Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-03-05
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annual message Of Jerrer,on D.v,.

annual Message OF Jefferson Davi,
10 ne Senate and House of R,pyesentatiu., of n
Confederate States, : -'1' ''''"''''''' +" "
10 obedience to the constitutional n,o,,;,
ION requiring the President, from dime N lin.
70 give TO Congress information of the stata y
the Coniederacy and Recommend for cir cou
sideration such measures as he shall indge no
cessary and expedieut. have to cotnmSnIeat
tnat, since the message at the last session q
INC PROVISIONAL Congress, events have lemon
sua1eo tnst the government had attempted NOR,
man IL mad power successfally to achieve Hence
IN tne enort 70 protect by our arms the whole
serIitoIy OF the Confederate States, seaboar(
anu iniano, we have been 30 exposed as recently
70 encounter serious disasters. When the Con
Ieoerecy was formed, the States comprising h
mele III me peculiar character of their pursuits
ana misplaced confidence In their former as
socates, 70 great extent destitute of thG
means for the prosecution of the war on so oil,
gantic scale as that to which IL has attained
The workehops and the artists were mainly ~
De found In the Northern States, and one az the
nrst duties which devolVed upon this govern.
ment was to establish the necessary manufaoto.
[ies' and in the meantime to obtain by purchase
from abroad, as far as practicable, wbatever
was required for the public defense. No effort
mas been spared to effect both these ehds. and
though the results have not equaled our booes.
IL 10 believed that an impartial Judgment will,
upon full investigation, award TO the yarous de-.
parments Of the government, credit for having
done oil which human power and foresight ena.
bled them to accomplish.
The valor and devotion Of the peope have
not only sustained the efforts of the Govern.
ment' but have gone far to supply it's de6cien.
cles. The active state of military prepara tiops
among the nations of Europe in April Iast, the
date when our ageuts frat went abroad. inter-
posed unavoidable delays In the procurement of
arms, ana the want Of navy has greatly i'm
all sorts. ''Pp''' VI
! have hoped for several days to receive the
omcial report, in relation to our discontinue At
Roanoke Island and the fall of Fort Donelson.
ihey have not yet reached me, and am there.
fore unable to communicate to you such infor.
nation OF past events and conseuuences reault.
ing from them, as would enable me to make
recommendations founded upon the changed
condition which they have produced. Enough
IS known OF the surrender of Roanoke Island
70 make US feel that 1t Was deeply humilatipr.
however imperfect may have been the prsnars-
tions for defense. The hope is still entertain.
ed that our reported losses at Fort Donelson
have been greatly exaggerated, inasmuch as
am not only unwilling, but unable 10 believe
that a large army Of our people have surren.
dersd without desperate effort to cut their
way through the investing forces, whatever NAV
have been their numbers, and to eudeayor N
make Junction with other divisions of the
army. But 10 the absence of that exact infor-
nation which can only be afforded by official
reports 1t wouldbe premature to pass judgment,
and my own Is reserved, as / trust yours will
oe, until that information is received. In the
meantime strenuous efforts have been made 10
throw forward reintorcements to the armies at
positions threatened, and l cannot doubt the
Dlt1er, oisappointments we have borne, by nery.
ing the people to still greater exertions, will
Just expectations and as favorable 10 our cause
as those which marked the earlier period of the
war. y Wv
Thereports Of the Secretaries of War and
Navy will exhibit the mass of resources for the
conduct OF the war which we have been enabled
70 accumulate, notwithstanding the very serious
dimculties against which we have contended.-
They afford cheering hope that our resources
limited as they were at the beginning of the
contest, will during its progress become devel.
oped to such an extent as fully to meet our fut-
ure wants. The policy of enlistment for abort
teruie, against which have steadily oontended
rom the commencement of the war, has. In NV
Judgment, contributed in no immateriaI degree
% the recent reVerses which we have suffered |
and even now renders it difficult to furnish Won
IN accurate statement Of the army. When the
war nrst broke out, many of our people could |
with difficulty be persuaded that it would be
long or serious. II was not deemed possible
mat anything 30 insane as q persistent sttempt
% su9jugate these States could be made; still |
ess that the deusion could so far prevail as 10 |
slve 70 Ine war the vast proportions which it has
Issumeo. Inc people, incredulous of o long |
var were naturally averse TO long enlistments.
mo tne early legislation of Congress rendered
tlmprachcable to obtain volunteers for great.
II period than twelve months. Nov that r. has
,ecome probable that the war will be Continued
hrough series Of years, our hiRh-spirited and
,allant soldiers, while generally re.enlistino.
re, from the fact of having entered the service
or short timc, compelled In many instanceal
0 60 home to make necessary arrangements for
heir families during their prolonged absence.
Inc quotas OF new regiments for the war,
allied for from the different States, are in rapid
rogress OF organization. The whole BODY Of
ew levies and re enlisted men will probable he
eady In the ranks within the next thirty dava
'ut In the meantime it is. exceedingly dificultI
} give an accurate statement of the nnmher ofl
ur forces In the field. They may in general terms
Q stated at four hundred regiments of infantry,
ith proportionate forces of cavalry and artil.
ny, the details of which will be shown bv the
sport Of the Secretary of War. / deem Il
roper to advert to the fact that the process of
irioughs and re-enlistment in progress for the
.st month had so far disorganiEed and weaken
q our forces as to impair our ability for suc.
'sstul defense, but hereby congratulate youl
lat this evil, which l had foreseen, and was
oWerless to prevent, may now be said to bel
lDstantially at an end, and that we shall not
gain during the war be exposed to seeing our
renglh diminished BY this fruitful cause Of dis.
estimates. =
The people OF the Confederate States being
fincipany engaged In agricultural pursuits,
lities, with ships, ship yards, materials for
lip building or skilled mechanics and seamen
sufficient numbers to make the prompt crea-
on OF anavy practical task, even If the re- /,
liFed appropriations had been made for the i
irposes. Notwithstanding our yerv limited q
sources, however, the report of the Secretary :
Ill exhibit to you satisfactory proportion In :
separation, aud the certainty Of the near com.
ehon OF vessels of number and elass on
hieh We may confidently rely for contesting
10 Wanted control of the enemy over our !
aters. - - -.
The financial system devised by the wisdom
your predecessors, has proved sdeouate n
applying all the wauts Of the governments. NOT.
outstanding the unexpected and very large In
tease OF expenditures, resulting from preat
In the necessary means of defense
he report OF the Secretary Of the Treasury