The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-12-30

treasury; also Harrison, tho nresi-
dents private secretary.
Turing the first few days Of his
stay in Danville President Davis was
very confident Of the Confederate 8
ultimate triumph. The tone Of the
proclamation issued by him on April
. reflects his confidence, but viewed
in the light Of later events appears
ultra-sanguinc. The proclamation
reads thus:
The general-in-chief found it neccs-
sary to make such movements Of his
troops as to uncover the capital. 1t
would be unwise to conceal the moral
and material injury to our cause re-
sulting from its occupation by tho
enemy. 1t is equally unwise and un-
worthy of us to allow our energies to
falter, and our efforts TO become re-
laxed under revcrses, however cslami-
tous they may be. For many months
the largest and 6nest army of the
Confederacy under leader whose
presence inspires equal confidence in
the troops and the people, has been
| greatly trammellcd by the necessity Of
keeping constant watch over tho
approaches to the capital. and has
thus been forced to forego more than
one opportunity for promising enter
prise. It is for US, my countrymen, to
show by our bearing under reverses
how wretched has been the self-de-
ception OF those who have believed us
less able to endure misfortune with
fortitude than to encounter danger
with courage.
HWe have now entered upon new
phrase of the struggle. Relieved
from the necessity Of guarding par
tioular point our army will be free to
move from point to point, to strike
the enemy in detail far from his
base. Let US but will it, and we are
free.
Animated by that confidence in
your spirit and fortitude which never
yet failed me, announce to you, fell
low-oountrymen, that it is my purpose
to maintain your cause with my whole
heart and soul; that will never con-
sent to abandon to the enemy one foot
of the soil of any Of the States of the
Confederacy; that Virginia, noble
State, whose ancient renown has been
collapsed by the still more glarious re-
cent history; whose bosom has been
barred to Ieoeive tho main shock of
this war; whose sons and daughters
have exhibited hcroism 80 sublime as
to render her iilustrious all time to
oome-that Virginia, with the help
of the people and by the blee.ing of
Providence, shall be held ID de-
Tended, and no peace ever r 40 with
the Infamous invaders of her terri
tory.
IF, by the stress of numbers, we
should be compelled to q Temporary
Withdrawal from her limits or those
of any other border State, we will re-.
turn until the baffled and exhausted
enemy shall abandon in despair his
endless and impossible task of max
ing slaves of the people born to be-
free.
"Let US, then, not despond, my
countrymen, but relying Oh God,
meet the foe with fresh defiance and
with unconquered and uncomfortable
hearts.
Jefferson Davis"
The last proclamation Of the
president Of the Confederate States
is seldom seen; therefore literal
copy Of it is here given. The
table on which this document was
originally written is the property of
Mrs. w. T. Suths1!in. It is beau
tiful piece of furniture Of strikingly
unusual design. It is Of heavy ma
hogeny and its massive carved legs
are Of distinctly antique pattern.
It's top is slab Of mottled Egyptian
marble 81 by S feet IN size. Those
having control Of the Confederate mu.
scum at Richmond have Professionally
tried to obtain possession of this uni
ique and interesting relic, but its
owner is naturally unwilling to re.
linquish so valuable souvenir.
President Davis, while in Danville,
labored eeaselessly. He personally
inspected tbe fortifcations surround
ing tho city and reported same rs
being faulty both in construction and
design. He gave much of his time
to formulating plans relative to the
design which he then had in mind Of
1