The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-04-24
jcn DaViS'S Last Vail.

Mr. jefferson Davis has issued an address
to his people in accofdauce with resolutions
of the confederate congress requesting it.
In this address Mr. Davis boasts of the pow
err of the "young confederacy in that it has
met and overthrown the most formidable
combinations of naval and military arma
ments that the last of conquest ever gather
ed together for the conquest Of free peo-
pie" He brags of the proves of the con-
federates who have succeeded in capturing
out of the federal navy of 437 vessels, four
and have " sunk or destroyed number, in
Guiding two large frigates and one steam
sloop- f-war." He boasts of the present.
too, as well as of the past.
"The contrast between our past and pre-
sent condition is well calculated to inspire
foil confidence in the triumph of our arms
At no previous period Of the war have our
forces been so numerous, so well organized
and so III roughly disciplined, armed and
equipped, as at present The season CT high
water, on which our enemies relied 70 enable
their fleets OF gunboats to penetrate into our
country and derastale our homes, is fast
passing away; Vet our strOngholds on the
Mississippi still bid defiance to the foe, and
months of costly preparations for their re-
ductlon have been spent in vain. Disaster
has been the result of their every effort to
turn or storm Nicksburg and Port Hu lson,
as well as every attack on our batteries on
the Red river, the Tallahatchie and other
navigable streams. Within a few weeks the
falling waters and the increasing heats of
summer vii! complete their discontinue, and
compel their b,i!Ied and defeated forces to
the abandonment Of expeditions on which
was basel their chief hope of success in eff
iec,irs our subjugation.'
There is one little point of danger, how
ever. Jefferson ID. admits. 1t is possible
that the Southern Confateracy may fad it
self without anything to eat: And the Pres
ldent therefore appeals to them to "secure
their liberties meaning the heaviest pos
slbIe crops Of grain.
elf: through a confidence in an early peace.
which may prove delusive, our fields should
now be devoted to the production of cotton
and tobacco, instead of grain and live stock
and other articles necessary tos the subsis-
tence Of the people and army, the conse.
quences may prove serious. if not disastrous.
especially should this present seas IN prove as
unfavorable as the last. Your country,
therefore, appeals to you to lay aside all
thought Of gain, and to devote yourselves to
securing your liberties, without which these
gains would be VALUE less"
Let your fields be devoted exclusively to
the production of corn, oats, beans, peas, DO
tatoes and other food for man and beast; let
cora be sowed broadcast for fodder in imme.
diate proximity to railroads, rivers and Ca
hals' and let all your efforts be directed to
prompt supply OF these articles in the dis
r!r's where our armies are Operating. You
Will mus add greatly to their efficiency. and
furnish the means without which it is i'm
pracucao'e TO make those prompt and active
movements which have hitherto stricken ter
ror into our enemies and secured our mos,
brilliant triumphs.7
But bread, though the staff Of life. is not
the only army ration that is needed JeE
owns frankly that the supply Of meat is
deficient" that the government has l,oon m
able to get enough and that the soldiers ron.
sequently are on half rations. This he thinks
is only temporary, indeed; there is mea,
enough in the country. if it could only he
got, and measures have been adopted which
will, II is 6elieced, soon enable US to restore
the full rations." He speaks OF plan pre-
pared by the Secretary of War,-"by the
AID OF which or some similar means to be-
ADOPTED by yourselves, you can assure the
othcers OF the government in the purchase of
Inc corn the bacon, the pork and the beef,