Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-04-13
pUBLIsHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING.
ny SwINDELLS & LANE.
". SWIyDELLS. J. W. LANB.
important Message of President Davis.

D
, tcitra,e &oteS Of Ame'fcd;
When informed on Thursday last, that 1t was the
Intention Of Congress TO adjourn sine deoh tho ehsu
,pg Saturday, deemed 1t my duty TO reques, poS.
ponenlent OF tho Adjournment, In order that might
tnbec for your consideration certain matters o pno-
lie interest which are now laid before YOU ..
When that request was made, the most important
MEASURE that had occupied your alenIion auus 'uo
session, had not been far advanced as 10 be submit
-sd for executive acton, and the state oil the country
had becn matoriallo affected by the events OF ihe
last four months az TO evnce the necessity oil urrr
and more energetic legislation than was contemplated
in November last. Our country is now enyroned with
perils which IL is our duty to calmly contemplate
Thus alone can the measures necessary tV avert
threatened calamitics lie wisely devised and ecctua
" enforced The present military operations of the
enemy have been successful in the capture Of of
sOaports, and In devastating large districts Of our
country. These successes have had the natural effect
of encouraging foes and disalecting many Of
people. The capitol of the Confederate States Is
threatened and 1t is in greater danger than II has
heretofore been during the war.
The fact Is stated without reserve coucealment
az due 10 the people, whose servants are, and
whose courage and cOnstancy we trust as duo to you
in whose wisdom and resolu,e spirits the people have
contded, .or tho adoption the measures required TO
guard them from threatened perils. While stating TO
you that our country is in danger, also desire 10
state my deliberate conviction that it is within
power TO avert the oalamities which menace u.s. and
secure the triumph of the sacred cause for which
much sacrifice has been made, so much suffering
endured, so many precious lives been lost This
suit is be attained by fortitudo by courage by
etancy In enduring the sacrifices still needed in {,
word by the prompt and resOute devotion Of the whole
of and money in the Coniederacy tho
achievement Of our liberties and independence.
The now required, TO be successful, should
baprompt. Long deliberati,ns and prorncted do
bates important measures, not only natural
hut laudable in representative assemblies under ori
nary circumstances but in moments of danger, when
action becomes urgent, the delay thus caused in itself
a new peril. Thus 1t has unfortunately happened,
that some of tie measures pissed by you in pursn.
. Huce of the recommendations contained in my mes
sage of November last, have been so retared M to
lose much of their value, have for the same reason
been abandoned after being matured because no lon
ger applicable to altered condition, and others
have not been brought under consideration.
liz making these remarks, it is far from my inten-
ton attribute tho loss of time any other causes
than those inherent in deheratiye assemblies but
only urgently to recommend prompt action on the
measures submitted.
We need, for carrying on the war successfully men
and supplies for tho army We have both within our
country sufficient to attain SUCCESS IT, obtain tho
supplies 1t is necessary to protect productive districts
guard our lines of communication by an increase in
'e number of our forces, and hence its results that
with large nuginentations in the number of men in
Inc army, theiaciliy of supplying the troops should
9r greater thlS wiz our present reduced strength
Fl the pull Dse z supplies now required essential
~ 0Nthe armies in Virginia and North Carolina, the
Treasury must be provided with means. and modii-
cation Of the impressnent law is required. 1t has
leen ascertained by examination, that we have with
IN reach suiciency of what is most needed for
the army, and without having recourse to the ample
provision existing in those parts of the Conftderacy
with which our communication has been partially IN
ierrupted by hostile operations
But p come districts from which supplies are to be
drawn, tho Inhabitants being either within the enc
nys lines or in very close proximity are unable 10
make rEs OF confederate Treasury for the pur-
chase Of articles 0fprme necessity, and it il
~ thatto extent coin be paid in order obtain
supplies. is therefore recommended that Congress
devise sone of making available the C, in with
in the Con federacy for the purpose of supplying the
army. The officers Of the supply departments report
TINT with two millions Of dollars in coin, the armies
Virginia and North Carolina can I've amply supplied
or the renander Of the year, and the knowledge Of
this fact should suffice TO insure the adoption Of the
measures necessary to obtaining this moderate sum-
The impressment law Ms 1t now exists, prohibits tho
public officers from franressing supplies without ma
King payment of the valuation at the time of impress
nieht. The limit fixed for the issue of Treasury notes
has been nearly reached and the Treasury cannot
ways furnish the funds necessary for prompt poymept
while the law for raising which would have
afforded means for diminishing If not remGving
this difficulty, unfortunately delayed for several
months. and has just been signed.
In this condition Of things it is impossible TO sun.
ply tho army al thoush ample stores may exist tho
country. Whenever the owners refuse 10 give credit
to he public officer Il is necessary that this resric-
power Is admitted TO be Objectionable liable to abuse
and unequal in its operation on individuals, yet all
these objections must yield TO absolute necessity 1t
is also suggested that the system Of valuation now
tablished ought TO be radically changed The episla
ton requires in such cases of mpressment thai the
market price be paid but there IL really no market
price IN may places, aud then valuation is made arh
trarily, and In deprecated currency The result s
that the most extravagant prices are fixed such as
one ever expects TO be paid In coin None believe
that the Gorernment can ever redeem in coin the OBJ
legation TO pay hfy dollars bushel for corn or seven
hundred dollars barrel for -four. 1t would seem TO
lie more just and appropriate estimate the suppies
impressed at their value in coin, give the obligation
of the government for the payment Of the price in
M fha anffnn &C