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The Intelligencer. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1865. * THE 1AX ACt7 Wo publish below the Fax Act, passed al i t •* cent session of Congress to which we invito the attention oi our readers : AN ACT io levy additional taxes for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, tor the. import of the Government. The Congress of the Confederate States . i America d * enact. That in addition to the laves levied by lh5 net approved Feb- rnary seventeenth, eighteen hundred and t-ix'y-four, entitled “An act to amend an act '-milled an act to lay taxes lor the c_.m- n nn <i> f nc? and carry on ihe Government o, •• :.t Confederate States,” approved twen- ty 1 urt.li <J April, eighteen hundred and HX'y-threc, t Lt-ra bhaL be levied for the • ir fcigbteeu hundred and sixty-five, on ii Mpjtcts ot taxation hereinafter men tioned, uud collected from every person, iv'partnership, association or corporation hr.bte thereior, taxes as follows, to-wit: I. Upon the value of ail property, real, per •oiif-.l or mixed, of every kind and de hoi iption not hereinafter exempted, or taxed at a diff-rent rate, eight percent The val uer ot the properly taxed under this section shall be assessed on the tiasis of the market value of ihe same or siaiilar property in Hie neighborhood where assessed, in the year eighteen hundred and sixt>; and it is by declared that all the property and hihi‘ 8 of corporations, associations or jffiut sioek o-mpauici, whether incorporated or no:, shall b" assessed and taxed in the same manner and to liie same extent as the m iperty and assets of individual?. The taxes on such properly and assets to be * d against and paid by such corpora tions, aesociatione or joint stock companies: Provided, That no bank or banking com pany shall be liable to pay a ?ax4ga deposits ut money to tlie credit o! ami simp ct to the checks of others: and provided^4prther, That she stock’or sharts representing prop er) v or assets in corporations, associations oi 1 int sti ck companies skull not be assess- ,d . r taxed as property under this act: but the dividends derived therefrom shall be MihjcCtto 1% taxed as income under exist- iiitc laws. II. Upon the amount of all gold or siiver roiii, cud upon ihe amount ol all moneys he ! abroad or Gills of exchange drawn therefor, promissory notes, rights, credits and securities, payable in foreign countries, v 1 up -n the value of all du st or gold and silver bu lion, valued in^specie, twenty per cent; and upon the value ol gold and ■uiv. r wares, plate, jewels, jewelry and watches valued on the basis of -the value of such property in the year eighteen hundred j.nd sixty, ten per cent. ill. Upon iho amount of all moneys ex empt those mentioned in paragraph two, hoik bols, treasury notes and other paper is,tied as currency, cm hand or on deposit on tlio day ol the approval of this act, five per cent. IV. Upon the amount of all solvent cred it?, except those mentioned in paragraph t wci, live per cent: Provided, That all the bonds and stocks issued by the Confederate Siates or by any State, aud ail loans to the government or the Confederate States, shall bo exempt from taxation, except as to the interest payablo thereon, which 6hall be tox it as income under existing laws : Pro vided further, That ihe interest on the bun .Is, Blocks or obligations oi the Confed- i.rate Slates, or oi any S’ate, shall not be taxed hs income in cases where the acts un der which they were issued contain a stipu laiion that the interest thereon shall bu ex empt from taxation. V. Upon profits made by buying and sell ing meicLiandise, (Sects or property of any doses ipiion, or money, gold, silver, stocks, crcdi»s or obligations ot any kind, at any time between January the first, eighteen hundred and sixty-live, aud January the hrht, 1800, ten per cent, in addition to the tax on tu< h proliis as income. Said profils to be ascertained by the difference between the price paid in Confederate Treasury mitts, including ull costs and charges and the price realized in tho same currency : Provided, That frlhe objects of sale were purchased at, any time aiuce January the first, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, thi3 additional tax shall attach on the profits realized on llio sale thereof during the year eighteen hundred and sixty five. VI. U pon the amount ol profits exceeding twenty five per cent, made during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-live, by any huik or banking company, insurance, ca- nal, navigation, importing or exporting,tele graph, express,railroad,manufacturing, mill ing, dry dock or other joint stock company, of any description, whether incoiporated or not, twenty-live per cent.: Provided, That this tax shall apply to individuals and part nership engaged in trade or in any busi ness or employment enumerated iu this pai- agraph, as well as to corporations or joint stock companies: Provided further, That individuals and partnerships who have not been assessed, or who have not paid for the year 18(54, the tax of twenty-five per .cent, imposed on the excess ot pr&fiis over twen ty-five per cent, for that year, shall be as sessed and required to pay during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, twenty- tfivc.per cent, on the excess oi profits, over twenty-five per cent., realized during the year eighteeu hundred and sixty-four. Sec, 2. The property, the income and mon - ir-s oi hospitals, asylums, churches, schools, colleges and charitable institutions, shall be exempt from taxation under the provisions of tilts act,or any oilier law. All property within the lines oi the ouimy shall be ex empt from taxation, so long as it remains within tuck liner; but any income derived therelrom shall be taxed as income under existing laws. The exemptions enumera ted in paragraphs one two and three, of sec tion five ot the act. entitled ‘‘an act to levy additional taxes !