Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-11-10
INTRODUCTION.

below copious extracts, which will be
found interesting:
INTRODUCTION
He prefaces as follows:
Felloso- citizens: Since the Sd day Of
June 1 have been prisoner in the Fed
eral lines Having but recently been
through the entire South, having studied
its resources and wept over its ruin; and
having become fully acquainted with its
condition, and the character of its ru-
lers, have chosen, after long hesitation
to remain here and address you, in pre-
ference to being sent home and exchang-
ed am now out of the service, and
can therefore speak with unreserved
freedom. Ny course in this struggle is
known to the country In the army and
in prison, with fire in front and in rear,
have been with you and of you so long
as hope remained. And to-day, l know
no devotion so strong as that [ bear to
my Southern home, and to the masses of
our people, who's terrible suferings bind
me closer to them now than ever l
shall give you my views and counsel for
what they are worth, frankly and fully in
this address, and care not for the con-
sequences to myself 1t is the path
of duty, and / shall follow it fearlessly,
I.shall speak to you as an Arkansian.
Shall, therefore, confne myself more
particularly to what has occurred in our
midst since the commencement of hos
tilities, and may thus give a prominence
to events and persons that they would
not otherwise deserve. AS / fear no one,
l shall spare no one.
HIS ADVICE TO THE People.
The first portion of his address alludes
to the troubles with Holmes, Hindman,
etc, their prosecutions of the people, al
of which is treated at length. After
leaving this he continues, in answer to
the question: "What Shall We Do:?"
This question naturally comes up after
all that has preceded. If Mr.. Davis,
when he held the lives and fortunes of
many millions in his hands, so blunder-
ed as to lose his opportunity, what can
we hope from him, now that scene of
blackness, of anguish aad desolation
reigns, where wealth, happiness and
plenty smiled. If he would not protect
Arkansas when he could, but, instead,
gave it over to plunder and oppression
by his pets, what have we to hope, now
that he trembles in Richmond for his
own safety, and wakes up at last to the
terrible reality of his weakness, folly and
indiscretion2 If we were not protected
when we could have been, and if we can
not now be protected, what must we do 2
Some say continue the struggle. Let
the last man die, etc., etc.
1 think differently. We ought to end
the struggle and submit But you say it
is humiliating. No more than to sur
render when whipped. We have done
that often. Always where we could do
no better / have tried the experiment
twice and found it by no means foolish.
fairly beaten in the whole result, and
should at once surrender the point.
five don't get the happiness we en-
ioyed in the old Government, we car
get no more misery than we have fell
under JEFF DaYis But look for peace
there. We had it many years. Even
while we are arrayed against it, l Gnd
that the hostile forces in our midst give
more protection to citizens than wher
Holmes ..and Hindman were here. 1t il
true, the Johnsons tell you that Gen
Steele has imprisoned and oppressed
people here. Not word of truth in ii
And they know it is all false In few
months, when no more Confederate mon
ey can be invested, and nothing NOR,
made out of the people, they will Sneal
back and claim his protection.
But we are whipped-fairly beaten
Our armies are beaten and ruin ap
proaches US. Will continuing this strug
gle help us? Every battle we nigh
gain ought to wiring tears from the heart
of Southern menl We are just tha
much weaker-that much nearer GU
final ruin. Anguish, and sorrow, an
desolation meet US wherever we turn
The longer the struggle the more oft.
Don't let yourselves be deceived wit
, the hope that the United States will abar
don the st~-esln IT, --~'or az L
| They have toiled and spent too much
see the solution of the problem, and nc
foot up the figures. They scarcely fet
the war at home. Their cities are MOI
popllous and thrifty to-day than eve
For every man that dies or gets kille
, in battle, two emigrate to the countr
Their villages and towns, their fields an
country flourish as fresh as ever. The
+, could sink their armies to-day, and rail-
new levies to crush us and not feel it.
]. THE NEGRO QUESTION.
From the portion of his address dev
ted to the slavery question we quote:
g Its (slaverys) existence had becon
: incompatible with the existence of Il
II Government For, while it had stood
sk a wall, damming up the current, al
holding back the people and the lahore
70 of the North, it had, by thus precludi
!. free intercourse between the section
produced marked change in their ma
= ners, customs and sentiments. And
two sections were growing more div
gent every day This wall or the Gt
ernment must give way. The she
IN came which was to settle the questlt
We l thought that the Government was
rs: rs: vided, and negro slavery established
e. ever. | erred. The Government v
X stronger than slavery. Reunion is C
rs, tain; but not more certain than
'Od downfall of slavery As | have said,
,at mission OF the latter is accomplish
ost And, as his happiness must always