The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-05-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To The Senate and House Of Representatives,
of the Confederate States Of america

of the Con federdte Sfdtes OF AMERICA:
You are assembled under circumstances Of deep
interest to your country; and it is fortunate that,
coming as you d. newly elected by the people,
and familiar with the condition Of the various To-
calities you will be the better able to devise meas
uTes adapted to meet the wants of the public SER
vice, without imposing unnecessary burthens
the citizen The brief period which has elapsed
since the last adjournment of Congress has not af
forded sufficient opportunity to Jest the efficacy OF
the most important laws then 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 vio-
lation of the rights Of the States, and in usurpa
ton of power not delegated to the Government of
the United States, is still! characterized by the
barbarism with which it has heretofore been con-
Quoted by the enemy. Aged men, helpless women
and children, appeal in vain to the humanity
which should be inspired by their condition, for
immunity from arrest, incarceration or Punishment
from their homes. Plumber and devastation of the
property of non combatants, destruction OF private
dwellings and even of edifces devoted to the wor-
ship of God, expeditions organized for the sole
purpose or saCk1ug cItles, consIgnlng them to the
flames, killing the unarmed inhabitants and infict-
ing horrible outrages women and children, are
of the constantly recurring atrocities of the
invader. 1t cannot reasonably be pretended that
such acts conduce to any end which their authors
dare ayow before the civilized world, and sooner
or later Christendom must mete out to them the
condemnation which such brutality deserves The
suffering thus ruthlessly inflicted upon the people
of the invaded districts has served but to illustrate
their patriotism Entire unanimity and zeal for
their country S cause have been pre-eminently con-
spicuous among those whose sacrifices 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
fortitude far more severe than the brief fatigues
and perils Of actual combat) has been the centre
Of cheerfuiness and hope. From the camp comes
the voice of the soldier patriots invoking each who
is at home, in the sphere he best may fill, to de-
vote his whole energies to the support of cause,
in the success Of which their confidence has never
ialtered. They, the veterans of many hard fought
field tender to their country, without limit of time
service of priceless value to US, one which pos
terity will hold in grateful remembrance.
In considering the state of the country, the re-
Fiction is naturally suggested that this is the third
Congress of the Confederate States Of America.
The Provisional Government was formed, it's Con-
gress held four sessions, lived its appointed term
and passed away. The permanent Government
was then organized, it's different departments es-
tablished, Congress elected which also held four
sessions, served its full constitutional term and ex-
PRED. You, the second Congress- under the per
mauent Government, are now assembled at the
time and place appointed by law for commencing
your session. All these events have passed into
history, notwithstanding the threat of our prompt
subjugaton, made three years ago, by people
that presume to assert title to govern States
whose separate and independent sovereignty was
recognized by treaty with France and Great Britain
in the last century, and remained unquestioned
for nearly three generations. Yet these very
governments, in disregard of duty and treaty obli-
cations which bind them to recognize as indepen-
dent, Virginia and other Confederate States, per-
sst in countenancing by moral influence, if not
aiding by unfair and partial action, the claim set
up by the Executive of foreign Government, to
exercise despotic sway the States thus recog-
nized, and treat the invasion of them by their for
mer limited and special agent, though it were
the attempt of a sovereign to suppress rebellion
against lawful authority Ungenerous advantage
has been taken of present condition, and our
rights have been violated, vessels of de-
tanned in ports to which they bad been invited by
proclamations of neutrality, and in one instance
our flag also insulted where the sacred right Of
asylum supposed to be secure; while one of
these Governments has contented itself by simply
delrecating, by deferential repr sensations, the
conduct OF our enemy in the constantly recurring
instances of his contemptuous disregard of neutral
rights and fagrant violations of public law. 1t
may be that foreign Governments, like our enc
mics, have mistaken desire for peace, unre-
servedly expressed, for evidence of exhaustion,
and have thence inferred the probability of sue
cess in the effort to suhjugate extermnate the
millions of human beings who, in these States
prefer any fate to submission to their savage as
saliants. see no prospect of an early change in
the course heretofore pursued by these Govern
ments; but when this deusion shall have been dis
PEELED, and when our independence, by the valor
and fortitude of our people, shall have been won
against all the hostile influences combined against
U.S. and no longer be ignored by open foes or
protested neutrals this will have left with its
proud memories record of many wrongs, which
it may not ms-become us to forgive-some for
which we may not properly forbear from demand
ing redress. In the meantime it is enough for US
to know that every avenue of negotiation is closed
against u.s. that our enemy is making renewed and
strenuous efforts for destruction and that the
sole resource for us, people secure in the jus
tce OF our cause and holding our liberties to be
more precious than all other earthly possessions
is to combine and apply every available element of
power for their defence and preservation.
On the subject of the exchange of prisoners l
greatly regret to be unable to give you satisfactory
information. The government of the United States
while persisting in failure execute the terms of
the cartel make occasional deliveries of prisoners
and then suspend action without apparent cause
| confess my inability to comprehend their policy
or purpose. The prisoners held by us, 10 spite of
humane care, are perishing from the inevitable
effects of imprisonment and the home sickness
produced by the hopelessness of release from con-
hnement The spectacle of their suffering aug
ments our longing desire to relieve from similar
trials brave men who have Snnnt So manv