®r the common defense aud support of the Government,” approved seventeenth ol February, eighteen hundred and eixty tour, are hereby re-enacted: household furniture, when the value does not exceed three hundred dollars, on the basis of the value thereof iu the year eigh teen hundred and sixty, wearing apparel, good? manufactured by any person for the use and consumption of his family, includ ing slaves, poultry, fruit and the products of gardens, when said poultry fruit and products are ra'sed for the family ot the producer, and not lor sale, corn, bacon and other agri cultural products, which were produced in the year eighteen hundred and sixiv-four, and necessary forif^r tax payer’s lamily, including slaves, during the present year, and in his possession on the day' of the approval of this act, shall be exempt from taxation. bee. 3. That the taxes on property for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, im posed by Ibis ac% shall be assessed <-.s on t tie day of the passage ot this act, and be due and collected on the 1st day of June next, or as'soon thereafter as practicable.' The additional taxes on profits lor the year eighteen hundred and sixty five shall be as sessed and collected according to the pre visions ot existing laws in regard to the as sessment and collection of taxes ou incomes and all the taxes imposed by this act, as well as the taxes on incomes and profits, and the specific tax, and taxes on sales, shall be payablfi in Confederate treasury notes, of the new issue, or in the certificates of the indebtedness authorized by an act entitled ‘an act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new i?sue of notes and bonds, approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, at p.»r, without any allowance for interest: Provided, that at least one hall of said taxes shall be paid in treasury notes, as aforesaid, and, Provided, further, that the tax for the increased pay ol soldiers shall be paid in Confederate trea sury note*, of the new issue, ouly. Aud it is keieby ensued that the certificates of in debtedness, authuriz d by the said act of February seventeen'fi eighteen hundred and aixty-four. may be issued tor debt contracted prior to the psssage of said ac r . And the Agent of the Treasury lor the Traus-Mis- s.ssippi Department, be and be is hereby authorized to issue, under regula'iou a to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury the certificates of indebtedness provided tor in said actot February seventeenth eighteen hundred and fcixty-four, 1or debts contracted prior t»r subsequent to ihe passage of said act, in the Trans-Mississippi D part merit, and that all certificates above, mentioned fchall be received iu payment of s.;id thXes, in like manner and to the same extent as the cer'ficates originally authorized by the sa d net oi seventeenth Fcbi uary, eighteen hundred and sixty lour, « muled “an set to amend an act entitled an act to Jay taxes Ic the common defense aud c^rry on the Gov fern mem of the Confederate States’ approved twenty-fourth of April, eighteen hundred and s'xry-three, there shall be levied aud assessed for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, an additional tax, in money, equal to one-eighth of the amount ot the tax on the same subject, imposed for the year eigh teen hundred and six?y-fivo, by this act and the said act of seventeenth of February, eighteen hundred and six y four; widen tax sbajl be payable in Confederate treasury- notes, of the new issue, only, and shall be assessed and collected at the same time with the other taxes; aud the money arising therefrom shall be first appropriated to the payment of the increased compensation ol soldiers ol the aran; Provided, That this additional taxjshail not be construed to ap ply to or to imJfease the tax in kind. Sec. 0. Any ii? payer, under regulations to be prescribed by the decretory of the Treasury, shall be allowed to pry into ilie Treasury in advance, such sum or sutn3 as he may ciioote, ou accoum oi taxes to accrue against him, and to obtain therefor au unassignable cerlific>te ot such pay ment. Sec. G. Congress having intended by the act of the seventeenth February, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, entitled “an act to levy additional taxes for the common de fence and support of the Government,” as amended by the act of fourteenth June. .18G4 to impose said additional taxes for the. year eighteen hundred and sixty-lour only, tbo said act of seven teenth ol February, eighteen hundred and sixty*fcur, a9 amended, in so far as it can be construed to operate otherwise than as thus intended, shall be, ' and the same is hereby repealed. And all the taxes imposed by this act shall be paid without any dis count or credit for the value of the tax in kind or the income tax, and all the taxes on incomes and profits, under existing laws, shall be paid without any credit or deduc tion of the ad valorem tax. Sec. 7. That when property, real or per sonal, has been injured or destroyed by the enemy, or the