Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-04-17

trv and to the duties which patriotism imposes on
US all during this great struggle for our homes ana
/ our liberties.
These resolutions ere in the following language:
JOINT RESOLUTION RELATING TO tbs PRODUCTION OF
Provisions.
WHEREAS, strong impression prevails through
the country that the war now being waged against
the people of the Confederate States msy terminate
during the present year; and whereas, this I'M
preston is leading many patriotic citizens to en-
gage largely IN the production Of cotton and tobac'
CO. which they would not otherwise do; and where
as in the opinion Of Congress it is Of the utmost
Importance not only with a view to the proper
subsistence Of armies but for the interest and
welfare Of all the people, that the agricultural labor
of the country should be employed chiefly in the
production Of supply Of food to meet every con-
tngency; therefore
Resoised, By the Congress Of tie Confederate
.StGtes of dmoricG, That it is the deliberate judy
ment Of Congress that the people of these States
while hoping for peace, should look to prolonged
War as the only condition profFered by the enemy
short of suhjugatcn; that every preparation nee
essary to encounter such war should De persisted
in, and that the amPlcst supply of provisions for
armies and people should be the first object of all
agricutdrists; wherefore, it is earnestly recon-
IHended that the people, instead Of planting cotton
and tobacco shall drect their agricultural labor
manly to the production Of such crops as will in
sure sufciency Of food for all classes and for
cry emergency, thereby, with true patriotism, sub
ordinating the hope OF gain to the certain good of
the country
SEC 2 That the President is hereby requested
to issue proclamation to the people OF these States
urging upon them the necessity Of guarding against
the great peris of a short crop Cf provisions, and
setting forth such therefor as his judgment
may dictate.
Fully concurring in the views thus expressed 10y
the Congress, | confidently appeal TO your love OF
country for aid in carrying into effect the recon-
mendatlons of your Senators and Representatives.
We have reached the close of the second Year Of
the war, and may point wiki Just pride to lie his
tory Of young ConfcdgEacy. Alone, unaidc1,
we have II ct aud OveTthrcwn the most formidable
combination of naval and military arnanentS that
the lust Of conquest gathered together for the
SubjuSalion Of d free people. We began this strug
gle without SINCE gun ailoat while the resources
of our enemy enabled them to gather fleets, which,
according to their official list, published III August
last, consisted of +2T vessels, measuring 34O,O36
tons, and carrying 3,2GS guns. Yet We nave cap
tured, suI.kk, or destroyed number CT those YES
sells, including two large irgateS and one steam
sYOp of war; while four OF their captured stcaUgUn
boats now in our possession, adding 10 the
strength Of our Little navy, whie is rapidly gaining
in numbers and efficiency. To oppose invading
forces composed of lcvICS which have already
ceeded thirteen hundred thousand men, we had no
resources bu: the uneoDquera6e valor of people
determined 10 he free; AID We were 50 destitute Of
military supplies that tens Of thousands Of cit
liens were reluctantly refused admission into the
service from our inability to provide them with
arms, while for many months some of cur impor-
tant strongholds owed their safety chiefly 10
ful concealrIent Of the fact that We without
supply of powder for our cannon. Your'devotion
and patriotism have triuuiphed over all these Oh
StaCleS, and called into existence the munitions of
war, the clothing, and the subsistence which have
enabled our soldiers TO illustrate their valor on nu
merouS battle-feldS, and ntct crushing defeats on
successive armies, each of which all arrogant foe
fOnG!y imagined to lie inyincbic.
The contrast between our past and present con
ditOn is well calculated to inspire full confidence in
the triumph Of our arms. At no previous period
Of the have our forces been so numerous so
well organized, and so thoroughly disciplined,
ed and equipped as at present The season CT high
water, on which our enemy relied to enable their
fleets OF gunboats TO penetrate into country,
| and devastate our homes, is fast passing away
Yet our StrOngholdS the Mississippi still bid de-
ance to the foe, and months of costly preparations
for their reduction have been spent in vain DSaS-
ter has been the result Of their every effort to turn
or TO storm VIckshurg and Port Hudson as well as
Of every attack ON batteries on the Red river
the TallahatChie and other navigable streams
Within a few weeks the falling waters and the in
cfeasing heats Of summer will complete their dis
comtiture, and compel lheir bai!led and defeated
! forces to the abandonment Of expeditions winch
+ were based their chief hopes OF success in eectin
subjugation
! We must not fo' get however that the war is
not yet ended and that We are still confronted by
powerful armies and threatened by numerous fleets
and that The government which controls these fleets
! and armies is driven to the most desperate efforts
to effect the unholy purposes in which it has thus
! far been defeated. 1t will Use It's utmost energy
to avert the impending doom, so fully merited by
the atrocities it has committed the savage barbar-
iticS which it has encouraged and the browning
! inaruy Of its attempt 10 excite scrve population
! to the massacre oil our wives, our daughters, and
our helpless children.
| With such a contest before US there is but one
danger which the government Of your choice re-
CARDS with apprehension, and to avert this danger
II appeals to the never-faing patriotism and spirit
of self sacrifice which you have exhibited since the
beginning Of the war. line very unlavorable sea-
son, the pTotracted droughts OF last year reduced
the haryests on which depended far below an
average yield and the deficiency was unfortunately
still more marked in the northern portion of the
Confederacy, where supplies were specially needed
for the army. If, through a confidence in early
peace, which may prove delusive, our fields should
be now devoted to the production of cotton and
tobacco, instead Of grain and live stock and other
articles necessary for the subsistence of the people
and the army, the consequence may prove serIons
if not disastrous especially should the present sea
son prove as unavorable as the last Your country,
therefore, appeals to you to lay aside all thought
OF gam, and TO devote yourselves to securing your
liberties, without which those gains would be
valueless 1t is true that the wheat harvest in the
more Southern States which will be gathered next
month promises abundant yield; but even il
this promise be fulfilled the difficulty of transport
alton, enhanced as it has been by an unusually
rainy winter, will cause embarrasSments in military
operations and suffering among the people should
the crops in the middle and northern portions O
the Confederacy prove deficient But no uneasrnes.
need be felt in regard to mere supply oil bread fol
man. 1t is for the large amount Of corn and forag,
required for the raising Of live stock and for thu
supply of the animals used in military operations
that your AID is specially required. These articles
are too bulky for distant transportation and in then
the deficiency in the last harvest was most felt
LIE: your fields be devoted exclusively to the pro
ducton Of corn, oats, beans peas, potatoes, ant
other food for and beast, Lei corn be sowl
broadcast for fodder, in immediate proximity t