Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-04-21
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE
CONFEDERATE STATES.

In compliance. with the request Of Congress,
contained in resolutions passed on the fourth day
of the current month, invoke your attention to
the present condition and future prospects of our
country, and to the duties which patriotism i'm
poses US all during this great struggle for our
homes and our liberties. q
These resolutions in the following lam
guage:
JOINT RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO THE PRODUCTION
OF PROVISIONS.
Whereas, strong impression prevails through
the country that the war now being waged against
the people of the Confederate Stases may tormi
nate during the present year. and whereas this
impression is leading many patriotic citizens to
engage largely in the production OF cotton and
tobacco, which they would not otherwise do;
and whereas in the opinion of Congress, it is OF
tn utmost Importance, not only with view to
the proper subsistence Of our armies, but for the
interest and welfare If all the people, that the
agricultural labor of the country should be en-
pioyed chiefly IN the production OF supply of
| food to meet every contingency. Therefore,
Resolved, by The Congress Of the Confederate
States of America That II is the deliberate Judg
ment of Congress that the lsople OF these States,
while hoping for peace, should look TO prolonged
war as the only condition profered by the enemy
short OF subjugation; that every preparation
necessary to encounter such war should be per
sisted in and that the amplest supply of proyis-
ions for armies and people should be the first
object of all agriculturiStS wherefore, 1t Is ear
nestiy recommended that the people, instead Of
planting cotton and tobacco, shall direct their
agricultural labor mainly to the production of
such crops as will insure suficiency of food for
all classes and for every emergency, thereby,
with trce patriotism, subordinatlng 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 guard
ing against the great perils of short crop of pro-
visions, and setting forth such reasons therefor
| as bis judgment may dictate.
! Fully concur ing in the views thus expressed
by the Congress, l confidently appeal to your
love of country for aid in carrying into effect the
recommendations of your Senators and Repre-
| sentatives
| We have reached the close of the second year
of the war, and may point with just pride to the
history Of our young COnfederacy. Alone, un-
aided we have met and overthroWn the most for
midable combination of naval and military arma-
ments that the lust of conquest ever gathered to-
gether for the subjugation OF a free people. We
began this struggle without single gun afioat,
while the resources of our enemy enabled them
to gather fleets, which, according to their official
list, published in August last, consisted of 427
vessels, measuring 340,036 tons, and carrying
l3,26o guns. Yet we have captured, sunk, or
destroyed a number of those vessels, including
two large frigates and one steam sloop- of-war,
J while four of their captured steam gunboats are
now in our possession, adding to the strength OF
or little navy, which is rapidly gaining in num-
bers and efficiency. To oppose invading forces,
|, composed of levies which have already exceeded
thirteen hundred thousand men, we had no re-
sources but the uncomfortable valor OF people
determined tc be free and we so destitute
of military supplies that tens of thousands of our
citizens were reluctantly refused admission into
the service from our inability to provide them
with arms, While for many months some of our
important stronghods owed their safety chiefly
to careful concealment of the fact that we were
| without supply of powder for our cannon
| I our devotion and patriotism have triumpheG
over all these obstacles, and called into exist
encs the munitions of war, the clothing and the
+, bsistence which have enabled soldiers tC
Iustrat te their yalor on numerous battle fields
ans inf1ict crushing defeats on successive ar
mics each OF which an arrogant foe fondly imag
ined I, . be invincible.
oondition is we'll calculated to inspire full conf
dence in I, ne triumph Of Our arms. At no previ
ons neriod ,af the war have our forces been 81
numerous. so well organized, and SO thoroughly
disciplined. al. ped and equipped, as at present
The season of h Ugh water, on which our enemie
relied to enable leaf Meets OF gunboats TO pene
tIate into our coun try and devastate our homes
is fast passing away. Yet our stroDgholdS ~
the Mississippi still b, q defiance to the foe, ant
months OF costly prepal atlons Tor their reduction
have been spent in vain. DISASTER mas been tn
result Of their every effort 10 turn or TO storn
Vicksburg and Port Hudson as wen as OF ever
attack on OR batteries on The Red river, til
Tallahatche and other navigab.'e streams. With
in few weeks the falling waters and the increas
ing heats of fsummer vii complete .neir aiscomht
nre and compel their baffled and defe Sfed forces
the abandonment of expeditions on winch wa
!. based their chief hopes of success in eHectln
our subjugalon.
We must not forget however. that the war
not yet ended, and that we are still confronte
by powerful armies and threatened by numerou
fleets, and that the government which control
these fleets and armies is driven TO the most des