owner thereof has been tem porarily deprived of the use thereof, or, in the case ot real estate, of the means ot cul tivating the same, by the reason of the pos session or proximity ot the enemy, the as sessment on such property may be reduced in propot tion to the damage sustained by the owner, or the tax assessed thereon may be reduced in the same ratio by the District Collector, on satisfactory evidence submit ted to him by the owner or Assessor. Sec. 8. That the Secretary of the Treas ury, outlie recommendation of the Boards ot Police, County Courts, or such other county, district or parish tribunal as may be prescribed by the State Collectors respect ively, transmitted through said collectors, is hereby authorized to suspend the collec tion of taxes Dow due, or imposed by this or any other future act, in those districts where depredations have been committed by the enemy, in eases ot individuals in such districts, where, in his judgment, the re sources of the tax payer asking such sus pension haVe been so seriously damaged or destro} r ed as to render the payment of taxes impossible or excessively oppressive, such suspension to be revocable at the pleasure of the Secretary of the Treasury. Fall of Selma. EXCITING NEWS FROM BELOW! FORREST REPORTED WOUNDED 1 MOVING TOWARDS DEMOPOLIS ! Office Montgomery Mail, ) Mouday, April 3, 10 A. M. ) The Montgomery Mail of the 3d says :— The city this morning is a scene of no little excitement and bustle, occasioned by reports freely circulated, at au early hour, of the fall of Selma. For the benefit of eur readers abroad, as well as those at home, we null mention the rumors as they have reached us: FORREST WOUNDED. We regret to learn that General Forrest has received a few wounds, b it we arc grat ified to learn that they are not considered serious. He was leading a charge against the assailants, a short distance from Selma, and was fighting m the very miust of the Federal cavalry. It is said that he killed two with his own hands, shooting one irom his horse with his revolver, and nearly sev ering the head from the shoulders of an other by a sabre stroke. FATE OF SELMA. It is stated, and generally believed, that Selma was evacuated by the Confederates, and occupied by the Federals, at 7 o’clock, p. m., yesterday. It is also stated that our forces retired iu the direction ot Demopolis. We have learned bo particulars of the evac uation, and know nothing at this writing, of the amount of stores saved or destroyed. THE FACT. Since the above was in type we have re ceived official intelligence that Selma is evacuated by the Confederates ami undoubt edly ia the hands ot ihe enemy We learn that the enemy turned our left fl?nk, nncL that our forces were compelled to move out on the right flank towards Demopolis. The enemy are represented as in considerable force larger than heretofore reported. Everything U quiet, and no move, that we hear of, has yet been made by them. The govo was the first newspaper carrier, when one morning it went and fetch ed a leaf for Noah. It contained a paragraph on the weather, notifying himthatthe heavy rain-storm had subsided. ADDEESS OF CONGRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COH FED ABATE STATES. Fellow-Citizens: The result of the “Peace Commission” is known to the coun try. The hopes of those who have hither to believed that an honorable termination might be put to the war by negotiation have been rudely disappointed. The enj^ my, after drawing us into a conference, ab ruptly terminated it by insisting upon terms which they well knew we could nev er accept. Our absolute surrender and submission to the will of the conquerors are j the only conditions vouchsafed by our arro gant toe. We are told that if we lay down our arms, and place our lives, liberty, prop erty and domestic institutions, at the feet of Abraham Ltecoln, that he will be merciful to us! Upon his clemency we must rely to save us lrom universal confiscation, and ex termination ! Yes, these are the conditions upon which the people of the sovereign States composing this Confederacy may be allowed to do—what? To return into the Unteu from which they solemnly and delib erately withdrew themselves, because their interests and their honor required it, and their repugnance to which four years ot re morseless and cruel war have served but to intensify. Thanks be to God, who controls and overrules the counsels of men, the hi y insolence of our enemies, which tL ^ hoped would intimidate and break the spirit of our people, is producing the very contrary effect. From every part ol the country there comes up in response a shout of mingled indignation and defiance. A noble enthusiasm reanimates our gal lant army who have been battling so long for freedom and indeptmdence ! Let us all be united now. Let there be no pavties or factions among us. Let us all be willing to speed and ba spent in the cause of our country. Let us contribute freely, all that we have, it need be, to carry on the war until our final triumph is secured. Let U3 take fraternal counsel together and calmly consider our condition and prospects. Such a survey, we believe, must tend to reassure aud encourage even the least sanguine. We have, it is true, recently met with serious disasters. Our fortitude is being severely tried. We have suffered much, asd must be prepared to suffer more in the cause tor which we are struggling. Is the cause! If we consider the food producing capaci-1 the prospect of a future af*ft upon their