PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



619 







necessarily restricted by the fact that sufficient time 

 has not yet elapsed for the purchase or construction 

 of more than a limited number of vessels adapted to 

 the public service. Two vessels have been purchased 

 and manned, the Sumter and McKca, and are now be- 

 ing prepared for sea, at New Orleans, with all possible 

 despatch. Contracts have also been made at that city, 

 with two different establishments, for the casting of 

 ordnance cannon, shot, and shell with the view to 

 encourage the manufacture of these articles, so indis- 

 pensable for our defence, at as many points within our 

 territory as possible. I call your attention to the rec- 

 ommendation of the Secretary for the establishment 

 of a magazine and laboratory for the preparation of 

 ordnance stores and the necessary appropriation re- 

 quired for that purpose. 



Hitherto such stores have been prepared at the navy 

 yards, and no appropriation was made at your last 

 session for this object. 



The Secretary also calls attention to the fact that no 

 provision has been made for the payment of invalid 

 pensions to our citizens. Many of these persons are 

 advanced in life they have no means of support and 

 by the secession of these States have been deprived 

 of their claims against the Government of the United 

 States. 



I recommend the appropriation of the sum necessary 

 to pay these pensioners as well as those of the army, 

 whose claim can scarcely exceed *20,000 per annum* 



The Postmaster-General has already succeeded in 

 organizing his department to such an extent as to be 

 in readiness to assume the direction of our postal 

 affairs on the occurrence of the contingency contem- 

 plated by the act of 15th March, 1861, or even sooner 

 if desired by Congress. 



The various books and circulars have been prepared, 

 and measures taken to secure supplies of blanks, post- 

 age stamps, stamped envelopes, mail bags, locks, keys, 

 &c. 



He presents a detailed classification and arrange- 

 ment of the clerical force, and asks for its increase. 



An Auditor of the Treasury for this Department is 

 necessary, and a plan is submitted for the organiza- 

 tion of his bureau. 



The great number and magnitude of the accounts of 

 this department require an' increase of the clerical 

 force in the accounting branch of the Treasury. The 

 revenues of this department are collected and distrib- 

 uted in modes peculiar to itself, and require a special 

 bureau to secure a proper accountability in the admin- 

 istration of its finances. 



I call your attention to the additional legislation re- 

 quired for this department to the recommendation 

 for changes in the law fixing the rates of postage on 

 newspapers and sealed packages of certain kinds, and 

 specially to the recommendation of the Secretary, in 

 which I concur, that you provide at once for the assump- 

 tion by him of the control of our entire postal service. 



In the military organization of the States, provision 

 is made for Brigadier and Major-Generals, but in the 

 army of the Confederate States the highest grade is 

 that of a Brigadier-General ; hence it will no doubt 

 sometimes occur that, where troops of the Confederacy 

 do duty with the militia, the General selected for the 

 command and possessed of the views and purposes of 

 this Government, will be superseded by an officer of 

 the militia, not having the same advantages. 



To avoid contingencies in the least objectionable 

 manner, I recommend that additional rank be given to 

 the General of the Confederate army ; and concurring 

 in the policy of having but one grade of Generals in 

 the army of the Confederacy, I recommend that the 

 law of its organization be amended so that the grade 

 be that of General. 



To secure thorough military education, it is deemed 

 essential that officers should enter upon the study of 

 their profession at an early period of life, and have 

 elementary instruction in a military school. 



Until such school shall be established it is recom- 

 mended that cadets be appointed and attached to com- 

 panies until they shall have attained the age and shall 



have acquired the knowledge to fit them for the duties 

 of lieutenants. 



I also call your attention to an omission in the law 

 organizing the army, in relation to military chaplains, 

 and recommend that provision be made for their ap- 

 pointment. 



In conclusion, I congratulate vou on the fact that 

 in every portion of our country there has been exhib- 

 ited the most patriotic devotion to our common cause. 

 Transportation companies have freely tendered the 

 use of their lines for troops and supplies. 



The presidents of the railroads of the Confederacy, 

 in company with others who control lines of communi- 

 cation with States that we hope soon to greet as sisters 

 assembled in convention in this city, have not only 

 reduced largely the rates heretofore demanded for 

 mail service and conveyance of troops and munitions, 

 but have voluntarily proffered to receive their compen- 

 sation at their reduced rates in the bonds of the Con- 

 federacy, for the purpose of leaving all the resources 

 of the Government at its own disposal for the common 

 defence. 



Requisitions for troops have been met with such 

 alacrity that the numbers tendering their services have 

 in every instance greatly exceeded the demand. Men 

 of the highest official and social position are serving 

 as volunteers in the ranks. The gravity of age, the 

 zeal of youth, rival each other in the desire to be fore- 

 most in the public defence; and though at no other 

 point than the one heretofore noticed have they been 

 stimulated by the excitement incident to actual engage- 

 ment and the hope of distinction for individual deport- 

 ment, they have borne, what for new troops is the most 

 severe ordeal, patient toil, constant vigil, and all the 

 exposure and discomfort of active service, with a reso- 

 lution and fortitude such as to command the approba- 

 tion and justify the highest expectatio_n of their conduct 

 when active valor shall be required in place of steady 

 endurance. 



A people thus united and resolute cannot shrink 

 from any sacrifice which they may be called on to 

 make, nor can there be a reasonable doubt of their 

 final success, however long and severe may be the test 

 of their determination to maintain their birthright of 

 freedom and equality as a trust which it is their first 

 duty to transmit unblemished to their posterity. 



A bounteous Providence cheers us with the promise 

 of abundant crops. 



The fields of grain which will, within a few weeks, 

 be ready for the sickle, give assurance of the amplest 

 supply of food, whilst the corn, cotton, and other staple 

 productions of our soil afford abundant proof that up 

 to this period the season has been propitious. 



We feel that our cause is just and holy. 



We protest solemnly, in the face of mankind, that 

 we desire peace at any sacrifice, save that of honor. 



In independence we seek no conquest, no aggran- 

 dizement, no cession of any kind from the States with 

 which we have lately confederated. AH we ask is to 

 be let alone that those who never held power over us 

 shall not now attempt our subjugation by arms. This 

 we will, we must resist, to the direst extremity. 



The moment that this pretension is abandoned, the 

 sword will drop from our grasp, and we shall be ready 

 to enter into treaties of amity and commerce that can- 

 not but be mutually beneficial. 



So long as this pretension is maintained, with a firm 

 reliance on that Divine Power which covers with its 

 protection the just cause, we will continue to struggle 

 for our inherent right to freedom, independence, and 

 self-government. JEFFERSON DAVIS. 



MONTGOMERY, April 29, 1S61. 



MESSAGE of President Davis at the Session of 

 the Confederate Congress, held at JRichmond, 

 July 20. 1861. 



Gentlemen of the Conffres* of th 



Confederate State* of America: 



My Message addressed to you at the commencement 

 of the last session contained such full information of 



