Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-23
address Of Gen. Jefferson Davis.


in the resolutions passed the fourth day Of the present
month, invoke your attention to the present condition
and future prospects OF country and to the duties
which patriotism imposes on during this great strup
gle for homes and liberties These resolutions are
in the following language.
Here follow sundry resolutions passed by the Confede
rate Congress, requesting Mr. Davis address,
Fully concurring in the views thus expressed by Con
gress confidently appeal to your love of country aid
in carrying into effect the recommendations Of your Sena
tors and Representatives.
We have reached the close Of the second year the
and may point with just pride to the history
young Confederacy. Alone, unaded, We have met and
ovethrown the most formidable combinations Of naval and
military ornaments that the lust of conquest gather
ed together for the conquest OF free people We began
this struggle without single gun afoat, while the
OF enemy enabled them to gather fleets which,
according to their official list published in August last
consisted of four hundred and thirty vessels mea
surog eight hundred and forty thousand and eghtysx
tons and carrying three thousand and tweny-sx guns
yet we have captured, SUNK destroyed number of
these vessels including two large fgates and steam
soopofwar while four of their captured steam gunboats
now in our possession, adding to tho strength of
little navy, which is rapidly gaining in numbers and eff
cheney.
To oppose invading forces composed of levies which
have already exceeded thirteen hundred thousand
had but the uocOnquerabe valOr of people
determined TO be free aud we destitute If mill
tay supplies that tens of thousands of citizens
reluctantly refused admission into the service from
inability to furnish them while for many months the
continuation of some of our stronghods owed their safety
chiefly careful conceament Of the fact that
without supply OF powder for our cannon.
Your devotion and patriotism have triumphed over all
these obstacles and called into exstence the munitions Of
war; the clothing and the subsistence which have enabled
soldiers to illustrate Their valor battle
fields, and to lnct crushing defeats successive armies
each of which arrogant foe fondy imagined to be in
vncible.
The contrast between past and present condition is
we'll calculated to inspire full confidence in the triumph of
arms. At previous period of the war have our
forces been numerous well organized, and
thoroughly disciplined armed and equipped at present
The of high water which enemies relied Ia
enable their fleets of gunbats to penetrate into
try and devasae homes fast passing away yet
strongholds the Mississippi still bid defiance to the foe,
and months of costly preparation for their reduction have
been spent in vain has been the result of their
every effort to turn storm Vcksburg and Port Hudson
we'll every attack batteries the Red river,
the Taahatchie, and other navigabe streams Within
few weeks the falling waters and the increasing heats of
summer will complete their discount ure, and compel their
baed and defeated forces to the abandonment of exped
tions which based their chief hope of in
efecting our subjugaton
We must forget however, that the is not yet
ended and that still confronted by powerful armies
ment that controls those fleets aud armies is driven to the
most desperate efforts to effect the unboy purposes in
which it has thus far been defeated 1t will its utmost
energy to avert this impending DOOM fully merted by
tho atrocities has committed savage which
1t has encouraged and the GROWING attempt to excite
servile population to the massacre of our wives,
daughters and our helpless children.
With such contest before there is but danger
which the Government of your choice regards with appre
henson and to avert this danger it appeals to the
failing patriotism and spirit which You have exhibited
since the beginning of the
The very unavorable season. tue pro raced drouhs of
last year. reduced tie harvests which depend
below an average yield and the deficiency unfortu
natey, still more marked IN the northern part of
Confederacy, where supplies specially needed for
the army. If through a confidence an early peace
which may prove deusive, fields should be
devoted to the production OF cotton and tobacco instead
of grain and live stock and other articles for the
subsistence of the people and army the may
prove serious if not disastrous, especially should this
present season prove unfavorable the last Your
country therefore, appeals to you lay aside all thought
of GAIN and to devote yourselves to securing your be tee
without which these gains would be valuel,ss.
1t is true that the wheat harvest in the Southern
States which will be gathered next month promises
abundant yied but if this promise be fulfilled the
difficulties Of transportation enhanced as it has been by
unusually rainy winter, will endorsements in
military operations and suerngs among the people should
the crops the middle and northern portions of the Con-
federacy prove deficient But uneasness may be felt
In regard to supply Of bread for 1t for the
large of and forage required the raising OF
live stock and the supplies of the animals used for militia
operations too bulky for distant transportation and in
them the deficiency of the last harvest mostly felt
Let your fields be devoted exclusively TO the production Of
oats beans peas potatoes, and other food for
and beast let be sowed broadcast for fodder in i'm
mediate proximity to railroads. rivers and canals and let
all your efforts be directed to the prompt supply OF these
articles in the districts where armies operating
You will thus add greatly to their efficiency, and furnish
the without which it s impraccsble to make those
prompt and active which hitherto stricken
terror into our enemies and secured our most brilliant
triumphs
Having thus placed before you my countrymen, the
for the call made you aid in supplying the wants
of the coming year. add few words of appeal in behalf
Of the brave soldiers confronting your enemies aud to
whom your Government is unable to furnish all the COM
forts they richly merit The supply Of meal the army
is deficient This deficiency is only temporary for mea-
have been adopted which WILL it is believed,
enable restore the full ratons bot that ration now
reduced at times to oDebaf the usual quantity of
armies II known that the supply OF meat through
out the county sufficient for the support cf all but the
distances great the condition OF the roads has been
bad during the five months of winter weather through
which have just passed. and the attempt of grovelng
spectators foresa the market and make money out of
the likelihood of 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 supplies.
The Secretary Of War has prepared plan, which il APP
pended TO this address by the aid Of which, sm
t. be adopted by yourselves you assist the
officers Of the Government in the purchase of the corn the
bacon the pork and the beef known to exist ia large
quantities ia different parts of the country Even the
surplus be less than believed it not bitter and hum
ating reflection that those who remain ut home
from hardship and protected from danger ehoud be in the
enjoyment OF abundance and that their slaves also should
have full supply Of food while their sons brothers, hus
bands and fathers stined the ratons which their
health and efficiency depend
Entertaining no fear that you will either misconstrue
the motives OF this address, fail to respond to the call of
patriotism have placed the facts fully and frankly before
you Let all unite in the performance OF duty each
his sphere, and with concerted, persistent, and we'll
directed effort there little to doubt that
der the blessings Of Him to whom look for guidance
aud who has been to shield and strength, shall