ty ot our soil, we need feel no apprehensions | home population are beginning to^ be heard as to our ability to feed the people and any army we may put into the field. It is need less to go into detail or adduce statistics in proof ot this. It is obvious to every well informed mind. Although the occupation by the enemy, and his ruthless policy of de stroying the harvests, granaries and agri cultural implements of our people where- ever he moves, has undoubtedly diminished the amount of our cereals; still, in view of the fact that in every State, without exeep- I tion, its agricultural labor has been devoted almost exclusively to the raising of bread- stuffs, (while befoie the war it was mainly devoted to the production of cotton, tobac co and other exports,) it is impossible to doubt that, there ia an ample supply of food in the conntry. It is true that the deporta tion of our slaves by the enemy, and the barbarous policy of artniDg them against us—a policy reprobated by all authorities on ethics or international law—has consid erably diminished our agricubural labor. But when we reflect that, in 1860, our ex ports—almost entirely the products of slave labor—amounted to two hundred and fifty million ot dollars, it may be safely assumed that our slaves, though reduced iu number are fully equal to the task of feeding both the population at home and the army in the field. Our transportation, it is true, is de tective and iuade*quate, but thi3 may be in definitely improved by more energetic ef forts, and more thorough and systematic organization. We cannot believe, there fore, that on our beautiful soil, so richly blessed by nature, there is any danger of our failing ui the great contest for want of food —of our being starved into submission to the hateful yoke of the conqueror. But if we look to the amount and charac ter of our population, we see especial reason why we should be encouraged to hope for, nay, to be assured of our ultimate success. No people of our numbers can be subjuga ted unless false and recreant to themselves, their courage, faith and fortitude fail them. We have upon our rolls a very large army of veteran soldiers. It is true, and a very sad truth to confess—that the number pres ent for duty is terribly disproportioned to the entire aggregate. This is too notorious for concealment—and we have no desire to in their great cities. The prospect of a war indefinitely prolonged is alarming their capitalists. Public credit must sooner or worth the sacrifice? To answer correctly | conceal anything. We wish to speak frank- we must constantly keep in mind the end I ly and truthfully to you of the actual con- tor which we are contending. What is our • dition of things. The number of absentees ’ from your armies has been a fruitful cause ot disaster. On many a hard-fought field the tide of success would haffe turned over whelmingly in our favor had all been pre sent whom duty required to participate in the strife. We will not stop to inquire into the cause f an evil which we have so much reason to deplore. The remedy is partly in tho hands of Congress, and it is our pro vince to apply it. But it is partly also in yours, and we appeal to you to U3e it. Let every good citizen frown down upon and indignantly discountenance all evasion of military duty—whether temporary or per manent—no matter how plausible the pre text, or palliating the reason. No duty, in this crisis of our affairs, can be more imperative than to fight for one’s country, family and home. Let no skulker, deserter or absentee without leave from the army be tolerated iu any community. Let the reproachful glance of our women, be tween whose honor and the brutal toe our noble army stands as a flaming sword, drive him back to the field. With proper officers, strict discipline and an elevated tone of public opinion throughout the country, dev sertion and absenteeism in the army can be arrested and all men liable to military duty put into and kept in the ranks of our ar mies. If this be effected, we can maintain in the field a force sufficient to defy subju gation. object ia this war ? The establishment of our independence, through which alone are to be secured the sovereignty ot the States, and the right of self government. What is the alternative? - Our subjugation as a peo ple ! Is it possible to over estimate the horrors of this terrible alternative? Can the imagination over-color the picture which would be presented in the event ot our failure? If wo tail, not only political degradation, but social humiliation must be our wretched lot. We would not only be political vassals, but social serfs. Au eae- mv. that has shown himself destitute of the ordinary sensibilities of human nature, and whose worst passions are embittered and n ii inied against us, would assume th<? ab solute control of our political and social destinies. In vain would a proud, though vanquished people, look even for that mer cy which the conquered receive from a gen erous toe. Those “State Rights,” which we have been taught to prize so dearly as the greatest bulwarks of Constitutional Liber ty, and which, from the earliest period of i«f history, we have so jealously guarded, would be annihilated. The Confederate States wc*fid be held as conquered provinces by the despotic government at Washington. They would be kept in subjugation by the stern hand of military power, a3 Yenetia and Lombardy have been held by Austria—as Poland is held by the Russian Czar. Not only would we be deprived of