Shreveport news. [volume] (Shreveport [La.]) 1864-1865, 1865-04-11
Presidents Message.
RICHMOND, March 10, 1865.

RICHMOND, March 10, 1865.
To the Senate and House Of Rep
,esentatircs Of tile Confederate States
Of america:
When informed on Thursday last,
that it was the intention of Con-
gress to adjourn sine die on the ensu-
ing Saturday, l deemed it my duty
to request postponement OF the ad-
journment in order that / mi ght sub
iect for your consideration certain
matters Of public interest which are
now laid before you.
When that request was made, the
most important measure that had oc-
cupied your attention during the sess-
ion, had not been so 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 en-
ergetic legislation than was contem-
plated in November last. Our coun-
try is now environed with perils which
it is our duty to calmly contemplate.
Thus alone can the measure necessa-
~ to avert threatened calamities be
wisely devised and eff.ctually enfor-
ced. The present military opera
tons of the enemy have been success
full in the capture Of some of our sea
ports, and in devastating large dis
tricts Of our country. These success
es have had the natrual effect of en-
couraging our foes and disaffecting
many Of our people. The capital OF
the Confederate States is now threat
ened, and it is ingreater danger than
it has been during the war.
The fact is stated without reserve
or coucealment as due to the people,
| whose servants we are, and whose
courage and constancy we trust. as
due to you. in whose wisdom and res
oIutc spirits the people have conilded,
for the adoption of the measures re-
quired to guard them from threaten
ed perils. While stating to you that
our country is in danger, 1 also de-
sire to state my deliberate conviction
that it is within our power to avert
the caIamities which menace us, and
to secure the triumph Of the sacred
cause for which so much sacratice
has been made, so much suffering en-
lured, so many precious lives been
lost. This result is to be attained
by fortitude. by ,urage, by constan-
cy in enduring the sacratices still
needed; in word, by the prompt
and r.solute devotion Of the Whole
a
Confederacy to the achievement OF
our liberties and independence.
The measures now required, to be
successful. should be prompt. Long
deliberations and protracted debates
over important measures, are not on
" natural but laudable in represen
, tative assemblies under ordinary cir
ger, when action becomes urgent, the
delay thus caused is in itself a new
source of peril. Thus it has unfor
tuna.cly happened that some of thu
measures passed by yo:, in pursuance
: Of the recommendations contained II
my message of November last, hav'
been so retarded as t. lose much o
-
on been abandoned after being matu
; red because no longer applicable t.
i our altered condition, and other
have not been brought under con
sideration.
- In making these remarks, it is ia
Il from my intention TO attribute tn
! loss OF time to any other cause tha
r those inherent in deliberative assem-
} bl.s, but only urgently to recon
,, mend prompt action on the measure
now to be submitted.
We need, for carrying on the wa
= successfully, men and supplies 70
the army. We have both with
=, our country, and sufficient to attai
;; success. To obtain supplies, 1t
u necessary to protect productive dis
=, tricts, guard our lines Of commune;
e ton by an increase in the number {
If our forces, and hence its results tina
n with large approximations, in tn
number of rnen in the army, the Fl
j. cility of supplying the troops shout
be greater than with our present r.
, duced strength.
For the purpos. Of supplies, no
required, essentially tor the armi'
= in Virginia and North Carolina, IL
- Treasury must be provided wit
II means, and modification of the in
e pressment law is required. 1t HI
of been ascertained by examination, TIL
10, we have in our reach a suthciency
he what is most needed for the arm
and without having recourse to Il
, ample provision existing in tho
IN !, parts of the Confederacy, with whi'
- our communication has been partial
4 interrupted by hostile operations.
But in some districts from whi'
a supplies are to be drawn, the inhat
lar tants being within the enemy's lin