Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-04-24
ADDRESS OF JEFF. DAVIS TO THE
CONFEDERATE STATES.

ADDkENS OF JEFF. DAVIS ~ IhE
CONFEDERATE STATES.
In compliance with the request OF Congress- contained
In the resolutions passed on hurh day of the present
month, invoke your attention 10 the present condition
and future prospects of our country and TO The duur'
which patriotism imposes on US ell durqg mis- grS
struggle Tor homes and our lbetcs These tcsolu-
uous are in the following language;
Here follows sundy resolutions passed by the rebel
Congress, requesting Mr. Davis to issue an address
Fully concurrng in the views thus expressed BY Con.
ges confidently appeal 10 your love OF eoanty for aid
Zoo carrying n'o elect he recommendations u your scna
tors aud representatives We have reached the close Of
The second year of thc war, and may point with just
pride to the history NJ our young coufcderacy Alone
unadcd we have mot and nvcrthrown the most formida
bic combinations Of naval and military armamena mat
me hsi OF conquest ever gathered together Tor the con-
I a single gun ahuaL while the resources Of enemy
enabled them to gather fleets which, according their
official list published 10 August last consisted Of four
hundred and hrty vessels, measuring eight nun
ded aud forty thousand and eighty tons, and carrying
three thousand and twcntyX guns, yet we have captur-
ed sunk M destroyed number OF these vessels includ-
ng two large hgttes aud one steam suop'otwar while
four VI their captured steam gunboAts are nov in our
possession adding To the strength of our little navy,
I which Is rapidly gaining in strength aud efficiency.
10 oppose Invading forces consisting ot leyies which
hate already exceeded thirteen hHudrod ihouaaud men
we had resources hut the uncouquofahC valor of
people determined 20 be free and were so destitute
ui military supplies that tens NJ thousands VI our citizens
were reluctantly refused admission into The service from
our inability TO furnish them arms, while for many
months the continuation Of NJ our strong holds
owed their safety chiefly % careful conceament Of the
fact that We were without supply of powder for our
cannon.
Your devotion and patriotism have ttiumphed over all
these obstacles and called into existence the munitions
of VAT, the cllhug and the subsistence which have en-
a1ed soldiers illustrate their vaor numerous
battle fields aud 10 nhict crushing defeats successive
armies each Of which our arrogant Toe ondly Imagined
90 be insiucble The contrast between our past and
present condition is well calculated inspire fu conf
dence in the triumph Of our Al NO previous peri
od Of the war have ou forces been so numerous so well
orRauztd aud so thoroughly disciplined, armed and
equipped as at present The season Of high water on
which nur enemies relied 20 enable their teets OF gun
boats 10 penetrate into country and devasate our
homes, Is fast passing away ongholds on the
Miss ssipp s bid Ii, n nce 10 the 1r aud months Of
costly preparations for their reduction have been spent
in vain Disaster has been the result u their every ef
font 20 turn storm Nckshurg aud Port Hudson, as
well as every attack on our batteries on the Red river
ihe Ialahatche and other navgao,e streams: Wlthn
few wcCss the falling and the increasing heats Of
summtf will complete their discontinue aud compel
their baed and defeated forces TO the Abandonment Of
expeditions which based their chief hope Of sue
ces, in cHectng our sutgugauon.
We must not forget however, that the war is not yet
ended, and that still confronted by powerful ar
ues and threatened by numerous heesi and that the
,oyernet tt controls those aects and armies is driv-
- the desperate efforts 20 effect the unhoy pur
pose in which 1t has been thus FAR dfeated 1t will use
H utmost energy 20 avert this impending DOOM so iuly
mcrcd by the atrocities it has committed the savage
b'tbarues which IL has encouraged aud the croWnng
attempt excite scrUle population % the massacre Of
our wives, our daughters and our helpless chudreh-
with such contest before us there is but one danger
which the government Of your choice regards with ap
prehcnson, aud this danger it appeals to the
falling patriotism and spirit which you have exhib
tied since the beginning of the
The very uufayOtabc season, the protacted droughs
Of ast ye reduced the htryests on which we depend
far below an average yed and the deficiency un-
fortunately. still marked in the northern part OF
our confedeacy, where supplies were specially needed
Tor the army. IT, through confidence IN an early
peace which may prove delnsive fields should now
devoted the production Of cotton and tobacco, in
stead Of grain and live stock and other articles necessary
for the Subsistence Of the people and army the eonse-
qucnces may prove serious, not disastrous, especially
should the present season prove as unayorabe as the
last Your country, therefore, appeals to you 70 lay A.