every politi cal’frauchise dear to freemen, but socially we would be degraded to the level of slaves; if, indeed, the refinement of malice in our enemies did not induce them to elevate the negro slave above his former master. Not only wou’d the property aud estates of van quished “rebels” be confiscated, but they would be divided and distributed among our African bondsmen. But why -pursue the hideous picture further ? Southern manhood revolts at ihe bare idea of the spec tacle presented. Can you think of it un moved ? Can property—can life itself—be so dear to you as to allow you to weigh them lor one moment against degradation so abject—against misery so profound ? We do not and cannot believe it. If the proud memories and traditions of our first great revolution do not nerve our eternal resis tance to such a consummation —nor the ex ample of our iorefathers, who wrestled for the independence they bequeathed us during stven long years of suffering greater than we have endured—let not the precious blood that has been already shed by our bravest and i-est in the present struggle cry out to us from our yet reeking soil in vain 1 Fruit lessly, indeed, have these sons aud brothers —martyrs ot liberty—bled and died if we falter now in the path which they have iilu- miu&led before us! In the revolution of ’76 ovCc armies and our people suffered far more than we have dot e. Car cities then were almost all in the hands of the British, and we were entirely cut oft from all supplies Irom abroad, while our facilities tor producing them were infi nite! v less man they now are. Greene tells us that the battle of Eutaw was won by men who had scarcely shoes to their feet or shirts to their b teks. They protected their shoul ders Irom being galled by the bands of their crossbelts by bunches of moss or tuffs of grass. A detachment marched to Greene’s assistance, passed through a region so swept by both armies that they were compelled to subsist on green peaches as their only diet. There was scarcely any salt for fifteen mouths, aud when obtained, it had to be used spaiiagly, mixed with hickory ashes. We need but allude to the terrible winter which Washington passed at Valley Forge with an array unpaid, halt starved and half naked and "shoeless, to convince us that iiiugii as our own brave soldiers are now enduring, their lathers, for a like cause, en dured tar more. • Washington did not then despair. Lee does not now despair of the final triumph ol a righteous cause. Why should we be doubtlul—much less despon dent—of our ultimate success? The extent of our territory—the food-pro ducing capacity of our soil—the amount and character of oar population—are elemenisot strength, which, carefully husbanded and wisely employed are amply sufficient to en sure our final triumph. The passage ol hos ile armies through our country, though productive of cruel suffering to cur people and great pecuniary loss, gives the enemy no permanent advantage or foothold. To subjugate a country its civil govern ment must be suppressed by a continuing military force, or supplanted by another, to which the inhabitants yield a voluntary or enforced obedience. The passaged hostile armies through our country cannot produce this result. ^Permanent garrisons wouid have to be stationed at a sufficient number of points to'strangle all civil government beiorc it could be pretended, even by the United States; Government itsei^fcttat its authority was extended over these States. How many garrisons would it require? How many huudredthousand soldiers would be sufficient to suppress the civil govern ments q£ all the States of this Confederacy and to establish over them even in name and form, the authority ot the United States ? In g geographical point of view, therefore it may be asserted that the con quest of these Confederate States is imprac ticable. But it is in the character of our population, especially, that we find those elements of strength which impress us with the convic tion that we never can be conquered. Our people are peculiarly military in their char acteristics. Better soldiers than those in our army history has never shown. They haveen- dured extreme hardships and sufferings with a fortitude, and fought against constant odds wfith a gallantry, that has earned the gratitude of their country, and extorted the admiration of the world. But in addition to their military attributes our people are pre-eminently of a proud and haughty spirit, and deeply imbued vrith the love of constitutional freedom. It belongs to their race and lineage; and, as Burke long ago remarked, their relation to the servile race in contact with them has intensified the feeling and invested this love of liberty with a sentiment of personal privilege. To sup pose that a people with such military, polit ical and social characteristics will ever vol untarily submit to be ruled by another gov ernment than one of their own choice, is too insulting to their pride to be entertained for a moment. And to doubt their capac ity to achieve their independence, and maim? tain themselves as a separate power among the nations of the earth, is to close our eyes to all the teachings of history—to ignore the proof which our own forefathers have stamped upon its pages—to believe that hu man nature has changed, or that we are a degenerate race, unworthy descendants ot our revolutionary sires! The appointment by the President of Gen. Lee as Commander-in-Chief, has done much to restore confidence to the country, and to