Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-04-16
ADDRESS TO THE FEorLE OF rIe 1,a,,-----~


tn re resolutions are in the following lanOnaya
JOLT REsoLUTIoN RELATING TO THE PRoDuCTIor M
N VI PRO.
Whereas, strong impression prevails tbroD,b a.
try that the now being waged against he ue coun
the Confederate states may termira during N people Of
year and whereas this impression Is LEADING present
otto ctizeus to engage largely in the producton patti
ana .onaeco' which they would not otherwise do Uoao3
portance, not only with view to the proper subei In
our armies but for the interest and welfare of ali d
pie, that the agricultural labor Of the country sb peo
employs chiefly in the production of q supply tea be
meet every contingercy Therefore 'OOd to
America That it is the deliberate judgment "S GATES Of
that the people of these States while hoping f Songss
should look tn prolonged wares the only oondion peace
ed by TIE enemy shrrt of ssbj 1gaon; that ever po
ation necessary to encounter such war should II epar
ed IN, and that the ampest supply OF provisions fo persist
and people should be the first object of all agrica Armies
wherefore, il is earnestly recommended thai ~ Twists
Instead of plsntinz cotton and tobacco, people
agricultural labor mainly the production q, .ee their
as will insure sufcienCy OF food for all classes crops
ery emergency, thereby with true patriois ana or
ting hope of gain to the good of the Suoord1
EEC 2. That the President is hereby REQ 1esyyaa
proclamaton the people of these States TO issuo
them ,h1 necessity guarding against the rsng upon
abort crop OF provisions and setting forth sucb r W
therefor as hiE judgment may dic ate. ieas9rs
| Fully concerning in the views thus expressed Inv rc
gre s, confdenlV appeal to your love OF Nol,
in carrying into effect the accommodations Of yo1r az
tors and Representatives. ' Sela'
! We have reached the close of he recond yearort
may point with just pride to the history of orr wal
Cohede racy. Alone, ulaidod, We have met and lug
thrown tbs formidable combination of naval az wei
tary that the lust OF coRQuest ever gao
! n We
his struggle with single gun al 1at wble osgan
of enemy enabled them to gather fleets VIII
according to thei official list, published in August last
sisted Of 457 vessels measuring 3i003P tons aud carry
1890 guns. Yet We have captu ed sunk or destro "a
number of these vessels, including two large frigaes r
one soop-Cfwar, while tour Of their captured s
gunbUas now III our possession adding to the sreng
of lit navy, which is :apdly gaining in numbers
efficiency. To oppose Invading FORCES composed of lew 81
which have already exceeded thirteen hundred thousarS
men, nad but the unconsuerabe vaIT t
pc ple determined TO be Free and were so deS.i 10
OF military supplies that eBs of thou,a Of our c,r
reluctantly refused admission into the service fam
our inability to proVid5 hem with arms while for mans
m nit of important stroDghoids owed thei,
safety chiefly 10 careful conceament OF the fact that we
were without a suoply of powder for our cannon W.,
devotion patriotism have tiunphed over all these Oh
stacs aud called into exi5 he munitions of war; The
clothing. and the subsistence which have enabled our
dies iustrata Therv lor battle fields ANA
to nfict crushing defeats successive armies aa, ~
which an arrogant foe fordy imagined to be inyjncib
The contrast between past and present condition
well cacua I'd to inspire full confidence in the trnnnh ~
our arms 60 previous period of the war bava a
forces been numerous well organized and so thorou
y dscrlin ID armed aad equipped at present III,
seaso0 of him water on with Snr enemss rolg lu5
BILE their fleets OF beats to penetrate into our
aud ccvatae to our homes is last passing away Yet our
stronghods the Mississippi still bid defiance to tho foe
ard o. costly prepar ations for their reduction b
been spent in vain. Disaster has been the result of
every eff )rt turn VckAburg and Port Hni
son, well every attack batteries on the Ed
riV the Talsnatchis, and other navgable streams
Within few weeks the falling and the increasing
heat Of summer viii complete their discontinue and com
pei their Daad and defeated forces the abandonme,
If expeditions hch based their chief hope OF ru
| cess il eflctng OR suDjugaion
We must forget, however, that tho war is not ga
uded and that are still confronted by power al am
les, and treatered by fleets; and that the
ernmcLt which controls hose fleets and armies 6rvap
