The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-04-24
Address of jeff. Davis to the Confederate
States.


ing tho Presidontto issue an addross1 passed
on the fourth day of the present month, l
invoke your attention to tho present coudi' |
lion and future prospects Of our country,
and to the dutios which patriotism imposes
on us all during this great struggle for our
homes and our liberties.
Fully coucurring in the views thus OK.
pressed by Congress- confidently appeal
to your love of country for aid in carrying
into effect tho recommendation of your
Senators and Representatives. We have
reached the close of the second year of the
war, and may point with just pride to tho
history of our young Coufedoracy. Alone,
unaided, We have met and overthrown the
most formidable combinations of naval and
military armaments that tho lust of conquest
over gathered together for the conquest OF
a FREQ people. We began this struggle with
out single gun anoat, while the resources
of our enemy enabled them to gather fleets,
which, according to their official list, pub
ished in August last, consisted Of 437 yes
sells, measuring SAC, ,oS6 tons, and carrying
8 O26 guns, yet we have captured, sunk or
destroyed, number of these vessels, in
cluding two large frigatos and one steam
sloop. .of-war, while four of her captured
steam gunboats are now in our possession,
adding to the strength of our littlo navy
which is rapidly gaining in numbers and ef-
ficiency. ..s
To oppose invading forces composed of
levies which have already exceeded thirteen
hundred thousand men, we had no resour.
ces but the unconquerablo valor of people
determined to be FREQ; and We were SO des
titute of military supplies that tens of thou
sands of our citizens were reluctantly re-
fused admission into tho service from our
inability to furnish them arms, while for
many months the continuation of some of
our strongholds owed their safety chiefly to
a careful concealment of the fact that we
were without supply of powder for onr
cannon. .a.r
Your devotion and patriotism have tri-
umphed over all these obstacles, and called
1
into existence tho munitions of war, the
clothing and the subsistence, which have
enabled our soldiers to illustrate their valor
on numerous battle fields, and to inflict
crushing defeats on successive armies, each
of which our arrogant foe fondly imagined
to 90 nvincible. The contrast between our
past and present condition 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 numerous, so well
organized, and SO thoroughly disciplined
armed, and equipped, as al. present The
season of high water, on which our, enemies
relied to enable their fleets of gunboats tc
| penetrate into our country, aud dovastatt
our homes, is fast passing away yet ou
strongholds on tho Mississippi still. bid do
Ranco to tho foo, and months of costly prep
arations for their reduction have been spen
in vain. Disaster has been tie result Q
their every effort to turn or storm Vicks
burg and Port Hudson, as well as every al
, tack on our batteries on tho Rod River, tn
Tallahatchio and other, navigablo stream
Within few weeks tho falling waters an
tho increasing heats of Summer will complet
: thoir disconfituro and compel thoir battle
, and defeated forces to the abandonment
expeditions on which was based their Chi,
, hopo of success in effecting our subjugatiol
We must not forget, however, that tn
war is not yet ended, aud that wo are sti
r confronted by powerful armies and throa
: cnod by numerous fleets, and that tho Coz
: ernment that controls those noets and a
Y mics is driven to the most desperate ofFo
to affect tho unholy purpose in which it h;
i thus far been defeated. 1t will use its u
most enorgy to avort this impending door
:, so fully merited by the atrocities it has con
! mitted, the savage barbarities which it hi
: encouraged, and the crowning attempt
j, excite servile population to tho massac
of our wives, our daughters, and our hel
less children. With such contest befo
US, thore is but one danger which tho Go
orEmont of your choice regards with appr
: bension; and to avert this danger it appoa
y to the failing patriotism and spiI
n which you have exhibited since tho beg
n ming of tho war. ,.....
G The very unfavorable season, the pr
> tracted drouths Of last year, reduced Il
$ harvess ON which we depended far belo
T, an average yield, and the deficiency wa
n unfortunately, still more marked in Il
rt northern part Of our Confederacy, whe
6 supplies were specially needed for the a
c my Through confidence in an ear
l. peace. which may prove delusiye, o.
l. fields should now be devoted 10 the pr
d duction of cotton and tobacco. instead
lie grain and live stock, and other articl
v, necessary for the subsistence OF the peoE
ot and army. the consequences may pro
re serious, If not disastrous, especially shou
III this present season prove as unfavorat
ct as the last. Your country, therefore, a
to peals to you to lay aside all thought
he gain, and to devote yourselves 10 securil
"a your liberties, without which these gai
as would be valueless. 1t is true that 4
S. wheat harvest in the more southern Sta!
ar which will be gathered next month pror
as ises an abundant yield but even if Ii
promise be fulfilled the difficulties
transportation, enhanced as it has been