CHAP.XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. - CONFEDERATE.

last extremity. It comes bringing with it a contempt for constitutional liberty and the withering influence of the infidelity of New England and Germany combined. Its success would deprive us of a future. The best men among our invaders opposed the course they are pursuing at the first, but they have been overborne or swept into the wake of the prevailing current, and now, under the prompting of their fears or the delusion of some idolatrous reverence supposed to be due to a favorite symbol, are as active as any in instigating this unnatural, unchristian, and cruel war. Our protest, which we here solemnly repeat in the face of the civilized world, has been hitherto unheeded, and we are left alone, under God, to the resources of our own minds and our own hearts, to the resources of manhood. Upon them, knowing, as he does, those whom he address, as well as those with whom you are co-operating throughout the South, the general in command feels he may rely with unwavering confidence. Let every man, then, throughout the land arm himself in the most effective manner, and hold himself in readiness to support the combined resistance. A cause which has for its object nothing less than the security of civil liberty and the preservation of the purity of religious truth, is the cause of Heaven, and may well challenge the homage and service of the patriot and Christian. In God is our trust.

L. POLK, Major-General, P.A.C.S., Commanding.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C.S.A., Richmond, July 8,1861.

His Excellency ISHAM G. HARRIS, Nashville, Tenn.:

SIR: I would respectfully ask your attention to the accompanying extract from a letter written by Mr. Yerger, of Corinth, Miss., dated July 9, and communicated to the President by Mr. W.P. Harris, of Jackson, Miss., and subsequently referred to this Department. In inviting your attention immediately to the suggestions it contains, I would remark that from the apparent indications in that section, as well as from the concurrent testimony of other writers, additional troops, in my opinion, should be sent forward without delay. If the guns at Chattanooga are not being manufactured for us, they ought to be secured at once, and a reconnaissance of the points described ought to be ordered.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

L.P. WALKER, Secretary of War.

[Inclosure.]

"Availing myself of the privilege you were kind enough to accord me, I will now venture to make some suggestions for your consideration. Being delayed in my passage through East Tennessee, I found a much more hostile and embittered feeling among that people towards the Confederate Government than I supposed to exist. I found the emissaries of the Lincoln Government active and constantly engaged in exciting hatred and animosity towards our Government. I believe the people only await the occasion to rise in revolt against the Confederate Government. Numerous instances of active organization came to my knowledge. I do not think there is an adequate Confederate force in that region to maintain us securely. At Chattanooga is a foundry engaged in casting cannon, which could easily be seized by the people and converted

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