The Desperation of Rebellion --- Address to the People of Georgia

The Last Hours of the Rebel Provisional Government – A Quartette of Traitors speak – Georgia “Illustrated” – Compliments to Federal Energy – An Aggressive War Policy Recommended.

Fellow Citizens: In a few days the Provisional Government of the Confederate States will live only in history. With it we shall deliver up the trust we have endeavored to use for your benefit to those more directly selected by yourselves. The public record of our acts is familiar to you, and requires no further explanation at our hands. Of those matters which policy has required to be secret, it would be improper now to speak. This address, therefore, will have no personal reference. We are well assured that there exists no necessity for us to arouse your patriotism, nor to inspire your confidence. We rejoice with you in the unanimity of our State, in its resolution and its hopes. And we are proud with you that Georgia has been “illustrated,” and we doubt not will be illustrated again by her sons in our holy struggle.

The first campaign is over; each party rests in place, while the winter’s snow declares an [armistice] from on high. The results in the field are familiar to you, and we will not recount them. To some important facts we call your attention:

First – The moderation of our own Government and the fanatic madness of our enemies have dispersed all difference of opinion among our people, and united them forever in the war of independence. In a few border States a [waning] opposition is giving way before the stern logic of daily developing facts. The world’s history dos not give a parallel instance of a revolution based upon such unanimity among the people.

Second – Our enemy has exhibited an energy, a perseverance, and an amount of resources which we had hardly expected, and a disregard of constitution and laws which we can hardly credit. The result of both, however, is that power, which is the characteristic element of despotism, and renders it as formidable to its enemies as it is destructive to its subjects.

Third – An immense army has been organized for our destruction, which is being disciplined to the unthinking stolidity of regulars. With the exclusive possession of the seas, our enemy is enabled to throw upon the shores of every State the nucleus of an army. And the threat is made, and doubtless the attempt will follow in early spring to crush us with a giant’s grasp by the simultaneous movement along our entire borders.

Fourth – With whatever alacrity our people may rush to arms, and with whatever energy our Government may use its resources, we cannot expect to cope with our enemy either in numbers, equipments or munitions of war. To provide against these odds we must look to desperate courage, unflinching daring and universal sacrifice.

Fifth – The prospect of foreign interference is at least a remote one, and should not be relied on. If it comes, let it by only auxiliary to our own preparations for freedom. To our God and ourselves alone we should look. These are stern facts, perhaps some of them are unpalatable. But we are deceived in you if you would have us to conceal them in order to deceive you. The only question for us and for you is, as a nation and individuality, what have we to do? We answer:

First – As a nation we should be united forbearing to one another, frowning upon all factious opposition and censorious criticisms, and giving a trustful and generous confidence to those selected as leaders in the camp and in the council chamber.

Second – We should excite every nerve and strain every muscle of the body politic to maintain our financial and military healthfulness, and, by rapid aggressive action, make our enemies feel, at their own firesides, the horrors of a war brought on by themselves.

The most important matter for you, however, is your individual duty. What can you do?

The foot of the oppressor is on the soil of Georgia. He comes with lust in his eye, poverty in his purse and hell in his heart. He comes a robber and a murderer. How shall you meet him? With the sword, at the threshold! With death for him or for yourself! But more than this – let every woman have a torch, every child a firebrand – let the loved homes of our youth be mad ashes, and the fields of our heritage be made desolate. Let blackness and ruin mark your departing steps, if depart you must, and let a desert more terrible than Sahara welcome the vandals. Let every city be leveled by the flame, and every village be lost in ashes. Let your faithful slaves share your fortune and your crust. Trust wife and children to the sure protection of God – preferring even for these loved ones the charnel house as a home than loathsome vassalage to a nation already sunk below the contempt of the civilized world. This may be your terrible choice, and determine at once, and without dissent, as honor and patriotism and duty to God require.

Fellow Citizens: Lull not yourselves into a fatal security. Be prepared for every contingency. This is our only hope for a sure and honorable peace. If our enemy was to-day convinced that the feast herein indicated would welcome him in every quarter of this confederacy, we know his character well enough to feel assured he would never come. Let, then, the smoke of your homes, fired by women’s hands, tell the approaching foe that over sword and bayonet they will rush only to fire and ruin.

We have faith in God and faith in you. He is blind to every indication of Providence who has not seen an Almighty hand controlling the events of the year. The wind, the wave, the cloud, the mist, the sunshine and the storm have all ministered to our necessities, and frequently succored us in distresses. We deem it unnecessary to recount the numerous instances which have called forth our gratitude. We would join you in thanksgiving and praise. “If god be for us, who can be against us?”

Nor would we condemn your confident look to our armies, when they can meet with a foe not too greatly their superior in numbers. The year past tells us a story of [heroism] and success, of which our nation will never be ashamed. These Considerations, however, should only stimulate us to greatest deeds and nobler efforts. An occasional reverse we must expect – such as has depressed us with in the last few days. This is only temporary.

We have no fears of the result – the final issue. You may have to sacrifice your lives and fortunes in the holy cause; but our honor will be saved untarnished, and our children’s children will rise up to call us “blessed.”

HOWELL COBB,
R. TOOMBS,
M. J. CRAWFORD,
THOS. R. R. COBB.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, February 12, 1862, p. 2