The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-08-26
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

1t is again our fortune to meet for devising
measures necessary to the public welfare, whilst
our country is involved in desolating war The
suffelings endured by some portions of the people
excites the deepest solicitude Of the Government,
and the sympathy thus evoked has been heighten-
ed by the patriotic devotion with which these suf-
-ferings have been borne. The gallantry and good
conduct of our troops always claiming the graft
tude Of the country, have been further illustrated
on hard fought fields, marked by exhibitions Of
individual proves which can find bat few paral-
.lefs in ancient or modern history. Our army has
mot ialtercd in any of the various trials to which
it has been subjected, and the great body of the
people have continued to manifest zeal and una
nimity which not only cheer the battIestained SOL
dier, but gives assurance to the friends of consti
tutonal liberty of our final triumph in the pending
struggle against despotic usurpation.
The vast army which threatened the capital Of
the Confederacy has been defeated and driven
from the lines of investment, and the enemy, re-
peatedly foiled in his efforts for its capture now
seeking to raise armies, on scale such
modern history does not record to effect that sub
jugation Of the South so often proclaimed as on
the eve of accomplishment
The perfdy which disrcgarded rights secured
by compact, the madness which trampled on obi
cations made sacred by every consideration of
honor, have been intensified by this magnity en-
.gendercd by defeat. These passions have changed
the character of the hostities waged by our enc
mics, who becoming daily less regarlful Of the
usagcs of civilized and the dictates of human
ity. Rapine and wantOn destruction of private
property, war upon nOn-combatants, murder Of cap
tlves, bloody threats to avenge the death Of in
vading soldiery by the slaughter of unarmcd citi-
zens, orders Of Punishment against peaceful far
mers engaged in the cultivation Of the soil, are
some of the means used by our ruthless invaders
to enforce the submission of free people to for
egn sway. Confscation bills of a character so
atrocous to ensure, if executed, the utter ruin
of the entire population of these States are passed
by their Congress and approved by their Execu-
tive The mOneyed obligations Of the Confeder-
ate Government are forged by citizens of the
United States, and publicly advertised for sale in
their cities with notorcty that sufficiently attess
the knowledge of their Government, and its COM
plcity in the crime is further evinced by the fact
that the soldiers Of the invading armies found
supplied with large quantities of these forged
notes as means Of despoiling the country pco-
pe by fraud out Of such portions Of their property
as armed violence may fail to reach. Two at least
Of the Generals of the United States are engaged
unchecked by their Government, in exciting ser
vile Instruction, and in arming and training slaves
for warfare against their masters, citizens of the
Confederacy. Another has been found of instincts
brutal to invite the violence of his soldiery
u
Yet, the rcbuke of civilized man has failed to
evoke from the authorities of the United States
one mark of disapprobation of his acts nor is
there any reason to suppose that the conduct Of
Benjamin +. Butler has failed to secure from his
Government the sanction and applause with which |
it is known to have been greeted at public meet
ings and portions Of the press of the United States
To inquiries made Of the Commander-in Chief I
Of the armies of the United States, whether the |
mandants met the sanction of that Government,
answer has been evaded on the prctext that the |
inquiry was insulting; and method remains fl r .
the suppression of these enormies but such rctri- |
butlve justice as it may be found possible to exc
cute.
Retaliation in kind, for many of them is imprac-
tIcable, for have had occasion to remark in a for
ner message, that under no excess of provocation
could our noble hearted defenders be driven to
wreak vengeance on UnarmCd men, on women, or
on children. But stern and exemplary punish
ment can and must be meted out to the murdcrers
and felons, who, disgracing the profession of arms
seek to make Of public war the occasion for the
commission of the most monstrous crimes
Deeply as regret the character of the con-
test into which we arc about to be forced, We must
accept it as an alternative which recent nantes
tations give us little hope can be avoided
The evaporation of failure has aroused the
worst passions Of our enemies; large portion of !
their people, even of their clergymen, now engage
in urging an excited popuacc to the extreme of
feroeity; and nothing remains but to vindicate
our lights and to maintain our existence by en-
ploylng against our foe every energy and every
resource at our disposal.
append for your information copy of the pa-
pers exhibiting the action Of the Government, up
to the present time for the repression of the out
RACES committed on our people. Other measures
now in progress will be submitted hereafter
In inviting your attention to the legislation
which the necessities of our condition reouirc
those come cted with the prosecution OF the war
command almost undivided attention
The acts passed at your last session intended to
secure the public defence by general enrolment,
and to render uniform the rules governing troops
In the service, have led to some unexpected criti
cism that is mucn to be regretted.
The efficiency of the law has been thus some
what impaired, though it is not believed that in
any OF the States the popular mind has withheld
lis sanction from either the necessity or propriety
OF your legislation. 1t is only by harmonious as
well as Jealous action that government as new as
ours, ushered into existence on the very eve of
great war, and unprovided with the material ne
cessary for conducting hostilities on so vast a
scale, can fulfil its duties. Upon you, who are
fully informed of the acts and purposes Of the gov
eminent, aud thoroughly imbued with the feelings
and sentiments of the people, must reliance be
placed to secure this great object. You can best
devise the means for establishing that. entire CO.
operation OF the State and Confederate Govern
mentS which is essential tho wel ho;no, &c bot