Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-04-24
Address to the People Of the Confederate
STATES.

greSS, contained 10 reS0lutlOES passed. Oh
the fourth day Of the current month. | in
woke your attention to the present condi-
ton and future prospects Of our country.
and to the duties which patriotism imposes
on us all during this great struggle for our
homes and liberties. ~,
THESE resolutions are in the following
language.
JOINT RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO THE PRoDUc-
T1oN OF PROVISIONS.
WAereas, A strong impression prevail
through the country that tie var new be-
ing waged against the people Of the Con-
federAtc States may terminate during the
present year; and whereas this Impression
is leading many patriotic citizens to engage
largely in the production of cotton and to-
bacco. which they would not otherwise DO /;
and whereas, in the opinion of Congress, it
is of the utmost importance, not only with
view to the proper subsistence Of our ar
mics, but for the interest and welfare of all
the people, that the agricultural labor Of
the country should BE employed chiefly in
the production 81 supply Of food to meet
every contingency: Therefore.
Resolcea by the Congress Of the Conted-
crate States Of An,erica, That it is the de-
liberatc judgement of Congress that the
people of these States, while hoping for
pence should look to prolonged war as the
only condition profered by the enemy short
of rubjngation; that every preparation
necessary to encounter such war should
be persisted in, and that the amplest sup
ply Of. provisions for armies and people
should be the FIRST Object Of all agriculu-
rsts.; wherefore it is earnestly reconlmen-
ded that the people. instead Of planting cot
ton aud tobacco, shall direct their agricul-
tural labor mainly to the production Of such
or ps as will insure 1 sufficiency Of food for
all classes and for every emergency, there
| by, with true patriot m, subordinating the
hope Of gain to the Certain good Of the
country. ..s.;.,
SIC 2 That the President is hereby re-
quested to issue proclamation to the peo-
| pie Of these States, urging upon them the
necessity of guarding against the great per-
lis OF short CROP of Hravisions, and setting
forth such reasons therefor as his Judge
ment may dictate.
Fully concurring in the views thus ex-
pressed by the Congress, | confidently ap-
peal to your love of country for aid in car
rying into effect the recommendations OF
your Senstors and Representative.
fte hare reached tie close Of the second
year Of the war. and may point with just
pride to the history, Of our. young Confed-
eracy. Alone, uuai1cd, we have met and
overtbrowu the most formidable combina.
tions of naval and military ornaments thai
the lust of conquest ever gattsred together
for the subjugation of free people We
began this struggle without a single CUR
ahoat, while the resources of our enemy
enabled them to gather fleets, which, &C.
cording to their official list. published in
August last, consisted of 427 vessels
measuring 800, O3G tons, and carrying
5,2G5 guns Yet We have csptdred. sunk
or destroyed number of these vessels. in
cluding two large frigates and one stean
sloeh Ct gar, while four of their captured
steam gunboats are now in our possession
adding to the strength Of our little navy
which is rapidly gaining il numbers anse
efficiency. 10 oppose Invading forces
co,upasels af lsvies Which hate already ex
cecdad thirteen hundred thousand men, W,
had no resources but the unconquerabl
vAlor of q people determined to be free
and VIC we're SO destitute of military sup
plies that tcus Of thousands of our citizens
we're reluctantly refused admission into th'
service from our inability to pro.ide then
with arms, while for many months some 0
our important strongholds owed their safe
ty chiefly to careful concealmcnt OF TIT
faa that we were without a supply of pow
der for our cannon. Your devotion ane
patriotism have triumphed sover all these
obstaales, and called into existence tie 'mu
:i.tions of war, the clothing, and tie suBsis
tence which have enabled our soldiers t
illustrate their valor on numerous battle
fields and to ihAict crushing defeats. on sue
cessivc armies, each Of which all arrogant
foe fondly imagined, to,be inyincible.
! The contrast between our past and pres
eft condition Is we'll calculated to inspire
full confidence in the triumph ofdt1. arms.
At no previous period of the war have our
forces been SO numerous. so we'll organized
End'so tKofonghly disciplined, armed and
equipped, as at present. The season of
high water, on which our enemies relied to
enable their fleets of gunboats to penetrate
into our country and devastate our homes
is fast passing away. Yet, our strongholds
on the Mississippi still bid defiance to the
foe, and months of costly preparations fol
their reduction have been spent in vain
Disaster has been the result of their every
effort to turn or to storm Viekoburg and
Port Hudson, as well as every attack on
ofr batteries. on the Red river, the ITALIA
hatchie, and other navigabls. streams
Within few weeks the falling waters and
the increasing heat Of simmer will com
tfste their discontinue, aid compel their
baffled and DEFEATED forces to the abandon
ment Of expeditions daswbich was based
their chief hope Of success in efecting our
subjugation.
We must not forget, however, that the
war is not yet ended, and that we are still
confronted by powerful armies, and threat
ened by numerous fleets; and that the Coy
eminent which controls these fleets and ar
mics is driven to the most desperate efforts
to effect the unholy purposes in which II
has thus far been defeated. 1t will use Its
utmost energy, to avert the impending
doom, so fully rnerited by the atrocities it
| has committed the SAVAGE barbarItleS