Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

.You al @ assembled urder circumstances OF deep In
terest to your coaa; aud is fortunate that coming
as you do newly elecsed by the people. and familiar
With the condition OF The varicu localities you will be
the better able 10 devie adapted 70 meet the
wants of the public vice, without imposing uonecss
sary burdens OF the Oiuzsr. The brief period which
has elapsed since the last adjournment o. Cougrtss has
no. afforded su ,ent opportunity TO test thu efficacy
Of the most important laws then enacted have the
events occurring in the interval been such al materially
u change the state OF the country.
Tha unjust commenced against us, in violation OF
20 rights OF the States and in usurpatioa OF power
rot delegated to the GJvernmsnt OF the United states,
is s characterized by the btoarism with which it has
heretofore been conducted by the enemy. Aged men,
slplsss women and children, appeal in vain to the
humanity which should Go inspired by their condition,
for immunity from arrest incarceration or Punishment
ffCm their homes. Piunder and deVass'ion OF the
property of OmoaSants destruction o. private
dwellings, and OF edidces devoted - the worship
of God expeditions organized for the cole purpose OF
sacking cues, copsig ing them t. The Hines, killing
the unarmed inhabitants aad lohic!ing horrbl5 out
RACES women and CT drsn are soma OF the constantly
recurring atrocities of the invader l. cannot reasonably
be pretended that such acts con6uce 10 any md WhSh
their authors dare before the civilized world and
sooner or later Ohrisen1om must mee out &C. them the
condemnation which such brutality deserve. The SAL
efing thus ruthessy iph cted upon the people OF tie
iovaded districts hes served but to illustrate their Pa
riosm tire uuanimty and zsal for their counirIs
cause have been Trs emnely conspicuous among tho'e
who sacrifices have bt greatest So the army which
has borne the trials aud dangers of tie war which hs
been subjected 10 piyaons aud disappobtuects, (tests
o. tort tude far more severe haa the brief agues
AID perl of actual oonbat,) has been The centre
of cheeriun S. aud hope. + ON the camp CONES the
voice Of the s-lli patriot invoking each who Is
q. homc, in the pierre he bes. may FL, to devote
whole energies ito support OF cause in the
0f which their tou6dtnce ta1 never ia!te ed They,
the veterans If macy hard fought field tender TO
their country without limit OF time service Of price
less value to US enc which postery viii hold in CRATE
fdl remembrance
In considering the sta # the country the reflection
il rally suggested tat this s the trd Congress Of
the COniedsIate States of America. The Provisional
GoTernment formed its Congress held four sessions,
lived It's sppon cd term aud passed aSay Taa peru
Government was then organized, It's differed! De
psrtmen es sblshej Congress elected WHICH also
held four SESSIONS served its full constitutional ter
aad expTsd YOU the seconi Congress under The per-
ralent Gov raTent no assembl ID ct the time an
d ace Appointed hy Jaw for commanding yonc esso
IL these have passed into history, notwhstsnd
the thr. OF prompt tuljugalion, made three
airs ago, by people that presume 70 assert title TO
govern States whose separate aud Independent
ghty recogUz9t by treaty ri:h France and Great
Britain in the las. century, and fmAced uuquestiontd
u nearly three GeLerad9ns. Yet these very govern
men p in disregard OF duty aud treaty obligations which
lind the toreccgnse independent Virginia and ottr
Confederate SAFES persist in Ianciug. by moral
hueuco If not IN aiding by Unfair aud partial sction
the Claim set up BY The Executive OF foreiga Govern
ment reese despotc sway the States thus
gciE,d and treat The invasion OF them by their for
limited and special agent, as though it we're tie
attempt OF sovereign to suppress rebellion against
lawful authority UngenerCu advantage has been taken
present condition, aud Gus rights have been VIC
lated, vessels o-Sar defined la ports TO which hey
