The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-04-24

devoted TO the production OF cotton and
tobacco instead Of grain aud live stock,
and other articles necessary for the sub.
sistence Of the people and the amy, the
consequences may prove serious II not
uisastrous;' especially should the pres
ent season prove rs unfavorable as the
last. Your country, therefore appeals
20 you to lay aside all thought of gain,
ana 10 devote yourselves to securing your
liberties. without which those gains would
be valuless. 1t is true that the wheat
harvest in the more southern States wi ich
VIII be gathered next month promises an
ABUNDANT yield: but even II this promise
De fulfilled. the difficulty of iransperta-
non, enhanced as II has been by an un-
usually rainy winter. will cause embar.
EASEMENTS in military operations and sui.
fevine among the people should the crops
n}the middle and northern portions OF
theConfederacy prove deficient. But no
's'i1essipess need be felt in reward To a
,ss1fe supply OF Dread Tor man. II is FOR
the large amount Of corn and forage re-
Quilted for the raising of live stock and
tor the supply Of the animals used in mil.
itary operations that your aid is specially
required. These articles are too bulky
for distant transportation, and in them
the deficiency in the last harvest was most
felt. Let your fields be devoted exclu-
sively to the production of corn, oats.
beans, peas, potatoes and other food for
man and beast. Let corn be sown broad
cast for fodder, in immediate proximity
to railroads, rivers and canals, and let all
your efforts be directed to the PROMPT
supply of these articles in the districts
where our armies are operating. You
will thus add greatly to their efficiency
and furnish the means without which il
is impracticable to make those prompt
and active movements which have hith
erto stricken terror into our enemies, and
secured our most brilliant triumphs.
Having thus placed before you. my
countrymen, the reasons for the call
made on you for aid in supplying the
wants of the coming year, add few
words OF appeal in behalf of the brave
soldiers now confronting your enemies
and To whom your Government is unable
to furnish all the comforts they so richly
merit. The supply of meat for the army
is deficient. This deficiency is only tenn
porarv, for measures have been adopted
which will, it is believed, soon enable us
to restore the full ration. But that ra-
ton is now reduced at times to one half
the usual quantities in some of our ar
mics. 1t is known that the supply of
meat throughout the country is sufficient
for the support of all, but the distances
.re SO great. the condition OF the roads
has been so bad during the FIVE months
of winter weather through which we have
just passed and the attempts of grovel.
ling spectators to forpstall the market
nd Ea Of ia Of
our defenders have so much influenced
the withdrawal from sale of the surplus
in the.hands of the producers that the
fall supplies. The Secretary of War has
Irpparsri n yItHrI. W frrnil=is @nppended TO
tI,is atllrass N the mid or which. or some
-similar means to be adopted by your
selves, you can assist the officers of the
Government in the purchase of the bacon.
the pork and the beef known to exist in
large quantities in different parts of the
country. Even If the surplus be less
than is believed, is it not "a bitter and hu.
initiating reflection that those who re
main at home, secure from hardship and
protected from danger, should he in the
enjoyment of abundance. and that their
slaves also should have full supply of
food. while their sons. brothers. nus
bands and fathers are stinted in the IA
tons on which their health and etficien
oy depend?
Entertaining no fear that you will eth
er misconstrue the motives of this ad
dress, or fail to respond to the call of pa.
trioiism, have placed the facts fully and
frankly before you. Lat us al, unite in
the performance of our duty. each in his
sphere: and, with concerted, persistent
and well directed effort, there seems lit
tie reason to doubt. that. under the''bles..
ings of Him to whom we look for guild.
ance, and who has been to us oui SHIELD
and our strength. we shall maintain the
sovereignty and independence of these
Confederate States, and transmit - our
posterity the hesitage bequeathed to us
by our fathers.
( (Signed) JEFFERSON DAVIS.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
Richmond, April 10, '63.