The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-01-27
Message of President Davis.


A. the date of your last adjournment the pre-
v,rstions Of the enemy for further hoStltles had
assumed so mcnaciug aspect as to excite IN
some minds apprehension of our ability to meet
them with sufficient prOmptnesa to aVold serious
reverses These preparations were completed
SHORTLY after your departure from the scat or gov
eminent and the armies OF the United States
made simultaneous advance on onr frontiers, on
fire western rivers and the Atlantic coast in
,,,7ssc5 SO great as to cvnce their hope of over
Lraring ali resistance by weight Of numbers.
Th:, hone. however, ike those previously enter
,.inod by our foes has vanished. In Virginia,
their fourth attempt at invasion by armies whose
assured success was confidently predicted, has
r,ct with decisive repuse Our noble defenders,
Yr..icr the con,ummatc leadership Of their General
hive. a.ain at Fredericksburg, inflicted on the
frcc> under General Burnside the like disastrous
uverhrow as had been prcVously suffered by the
successive invading armies commanded by Gems:
NcItoacn, Mcclellan and Pope.
In the West obstinate battles have been fought
with varying fortunes, marked by frghttul
na.c on bath sides. but the enemy's hopes Of de-
ci~iyc results have again been bafiled, while at
Jick-burg another formidable expedition has been
rrruIsci with incotlaidcrabe loss on our side and
t,y,rc damage to the assaing forces. On the
Atlantic coast the enemy has been unable to gain
Il footing beyond the protecting shelter Of his
frc,s and the city Of Galveston has just been
covered bY our forces which succeeded not only
in the capture of the garrison but of one of the
cnsuys vessels Of war, which was carried by
t.7rling Iarties from merchant river steamers.
Our fortified positions have every where been
much Strengthened and improved, afording assur-
uucc Of our ability to meet with success, the ut
most Efforts Of our cncn:ies, in spite of the magni
tUdc Of their preparation for attack.
4 review of our history during the two years of
utijnlt1l affords for
, tion and demands the most fervcnt expression of
thanktuIncss t. the Almighty Father who has
dressed our cause. We are justified in asserting,
with pride, surely not undermining. that these
Confederate States have added another to the
lessons TAUGHT 10y history for the instruction Of
man; that they have afforded another example Of
the imro>s bhty OF subju9atiug a people deter
mined to bc free; and have demonstrated that no
ful criority of numbers available resources can
overcome the resistance offered by such valor in
combat. such constaHcy under suffering and such
cbrcrlul endurance Of prvation as have been con
epicuously displayed by this people in the defence
of their rights and liberties. The authorizations
with which we entered into the contest have now
rilcncd into a conviction which is only shared
with us by the common opinion Of neutral natons
but is evidently forcing itself upon our enemies
themselves. II We but mark the history of the
present year by resoute perseverance IN the path
have hitherto pursued by vigorous effort III
the development of all our resources for defence;
AID hy the continued exhibition Of the same un-
tultcnng courdge in soldiers and able conduct
in their leaders az have distinguished the past we
have every reason to expect that this will be the
closing year Of the war. The war, which in its
inception, wng@d for forcing us back into the
Union. having failed to accomplish that purpose
passed into a second stage in which it was attempt
ed to conquer aud rule these States as dependent
provinces. Defeated u this second design, our
enemies have evidently entered upon another,
which can have other purpose than revenge
and thirst for blood and plumber of private prop
erty But however implacabfe they may be- they
can have neither the spirit the resources re-
qured for fourth year of struggle unchecred
by any hope Of success kept alive solely for the
Indulgence of mercenary aud wicked passions and
demanding so exhaustive an expenditure of blood
and meney as has hitherto been imposed on their
people lhe advent of peace will be hailed with
JOY. Our desire for it has never been concealed
Our efforts to avoid the var, forced on us as it
WAS by the !Nst Of conquest and the insane pas
Sl'ns OF our foes. ar known to MANKIND But
earnest as has been our wish for peace and great
As nave D. en- our sacrifices and suitr.nys during
the war, the determination of this people has with
each succeeding month become more uual;cr,hlv
hXed, to endure any suflerings and continue any
s'cI'hceS' however prolonged, until their right to
stH government and the sovereignty and inde-
pcndcnce Of these States shall have been tri-
"WPhaniiy vlndlcated and firmly established
IN this connection, the occasion seems not nm
tua'Ie Tor some reference to the relations between
"e t"h''derary and the neutral powers Of Eu,
rope since the separation OF these States from the
former LUTON.
i"ur "t the States now members of the Con-
1'"''ary were recognised by name as independent
sIF''e'snt!es IN treaty of peace, concluded in
."v H'" 80, with one of the two great maritime
powers 'i Western Europe, and had been, prior
va, L'I'od' allies In war Of the other In the
Year as they formed Union with nine other
s'n''S uh"er articles of Confederation D;,s,tis
hed with that Cnion three Of ,bon, T;rc;n;o
oCu'h SafoNna and Georgia, together witb o;nbt
ol the States now meu.bcrs of the Tr;,oa So
formed second union, although hv ~, .or,'' -
the Articles OF Confederation cx,ros. " VI
was made that the first union shon16 b r r,o' 'S'I'
lheIi night to secede, notwithStardir,, - '"'''
VISION was neither contested bv the State e
which they separated, nor made the srI;o,. ''' ~.
discussion with any third power When y.
later period, North Carolina accedcd to that S."1
union, and when. still later, the otbcr se,,"I
now members Of this Confedcracy became o}
members Of the same Union, it was upon the 10
cognzed footing Of equal and independent SOW
ercIgntleS. nor had it then entered into the minds
"f men that sovereign States could be compelled
"y iorce to remain members of confederation
Hn'o "itich they had entered Of their own freq
%i':' II, at subsequent period the defense of
NUe1E safety and honor shguld in fhrir ;udrno,.