Year: 1863

but one danger which the Government of
your choice regards with apprehension, and
to avert this danger, itappeals to the never
failing patriotism and spirit Of self sacrifice
which you have exhibited since the begin
ming of the war The very unfavorable
season, the protracted drougbts of last year,
reduced the harvests on which We depeu.
ded far below an average yield, and the
deficiency was unfortunately still more
marked in the Northern portion of the
Confederacy, where supplies were specially
needed for the army. If, through conf.
dence in early peace, which may prove de-
lusive, our fields should be now devoted to
the production of cotton and tobacco, in
stead of grain and live stock, and other ar
ticles necessary for the subsistence of the
people and the army, the consequence may
prove serious, if not disastrous, especially
should the present season prove as unfavor.
able as the last. Your country, therefore
appeals to you to aside all thought of gain,
and to devote yourselves to securing your
liberties, without which these gains would
be valueless. It is true that the wheat
harvest in the more Southern States, which
will be gathered next month, promises an
abundant yield; but even if this promise
be fulfilled, the difficulty of transportation,
enhanced as it has been by an unusually
rainy winter, will cause embarrassments in
military operations and suffering among the
people should the crops in the middle and
Northern portions of the Confederacy prove
deficient, But no uneasiness need be felt
in regard to a mere supply of bread for man.
1t is for the large amount of corn and for
age required for the raising Of live stock,
and for the supply Of the animals used in
military operations, that your aid is speei-
ally required. These articles are too bulky
for distant transportation, and in them the
deficiency in the last harvest was most felt
Let your fields be DEVOTED exclusively to
the production of corn, oats, beans, peas,
potatoes and other food for man and beast
Let corn be sown broadcast for fodder, in
immediate proximity to rail roads, rivers
and canals, and let all your efforts be di.
rected to the prompt supply ofthese articles
in the districts where our armies are ope.
rating You will thus add greatly to their
efficiency, and furnish the means without
which it is impractioable to make those
prompt and active movements which have
hitherto stricken terror, into our enemies,
and secured our most brilliant triumphs.


Having thus placed before you, my coun.
trymen, the reasons for the call made on
you for aid in supplying the wants of the
coming year, I add few words of appeal
in behalf of the brave soldiers now confron.
ting your enemies, and to whom your Coy.
ernment is unable to furnish all the com.
forts they sorichly merit. The supply Of
meat for the army is deficient. This def
cheney is only temporary, for measures have
been adopted which will, it is believed,
soon enable us. to restore the full ration
But that ration is now reduced at times to
one.half the usual quantities in some of our
armies. 1t is Known that the supply of
meat throughout the country is sufficient
for the support of all, but the distances are
SO great, the condition of the roads has been
SO bad during the FIVE months of winter wea.
ther through which VIC have just passed,
and the attempts of grovelling spectators
to forestall the market and make money out
of the life.blood of our defenders, have so
much Influenced the withdrawal from sale
of the surplus in the hands of the produ-
GERS, that the Government has been unable
to gather full supplies. The Secretary of
War has prepared plan, which is appen-
ded to this address, by the aid of which, or
some similar means to be adopted by your
selves, you can assist the officers Of the
Government in the purchase of the bacon,
the pork and the beef, known to exist in
large quantities in different parts of the
country. Even if the surplus be less than
is believed, is it not bitter and humilia-
ting reflection that those who remain at
home, secure from hardship and protected
from danger, should be in the enjoyment of
abundance, and that their slaves also should
have full supply of food, while their sons,
brothers, husbands and fathers are stinted
in the rations on which their health and
efficiency depend?


Entertaining no fear that you will either
misconstrue the motive of this address, or
fail to respond to the call of patriotism, /
have placed the facts fully and frankly be-
fore you. Let US all unite in the perform
anee Of our duty, each in his sphere and,
with concerted, persistent and we'll directed
effort, there seems little reason to doubt
that, under the blessings Of Him to whom
we look for guidance, and who has been to
US our shield and our strength, We shall
maintain the sovereignty and independence
of these Confederate States, and transmit
to our posterity the heritage bequeathed to
US by our fathers.


(Sigued,) JEFFERSON DAVIS.


EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Richmond, April
10, 1868. ..-.-.-.
Plan Suggested by the Secretaryof War.


I. Let the people in each county, parish
or ward select at public meeting, as early as
convenient, committee of three or more
discreet citizens, charged with the duties
hereinafter mentioned.