Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1863-05-20

serious II not disastrous, especially should
NO present season prove as unfayorable as
the last. Your country, therefore, appeals
10 you 70 lay aside all thought Of gain, aud
10 devote yourselves 10 securing your liber.
ties, without which Fthose gains would be
vHlueless. II Ia true that the wheat harvest
in the more Southern States, which viii be
gathered next month, promises an abun.
dRnt yield but even ir this promise De full.
filed, tho diGsulty Of transportation, en-.
hanccd ns Il has been by an unusually
rainy winter, vii causo embarrRssmcnls
In military operations and suffering among
the people, should the crops in the middle
aud northern portion Of the Confederacy
prove deficient. But no uneasincss need
be felt in regard ioA mere supply OF bread
for man. II Is for the large amount Of corn
and forage required for the raising of live
stock and for the supply Of the animals
used In military operntionF, that your aid
IL especially required. These articles Grc
too bulky for distant Transportation and in
them q deficiency in the last harvest was
most felt. Let your fields be devoted ex-
clusiycly 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 sup
ply Of these articles in the district where
your armies are operating. You will thus
add greatly TO their ctficicnc~, and furnish
the means, without which il is impractical
BILE TO make those prompt and active move
monts which have hitherto stricken terror
into our enemies, and secured our most
brilliant triumphs.
Having thus placed before you, my coun-
trymen, the reasons for this urgent call
made on you for mid 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 10 furnish ali
the comfors they so richly merit. The
supply OF meat for the army is deficient.
This deficiency is only temporary, for mea-
surcs have been adopted which will, it Is
believed, soon enable us to restore the full
ration. But that ration is now reduced ut
times to one half the usual quantity in
come Of our armies. 1t is known that the
9 pply of meat throughout the country is
suficic t for the support of all, bu, the dis
tauces are so great, the condition of the
months of winter weather through which
we have Just passed, and tho attempt Of
grovelng spectators to forestall tho mar
kct and make money out of the life blood !
of our defenders, lave 50 much Influenced |
the withdrawal from sale Of tho surplus in
the hands o. tho producers, that the Gov |
ernment has been unable to gather full |
supplies. Tho Secretary Of War has pre-
pared plan, which is appended to this
address, by the aid of which, or similar
to he adopted by yourselves, 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 ,
tie surplus be less than is believed, is it .
not d bitter and humiliating reflection that .
those who remain at home secure from
hardship and protected from danger, should
be in the enjoy ment of nhundancr, and that
their slaves also should have full supply
If food, while their sons, brothers, hus.
bands and fathers are stinted in the rations
IN which their health and efficiency dc pend
Entertaining no fear that you will either
the motives of this address or
fail to respond TO the call OF patriotism,
have placed the facts fully and frankly be-
fore yoa. Let us all unite in the perlor-
nance Of our duty, each in his sphere; and
with concerted, persistent and we'll direc-
ted effort, there seems little reason 10 doubt
that under the blessing of Him to whom We
ook for guidance and Who has been 10 us
,ur shield and our strength, we shall main
.ain the sovereignty and independence of
hese Confederate States, and transmit to
,ur posterity the heritage bcqucarhed to US
~ our fathers.
(Signed,) JEFFERSON DAVIS.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, 4
Richmond, April 10, 1868.