Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-08-14
Rebel Cause Getting Desperate.

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Confederate States. After more than
two years Of warfare scarcely equalled
in number, magnitude and fearful car
mage of las battles, a warfare n which
your courage and iortitude has illustrated
your country and attracted not only ad-
miration at home but admiration abroad,
your enemies continue struggle in
which our final triumph must be iuevita-
Bile. Unduly elated with their recent
successes, they imagine temporary re-
verses can quell your spirits or shake
your determinations, and they are now
gathering heavy masses for a general in
vason, in the vain hope that by despe-
rate effort success may at length be
reached.
You know too well, my couutrymen,
what they mean by success. Their ma
lignant rage aims at nothing less than
the determination of yourselves, your
wives and your children. They seek to
destroy what t hey cannot plunder.-
They propose, as spoils of victory, that
your homes shall be partitioned among
wretcheS whose atrocious cruelty has
stamped infamy on their government
They design to incite servile insurrec-
ton and light the fires of incendarism
wherever they can even reach your
homes, and they debaueh an inferior
race, heretofore docile and contented, by
promising them the indulgence of the
vilest passions as the price of their
treachery. Conscious of their inability
to prevail by legitimate warfare, not
daring to make peace lest they should be
buried from their seats Of power, the
men who now rule in Washington refuse
even to confer on the subject of putting
an end to outrages which disgrace our
age, or listen to a suggestion for conduct
ing the war according to the usages of
civilization.
Fellow citizens: no alternative is left
you but victory or subjugaton, slavery
and the utter ruin of yourselves, your
families and your country. The victory
is within your reach. You need but
stretch forth your hands to grasp it,
For this, all that is necessary is that
those who are called to the field by every
motive of the human hear, should prompt
ly repair to the post Of duty; should
stand by their comrades now in front of
he foe, and thus SO strengthen the armies
IF the conlederacy as to cause success.
The men now absent from their posts
would, if present in the field, suffice to
create numerical equality between our
forces and that of the invaders, and when,
with any approach to such equality, have
we failed to be victorious? / believe
hat but few of those absent are actuated
~ unwilliDgness TO serve their country,
)ut that many have found it difficult to
'esist the temptation to visit their homes
nd loved ones, from which they have
'een so long separated; that others have
eft for the temporary attention of their
fairs with the intention of returning,
nd then have shrunk from the conse-
uences of their violation of duty that
theirs again have left their posts for mere
estlessness and desire of change, such
uietng the upbraidngs of his conscience
y persuading himself that his individual
ervice could have no Influence on the
eneral result, These and other causes,
Though far less disgraceful than the de-
re to avoid danger or escape from the
lcrifices required by patriotism, are
evertheless grievous faults and place
he cause Of our beloved country and
verything we hold dear 10 imminent
9ril. / repeat tina: the men who now
We duty to their country, who have
zen called out and have not yet repor-
d for duty, or who have absented them
Ives from their posts, are sufficient in
lmber to secure victory in the strug- s
e now impending. :
| call on you then, my countrymen, to
listen to your camps in obedience to the
ctates of honor and of duty, and sum
on those who have absented themselves S
ltbout leave, or who have remained r
'sent beyond the period allowed by +
cir furloUghs, to repair without delay e
their respective commands and | do
reby declare that | grant pardon and
nnesty to all officers and men within a
e confederacy now b S ent without
ave, who shall with the least possible
lay return to their proper posts of du-
. But no excuse will be received for u
y delay beyond 90 days after the first 1
blication of this proclamation 10 the .
.te in which absentees NAV be at the
te of this publication. This amnesty I
d pardon shall extend to all who have
en- accused or who have been convict n
and are undergoing sentence of alb
ice without leave, or desertion, except
; those who have been twice convicted