reinspire the army. All feel that we may safely repose' this weighty trust and responsibility ia that great soldier and patriot. All feel .that we may lean upon him as our tower ot strength. All teel that his calm courage and steadfast purpose, his military skill aud w se judgment, will ena ble him to wield our armies with the maxi mum efficiency and strength. May God strengthen .him for the great task to which a confiding people have called him. To provide means for carrying on the war. Congress fcas been compelled to im pose upon the couatry a heavy burthen ot taxation. But heavy as it ia, it ia nvt too heavy for the couatry to hear,-•and not heavier than our wants imperatively de mand. It is impossible to maintain the mighty contest in which we are engaged, wufaoui vast expenditures of money. Mon ey can only be raised by loans or by taxa tion. Our condition_doe3 not enable us to effect the former. \Ye must of necessity, therefore, resort to the latter. We appeal to you with confidence to submit cheerful ly to the burthens which the defence of your country, your homes and your liberties, ren ders necessary. To contribute according to his means to that defence, is as much an ob- liga.ioa upon the citizen as it is to peril his life uton the battle field. Let ustheD, fellow-countrymen, tread the plain path of duty. No nation that has trod it faithfully and fearlessly ev;r in the world’s history has stumbled and fallen. “Nations,” says Burke, “never are murder ed—they commit suicide.” Lst us not be guilty of the folly and the crime of self de struction. Let us show the fortitude, en durance and courage, that belong to our race, and neither the brute force of our ene my’s arms, nor the subtle poison of his lips, can extinguish the life of this Confederacy breathed into it by the sovereign Slates which created it. The people of the United States are be coming weary of this war. The foreign material for their armies is beginning to fall them. The matteriegs of discontent at later collapse under tim burthen of expen ditures, the magnitude of which the most skillful financier cannot venture to predict. The debt of the United States is already equal to the national debt of England, which has been accumulating since the rev olution of 1688. The interest on this debt is 6 per cent. It has been computed^ that the interest on the debt of the United States together with the amount necessary to car ry on its Government (even were the war at an end) would not fall much short ol five hundred millions per annum!— a sum affirmed to be .greater than the entire annual wealjh of the - Northern States. While a people in sell-defence, may submit cheerful ly to any sacrifices of treasure and of blood —there is a limit beyond which a country, waging a war of aggression and conquest, will not go. We cannot stop this war without degradation, ruin, dishonor. Our enemies caa have peace at any time by abandoning their* wicked attempt at our subjugation, aud allowing us to govern our selves in accordance with those great prin ciples lor which their fathers and ours fought side by side. Considered, therefore, in every point, of view, it is impossible to believe that the peo ple of the Confederate States will ever in cur subjugation, or accept submission as the result oi the great struggle in which we are engaged. Neither is it possible to believe that these States, compelled by long years of unjust and unconstitutional action toward them by the Northern States to withdraw Irom political union with them, can ever be tempted by any promises,or so-called “guar antees,” again to unite themselves with them under a common government. Forced into this revolution by their faithless disregard of the obligations of the constitutional com pact,' and by the selfish and sectional legis lation which they fastened upon ua, what in the course of this war has occurred to Ghange our opiaiou as to their character and purposes ? The barbarity and unrelenting ferocity which has characterized their con duct of ir, has excited the indignant wonder of the world Falsehood, duplicity and mean cunning marked their course ia its in auguration—and in its progress, every arti fice of low diplomacy and persistent mis- * representation*has been resorted to by them to lessen ua in the estimation of mankind. Our struggle for the right of self-govern ment—which they themselves have always declared to be inalienable—has baen held up to the world as a contest for the mainte nance of African slavery—a purely State in stitution, over which neither the Confeder ate States government nor the. United States Government has any constitutional control. To'prevent foreign nations from according to us that recognition to which we were entitled by public law, and even the very language of existing treaties—a re cognition which they themselves have ac corded to other countries on far slenderer grounds— they have deliberately falsified accounts of military operations, and our ca pacity and resources for continuing the con test. A war which has been carried on ior four years with ever varying fortunes, their Minister of State has again and again as sured foreign powers could not possibly be waged by us for more than two or three months. And after all their insolent boasts of vheif power to crush us, they have been compelled to resort to foreign enlistments, and the arming of our captured slaves, in order to fill up the ranks of their armies. Iu spite of these’'practices, winked at, if not countenanced by