The New York herald., 1865-03-18
The SOUTH.
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JEFF. DAVIS SPECIAL MESSAGE.
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He Lectures the Rebel Congress on
Their DilatOry Legislation.
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The Rebel Capital in Greater Danger
Than Ever Before.
Davis Scheme for Feeding the Army
at Richmond While Hemmed
In on All Sides.
he Demands the Suspension Of the
Habeas Corpus. Act.
Curious Developments OF the
Peace Conference.
Proposed Interview Between Generals
Grant and Lee,
Go, &C., &c.
Curious Developments OF the
Peace Conference.

Gralt ana Lee,
&cs &c., &c.
,sJohr. Davis Message to the Rebel Congress.
IFrom the Richmond Enquirer, March 16
The following message transmitted 10 Congress
Monday
10 THE SENATE HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
CoSTEDERATE STATES OF AMERcA:-
When informed on Thursday last that the inten
Mon of Congress adjourn die the ensuing Satur
day, deemed 1t nay duty TO request postponement OF
Che adjournment in order that might submit for your
consideration certain matters Of public interest which are
now laid before you When that request made the
most important that had occupied your atten
ton during the session had been far advanced
submitted for executive action and the state of the
country had materially affected by the events Of
the last four months to evnce the necessity of further
and energetic legislation than contemplated in
November last
Our country is envroned with perils which is
sur duty calmly to contemplate Thus alone can the
necessary avert threatened calamities be
wisely devised and efficiently enforced.
THE DANGER
Recent military operations of the enemy have been
successful in the capture Of Of seapors and in
devastating large districts Of country These events
have had the natural Of encouraging
dispDting many of people. The Capitol Of the Con-
federate States threatened and Is in greater
danger than It has heretofore been during the The
fact is stated without conceament due to
the people, whose are and in whose courage
and consanoy entire trust is reposed due you in
whose wisdom and resolute spirit the people have con-
nded for the adoption Of the required to guard
them from threatened perils.
THE coNFEDERAcY.
While stating to you that country is in danger,
also desire to state my deliberate convison that ii is
within ourpower to avert the calamties which
ns and the triumph OF the sacred for
which SO much sacrifice has been made so much suf
Seng endured, many precious lives been lost This
result is TO obtained by forttude, by courage by
sonstancy in enduring the sacridces still needed In
word by the prompt and resoute devotion OF tho whole
OF and money In the conederacy to the
achievement of our liberties and Independence.
The required to be successful should
Sso op@ oYs@ mpoians ns measures are not only
natural but audabe, in representative assemblies under
ordinary circumstances; but In moments Of danger
when action urgent the delay thus caused Is
itself Of peril Thus it has unfortunately
happened that of the passed by you In
pursuance OF the recommendations contained In my
sage OF November last hare been retarded D. lose
Sh of their vdle have, for the same reason, been
abandoned after being maturcd because longer app
cable altered condition, and others have not been
brought under examination In making these remarks
Is far from my attribute the loss OF time
any other than those inherent In deliberatve
assemblies, but only urgently to recommend prompt
sction the measures now submitted
We need for carrying the successfully men and
sufficient 10 attain success.
To obtain the supplies il is necessary to protect pro-
ductive districts guard our lines OF communications by
an increase the number Of forces, and hence IL
results that with large augmentaons in the number OF
in the army the facility Of supplying the troops
would be greater than with our recent reduced strength
NECESSITY or FILLING THE TREASURY.
For the purchase Of supplies required, especially
for the armies in Virginia and North Carolina, the
treasury must be provided with means, and modinca
ton Of the Impressment law is required II has been
ascertaned by examination that have within our
a gufCency
and without having to the ample provision
isng in these paris OF the concderacy with which our
communication has been partially Interrupted by hos
tile operations. But in some districts from which
supplies are 10 be drawn the Inhabitants being either
within the enenys lines or In very close proximity, are
unable TO make OF Confederate Treasury notes for
the purchase Of articles Of prime necessity and 1t is
necessary that TO extent coin be paid In order to
obta supplies II Is therefore recommended that Con
gres devise the means Of making available the coin
within the conederacy for the purpose OF supplying the
army. The officers Of the supply departments report
that with two millions OF dollars in coin the armies in
Virginia and North Carolina DO amply supplied for
The remainder OF the year and the knowledge Of this
fact should suffice to insure the adoption OF the
necessary TO obtain this moderate sum.
THE nPIEsvMBsT law.
The mpressment law II exists prohibits the
public officers from impressing supplies without making
payment OF the valuation at the time OF imprcssment
The limit fixed for the issue OF Treasury notes has been
nearly reached and the Treasury cannot always furnish
the funds necessary for prompt payment, while the
law for raising which would have afforded
means for diminishing, II not removing this difficulty,
was unfortunately delayed for several months, and has
just been signed In this condition OF things 1t Is i'm
possible TO supply The army although ample stores may
exist the country Whenever the owners refuse give
credit 70 the public officer IL necessary that this
striction on the power OF inpressment be removed.
The power is admitted to be Objectionable liza
BILE 70 abuse, and unequal In It's operation on
individuals; yet all these objections must yield
system Of yaIuon now established enght 70 be radi.
caly changed Tho legislation requires in such Of
imprssment that the market pce be paid but there is
made arbitrarily aud In deprecated currency The re-
suit b that tho most extayagsn prices are dxed such as
no one ever expects 10 be paid in coin None betere
ndt the government REDEEM coin The ctga'ion
70 pay fy dollars bushel for corn, seven hundred
dollars barrel for -four II would TO be more just
and appropriate estimate the supplies impressed at their
value w cono give the obligation 0f the government
ss pay a nsnt o. .he price IN COIN WIN r.asonaoe
the wheat or corn impressed, with reasonable
interest also peyabe in kind aud to MAX the obligations
government Whatever be ihe yaIue a. iached by Con-
gress 10 these suggestions Is hoped thai there will be
ssbk D. supply ne army of nscesay by the impress
mcnt Of provisions for that purpose
FINANCIAL c0LlArr
The measure adopted TO raise revenue though liberal
In It's provisions, being clearly inadequate the
arrears " debt aud the current expenditures sme degree
of embarrassment tho management Of the finances
must continue TO be felt IL Is TO be regretted, think
~ Of on agricultural income equal TO tho augmented
tax on other incomes payable In Treasury notes was
joctcd by Congress Thls tax would have contributed
materially TO facilitate the purchase OF provisions end
diminish the necessity now fe for supply Of coin
The passed by Congress during The session for
feTnluhB me army ana supplying inc ahhNuHh iv,So
needed for the public defence, have been IN my Judg
ment insufficient, and am impeed by pro ound con-
sioon of duty and stimulated by sc OF the peris
whc surround our country, 10 urge upon you additional
legislation on this subject
rn TROOPS
The bi Tor employing negroes soldiers has not yet
reached me- though The printed journals or your proceed
ings inform me q s passage. Much benefit Is aniic
pafed from this measure though Ear would have
resulted from its adoption nt earlier date so TO |
afford time for their Organization aud instruction during
the winter months
Tho bill for diminishing tho number on exernpis has
Just been made the suhe Of special message aud ia
provisions such would add TO The army
Ihe recommendation 10 abolish ail class exemptions has