Washington telegraph., 1864-06-15
PRESIDENT DAVIS MESSAGE.

PRESIDENT DAVIS MESSAGE.
To The Senate and House Of RcpreSent-
otives Of the Confederate ,StaHs of
America.
You are assembled under circum.
stances OF deep interest to your coun-
try; and it is fortunate that, coming, as
you do, newly elected 10y the people, and
familiar with the condition of the vari-
Gus localities, you will be the better
able to devise measures adapted TO
meet the wants of the public service,
without imposing unnecessary burthens
upon the citizen The brief period that
has elapsed since the last adjournment
Of Congress, has not afforded sufficient
opportunity to test the efficacy of the
most important laws enacted nor have
the events occurring in the interval been
such as materially to change the State
of the country.
The unjust war commenced against
us, in violation of the rights of the
States, and in usurpation Of power not
delegated to the government Of the Uni
ted States, is still characterized by the
barbarism with which it has heretofore
been conducted by the enemy Aged
men, helpless women and children, ap-
peal in vain to the humanity which
should be Inspired by their conditions,
for immunity from arrest, incarceration
or banishmcnt from their homes. Plum
der and devastation of the property Of
non -combatants, destruction Of private
dwellings,, and even of cdificcs devoted
to the worship OF God, expeditions or
ganizcd for the sole purpose Of sacking
cities, consigning them to the flames,
killing the unarmcd inhabitants and in
flicting horrible outrages on women and
children, are some of the constantly oc-
curing atrocities of the invader 1t
cannot reasonably be pretended that such
acts conducc to any end which their au-
thors dare avow, before tho civilized
world, and sooner or later Christcndom
must mete out to them the cOnLemna-
ton which such brutality deserves. The
suflerings thus ruthlcssly inflicted upon
the people of the invaded districts has
served but TO Illustrate their patriotism
Entire unanimity and zeal for their
country's cause has been pre-cmin,ntly
conspicuous among those whose sacri>
fees have been greatest. So the army
which has borne the trials and dangers
of the war; which has been subjected to
privations and disappointments (tests
of manly fortitudc far more severe than
the brief futigucs and rcris Of actual
combat has been the centre of cheer
fulacss and hope From the camp comes
the voice of the soldier patriots invok
ing each who was at home, in the sphcrc
he best may fill, to devote his whole en-
crgies to the support of u cause in tho
success Of which their confidence has
never faltcred. They, the veterans Of
many a hard fought field, tender 70 their
country, without limit Of time, a service
of priceless value to US, one which pos
terity will hold in grateful remembrance,
In considering the state Of the coun-
try, the reflection is naturally suggest
cd, that llie is the third Congress Of the
Confederate States Of America. The
Provisional Government was formed, its
Congress held four sessions, lived its
appointed term, and passed away. The
permanent government was then organ
izcd its different departments establish
ed, a Congress elected which also held
four sessions, served its full constitu-
lional term and expired You, the Sc
cond Congress, under tie permanent
Government, are now established at
the time and place appointed by law for
commencing your session All these
events have passed into history, not
withstanding the threat Of our prompt
subjugation, made three years ago, by a
people that presume to assert 4 title 10
govern States whose separate and indie
pendent sovereignty was recognized 10y
treaty with France and Great Britain in
the last century, and remained unqucs-
tirncd for nearly three generations.
Yet these very governments, III Gisre-
gard of duty aud treaty obligations
which bind them to recognize as inde
pendent, Virginia and other Confcdcr-
ate States, persist in cOnntcnanclnS, BY
moral influence, If not aiding by unfair
and partial action, the claim set up by Tie
Executive of forcign government, 70
exercise dcspotic sway over the States
tins recognized, and treat the invasion
of llcm by their former limited and spc-
cial agent as thought were thc attempt
OF Il sovereign TO suppress rebellion
against lawful authority. Ungcucrous
advantage has been taken Of our pres
cnt condition and our rights have been
violated, our vessels OF war detained III
ports TO which they had been invited by
proclamations Of neutrality, and in one
instance our flag also insultcd where the
sacred rights of asylum was supposed
to be secure; while ono Of these gov
crnments has contcntod itself with sim
ply dcprecating by deferential represcn-
5 tations thc conduct Of our enemy in the
constantly recurring instances Of his
contcmptuous disregard Of neutral
rights and fragrant violations Of public
law. 1t may be that foreign govern
ments, like our enemies, have mistaken
our desire for peace, unrcscrvedly ex-
pressed, for evidence Of exhaustion, and
4 have thence inferred the probability Of
success in the effort to subjugatc or ex-
terminate the millions of human beings
who, in these States, prefer any fate 70