Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/473

 Two Addresses of President Davis. 46*7

should stand by their comrades now in front of the foe, and thus so strengthen the armies of the Confederacy as to insure success. The men now absent from their posts would, if present in the field, su0ice to create numerical equality between our force and that of the in- vaders — and when, with any approach to such equality, have we failed to be victorious ? I believe that but few of those absent are actuated by unwillingness to serve their country; but that many have found it difficult to resist the temptation of a visit to their homes and the loved ones from whom they have been so long separated ; that others have left for temporary attention to their affairs, with the in- tention of returning, and then have shrunk from the consequences of their violation of duty; that others, again, have left their posts from mere restlessness and desire of change — each quieting the upbraidings of his conscience by persuading himself that his individual services could have no influence on the general result.

These and other causes (although far less disgraceful than the de- sire to avoid danger, or to escape from the sacrifices required by patriotism) are, nevertheless, grievous faults, and place the cause of our beloved country, and of everything we hold dear, in imminent peril. I repeat, that the men who now owe duty to their country, who have been called out and have not yet reported for duty, or who have absented themselves from their posts, are sufficient in number to secure us victory in the struggle now impending.

I call on you, then, my countrymen, to hasten to your camps, in obedience to the dictates of honor and of duty, and summon those who have absented themselves without leave, or who have remained absent beyond the period allowed by their furloughs, to repair with- out delay to their respective commands ; and I do hereby declare that I grant a general pardon and amnesty to all officers and men within the Confederacy, now absent without leave, who shall, with the least possible delay, return to their proper posts of duty, but no excuse will be received for any delay beyond twenty days after the first publica- tion of this proclamation in the State in which the absentee may be at the date of the publication. This amnesty and pardon shall ex- tend to all who have been accused, or who have been convicted and are undergoing sentence for absence without leave, or desertion, ex- cepting only those who have been twice convicted of desertion.

Finally, I conjure my countrywomen— the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of the Confederacy — to use their all-powerful influence in aid of this call, to add one crowning sacrifice to those which their patriotism has so freely and constantly offered on their country's