Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-03-22
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.

the Confederate States of America:
When informed on Thursday last that it was
the intention of Congress to adjourn sine dis on .
the ensuing Saturday, deemed it my duty to
request postpopcment of the adjournment, in
order that might submit for your consideration
certain matters of public interest which are now
laid before you. When that request was made
the most important measures that bad occupied
your attention during the session had not been
70 far advanced as to be submitted for Executive
action, and the state of the'country had been so
materially affected by the events of the last four
months, as to evince the necessity of further and
more energetic legislation than was contemplated
in November last.
Our country is now environcd with perils
which it is our duty calmly to contemplate
Thus alone can the measures necessary to avert
threatened calamities be wisely devised and eff
GENTLY enforced.
Recent military operations of the enemy have
been successful in the capture Of some of our
seaports, i'll interrupting some Of our lines of
communication and in devastating large districts
of our country These events have had the ma
tural effect of encourage our foes and dispiriting
many Of our people. The capital of the Con-
fedcrate States is now threatened and is in great
er danger then it has heretofore been during the
war. The fact is stated without reserve or con-
ccalment as due to the people whose servants We
are, and in whose courage and constancy entire
trust is reposcd; as due to you in whose wisdom
and resolute spirit the people have con6led, fer
the adoption of the measures required to guard
them from threatened perhs.
While stating to you that our country is in
danger, desire also to state my deliberate con-
viction that it is within our power to avert the
calamities which menace us, and to secure the
triumph of the sacred cause for which so much
sacrifice has been made, so much suffering en-
durcd, so many precious lives been lost. This
result is to be obtained by fortitudo by couraee
by constancy in enduring the sacrifices still need
ed in word, by the prompt and resoute de-
votion of.the whole resources of men and money
in the Confederacy to the acheivment of our Ii
berries and independence.
| The measures now required to be successful,
| should be prompt. Long deliberation and pro-
tracted debate over important measures are not
only natural but laudable in representative as
sembles under ordinary circumstances but in
moments of danger when action becomes urgent,
the delay thus caused is itself new source of
peril. Thus it has unfortunately happened that
some of the measures passed by you in pursuance
| of the recommendations contained in my message
| of November last have been so retarded as to
lose much of their value, or have, fer the same
reason, been abandoned after being matur.
ed, because no longer applicable TO our al
tered condition, and others have not been brought
! under examination. In making these remarks,
it is far from my intention to attribute the loss
of time to any other cause than those inherent
in deliberative assemblies, but only urgently to
recommend prompt action upou the measures
now submitted.
We need for carrying on the war successfully,
men and supplies for the army. We have both
within our country sufficient to attain success.
10 obtain the supplies, it is necessary t, pro-
tect productive districts guard our lines of com.
munications by an increase in the number of our
+ forces; and hence it results that with large
augmentation in the number of men in the ar.
my, the facility Of supplying the troops would
be greater than with our recent reduced strength
For the purchase Of supplies now required
especially for the armies in Virginia and North
Carolina, the treasury must be provided with
means; and modification in the impressment
law is required. 1t has been ascertained by ex.
animation that We have within our reach suf-
6ciency Of what is most needed for the army
and without having recourse to the ample pro-
vision existing in those parts Of the Confede
racy with which our communication has beer
partially Interrupted by hostile operations.
But in some districts from which supplies are t.
be drawn, the inhabitants being either within
the enemy's lines. Or in very close proximity
are unable to make use Of Confederate Treasury
notes for the purchase of articles of prime ne
cessity, and it is necessary chat to some extent
coin be paid in order to obtain. supplies. I
| u.s. therefore recommended that CONGRESS- devise
the means for making available the coin within
the Confederacy for the purpose Of supplying tn
army. The officers Of the supply department
report that with two millions Of dollars in coli
the armies in Virginia and North Carolina cal
be amply supplied for the remainder of the year
and the knowledge of this fact should suffice
ensure the adoption Of the measures neccssar,
to obtain this moderate sum.