Year: 1862




of the army. When the war first broke
out, many Of our people could with diff
Guilty be persuaded that it would be long
or serious. 1t was not deemed possible
that anything so insane as persistent
attempt to subjugate these States could
be made still less that the delusion
could SO far prevail as to give to the war
the vast proportions which it has assumed
The people, incredulous of long war,
were naturally averse to long enlistments,
and the early legislation of Congress rem
dered it impracticable to obtain volun-
teers for greater period than twelve
months. Now that it has become prob
able that the war will be continued thro'
a series of years, our hgh.spirted and
gallant soldiers, while generally re-on-
listing, are from the fact of having enter
ed the service for short time, compelled
in many instances to 60 home to make
the necessary arrangements for their
families during their prolonged absence


The quotas of new regiments for the
war, called from the different States, are
in rapid progress of organization. Tho
whole body of new levies and re enlisted
men will probably be ready in the ranks
within the next thirty days. But in the
meantime it is exceedingly difficult to
give an accurate statement of the number
of our forces in the field. They may in
general terms be stated at four hundred
regiments of infantry, with proportionate
forces of cavalry and artillery, the de-
tails of which will be shown by the re-
port of the Secretary of War. deem
it proper to advert to the fact that the
process of furloughs and re-enistment in
progress for the last month had SO far
disorganized and weakened our forces as
to impair our ability for successful de-
fense, but hereby congratulate you that
this evil, which | had foreseen, and was
powerless to prevent, may now be said to
be substantially at an end, and that we
shall not again during the war be exposed
to seeing our strength diminished by this
fruitful cause of dsaster-saort enlist
ments.


The people of the Confederate States
being principally engaged in agricultural
pursuits, were unprovided, at the CON-
mencement of hostilities, with ships,
ship yards, materials for ship building or
skilled mechanics and seamen in suffi
cient numbers to make the prompt crea.
tlon OF navya practical task, even if
the required appropriations had been
made for the purposes. Notwithstanding
our very limited resources however, the
report Of the Secretary will exhibit to
you satisfactory proportion of prepa-
ration, and the certainty of the near com
pletion of vessels of number and class
on which we may confidently rely for con-
testing the vaunted control of the en-,
emy over our waters.


The financial system devised by the
wisdom of predecessors, has proved
adequate to supplying all the wants Of
the government, notwithstanding the un-
expected and very large increase of ex-
penditures resulting from a great aug
mentation in the necessary means of de-
fense. The report of the Secretary ol
the Treasury will exhibit the gratifying
fact that we have no floating debt, that
the credit of the government is unim-
paired, and that the total expenditure OF
the government for the year has been in
round numbers. one hundred and seventy
millions of dollars, less than one-third
of the sum wasted by the enemy, in his
vain effort to conquer us ; less than the
value OF single article of export, the
cotton crop of the year.


The report of the Postmaster General
will show the condition of that depart
ment to be steadily improving, its reve-
nues increasing, and already aflording as
surances that it will be self-sustaining at
the date required by the Constitution,
while atfording ample mail facilities fol
tue people,


In the Department of Justice, which
includes the patent office and public
printing, some legislative provisions will
be required, which will be specifically
stated in the report of the head of that
department.


invite the attention Of Congress to
the duty of organizing a Supreme Court
of the Confederate States, in accordance
with the mandate of the Constitution.


refer.you to my message communica-
ted to the Provisional Congress in No
vember last, for such further information
touching the condition of public affairs
as it might be useful to lay before you,
the short interval which has elapsed
since not having produced any material
changes in that condition other than
those to which reference has already been
made.


In conclusion I cordially welcome the
representatives, who, recently chosen by
the people, are fully imbued with their
feelings, and can so ably devise means to
the needful provisions for the public SER
vice. l assure you of my hearty coop
Grafton in all your efforts for the common
welfare of the country.


(Signed) JEFFERSON DAVIS.