had been Invited by oc,amGaons Of neutrality, ana Ia
one Instance our also insulted whore the sacred
right Of asylum wa supposed to be secure; while pre-
OF these Governments has c0nten.ed itself " th simply
deprecang by dsfesentis approximations the conduc
OF cue enemy 10 the conssaltly recurring instances o
us co1tempuOu disregard of neutral rights ans mi
violations OF pubic law. l. az be that foreign Gov
eromens, like our enami e. have mistaken our d,sirs
for pace ulre,ervedy cx resed. for evidence of
hsuson, and have thence inferred the probabil ~ Of
ia the effort to srbugre or exterminate The
milnns OF human beings wbO, in these States,
prefer any fate submission TO their savage asalaute
ses no p.ospscl OF al early change 10 the Gu &c
herstofore rursued by h:se Governmsn ts; bu. vixen
TINS dsusion shalt have bSea dspelled, and when
i'd psndercs By the vsor and forttude of people
shall have been against all the h sbe hlense
moiued sgains us, aud no longer be ignoret BIZ
op io.s OF pIoicssed ncptIas, this will Ave eff
with ils proud memories record of many wrongs,
which iG may not NJ 3oec 'ms us to forgivesom) fer
VII CD We may net properly forb arirom d, m nding
dlass. In the mean im it Is enough for Us to know
Va every avenue OF negotiation is closed aga lst US
thst Gus enemy ia makiag renewed ald strsnuou eff
for Destruction sld hat tha sole resources foe u.s.
paoye al the jcstcs Of our oausa anl holding
our bert 10 b. oeecou than all otAer earthly
possossoaS is 10 com ins aud apply every available ele
ment OF power f. their defence an preservation.
On Tie zub5c' Of the exchange Of prisoners greatly
,egIe, to able We you lis'ac cy iaformatio~.
The Government OF zoe United aes, while pTsistiUg
ia failure to tfe Of the cartel, make oc-
clsi Iutl deliveries Of sone;s and then suspeud
ION wlthOu. Gpp'tei - lse. l o!ntos5 nv inability 10
comprehend tGGr p3lCy OF purpose. TIE prisoners
hd by us in srita hln1ne care are pelishing from
the Inevitable eifect- .! imprisonment and tho HON
SICKNESS produce by tho hopeessness If release nom
confinement. TIE cc9el5 OF their suffering Sugusnts
our longing desire 10 eleve from sim Lar trials
own brave men, who have spent SD many Besry mont
in cruel and uelrs 1rsonnent, cndur3l with he
roic constaucy. TIE dsvssy, after suspension of
weeks, has jul, bssl resumed By the enemy bls
"a they give a3slAaci OF inen. 70 carry out TIE
cartel, inerru )den .! the exchange may At
any momsnt
Tie reports OF Lha Departments, herewith gu omitted
are referred TO for fun Information in relation to the
matters ppertaiaing TO each Taere two of t6em
OF which deem it necessary to make special rSmWk
The report OF tie Secretary of the Treasury aes
acts JUSTIFY tho conclusion that the Law passed
the lat session for the purpose Of Withdrawing from
oFcla on the largo excess Of Treasury notes hereto
fore isscei hes hal tho desired esc, and that by the
Is July ihs anOlu ia circulation will have been re
d ed TO 4 sem not 61ceeing $2S0000 900. 1t is~be
lev d ta D. u 0iTary nporance that no fu Their is
notes Should taSo place and thai the o tie
credit OF the Cover ment should be restricted 10 the
TWO other modes provided b. Congress- viz tie call of
ho11s and tbs of certificates bearing interest %
the price of supplies purchased vi hin our limi's The
law, i. stands auttoriz the issue by the Trea
suiy o. es Co the exelt of tw, thicds OF tie
amount received undsr its provisions The est OF
the Smouut fulded under the ia is shown to be $500
100000 and if two thirds of this sum b. re issued We
shall have addition of 5000 600 600 to out crcul
ton, believed to be already am lie for thu tunas of
the cOulrs. The addition OF this large sum to the
volume of taa currency would be asten FED by dis
astrous eec, nd Eou produce the speedy recurrence
Of tie evil, ron which be funding law has rescued tue
country flour crowned with the success which
We have much reason to hops we my well exp Q;
tina. his war canaot be prolonged bsyoad the cl,rent
year, and nothing would SO much retard the beuef