Year: 1862

The following are the most important para
graphs in JEFF DAvIs's message Ito the Senate
and House Of Representatives Of the COnfeder-
ate States:''-


In obedience TO the Constitution and provision
requiring the President from time 10 time, to
give to Congress information of the state of the
Conlederacy, and recommend TO their considera-
ton such measures as he shall Judge necessary
and expedient, have to communicate that since
my message az the last session of the provisional
1 Congress, events have demonstrated that the
Government had attempted more than it bad the
power successfully to achieve. Hence in the eff
fort 70 protect by arms the whole territory of
the Confederate States seaboard and inland, we
have been so exposed as recently to encounter Sc
rious disasters.


When the Confederacy was formed the States
comprising it were in peculiar character of their
pursuits and misplaced confidence in their former
associates to a great extent destitute of the means
of the prosecution Of the war on so gigantic
scale as that which it has attained. The work
shops and artists were mainly TO be found in the
Northern States, and one of the first duties which
devolved upon this Government was to establish
the necessary manufactures, and in the mean-
tEle to obtain by purchase from abroad as far as
practicable whatever was needed No effort has
been spared TO effect both these ends and though
results have not equaled our hopes it is believed
that an impartial judgment will upon full inves-
/ tgatOn award to the various departments of the
Government credit for having done all which hu-
man power and foresight enabled them to accom-
plish. The valor and devotion of the people have
not only sustained the efforts of the Government,
but have gone far to support its deficiencies.
I The active state of military preparations among
nations of Europe in April. the date when our
agents first went abroad, interposed unavoidable
delays in procurement of arms, and the want of
a navy has greatly impaired our efforts to import
military supplies of all sorts. j had hoped for
several days TO receive official reports in relation
to our discomfetures at Roanoke Island aud fall
of Fort DOneson. They have not yet reached
me and am therefore unable to communicate
10 YOU such information of past events and the
I consequences resulting from them as would
able me to make recommendations founded upon
the changed condition, which they have procured.
I Enough Is known of the surrender at Roanoke
Island to make us feel that il was deeply humil-
iating. However imperfect mey have been the
preparatio for defense the hope is still enter
tanned that our reported losses at Fort Donelson
have Leen greatly exaggerated, inasmuch as am
not only unwilling but unable 10 believe that
large army of our people have surrendered with
out making a desperate effort 10 cut their way
through the invading forces, whatever may have
been their number, and to endeavor to make
junction with other divisions of the army. But
in the absence of that exact information, which
can only be afforded by official report it would be
premature to pass judgment. and my own is
served, as | trust yours will be until that nfoT-
nation is read. In the meantime strenuous
efforts have been made to throw forward reinforce
ments 10 our armies at positions threatened; and
/ can Lot doubt but the bitter disappointment we
have borne may renerve our people 60 still great
or exertions; will speedily secure result more
accordant with our just expectations and favor