Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-04-24

far below an average yield, and the def.
cheney was unfortunately still more marKed
in the Northern portion Of the Confedera,
cy, where supplies were specially needed
for the army. If, through confidence IN
early peace, which may prove decisive our
fields should be- now devoted to the produc:-
ton of cotton and tobacco, instead OF gram
and live stock, and other articles necessary
for the. subsistence of the people and the
army, the consequences may prove serious
if not disastrous, especially should tue pres
ens season prove as unfavorablesa as the last.
Your country, therefore, appeals to YOU to
lay aside all thought Of gam. and to devote
yourselves to securing your Liberties, with
out which those gains would be -yalseless.
L is true that Nlie wheat harvest 10 the
more Southern States which will be gath
cred next month promises an abundant
yield but even if this promise be fulfilled
tie difficulty. Of transportation, ENLARGED as
it has heea b. an unusua.ly rainy winter,
will cause embarrassments in military oper-
atoms and suffering among the. people
should the crops in the middle and north
ern portions Of the Confederacy prove de-
fcient. But no uneasiness need be felt IN
regard to mere supply of bread for man
1t is for the large amount of corn and for
age required for the raising Of live stock,
and for the supply Of the animals used IN
military operations that your aid is spe-
cially required. These articles are too
bulky for distant transportation, and 10
them The deficiency in the last harvest was
most felt. Let your fields be devoted -ex-
clusiyely to the production OF corn, oats,
beans, peas, potatoes and other food for
man and beast. Let corn be sown broad
cast for fodder, in immediate proximity te
railroads, rivers and canals, and let all
your efforts be directed to the prompt
supply of these articles in the districts
where our armies are operating. You vii
thus add greatly to their efficiency, and
furnish the means without which it is i'm
practicable to make those prompt and &C.
tive movements which have hitherto strick.
en- terror into our enenies, and secured oul
most brilliant triumphs
Having thus placed before you, my coun
trymen, the reasons for the cali made on you
for aid in supplying tie wants Of the com
ing year, add few words of appeal IN
behalf of the brave soldiers now confronting
your enemies, and to whom your Govern
ment is unable to furnish all the comforts
they SO richly merit The supply Of meal
for the aaln,iyy Is deficient: This deficiency
is only temporary, for measures have beer
adopted which will, it is believed, soon en-
able us to restore tte full ratioh.s' But tha
ration is now reduced at times to one hall
the usual quantity in SOME of our armies
It is known that the supply of meat through
out the country is sufficient for the supper
Of all, but the distances are so,;grsat, thu
condition of the roads has been SO bad du
ring the five months Of winter weather
through which we have just passed, ane
the attempts of groveling spectators to fore
stall the market and make money out of th
life blood of our defenders, have 50 much
infamed the withdrawal from sale Of thu
surplus in the hands of the producer
that the Government has been unable t,
gather full supplies. The Secretary Of Wa
has prepared plan, which is appended t
this address, by the aid of which, or som
similar means to be adopted by yourselves
you can assist the officers Of the Government
in the purchase of the bacon, the pork ,an
the beet, known to exist in large duantitle
ii different pdrts Of the country. Even
the surplus be less than is believed, is it no
bitter and hupiliating reflection that thos
! - h rd cI, I
aud protected from danger, should be in th
enjoyment of abundance, and that thci
slaves ALSO should have full suppl; Of food
while their sons, brothers, bus bands an
fathers are stinted in the rations on whic
tEear health and efficiency depend,
EntertaiGiog no fear that you will eithe
misconstrue tie motives of this address, 0
fail to respond to the call Of patriotism,
have placed the facts fully and frankly be
fore you Let us all unite in the perform
ance Of our duty. each in his sphere: an
with ooncetted, persistent, and we'll directe
effort there, seems little reason to doubt tia
under the blessing Of Him, to whom W
look for guidance, and who las been to u
our shield and our strength, we shall main
tain the soveignty and independence Of thes
Confederate States, and transmit to our pos
terity tie Heritage bequeathed to us by on
fathers. s.-Y
[signe] I JEFFERSON DAVIS.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
Richmond, April 10, 1868.
Ian SUGGESTED BY THE SECRETARY OF WAR
l. Let the people in each ceNpty, parish
or ward, select at public meeting. as earl.
aseonyenient, a committee Of three or NOR
discreet, citizens. charged with Gle dutie
hereinafter mentioned .,s.:s
II. Let it be the duty of this committee
to ascertain fnatl each citizen in the count,
or parish what amount of surplus meat
whether bacon, pork or beef, be, eau SPAR
for the use of the army,safter reserving |
supply for his family and those dependen
on him for food.
Let this committee fix a price which il
deemed by them just compensation for thu
Fgfticles furnished, and inform the citizens
what this price is, SO that. each may know
before delivery what price is to be paid fol
the. articles furnished
Let this committee make arrangement
for the transportation of the supplies to sotfis
convenient depos, after consultation with th'
officers who is. to receive them.
...Let the committee make delivery Of thu
supplies on receiving paJmebt' of the price
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