Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-03-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

the Congress information OF the state OF the OoH-
federacy and recommend to their consideration such
as he snail judge necessary and exPedlent
have to communicate that since my message, at
the last session OF the Provisional Congress, events
have demonstrated that the GoVerpment had at,
tempted more than.it had power successfully to.
achieve Hence in the effort to protect, by our
arms the whole Of the territory of the Confederate
States sea- board and inland, we have been so ex-
posed as recently TO encounter serious disasters
When the ConiederaCy was formed, the States CON-
posing it were by the peculiar character OF their
pursuits and q misplaced confidence in their former
associates to great extent destitute OF the means
for the prosecution of the war on SO gigantic scale
as that which it has attained The workshops ana
artisans were mainly to be foundin the Northern
States; and one of the first duties which devolyed
upon this Government was to establish the peces-
sary manufactures and in the meantime to obtain,
By purchase from abroad as far practicable, what
ever was required for the public defence Ao effort
has been spared to effect both these ends and though
the results have not equalled hopes, it IS belev
ed that an impartial judgment will, upon full inVes-
tgaIiOn award to the various departments OF the
Government credit for having done all which human
power and foresight enabled them to accomplish.
The valor and devotion of the people have not
only sustained the efforts of the Government, but
have gone far to supply its deficiencies.
The active state of military preparation among
the nations of Europe in April last, the date when
agents first went abroad, interpOSed unavoidable
delays in the procurement of arms, and the want OF
a navy has greatly impeded our efforts to import
military supplies Of all sorts.
have hoped for several days to receive official
reports relation to discontinue at Roam oke
Island, and the fall of Fort Donelson. They have
not yet reached me, and l am, therefore, unable to
communicate to you such information of those events
and the consequences resulting from them, As would
enable me to make recommendations founded upon
the changed condition which they have Produced
Enough is known of the surrender az Roanoke
Island to make US feel that it deeply numilIat-
ing, however imperfect may have been the prepare
tons for defence. rne hope still entertained that
reported losses at Fort DonclSOn have been
greatly exaggerated, inaSmuca as | am not only
unwilling, but unable TO believe that large army
of our psoplr have surrendered without desperate
effort 10 cut their way through investing forces,
whatever may have been Their numbers, and to en-
deavor to make junction with other. divisions OF
the army. But in the absence of that exact inEOr-
nation which only be afforded 10y official reports
it would be premature to pass Judgment, and my
OWN is reserved, as trust yours will be- until that
information is received In the meantime strenuous
efforts have been made to throw forward reinforce
ments to the armies at the positions threatened and
| cannot doubt that the bitter dsappolntmens we
have borne by ncrving the people to still greater
exertions will speedily secure results accord
ant with our Just expectation and Is favorable TO
our those which marked the earlier periods
Of the
The reports of the Secretaries Of War and the
Navy will exhibit the of resources for the
duct OF the war winch VIC have been enabled to
cumulate. notwithstanding he very serious dith
culties against which we have contendcd-
They afford the cheering hope that our resources,
limited they were at the beginning OF the contest
will during It's progress become developed to such
an extent as fully to meet our future wants.
The policy of enlistment for short terms against
which | have steadily cOntcuded from the coui-
mencement OF the war has, in my Judgment con-
trIbuted in no immaterial degree to the recent re-
verses which we have sutersl and even now render
1t difficult To furnish you all accurate statement Of
the army. When the war irst broke out many o!
our people could with difficulty be persuaded that
1t would be long or serious. 1t was not deemed
possible that anything So insane persistent at
tempt TO Sugugate these States could be made
still less that the dcluSlOu would so far prevail as to
give to the the vast proportions which it has
assumed The people, incredulous oi long war,
were naturally averSe TO long enlstmentS, and the
early legislation Of Congress rendered 1t imprac-
tcabie obtain volunteers for greater period than
twelve months. Now that 1t has became probable
that the war will DC continued through 4 series Of
years, our high spirited and gallant soldiers, while
generally reenistins are, irul the fact of having
entered the services 4 short term compelled in
ruany instances 10 20 h0iEe ~ make the necessary
arrar gcnentS for their families during their pro-
longed absence.
The quotas Of new regiments for the war, called
for from the different States are in rapid progress
OF organization. The wlole BODY Of new lcyirs and
Re enlisted men will probably be ready i'll the ranks
within the next thirty days But in the mean
time 1t is exceedingly difficult to give an accurate
statement Of the number of our forces in the field
They may, IN general terms be stated at four hun
dred regiments OF infantry, with a prOpOrtionae
force of cavalry aud artillery, the details OF which
Will DE shown by the report Of the Secretary Of
War deem IT proper to advert to the fact that
the process OF iurloughs and re-enliStment IN pro-
grcss for the last month had far disorganized and
weakened our forces to impair our ability for
successful defence but heartily congratulate you
that this evil, which had foreseen and was power
less to prevent may now be said to be substantially
at an end and that we shall not again during the
war be exposed to seeing our strength diminished
by this fruitful cause of dlsastershOrt enstmentS.
The people Of the Confederate States being prin-
cpally engaged in agricultural pursuits were uu-
provided at the commencement OF hOStllteS with
ships ship yards, materials for ship building, or,
skilled mechanics and Seamen IN sufficient numbers
to make the prompt creation of navy apractca task
even if the required appropriations had been made
for the purpose. Notwithstanding our very limited
resources, however, the report OF tn Secretary
will exhibit to you satisfactory progress In prepa-
ration and certainty clearly completion, OF vessels
of number and class which we may confidently
rely for contestng the Wanted control OF the enc
my over our waters.
The financial system devised by the wisdom of
your predecessors has proved adequate to supplying
oil the wants of the government notwithstanding the
unexpected and very large increase of expenditures
resulting from the great augmentation in the neces-
airy Of defence The report OF the Secretary OF
the Treasury will exhibit the gratifying fact that
we have no floating debt; that the credit of the gov
eminent is unimpaired and that the total expendi-
ture of the for the year has been in round
numbers one hundred and seventy millions of dollars;
less than one-third of the sum wasted by the en-
envy in his vain effort to conquer us-less than the
value of SINGLE article of export--the cotton crop
of the year. IN
The report of the Postmaster General, will show.
the condition of that Department to be steadily irn-
provng-its revenues increasing, and already stor-
ding the assurance that it will be sesnstainlng ct
the date required by the Constitution while aording