The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-04-21
ADDRESS ','sa' :
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CoNFED-
rsaEfes-1 -, ERATE STATES si asssj d

II ! *
lrsz4aes-d ERATE STATES, si AaoJ
In compliance with the request of Congress,
contained in resolutions passed on the fourth day
OF the current month, invoke Jour attention to
the present condition and future prospects of our
country, and to the duties which patriotism i'm.
poses on us all during this great struggle for our
homes and our liberties. - - ,t-s
These resolutions are in the following language:
Whereas, strong impression prevails Through
the country that the war now being waged against
| the people of the Confederate States may termi-
nate during the present year; and whereas this
impression is leading many patriotic citizens to en-.
gage largely in the production of cotton and
tobacco, which they would not otherwise do; and
whereas, in the opinion of Congress it is of the
utmost importance, not only with view to the
proper subsistence of our armies, but for the in
terest and welfare of all the people, that the agri
cultural labor Of the country should be employed
chiefly in the production of supply of food to
meet every contingency, Therefore
Resolved, by the Congress of the Confederate
States of America, That it is the deliberate judg-
ment of Congress that the people 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 a war should be per-
sisted in, and tkat the amplest supply of pro-
visions for armies and people should be the first
object Of all agriculturalis;s; wherefore it is
estly 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
true patriotism, subordinaing the hope of gain to
the certain good of the country.
Sec. 2. That the President is hereby requested
to issue a proclamation to the people of these
States, urging upon them the necessity of guard
ing against the great peris of short crop Of pro
visions, and setting forth such therefor as
his judgment may dictate
Fully concurring in the views thus expressed
by the Congress, l confidently appeal to your love
of country for aid in csrryng into effect the rec
concentrations of your Senators & Representatives.
We have reacned 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 oyerthrowr the most
formidable combination of naval and military
armaments that the lust of conquest ga tEered
together for the subjugation of free people. We
began this struggle without a single gun afoat,
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, aud carrying
3,26S guns. Yet We have captured, sunk, or de-
stroyed number of those vessels, including two
large frigates and one steam sloop-of.war, while
four of their captured steam gunboats are now in
our possession, adding to the strength Of our little
navy, which is rapidly gaining in numbers and
efficiency. To oppose invading forces, composed
of levies which have already exceeded thirteen
hundred thousand men, we had no resources but
the unconquerable vaor of people determined
to be free; and We were so destitute of military
supplies that tens Of thousands of citizens were
reluctantly refused admission into the service from
our inability to provide them with arms, while
for many months some of our important strong
holds owed them safety chiefly to a careful con-
cealment of the fact that we were without sup
ply of powder for our cannon Your devotion
and patriotism have triumphed over all these
obstacles, and called into existence the munitions
of war, the clothing, and the subsistence which
have enabled soldiers to illustrate their valor
on numerous battle fields, and infict crushing
defeats on successive armies, each of which an
arrogant foe fondly imagined to be inyincible.
The contrast between our past and present con-
dition is well calculated to inspire full confidence
in the triumph of our arms. At no previous
period of the war have our forces been so numer-
GUS, so well organized, and SO thoroughly dis
ciplined, armed and equipped, as at present. The
season of high water, on which our enemies relied
to enable their fleets of gunboats to penetrate
into our country and devastate oul homes is fast
passing away. Yet our strongholds on the Mis- |
sissssippi still bid defiance to the foe and months
of costly preparations for their reduction have
been spent in vain. Disaster has been the result |
Of their every effort to turn or to storm Vicks-
burg and Port Hudson, as well as of every attack
on batteries the Red river, the Tallahatchie
and other navigable streams. Within few weeks
the falling waters and the increasing heats of
summer will complete their discamfture, and
compel their baffied and defeated forces to the
abandonment of expeditions on which was based
their chief hopessof success in efecting our subu
cation.
We must not forget, however, that the war is
not yet ended and that 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 |
its utmost energy to avert the impending doom,
so fully merited by the atrocities il has committed,
the savage barbarities which it has encouraged, |
and the crowning infamy of its attempt to excite
a servile population to the massacre OF our wives,
our daughters, and our helpless children.
With such contest before US there is but one |
danger which the Government of your choice re-
CARDS with apprehension, and to avert this danger
it appeals to the never-faiing patriotism and
spirit of selfsacrifce which you have exhibited |,
since the beginning of the war. The very unfa-
yorable season, the protracted droughts of last
year, reduced the harvests on which We depended |
far below an average YIELD and the deficiency was
still more marked in the Northern
portion of the Confederacy, where supplies were