European powers—they have practically confessed their inability to vanquish us in regular warfare, by the in human policy of destroying the dwellings, the food, ana the agricultural implements of our non-combatant population. Thus en deavoring. by the starvation of their wives and children, to break th4 indomitable spirit of our soldiers. In the invasion of our soil, neither priv ate property nor age nor sex has been spared from the rapacity and brutal passions of their mercenary legions. Wherever they have passed over the surface of our fair land, the blackness of desolation has mark ed their path, and barbarous devastation has been their devilish boast. Public re cords have been destroyed—institutipns of learning, public and private libraries pil laged or burned—and the temples of God sacrilegiously defiled. Fellow countrymen, will you, can you, ever submit to be ruled by such a people? Caa you ever join hands with them in fra ternal union? Can you, with all these things freshiy before you, daily occurring on your native soil, ever return to a politi cal union with these despoilers of your homes, these violaters of your wiveg and daughters? Never ! A daik crimson stream divides you, which all the skill of negotia tion can never bridge over. . The Southern people have determifled to be free and inde pendent, and it their fortitude and courage do not fail them, it is. impossible to doubt the issue. But there must be no hailing— no hesitation—in the only path that leads to the goal. We must prove to our enemy and prove to the world, that we cannot be conquered. We must convince them that, though our soil may, be overrun, the faith ot our people in the great cause for which they are contending, is unbroken—their determi nation unchanged,their will invincible. Let us emulate the exampleof the Russian people when invaded by the grand army of Napoleon Let us be wilting to make any and every, sacrifice, aud consider it bat a meet offering ou the altar of our country. By the light of the blazing ruin ot what had once been a proud palace, Napoleon read this inscrip tion, which Kostopchin had affixed to his gate: “Frenchmen! Fhave spent eight years in embellishing thisj^denee. Here I have lived happily in the wwom of my family.— The inhabitants of th& estate, numbering seventeen hundred and twenty persons, have quitted it at your approach, and I have, with my own hands, fired my be loved home to prevent its pollution by your presence !”*** Shall our patriotism be colder and more calculating, than that of the subjects of a despoliaraler ?- Have we less reason to resist—less reason to detest the invading armies of the North than the Russians had to oppose and hate the French ? Our ene> mies, with a boastful insolence unparalledin the history of modern civilized warfare, have threatened, not only our subjugation, but some of them have announced their deter mination if successful in this .struggle,' to deport our entire white population, and supplant it with a new population drawn Irom their own territory and from European countries. While such & threat may well excite our ridi iule and contempt, the devil ish spirit which prompts it must provoke in us an indignation that would render the fee ble people invincible! Think of it! That we, the descendants of a brave ancestry, who wrested from a powerful nation by force of arms the country which we inhabit —bequeathed to us by them, and; upon which we have been born and reared— should be uprooted from it, and an alien population planted in our stead, is a thought that should inspire us with undying hostil ity to an enemy base -enough even to eon> ceive it Every motive, then, ot honor and of self-inteiest—of patriotism and of domes tic affections—every sentiment of manhood and of self-respect—unite in nerving us to resist, to the last extremity, our cruel inva ders. Success gives us a country and a proud position among the nations of the earth. failure makes us the vassals of an arro gant people, secretly, if not openly, hated by -the most enlightened and elevated portions ol mankind. Success records ns forever in letters of light upon one ol the most glorious pages of History. Failure will compel us to drink the cup of humiliation even to the bitter dregs—of having the history ot our struggle, written by New England histori ans ! Success is within our reach. We have- toiled and panted onward nearly to the goal. We have almost grasped the cosily prize ot Independence—never woa except through anguish and blood. The crown stands ready to encircle the fair brow of our young republic. The shades of our mar tyred* he roes hover over us, and beckon us on. The tearful entreaties of our mothers, wives and daughters to save thein from nameless hor rors, urge us forward. Will we pause ? Can we latter ? Will we allow the weapons, which the God of .battles has so otten di rected to tho smiting oi the despoiler of our homes, now to drop from our nerveless hands ? Shall we be discouraged by the superior numbers of the enemy ? ‘■The battle to the strong Is not given, While the Judge of Right and Wrong Sits in Heaven, The Ood of David still G-uidea the pebble at Hia will There are giants yet to kill Wrongs unshriven l" But the enemy has already put forth his utmost stength. He has made his most g gantic efforts. Ho has strained his ener gies to their greatest tension. He has taxed his resources to their utmost limit. He is almost spent and breathless with ir.s tre mendous exertions. Let us stand firoi. Let, us be calm and resolute. Let us shew mat our faith in our cause, aud iu hia guidance, who shapes the destinies of nations, ! i-: fixed and cannot move.