Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-02-23
JEFF. Davis Proclamation to the Rebel Ar
mloa.

Soldiers of the Armies Of the Confederate Stsl,s :
In ice ong and bloody war in which your
country il 'sugsgsd you have sshisvsd many no.
bls tnnmphL You have Won glorious vie,oFiss
over vastly more numerous hosts. You hAVs
cassrfuily brave ptVslioBi and tolls 10 which
you WeTs unused. You have readily iubn ilied
to restraints upon your individual Sill that no
citizen might better psrfsrn bis duty to he
State Sc a soldlH. To zll these you kave lately
added another victory over yourselves. Az hs
lime drew near when you who drst entered the
service might vsl have bssn expected to claim
relel from lour arduous abors ans restoration
TO the endearm,nls Of homs, you have needed
only The cal of your suffering country. Again
you came 10 lendsr your service for The public
defense-afres offering shish only such patriotism
as yours could make triumph worthy Of YOU
and OF the cause 10 which you are devoted
would 10 vain attempt ,dsquatsy 10 expires, the
emotions with which reesivsd the testimonials
OF confidence and regard which you bsvs recent
y addressed TO ne. 10 some Of those frat re.
ceved, separate acknowledgement, wsre returned,
but /! IS nov appEentihs lks gene ous eulhu
sasm perVadss the Whols army, and that the only
exception to such magnanlmoui tender will be Of
those who, having originally entered kr the war,
cannot displsy anew their zeal IN the public ser
vice.
Il Is therefore deemed appropriate, and it is
hoped vill b. equally accepted, 10 make general
acknowledgment, iu,lsad Of successive special
responses. Would Ihalh ssre possibls to render
my thanks u you in person, and 10 the name OF
our common country, n well as 10 nv own, while
pressing the Land of each wsr-worn veteran, to
recognize his tide 10 our love, gratitude and ad
mIaton
Soliier' BY your will, iot you snd the people
are but one, have been placed ia position
which debsr' me from sharing your dsngsn, your
sufetngs and youI pfivaIioni in the field. With
pride aud affection my heart has accompanied YOU
IN every march. With ,oeituds it sought to
minister TO your sVsry want With sIultaton i.
has marked your every heroic achievement. Yet
never IN the loiIaOme march nor ia the weary
watch nor IN the desperate assault, have you rem
dcTed service 10 dsc,ive in results as in the las,
display OF the higher qualities Of devotion and
self sacrifice which can sdorn the character Of
warrior patriot Already the pulse OF the whole
nation beats IN unison with yours. Already they
compare your ,pon.epe0u, aud unanimous offer Of
your lives ior tn, defense Of your country with
rles who are purchased by the snemy at tn price
OF higher bountcs than have hitherto been known
in war. Animated by this contrast they exhibit
cheerful confidence aud more rsIolule bearing
Even the lnutmun OF he welk aud umid, who
shrink from the lrias which make stronger end
hrmer your noble natures, are shsmed into silence
10y The spectacle which you present. Your brave
battle cry will ing loud and clear through the
laud Of tae enemy 40 well as or own, will seree
the vain, glorious boating, OF their corrupt parli
zans and lhe pensioned pres,, aud vlll do justice
10 the ealumny by which they ,ssk to persuade a
deluded peole ,haI you are ready TO purchase dis
honorable safety by degrading submission,
Soldiers; The comisg spring campaign will
open under auspices we'll calculated 10 sustain
your hopes Your resolution needs nothing 10
tortily it. With ranss rspleniihed under th, in,
lluence of your sIlmpls and BY the aid Of repre-
sentatlyes, who give earnest Of their purpose 90
add by legislation largsly to your strength, you
may welcome the invader with a oosidenes lusti.
fed by the memory Of pas, victories. On the
other hand, debt ,aXAtisn, rcplstion of heavy
drafts, disssnsons cccssioned by the strife FOR
power, by the pursuit Of the spells Of office, by
the thirst for the plundeI Of the public treasury,
and above al, the consciousness of a bad cruise,
must tell with powerful force upon the oventrlined
energies OF the enemy His campaign Of 1864
must from The exhaustion OF HE resources cl men
and money be lar less formidable than those Of
the las. I've years, when aDimpsired means we're
used with boundsss ptodlgalily, and with results
which are suggested by the name, oi Shiloh, Per
pylle, MdHreesboro, ,he Chickahomin,, Manas'
sas, Frtdetioksburgh and Characteristic.
Soldiers Assured suceess awaits us in our hol,
struggle for liberty and Independence, and tor hs
preservation OF al that renders life desirable ia
honorable men. When that success shall BE-