Year: 1861

driven, at more than one point to as
. sumo the defensive, and between the
: two belligcrents as to men, military
: means, and financial condition, the
: Contederates are relatively much
stronger now than when the struggle
commenced. .t -.
, The people of the State of Nilsson.
ri have conducted the war in the face
of unparalleled difficulties, with a
: spirit and success alike worthy Of
themselves and of the great cause in
which they are struggling. ..


Finding that the Confederate States
were about to be invaded through
Kentucky, and that her people, after
being forced into a mistaken security,
were unarmcd, and in danger of being
subjugated by the Federal forces, our
armies were marched into that State,
to repcl the enemy, and prevent their
occupation of certain strategic points,
which would have given them great
advantage in the contest a step which
was not only justified by the neccssi-
ty OF seli-defence on the part of the
Confederate States, but also by the
desire to aid the people of Kentucky.
1t was never intended by the Confcd-
crate government TO conquer or coerce
the people of that State, but on the
contrary it was declared by our Gene
rails that they would withdraw their
troops if the Federal Government
would do likewise A proclamation
was also made of our desire to respect
the neutrality of Kentucky, and our
Intention to abide by the wishes of her
people as soon as they were free to
express their opinions. These decla-
tions were approved by me, and |
should regard it as one of the best ef-
fccts of the march Of our troops into
Kentucky, if it should aid in giving
to her people liberty of choice, and
free opportunity to decide their own
policy according to their ownwill.


! While the army has been chiefly iu-
strumental in prosecuting the great
contest, the navy has also been etrcc-
tive, in full proportion to its means.


There are great difficulties attend
ing mail transportation, some of which
can be overcome only by time and the
improved condition of the country or
the restoration of peace, but others
may be remedied by legislation. ss


AS to the financial system, it has
worked well so far, and promises good
! results for the future to the extent


that treasury notes may be issued.
The government is enabled to borrow
money without interest and thus facil.
itatc the conduct of the war. This
extent is measured by the portion of
the field Of circulation which these
notes can be made to occupy. There
Is every reason to believe that the
Confederate notes are fast becoming a
circulating medium. The propositions
that these notes shall be convertible
into Confederate stocks, bearing s per
cent interest, at the pleasure of the
holders, insures them against depre-
citation below the value of that stock,
and no considerable fall in their value
need be feared so long as the interest
shall be pnnctually paid the punctu-
al payment Of this interest has been
secured by the act passed by you at
the last session imposing such rate
OF taxation as must provide sufficient
means for that purpose. For the sue
ccssful prosecution Of the war it is in
dispensable that the means of trans
porting troops and military supplies
DC furnished as far as possible, in such


q manner as not to interrupt the COM
merclat intercourse between our pco-
pie, nor place check upon their pro-
ductivc energies. st ass. alaa


We have already two main systems
OF through transportation from the
North to the South One from. Rich
mond along the seaboard and the 9th
er through Western Virginia TO New
Orleans. A third might be secured
by completing link of about forty
miles between Danevlle, in Virginia,
and Gfceuborough, North Carolina.
The construction of this comparative.
| ly short line would give us a through
route from North to South, in the in


terror of the Confederate States, and
give Us access to q population and
military resources from which we are
now IN a~grcat measure debarred. II
we husband our means and make a in-
dicious use OF our resources, it would
be difficult TO fix limit to the period
during which we could conduct war
against the adversary we now cncoun-
ter, The very efforts which lie makes
to defeat and divide us must exhaust
his means, whilst they serve to com.
piete the circle aud diversity the pro-
duetions of our industrial system.
The reconstruction which he seeks to
effect by arms, becomes daily more
palpably impossible. Not only do the
causes which induced us to separate
still last in full force, but they have
been strengthened, and whatever
doubt may nave fingered in the minds
OF any must have been completely dis
PEELED by subsequent events. If, in
stead of being dissolution of a
League, it were a rebellion in which
we were engaged, we might find am
| pic vindication fol. the course we have
adopted, in the scenes which are now
being enacted in the United States.
Our people now leok with contempt
nous sastonishmenton on those with whom
! they have been 50 recently associated.
!. They speak with aversion at the bare
idea of renewing such connection,
&c, with such a people. We may be
content to live at peace, but our sep
aration from them is final, and for the
independence we have asserted, we
will accept no alternative.


The nature of the hostilties on the
part of the United States is character
lied as barbarous wherever it is un-
: derstood. If they convert their SOL
. diers into incendiaries and robbers,
and involve us in a series of wars
which claims non-combatant women
and children for their victims, they
must expect to be treated as outlaws
and enemies Of mankind. There are
, certain rights of humanity which are