* Ia that faith, aud with humble reliance on that guidance, let us v hope all things—endure all-things—and when we strike the invaders of our country, let, Religion, Patriotism, Love, Honor, no ble Pride—every sentiment sacred and dear to the heart of man—nerve our arms and give vigor to the blow I Thus shall we con quer the peace for which all so ardently yearn! Thus shall we make tho memories of our slaughtered sous and brothers glori ous and immortal! Thus shall we compel the nations of the earth to receive and wel. come us among them! Thus shall we make the plough and the reaping hook replace the cannon and the sword, and our ravaged fields smile once more with teeming har vest’s ! Thus shall we return our devoted soldiers to their long abandoned homes, and euable our people once more to sit, each under his own vine and fig tree, wi'h none to make them afraid ! Thus shall we make our children and our children’s chil dren to the remotest generations, rise up and call us blessed ! Thus, aud thus on y, shall Peace and Independence—one and in separable-spread their broad wings above us and plenty, prosperity and happiness reign throughout our native land. Special Correspondence of lbs Daily Suu. LETTER FE0M MONTGOMERY, Montgomery, Anrii 5, 1865. At headquarters no movements of the enemy from Selma were reported. On the streets it was said and believed that the ene my, leaving a garrison at Selma, had march ed towards Demopolis, en route for M bite. Their force has been estimated as high as 20,000 men, but our Generals believe 9,000 to be a full estimate. First rumors were that the enemy had 9,000 men to attack Selma with a reserve torce ol 11,600. Who is the commander appears unknown. Gen, A. J. Smith, McCook and Steadman are each named. At Gen. Buford’s headquar ters it is believed that Gen. Joe Wilson, formerly of the Army ot the Potomac, is in command. He is a young man of not yet thirty years. Montgomery and vicinity is to be defend ed. The Confederate and State authorities are in perfect harmony. Gen. Adams, com manding district ci Alabama, has ordered that every man capable of bearing arms is called upon to volunteer lor a limited period to aid in the defense of their capital and homes. Arms and equipments will be fur nished, and troops organized, who wili re port by regiments, companies and detach ments. Additional numbers of horses are wanted to equip batteries. They will bo purchased. Brig. Gen. Buford, a gallant, officer, who wears upon his front boldness and determi- na’.ion, has been assigned to the command of the city and defenses. Prompt and decided,action is required. I append here the proclamation or Gov. Watts. I was in error in telegraphing that he would allow the militia to vote whether they would leave their counties. The Proc lamation is couched in noble words am^ conveys fully an idea of the situation ; Executive Department Ala , ) Montgomery Ala., ApriHl, 1865. ) 2o the People of Alabama: On the 3d of March I warned you that our enemies were making efforts to invade the State from several directions, i then ordered the Slate militia to report, aod called upon all patriotic citizens to rally to the defence of the Staie, Our enemies have now coma. They have come from North Alabama and have penetrated the interior to Selma. They have taken Selma, aud have burned the largest part of ir. This force doe3 not ex ceed nine thousand. It may be less. They have, in large numbers, altioKed Spanish Fort, ou the eastern shore of the Mobile bay. At last advices these several attacks on tbis fort tad been repulsed with great ioss to them. They may attempt to occupy Mont gomery. Tee military authorities here are determined to defend the city. With my consent thei^Bt of government shall not be surrendered as long as there u a reasonable hope-of dglfiBcli eg it. I havi just seen Gen. Adama’address. I trust o people will promptly and heartily respon : to it. If you will at once come, we cm sav our State. The only safety to propert firesides, families and liberty, is to rally to the support of the Cqntederate authorities. Let no idle fears deter you from respond ing at once. The stern resolve of men de termined to remain free, will nerve your arms and brace your hearts tor the perils of the contest The base and cowardly tears, but invite ihe enemy to destroy you all. Without delay the commandants of the several counties East aud Svu-h of the Ala bama river, wili send their men to this place, to report here to the Adjutant Gen eral of the State. All who wi.i volunteer will do the same. Bring all- the arms and ammunilion you have or can get. Gen. D. W. Adams, a tried soldier and an . able commander, is in command ot this District. Brig. Gen. A. Buford, who has fought with non ,r on many fields of glory, wili have eharge of the defenses of theciiA .’ T. H. WATTS, " Governor of Alabama. OEORtil A. Claytoh CouXty : M ARY AMI OESEK having in proper f<.rta applied to n>e lor perm.'nent letters c*f aJnin-sira ion on the estate of Joshua Milener: Thirls to cite and admonish all and singcUr the kin dred and creditors of saiu decease?, to be and appear atiny office within the time P.ilowed by law, and show cause, if any they nave, why saii_letters skordd not. oe granted: Witness my hand and officSalflBpmtr.re, April 10.h, 1865. (jfc'A. DOLL AS, Orci’y. Printers fee $10 te* sp'll-wSOd