Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-03-30
WtsttlIaneous.
SITUATION AND PROSPECTS
OF THE SOUTH.
Message from Jeff Davis TO the
Rebel Congress.


When informed on Thursday last that it
was the intention of Congress TO adjourn
sine die on the ensuing Saturday, deemed
II my duty to request u postponament 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, ,ssas made the
most important measures that had occupied
your attention during the session had not
been 80 far advanced as to be submitted for
executive action, and the state of the coun-
try 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 Novem-
Der last.
Our country is now cnvironed with perils
which it is our duty calmly to contemplate
Thus alone can the measures necessary 10
avert threatened calamties be wisely devised
and efficiently enforced.
Recent military operations Of the enemy
have been successful in the capture of some
Of our seaports and in devastating large dis
tricts of our country. These events have
had the natural effect Of encouraging our
foes and dispirlting many of our people
The capital Of the Confederate States is
now threatened, and it is in greater danger
than it has heretofore been during the war.
The fact is stated without reserve or con
cealment, as due to the people, whose serv-
ants we are, and in whose courage and con-
stance entire trust is reposed; as due to You,
in whose wisdom and resolute spirit the
people have confded for the adoption of the
measures required to guard them from
threatened perils.
While stating to you that our country is
in danger. also desire to state my deliberate
conviction that it is within our power to avert
the calamities which menace US and to Sc
cure the triumph Of the sacred cause for
which so much sacrifice has been made, so
much suffering endured, so many precious
lives been lost This result is to be obtain
ed by fortitude, by courage, by cOnstancy in
enduring the sacrifices still needed in a
word, by the prompt and resOlute devotion
Of the whole resources Of men and money in
the confcderacy to the achievement of our
liberties and independence.
The measures now required to be success
full should be prompt. Long deliberation
and protracted debate over important meas
ures are not only natural, but laudable, in
representative assemblies under ordinary cir
cumstances; but in moments of danger,
when action becomes urgent, the delay thus
I u
4 it has unfortunately happened that some Of
the measures passed by you i'll pursuance
of the RECOMMENDATIONS G""."'pad in IN,
message Of November last have been so re
| tarded as to lose much of their value, ol
have, for the same reason, been abandoned
after being matured, because no longer APP
picable to our altered 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 de-
lucrative assemblies, but only urgently to
recommend prompt action on the measures
now submitted.
We need for carrying on the war success
fully men and supplies for the army. We
have both within our country sufficient to
attain success.
TO obtain the supplies, it is necessary to
protect productive districts, guard our line,
of communications by an increase in the
number of our forces and hence it results
that with large augmentationS in the mum,
Der of men in the army, the facility Of sup
| plying the troops would be greater than with
our recent reduced strength.
Forthe purchase of supplies now required,
especially for the armies in Virginia and
! North Carolina, the treasury must be pro,
| vided with means, and modification of the
impressmcnt law is required. 1t has been
ascertained by examination that we have
within our reach a sutfcency of what Is
most needed for the army, and without hav-
| ing recourse to the ample provision existing
| in those parts Of the conlederacy with which
our communication has been partially inter
rupted by hostile operations But in some
districts from which supplies are to be drawn
the inhabitants. being either within the
| enemy lines or in very close proximity, are
unable to make use of confederate treasury
notes for the purchase of articles of prime
necessity, and it is necessary that, to som,
extent, coin be paid in order to obtain sup
plies. it is therefore recommended tina
Congress devise the means Of making avail
able the coin within the confederacy for tn,
purpose ofsupplying the army. The officer
Of the supply departments report that will
two millions Of dollars in coin the armies il
: Virginia and North Carolina can be ampl
supplied for the remainder of the year, am
the knowledge of this fact should suffice t.
insure the adoption of the measures neces
, sary to obtain this moderate sum.
! The imp piessment law as it now exists pro
hibits the public officers from impresSinG
j supplies without making payment of the
valuation at the time of impressment. Tn,
limit fixed for the issue OF treasury notes ha
been nearly reached, and the treasury can
rot always furnish the funds necessary fo
prompt payment, while the law for raisin,
revenues, which would have afforded mean
for diminishing, if not removing this diff
{ Guilty, was, unfortunately, delayed for severa
months, and has just been signed. In thi
|, condition of things it is impossible to sup
: ply the army, although ample stores ma
exist in the country. Whenever the owner
refuse to give credit to the public officer
is necessary that this restriction on tn
| power of impressment be removed TIL
power is admitted to be Objectionable, liabl
r to abuse, and unequal in its operation on ii
dividuals yet all these objections must yiel
4 to absolute necessity 1t is also suggostc
S that the system of valuation now establish
b ed ought to be radically changed. The les
= islation requires in such cases of impres,
9 ment that the market price be paid bu
l there is no market price in many cases, an
S then valuation is made arbitrarily and in
deprecated currency The result is thu
the most extravagant prices are fixed, sue
t as no one ever expects to be paid in coin.
$ None believe that the government can eve
y redeem in coin the obligation to pay tift
dollars bushel for corn, or seven hundre
dollars barrel for -four. 1t would seel
# to be more iust and appropriate to estimat
: the supplies impressed at their value in col
to give the obligation of the governmel
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