The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-11-15
MESSAGE
pRESIDENT DAVl

the Con federate STATES OF America.
7. il with satisfaction that welcome your pre-
sence at an earlier day than that usual for your
session, and with confidence that invoke the aid
of your counsels at time of such public exigency
The campaign which was commenced almost ST.
muItaneously with your session early 10 May last,
snd which was still in progress at your adjourn
ment in the middle of June, has not yet reached
its close 1t has been prosecuted on scale and
with an energy heretofore unequalied When
we revert to the condition of our country at the
inception of the operations of the present year, to
the magnitude of the preparations made BY the
enemy, the number Of his forces, the accumulation
of his warlike supplies, and the prodigality with
which his vast resources have been lavshed 10 the
attempt to render success assured; when we con-
trast the plumbers and means at our disposal for re-
sistance and when we contemplate the results OF a
struggle apparently so unequal VIC cannot TAIL,
while rendering the full need Of deserved praise
70 our generals and soldiers, to perceive that
Power higher than man has willed our deliverance,
and gratefully to recognize the protection OF a
kind Providence in enabling us successfully to
withstand the utmost efforts OF the enemy for our
subjugation
At the beginning of the year the State OF Texas
was partially in possession of the enemy; and large
portions of Louisiana and Arkansas lay apparently
defenceless Of the Federal soldiers who invaded
Texas none are known to remain except as prls-
oners of war. In northwestern Louisiana, large
and uell-appointed army, aided by powerful fleet
was repeatedly defeated and deemed itself fortu-
Fate in finally escaping with loss Of one-third of
its numbers large part Of its military trains and
many transports and gunboats. The enemy's &C.
cupation of that State is reduced to the narrow
district commanded by the guns Of his feet. Ark
ansas hos been recovered with the exception Of a
few fortified posts while our forces have pcnctrat.
ed into central Missouri, aording to our oppressed
brethren in that State an opportunity, OF which
many have avaied themselves, of striking for lib
Grafton from the tyranny to which they have been
subjected.
% the east of the Mississippi, 10 spite of some
reyeIses we have much cause tor graduation. The
enemy hoped to effect during the present yesr, by
concentration of forces the conquest which he had
previously failed to accomplish by more extended
operations. Compelled, therefore, to withdraw or
seriously to weaken the strength of the armies OF
occupation at different points, he has afforded US
the opportunity of recovering possession OF extern
sive districts of our territory Nearly the whole
Of northern and western Mississippi, of northern
Alabama, and of western Tennessee, again in
possession; and all attempts to penetrate from
the coast line into the interior of the Atlantic and
Gulf States have been baf1ed On the entire
ocean and gulf coast of the Confederacy, the whole
success of the enemy, with the enormous naval re-
sources at bis command, has been limited to the
capture of the outer defences of Mobile Bay.
II we now turn to the results accomplished by
the two great armies so confidently relied on by
the invaders sufficient to secrre the subversion
of our Government and the subsection of our people
to foreign domination, have still greater cause
for devout gratitude to Divine Power. In south
western Virginia, successive armies which threat
ened the capture of Lynchburg and Saltville have
been routed and driven out of the country, and
portion Of eastern Tennessee reconquered by our
troops. In northern Virginia extensive districts
formerly occupied by the enemy now free from
their presence. In the lower Valley, their Cen
eral, rendered desperate by bis inability to main
tain hostile occupation, has resorted to the iu-
famous expedient of converting fruitful land into
desert by burning its mills, granaries and home
steads, and destroying the food, standing crops,
live stock and agricultural implements of peaceful
non-combatants. The main army, after q series of
defeats, IN which its losses have been enormous;
after attempts by raiding parties to break up
railroad communications, which have resulted in
the destruction of large part of the cavalry en-
gagged 10 the work; after constant repulse of re-
peatcd assaults our defensive lines, is with the
aid of heavy reinforcements, but with it is hoped,
waning prospect of further progress in the design,
still engaged in an effort, commenced more than
four months ago, to capture the of Petersburg
The army of Gen. Sherman, although succeed
Ing at the end OF the Summer In obtaining possess
sion Of Atlanta, has been unable to any uti-
mate advantage from this success. The same Gen
eral who, in FEBRUARY last, marched large army
from Vicksburg to Meridian with no other result
than being forced to march back again, was able,
BY the aid Of greatly increased numbers, and after
much delay, TO force passage from Chattanooga
to Atlanta, only to be for the second time COM
PEELED to withdraw on the line Of his advance,
without obtaining control ola single mile of terri
tory beyond the narrow track Of his march, and
without gaining aught beyond the precarous pos
session Of few fortified points 10 which he is COM
PEELED to maintain heavy garrisons, and which
menaced with recapture.
The lessons afforded BY the history of this war
are fraught with instruction and encouragement
Repeatedly during the war have formidable expe
ditions been directed by the enemy against points
ignorantly supposed to be of vital importance to
the Confederacy. Some Of these expeditions have
at immense cost been successful; but in no in
stance have the promised fruits been reaped
Agais, in the present campaign, was the dclusion
fondly cherished that the capture of Atlanta and
Richmond would, if effected, end ne war by the
overthrow Of our Government and the submission
of our people We can now judge by experience
how aninportant is the influence of the former
erent upon our capacity for defence, upon the
courage and spirit of the people and the stability
of the Government. We may, in like manner.
judge that if the campaign against Richmond had
resulted in success instead of failure; if the yalor
OF the army under the leadership of its accom-
piisbed commander had resisted in vain the over
masses which were, on the contrary de- |
cisivey repulsed; if We had been compelled to
evacuate Richmond we'll a. Atlanta, the Con. |