Washington telegraph., 1862-01-15
To the People Of the Confederate States

l
With the solitary motive and in the
hope that the subjoined statements NAV
reach some mind responsible for, and in.
fuential with, the Governmen Mt of the Con-
| federate States, have determined to brave
criticism, and to forego all the embarrass-
ments surrounding the subject matter, ap-
| pealipg to the conductors of the press,
aud, availipg myself of this method, to
enter plea for Missouri.
In the beginping of the present struggle
for the rights of self-government, the c,n-
dition of Missouri was peculiar, and, to the
last degree disad adeantageous.-I'he sy-tem
] of internal Improvements had created a
debt of nearly $4,000, 600, the interest
on which was punesually met by her people
from their taxable resources. The State
had suffered In common With her sister
States from the commercial revulsion Of
1897, and from the extraordinary drought
of 1S6O.-Haviug enjoyed a long period
OF peace, her military organizations had
fallen into disuse, while the small arms of
the country had been gradually carried off
by travel aud emigration to California
and the North Western territories. Sep
arated geographically long distance from
! ocean navigation, and without solitary
railroad connecting her with the South,
except across an enemy's country, the
transportation of arms aud military stores
was attended with delay and difficulty,
/. while the seizure of ST. Louis, aud the
/ blockade of the river at Cairo and on the
gulf, rendered it still more difficult and
impracticable The State Treasury was
not in condition to advance the neces !
sary capital to purchase material of war,
aud almost the entire amount of Bank Ca
pital was practically in the hands of the
enemy in St. Louis Some division of
opinion existed among her people in re-
lation to the prospect, or possibility of an
| adjustment OF our sectional contest; but
very little diversity OF opinion existed as
TO the duty and destiny of the State, as
snming the breach to be irreparable.
At this critical period, and before any
| preparations could be made for war, the
blow fell upon our people, aud well-armed
bodies of Federal troops Were precipitated
upon an unarmed aud unorganized citizeu>
soldiery. The grip of the monster was
'i-eady upon our thyoats, and we had to
struggle as best cAuld. AT this crisis,
Ex-Goyeruor Price wis summoned from
dlshll d and honorable retirement to lead
our people through their peril, aud defend
the Stale with such means lac coiiI
command. rapid march suuthward to
the border Ut Arkansas, for the purpose OF
organization, became necessary. And
while our troops were still imperfectiy
arWed, The battles of Carthage aud Spring
field We're fought aud won, the former ex-
cIu:'lyely, and the latter principally, by
MIssouraus. Siucc then cur army has
remained in hard service, having fought,
aud wJn sp.ndld victories, and having
marched and cu2nier-marched by series
OF sklliul moves on the theatre uf war,
over a lIueal distance of over twelve hun
died miles. That army is now undergoing
the di,cuin forts of rigorous winter cam
palgn.
During this period, oppressed with a
seuse of her inability to avail herself of
her own gigantic resources, for want a few
thousand auxiliary troops to eatble Mi
General Price to establish aud maintain
himself for forty days on the Missouri RI
ver our State has turned an almost i'm
pioring look to her Southern allies for just
ii little help, aud only fora little while,
which would make the contest on her soil
d short aud decisive one But she has
looked in vain. With the exception of
the battle of Springfield, { sword has
been drawn for the release of Missouri
except by her owu sons. At that memo
rabie batte, the Confederate comm4nder
was asked for the assistance of three Re
ginents to pus sue defeated and disor-
ganized foe, where 900 men and 5 900
000 worth OF property were within our
reach, but Gen. Price asked in vain. SO |
his requests were responded to when he
went to fight the battles of Drywood and
of Lexington. Not man, not a gun, not
percussion cap, for want Of which latter
articles, he was compelled TO fall back geo |
miles with an army of 10000 men Du
ring this trying period within which the |
State could have been disenthralled our
Confederate allies have maintained their |
camp,on Our Southern border in inglori |
GUS id,eness, not even protecting Missouri |
from kaesas Jay Hawkers. We knew
these alied troops are as brave men as
ever went to battle, aud that they chafed |
like Gagged lion 70 join the Missourians
in theiI well-susta;ned resistance, but
these troops had no orders to move Can
this be explained? There was no enemy |
to fight in ARKANSAS, and the army of |
Missouri was, in eve-y action and mov.-
ment guarding the g'tes to Arkansas,
Louisiana and Texas
The Tory press Of Missous has sought
Systematically to pursuade our teople that
the Confederate States did not WIT Mis-. |
souri,, and only used her for purpoa,s of
defense. We know the contrary I'll |
we'll The lie is patent, since Missouri II
pow an inseparable part of the Southern
Confederacy But how long shall we
wait for practical military refutation OF
this iusidious falsehood. How will the
Secretary of war at Richmond explain to
the people of frthe South the reason why
the Confederate Commander in Arkansas
aud Southern Missouri, was not preemps-.
orily ordered to cooperate with Gep. Price!
IN = ..o,v,lo of Nissouri -hv -votinO ma