the desperate efforts effect the unhoy purDose IN
which it has thus far been defeateg. 1t will use its utmo
energy to aver the impending DOOM fully merrited by
the atrocities it has committed the savage barbars
which it has encouraged and the browning infamy Of s
attempt to excite serVie population to the massac-a
our wi7efs our daughters, and cur helpless children
With such contest before there is but one danger
which tbs Government OF your choice regards
| he TG1, tn yHI 49,
falling patriotism and spirit of seiEsacrfce which ven
have exhibited since the beginning of the war. Tho yey
UnfayorAble season. the protracted drought Ct last
reduced the harvest which depended far below AN
average yield, and the deficiency unfortunately St
marked in the Northern part of the Coniedercy
where supplies we're specially needed for tho army
through confidence in early peace, which may prove de-
usiVe cur fields should now be devoted to the production
of cotton and tobacco instead grain and live steel M
other articles ssary for the subsistence OF the poo
disastrous, especially should the present season prove
unfavOrable the last Your country therefore appe
to lay asida all thought of gain devote -FOUR
selves TO securing your liberties without which those gap,
would b. valuele 1t s true that the wheat harvest in
the more Southern States which will be gathered next
month promises abundant yield but if this prom.,
be fulfilled, the 3uIy Of transportation enhanced as
he's been by unusually rainy wiDter will cause emoor
ra smens IL military ope!at AS and suffering among
people should the crops in the middle and Northern po
lions Of the C0nfederacy prove deficient But no une
ness mead BE- felt in regard to mere supply of bread
for the large amount of aud forage reop
ed fer the raising or live stock and for the supply Of the
aumaa use ia military operations that your aid special
IL required These articles too bulky distant trans
p0rt2tlDn, aud deficiency in the
most tet Let your fields be devoted exclusively 10
the production OF corn, oats beam, peas potatoes Az,
other food for man aud beas' Let be broad.
CASTOR ieddeF, IN immediate proximity to railroads,
and canals, and let all your efforts be directed 10 the
prompt supply of these articles in the districts where o
armies are operating. You will thus add great their
efficiency, aud furnish the without which il il i'm
practicable to make those prompt and active movements
which have hitherto stricken terror into enemies; and
| secured our most brilliant triumphs'
Having thus placed before you, my countrymen The
reasons Tor tho ali GIade you for aid in supplying tie
/ W nj Vpn add q 10
behalf of the brave soldiers confronting your enemies
and TO whom your Government il unable to furnish all the
army Is T2e deficiency is 6Gv o. 9SS o S
meaarres have been adopted which will believed
reduced times to Onehaf tho quantity in ZONE Of
our armies 1t is known that the supply OF meat through
distances at the ondtion Of the roads hag
bad during the five months Of winter weather through
which have just passed, and the attempts of groe
speculaCis 10 teresta the market and make money out
the blood OF cur defenders, have much n6usnced the
producers that the Government has been unable TO gather
full supplies. The Secretary of War has prepared PLAN
which IS appended TO this address, by the aid of which
some SIMILAR aeans 10 be adopted by yourselves you can
assist the officers Of the government in the purchase Of tie
oacon the pork and the beef known to exist large Q1
iSs IN dh0icnt p4fIS OF me country Even if the surplus
be less than il believed sit not bitter and humilg
hardabips and protected from dagger should be in tbs en-
Ioyment OF ABUNDANCE ana that their slaves also should
bands and fathers stinted in the ratoas on which
health and efficiency depend.
entertaining no lear tnat yen VIII either mis- tll
motives OF this address or fail to respond to the call Of
patriotism placed the facts fully and fairly before
YOU Let all unite in the performance of our day each
n bis Fphere; and with coCcerted, persistent and well
directed effort there little reason to doubt that
der the blessings Of Him to whom loak for guidance
ana who has been to shicd and our strength
sha maintain the sovereignty and independence Of these
Confederate States and transmit ouy postey the he
tage bequeathed to us by our fathers.
LStgped ] JEFFERSON DAVIS.
kXECUTIyB OFFICE,
Richmond, April 10, 1863.
PLAN SUGGESTED BY The SECRETARY WAR.