CONFEDERATE STATES. 



in vast numbers were given, and even brass 

 andirons and the weights of clocks and win- 

 dows were not withheld by some. Appeals 

 made to the people to rouse them to new 

 >ns, which proclaimed the despenr 

 of their situation : " A thousand proofs exist 

 .e Southern people are not sufficiently 

 alive to the necessity of exertion in the struggle 

 in which they are involved. Our very victories 

 have brought injury upon the cause, by teach- 

 ing us to despise the public adversary. The 

 immense magnitude of his preparations for our 

 subjugation has excited no apprehension and 

 had little effect in rousing r.- :ion." 



Again it was cautiously said: " I: s.-e::':s to be 

 the popular impression. I in men's 



when we do not hear it in their words, 

 .e military affairs of the Confederacy are 

 not very cheering." The Governor of Virginia 

 I a proclamation to the people, saying : 

 :icies of the times are not duly ap- 

 preciated by many of our people. The dan- 

 hich environ us are too lightly estimated. 

 We must see and feel their imminence before 

 ,:i be aroused to that action which is 

 - ,iry to save us from alarming ills, and to 

 evils which threaten our existence, our 

 peace, and our organization as a Government." 

 '.aints and charges of imbecility were now 

 ;ht against the Confederate Government 

 us like the following: "There has been 

 absence of enterprise, genius, and energy 

 in the conduct of public affairs, such as 

 nerve to the soldier's arm and kindles a flame 

 in his heart." M We ask why the year has passed 

 and we further than ever from recognition at 

 home or abroad. We ask why we are fifty- 

 fol-1 worse off than when the war commen 



want of faith in the Government is more 

 and more clearly manifested every day.' 1 Ap- 

 prehensions of the power of the U: 

 oppressed the citizens of the Confederacy ; they 

 ,-e, a suspense exists, pre- 

 I by minor events which cause a feeling of 

 apprehension more than of confidence in the 

 future. We kno\v that the enemy are ir 

 power and meditate mischief, and we feel that 

 ere long their blows, the heaviest of the war, 

 rail." " The dark hour of our trial will 

 come whe:. :- llan has succeeded in con- 



- into the involuntary ma- 

 chines known to the military science a- 

 ments, brigades, and divisions. This is the end 

 that he proposes to himself. This is the secret 

 of his long delay. This is the work of his hands 

 and his head at this moment,'' The flattering 

 hope was also indulged that the finances of the 

 United States would soon be exhausted, that 

 the spirit of the people would soon be discour- 

 These circumstances serve to show 

 the weakness of the Government in the con- 

 fidence of the people. On the other hand, 

 public bodies, as if to produce an inspiriting and 

 reviving effect, passed resolutions expressive of 

 the greatest determination. 

 In the Legislature of Tennessee resolutions 



were offered u that all propositions of the Con- 

 f the (so called) United States to recon- 

 struct a union which they have prostituted to 

 the base purposes of annihilating the lib 

 trampling upon the rights, destroying the 

 lives, and plundering the people of the Con- 

 federate States, is but another form under 

 which our enemies would subjugate the South 

 and reduce us to the despotism of their de- 

 grading doctrines, &c., and that any such prop- 

 osition should be met promptly and unhesi- 

 tatingly with our indignant rejection." 



The Legislature of Georgia passed resolutions 

 at this time declaring that the separation is. 

 and ought to be final, and irrevocable,*' and 

 that no proposition having for its object re- 

 construction would be entertained ; and that 

 - "a pledged herself " to stand by her sis- 

 ter States of the Confederacy throughout the 

 struL-_ 



Governor Letcher of Virginia, in his M 

 to the Legislature, said : " We have therefore 

 separated from them, and now let it be under- 

 stood that the separation ' is. and ought to be 

 final and irrevocable,' that Virginia will under 

 no circumstances entertain any proposition 

 from any quarter, which may have for its ob- 

 ject a restoration or reconstruction of the late 

 Union on any terms and conditions whatever.'* 

 It should be remembered that the Legislatures 

 which received or passed these resolutions, and 

 the governor who expressed similar views 

 were all elected while their constituents were 

 citizens of the United States, and by their acts 

 the secession of their respective States was ac- 

 complished. 



On the 26th of February, a resolution was 

 offered in the Confederate Congress, then in 

 :i at Richmond, by a Senator from Ken- 

 tucky, and referred, which declared " that the 

 people of the Confedenr -ill to the 



xtremity maintain and defend their right 

 to self-government, and the government estab- 

 lished by them, and to this end will pledge 

 then- last man and their last dollar for the vig- 

 orous prosecution of the war. until their inde- 

 pendence is acknowledged ; and also that they 

 will submit to any sacrifice and endure any 

 trial, however severe, and firmly relying on 

 the justice of their cause, and humbly trusting 

 in the providence of God. will maintain their 

 position before the world and high heaven 

 while they have a voice to raise or an arm to 

 defend." 



On the next day it was observed in Richmond 

 that the walls in different parts of tl: 

 were " scrawled over with inflammatory and 

 treasonable mottoes." The circumstances were 

 thus described : " They attracted but little at- 

 tention at first, as the chalked letters were 

 supposed to be the amusement of some idlers. 

 On further examination, however, it was found 

 that these mottoes were displayed all over the 

 city with a system and consistency that show- 

 ed that there were purpose and organization 

 in this appeal to the multitude. The follow- 



