Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-04
The Prasidant,s Message

The Presidents Message.
Fhs message of Presiieat Davis, a Was TO be SIP
posed, considering the short tms which has elapsed
SIEGE tie adjournment Of the lust Congress not avary
long document yet short it is it VIII be found w
think 10 embrace all the important topics which, II
was TO be presumed, would be presented for the con-
sSeraon Of Congress 1. il likewise, marked by that
purity as we'll as energy Of diction which ehlae'erze
all the productions Of the Executive pen.
Ria perhaps. useless 10 speculate on the effect which
may BE- produced in Elr,ps by any statement Of the
situation, however clearly deiaea.sd; however plainly
t. nav she's the horrible designs and still mere hOSrbe
conduc: of our enemies and however clearly it may
prove the hOpeesnsss Of the tremendous enterprise
whea they are engaged While every succeeding STATE
meus of this kind becomes more convincing than those
which went before the indications Of convection on The
part Of European powers become weaker Until the!
have amos.ceased 20 exist Yet no one can read the
Presidents brief and CONDENSED argument based upon
the assembling Of this neE Congress- without beng
struck with thu fOrcible of ths evidence pre-
ssned and impressed with tie bad faith of the Powers
which refase TO accept and 70 &C. upon Is We msy
therefore regard it demonstrated that Eu oPe de
rlandg Of Us not oay far stronger eVdeueo than Wa
egsr before required from people 6ghdrg or indie
Dsndence but evidences Of totally offer nj charaet'r
They insis. .ha. We shall prove TO their satisfaction
that we are abe main ain our Independence By force
thus entirely setting aside the question Of right Yet
there Is not second class nation OF Europe which could
maintain its PAse in the family Of nations 10 the a'e
OF this test Indeed, the doctrine Of the balance 0
power, supported BY perpetual readiness for il
is behalf was invented and is maintained expressly
in opposition TO this idea. For if uston may at any
time be overrua and sutjagated b. another natiOn
which happens be stronger not say that is
absolutely safe. The independence Of a people is q
SIMPLE question of fact at particular moment, not by
any means 70 be decided by It's ability TO stand W
agans. any assault This doctrine would require all
nations be in the 6sss place absolutely equal c.
other in material strength and resources aGd on Il
other hand that each should be Gqll to all tie
rest, which is pAlpAoy contradiction and sbsur-
dity Bl. il 90 happens that this is not the kind OF
evideres hitherto demanded BY Europeans In the case
Of Greece the Intervention was justified nos becaus4
Greece was able to ain ain her independence in VII c.
ease interference would have been needed u. ex'
sc.ly because she could maintain herself in oppo
tion TO the Turkish power. Il Is lot necessary TO
further for Illustrations The subject has been already
exhausted aud 70 elaborate any further does not p.cm
iss bsns6c al results
The President speaking sat1sdrG tells u3 tia. he
Sc prospect Of early change in the coarse here
toiOre pursued By those Che Earopean) Government
Ia his words, which are true enough and forcb
enough to commend them TO every ciIen Of the Con-
fsisrAcy, ait Ia enough for Us to know that every
avenue of negotiation il closed against US that
oar enemy Is making renewed and strenuous eT rs
"A bat tha aofa
people secure in the justice Of cause and hold n
our Liberties to be precious than all other earthly
possessions Is TO com ns and apply every available Gle
ment Of power for their defence an preservation"
Ga the subjsct Of the currency, The President refers
20 the report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury We
infer that that officer will ask Congress to relieve him
Of the power which he suppses be conferred BY The
existing law Of Issuing currency TO the full amount OF
all received intO the Treasury, either by funding OF
exchange IL il very Justly said that the currency in
circulation, say $3.50 600 OOO on the Ist Of July il
ample for the business requirements Of the country,
srd that the addition Of $500 600 600 would be
tscd,d By disastrous effects, and would "produce be
an sdv recurrence Of the evils from which the fluid ng
l.r has rescu d the equity" We are glad to know
that the Secretary takes this view Of tie subjee md
-e hope Congress vii DO som lhing TO relieve tie
e,rtuuats gentleman OF the weight Of power which
sOrely Expresses him.
We are Likewise glad to learn that the efficiency of
our armies in the field Il all that be desired; and
.bst the discipline aud instruction Of the trocps have
kent pace With their improvement in material and equip
meDt"
Various recommendation, contained in the report Of
,bs Secretary Of War; rgeapituated BY the Pres-
pt Among the subj cts referred TO are, an amend
psnt Of the Law dsprivng Off sers in the field OF the
privilege Of purchasing ratiOns increase in the al
loWanos to officers travelling under orders provision Tor
invalid officers resigned ia consequences Of wounds
sickness tie tenure OF cfse o. general officers of the
Provisional Army; TIE organization OF the general
stat OF the army, &c.
Toe reo.pitulaton Of the recent successes Of our
.rmv Is sufficiently encouraging, and We cannot, per-
h,p do better than quote the paragraph in which il
i co1tained
TIA reesn, events Of the var are highly oredtAble
10 our troops, exhibiting energy aud vigilance com
bined With the habitua glllnuy which they have
tauzht Us % expect all occasions We have been
ebeSred by important and Valu lble successes in
FLORIDA Northern Mississippi, Western Tennessee aud
Kan.ueky Western LOuisana and Eastern North Caro-
Ira rejecting the highest honor on the skill AMI con-
dnet of our commanders and on the incomPar BILE
solS;sr. vbom it 10 their privilege 10 lead. ma
v.l attack on Mobile was 30 successfully rep1lsed
a. tha outer works that the attempt was abat-
5ned and the nine months siege OF charleston has
80 practically suspended leaving that nobls city aud
A., ortresses mperishabls monuments to the skiI and
f,rtitnde of les defenders. The armies IN Northern
Gsor0a and in Northern Virginia still oppose, with un-
SS1ksn 'front.' formidable barrier to the progress Of tne