| From the Fayetteville (N. C.) Observer |
| |
| February 10, 1862 |
| |
| Message of President Davis |
| Richmond, Feb. 8 |
| As there is considerable interest, says
the Examiner of the 8th, to know to what extent the government proposes
to extend aid to the railroads as part of the military defences of the
country, we have obtained a copy of the President's special message on
the subject. |
| We may add here that we are informed that
the measure which the government has recommended for an appropriation of
one million of dollars to establish railway communication between
Danville, Va., and Greensboro', N. C., has met with considerable
opposition in Congress. The bill was defeated on a motion to engross,
but, it is said, is likely to be reconsidered. The following is a copy
of the recent message of President Davis: |
| "To the Provisional Congress of the Confederate
States: |
| I herewith transmit a cop of a
communication from Mr. William S. Ashe, urging the completion of certain
railroads, as necessary for the proper transportation of troops and
military stores, in the exigencies of the present war. I also transmit a
copy of a communication from Mr. E. Fontaine, the President of the
Central railroad of Virginia, urging the completion of twenty miles of
the Covington and Ohio railroad upon considerations of military
necessity. |
| I communicate to you, with these letters,
a series of resolutions adopted at a Convention of Railroad Presidents,
held in Richmond on the 6th of December, asking for the assistance of
the Confederate Government in procuring certain supplies which are
indispensable to the maintenance of the railroad system of the country. |
| That certain appropriations, which
otherwise could not be constitutionally made by the Confederate
Government, come within the range of its powers, when absolutely
necessary for the prosecution of the war, there is no doubt. It is
equally clear that, when this military necessity ceases, the right to
make such appropriations no longer exists. To exercise this power when
it exists, and to confine it within the proper limits, is a
matter for the just discretion of Congress; and, to enable it to act
upon the interesting subjects to which they relate, I transmit the
communications and resolutions which accompany this message. |
| I have already recommended that the
Confederate Government should assist in making a railroad from Danville,
Virginia, to Greensboro' North Carolina, upon the ground of a strong
military necessity for completing an interior through line from Virginia
to the Southern Atlantic States. I deemed this to be necessary not only
on account of the superior safety of such a line from hostile inroads
and invasion; but because of the great additional facilities which its
completion would afford for the transportation of troops and military
supplies. The road from Selma, Alabama to Meridian, Mississippi, is a
link that has claims similar to the road already recommended to your
assistance in a previous message. Whilst the completion of the twenty
miles of the Covington and Ohio railroad, as proposed by Mr. Fontaine,
might be eminently useful for military purposes, I cannot in the present
condition of the treasury, recommend that you should contribute by
direct appropriation. |
| The resolutions of the Convention of
Railroad Presidents and Superintendents relate to a most important
subject. If the railroads should be generally disabled from transporting
troops and military supplies for the prosecution of the war, the result
would be most disastrous. It is urged that the capital necessary to
construct the establishments required for re-rolling rails and the
manufacture of locomotives cannot well be had unless the Confederate
Government would make some advance for the purpose. With the machinery
proper for rolling the rails there might be connected that which is a
necessary for rolling plates for uses which are wanted in the naval
service. How far it would be proper for Congress to authorize advances
to be made on contracts to furnish these plates or engines, it will be
for that body to consider and determine. Some such advance might
facilitate and secure the establishment of works which would, at the
same time, furnish what is required by the government, re-roll the
railroad iron and make locomotives for the use of the railroads. The
exigency is believed to be such as to require the aid of the government,
and is commended to your favorable consideration. |
| Jefferson Davis" |
|