The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-04-24
Address to the People of the Con-
federate States.


In compliance with the request Of Con-
gress contained in resolutions passed on
the fourth day of the current month. I
invoke your attention to the present con-
di,ion and future prospects of our coun-
try, and to the duties which patriotism
imposes on us all during this great strug.
gle for our homes and our liberties.
These resolutions are in the following
language:
JOINT RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO THE PRO-
DUcTIoN OF PROVISIONS.
Whereas, u strong impression prevails
through the country that the war nov
| being waged against the people of. the
! Confederate States may terminate during
the present year; and whereas this ind.
preston isleading many patriotic citizens
to engage largely in the production Sot
/ cotkoa and tobacco. which thcY- would
not otherwise 90; ana whereas, in the
opinion OF Congress. it is of the utmost
importance not only witha view to the
proper subsistence OF our armies, but for
the interest and welfare of all the peo,
pie, that the agricultural labor Of the
country should be employed chiefly in
the production of q supply of food to
meet every contingency. Therefore,
Resolved, by the Congress of the Con.
federate States Of America, That it is the
deliberate judgment of Congress that
the people Of these States. while hoping
for peace. should look to prolonged war
as the only condition preferred by the
enemy short of subjugation; that every
preparation necessary to encounter such
a war should be persisted in and that the
amplest supply OF provisions for armies
and people should be the first object of
all agriculturists; wherefore it is earnest.
ly recommended that the people. in
stead Of planting cotton and tobacco,
shall direct their agricultural labor main.
| ly to the production of such crops as will
insure sufficiency. thereby, with true pa
triotism, subordinating 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 guarding against the
great perls of a short crop of provisions,
and setting forth such reasons therefore
as his judgment may dictate.
Fully concurring in the views thus ex-
pressed by the Congress. confidently
appeal to your love of country for aid in
carrying into effect the recommendations
OF your Senators and Representatives.
We have reached the close Of the sec
ond year Of the war. and may point with
just pride to the history of our young
Conftderacy. Alone, unaided we have
met and overthrown the most formidable
combination of. naval and military arma,
ments that the lust of conquest ever
gathered together for the suhjugation of
free people. We began his stSiegle
without Il single gun afloat, while the re-
sources Of the enemy enabled them to-
sas,a. ss sassas & 'ss
sisted of 427 vessels, measuring SAC, O46
tons, and carrying 3.268 gurs.
Yet we have captured, sunk, or destroy
ed number of those vessels. including
two large frigates and one steam sloop-ot-
war, while four of their captured gun
boats are now in our possession, adding
to the strength of our little navy. which
is rapidly gaining in numbers and eff
cheney. To oppose invading forces COM
posed of levies which have already ex
ceeded thirteen hundred thousand men,
we had no resources but the unconqueYa.
BILE valor determined to be free; and we
were so destitute of military supplies
that tens of thousands OF our citizens
we're reluctantly refused admission into
the service from our inability to provide
them with arms, while for many months
some of our important stroDgholds owed
their safety to q careful concealment Of
the fact that we were without supply 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 our
soldiers to illustrate their valor on nu-
merous battle fields, and infict crushing
defeats on successive armies, each Of
which an arrogant foe fondly imagined
to be invincible.
The contrast between our past and pres
ent condition is we'll calculated to inspire
full 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 thoroughly disciplined,
armed and equipped as at present. The
season of high water, on which our enc
| mics relied to enable their fleets of gun
boats to penetrate into our country and
| devastate our homes, is fast passing away.
| Yet our stronghods on the Mississippi
still bid defiance to the toe, and u,onths
of costly preparations for their reduction
| have been spent in vain. Disastrous has
been the result of their every effort to
| turn or to storm Vickshurg and Port
| Hudson, as we'll as of every attack on
| our bait cries on the Red river, the ITALIA
| hatchie, and other navigable streams
| Within few weeks the falling waters
and the increasing heats of summer will
complete their discontinue and compel
| their baffled and defeated forces to the
abandonment of expeditions on which
was based their chief hopes of success in
efiecting our subjugatiop.
We must not forget. however, that the
war is not yet ended. and that we are
still confronted by powerful armies and
| threatened by numerous fleets, and the
government which controls these fleets
| and armies is driven to the most desper-
ate efforts to effect the unholy purposes
| in which il has thus far been defeated -
| 1t will use it's utmost energy To avert the
! impending doom 80 fully merited by tho
atrocities II has committed, the savage
barbarities which it has encouraged, and
the browning infamy of it's attempt to ex.
cite a servile population to the massacre
Of our wives. our daughters, and our
helpless children.
With such a contest before US there il
but one danger which the Government
OF your choice regards with apprehension,
and to avert this danger II appeals to the
neverfailing patriotism and spirit of self.
sacrifice which you have exhibited since
the beginni ing OF the war. Tho unfavora.
L. .~o.o. th> ~rnt, O ntad lpnNnhx. &C