side all ght OF gain and to devote yourselves u Sc
curing your liberties without which these gains would
be yaueess Il is true that the wheat harvest in the
more Southern States which will be gathered next
month promises abundant yield but even II this
promise BE- fulfilled the difficulties Of transportation en-
cause cubarrassmcnt 10 military operations aud suiieT
ngs among the people. should the crops in the middle
aud northern portions o the ciniederacy prove deficient
But no uneaucss need be felt in regard TO mere supply
o bread Tor IL Is for the large amount Of corn aud
forage required On the raising OF live stock anu the sup
pie, ot the animals used in military ope1auonS, "a
bulky for distant transportation and in them the deh
cheney Of the last harvest mostly felt, Let your
field be devoted exclusively t0 the production OF coru,
oats. beans, peas potatoes and other food for man
and beast let them be sowed broadcast for fodder IN ih
mediate proximity to railroads rivers and canals and
let an Your efforts be directed the prompt supply of
these articles in the districts where armies are opeI-
arng You will thus add greatly to the eff iency, anG
furnish without which II is impN1toable TO
ike those prompt and active movements which have
hitherto stricken terror Into our enemies aud secured our
most brilliant trumphs.
Having thus placed before you, my countrymen, the
fo the call made you Tor aid in supplying the
wants OF the coming year add few words Of appeal IN
behalf Of brave soldiers confronting your enc
mes and 70 whom your government is unable furnish
all the comforts they richly merit The supply Of
t1i for te nryy - d.feienf This deficiency is only
temporary. Tor measures have been adopted which will,
IL is believed. enable restore the full ratons
but that ration is now reduced at times TO one-haf the
usual quantity in some Of our armies. II is known that
supply Of throughout the country is sufficient
Tor the support OF all but the distances great the
months Of winter weather through which We have Just
passed and the attempt Of gtoyelng spectators TO fore
stall the market and make money out Of the life blood OF
our defenders have much influenced the withdrawal
from sale Of the surplus in the hands Of the producers
that the government has been unable to gather full sup
plies The Secretary Of War has prepared plan, which
appended this address, by the aid Of which,
similar be adopted by yourselves, you eau as
ss the officers Of the government in the purchase OF the
corn the bacon the pork aud the beef known to exs, in
large quantities in different parts Of the country Even
the surplus be less thAn believed is il not bitter and
humihaing reflection that those who remain at nome,
secure from hardship and protected from danger, should
be in the enjoyment 0f abundance and that their slaves
also should have fu supply Of food, while their
brothers, husbands and fathers stned in the atOns
which their health and efficiency depend
Entertaining no fear that you will either misconstrue
the motives OF this address. or a TO respond 70 the can
of patriotism, nave placed the facts fully and frankly
before you Let all unite in the performance Of our
duty each in his sphere and with concerted persistent
and we'll directed effort there seems little reason TO
doubt that, under the blessings Of Him whom look
for guidance aud who has been tn our shield and
strength, we shall mantain the sovereignty and indepen-
dence Of the Confederate Statcs, and transmit TO
postery the heritage bequca cahed 70 us by our fathers
JEFFERSON DAVIS
Executive OFFICE RfCHMONn, April 10, 1868.
The Times correspondent OF Norfolk gives
the following account of the shooting Of Lieut.
Col Kimball of the Hawkins Zouaves:
learn that Col. Kimball had command OF
the outer picket guard, and during the evening
General Coreoran annr laehed the post and