Year: 1862

To the People of Georgia.


ow-CIrIzENs: In few days the
provisional Government of the Confederate
States will live only in history. With il
we shall deliver up the trust we have en-.
deavored to use for your benefit, to those
more directly selected by yourselves. The
public record of our acts is familiar to you,
and requires no further explanation at our
hands. Of those matters which policy has
required to be secret, it would be improper
to speak. This address, therefore, will have
no personal reference.


We are we'll assured that there exists no
necessity for US to arouse your patriotism,
nor to inspire your confidence. We rejoice
with you in the unanimity of our State-in
its resolution and its hopes. And we are
proud with you that Georgia has been "il,
Illustrated" and we doubt not will be illus
trated again by her sons in our holy strug-
gle. The first campaign is over-each par
ty rests in place-while the winters snow
declares an armistice from on high. The
results in the field are familiar to you, and
we will not recount them To some impor-
tant facts we call your attention.


First The moderation of our own Gov
ernment and the fanatical madness of our
enemies have dispersed all differences Of
opinion among our people, and united
them forever in the war of independence.
In few border States warning opposition
is giving way before the stern logic Of daily
developing facts. The worlds history does
not give parallel instance Of q revolution
based upon such unauimity among the
people.


Second. Our enemy has exhibited an
energy, a perseverance and an amount of
resources which we had hardly expected
and disregard of Constitution and laws
which we can hardly credit. The result
Of both, however, is that power which is
the characteristic element of despotism,
aud renders it as formidable to its enemies
as it is destructive to its subjects.


Third. An immense army has been or
ganized for our destruction, which is being
disciplined to the unthinking stolidity of
regulars With the exclusive possession
of the seas, our enemy is enabled to throw
upon the shores of every State the nucleus
of an army. And the threat is made, and
doubtless the attempt will follow in early
spring, to crush US with giants grasp,
by simultaneous movement along our en-
tire borders


Fourth. With whatever alacrity our peo-
pie may rush to arms, and with whatever
energy our Government may use its re-
sources, We cannot expect to cope with our
enemy either in numbers, equipments or
munitions of war. To provide against these
odds, we must look to desperate courage,
unhinching daring and uniuersal se!fsac-
rifce.


Fifth. The prospect of foreign iuterfeI-
ence is, at least, a remote one, and should
not be relied on If it comes, let it be only
auxiliary to our own preparations for free
dom. To our God and ourselves alone We
should look.


These are stern facts, perhaps some of
them are uapalatable. But We are deceived
in you if you would have US to conceal them
in order to deceive you. The only ques-
tion for US and for you is: As a nation,
and individually, what have we to do? We
answer:


First-As nation we should be united,
forbearing to one another, frowuing upon
all factious opposition and censorious crit
icisms, and giving trustful and generous
confidence to those selected as our leaders
in the camp and the council chamber.
Secona.-We should excite every nerve
and strain every muscle Of the body polite,
to maintain our financial and military
healthfulness, and by rapid aggressive &C.
tion, make our enemies feel, at their own
Gresides, the horrors of war brought on
by themselves.


The more important matter for you,
however, is your individual duty. What
can you do?


The foot of the oppressor is 'ou the soil
of Georgia. He comes with lust in his
eye, poverty in his purse, and hell in his
heart. He comes robber and murderer.
How shall you meet him With the sword
at the threshold. With death for him or
yourself. But more than this-let every
woman have torch, every child a fire.
brand. Let the loved homes Of our youth
be made desolate. Let blackness and ruin
mark your departing steps, if depart you
must, and let a desert more terrible than
Sahara welcome the Vandals. Let every