTesti-
CATION, award to the various departments of
the Government credit for having done all
which human power aud foresight enabled
them to accomplish.
The valor aud devotion of the people have
not only sustained the efforts ct the Govern
ment, bus have gone far to supply Its dehcien-
cies. The active state of military preparations
among the nations of Europe in April last,
the date when our agents FIRST went abroad,
interposed unavoidable delays in the procure
nent 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 receiva the
official reports in relation to our discontinue
at Roanoke Island and the fall Of Fort Dom
elson.
They have not yet reached me, and am
therefore unable 10 communicate to you such
information of past events, and consequences
resulting from them, as would enable me to
make recommendations founded upon tho
changed condition which they have produced.
Enough is known of tho surrender of Roam
oke Island to make us feel that it was deeply
humiliating, however imperfect may hays been
the preparation sor defense. The hope IS still
eniertainsd that our reported losses OF Fort
Donelson have been greatly exaggerated, mas
much as am not cnly urRilling but unable
10 believe that large army Of our people
have surrendered without desperate effort to
cut their way through the investing fercess
Whatever may have been their numbers, and
to endeavor 10 make junction with other di-
visions OF the army But in the absence Of
that exact information, which can onfy be af--
ferded by Official reports, it wontd be Pteaia-
sure to pass Judgment, and my own is resery-
| ed, as | trust yours will be, uutiI that infor-
lnatdcn is received. In tho meantime strenu-
ous efforts have been made TO throw forward
reentoreements to the armies at positions
threatened; aud | cauupt doubt the bitter dis
appointments We have borne, by nerviug tho,
people to still greater exersions, will speedily
secure results more uccordant with our just
Expectations, aud as favorable to our cause as
those which marked the earlier period of she
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 eua-
bled 70 accumulate notwithstanding the very
serious difficulties agains. which we have con