Newspaper Page Text
.-a- . -
SSS":
NiSBET A BASSE &
Publisher* anl Proprietors.
<».N. UOffiHTOJTJ .
j,>*. {». .VJSUliT. J Kdit*r».
GYn Canfefcrate
atnion
Js p&hlUhcd Weekly, in JSIdledgec>He, Ga.
C'lrner of Hancock and Wilkinson Sts.
(opposite Court House.)
A( $3 a year in # Advance.
KATIES OF Al>VEBTISIXG.
Per square of lire!re tines.
One insertion $1 00, aud lifty cent* for eacli subsequent
VOLUME XXXIII,]
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, MARCH 31, ISG3.
[NUMBER 45.
continuance.
pa >.-c sent without the specification of the numberoi
insertion* wiil be published till forbid and charged
accordingly.
l!.i :;i ■ sori’rofessioaal Cards, per year, where they
do not exceed Six Likes - - - $10 00
si ! : , it contract icili be made with those, who wish to
Advertise by the year, occupying a specified space
LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
Sales of Land and Negroes, by Administrators. Ex-
ecutors or Guaraiana, arereijuired by law to be held
on '.he first Tuesday in the mouth; between the hours oi
1 din thetorenoOn and three in the afternoon, atthe
Courthouse in the county in which the property is sit-
.Votice of thesesalcs must be given in a publicga-
*e:t? ID days previous to the day ofsale.
Notices forthe sale of personal property must begiv-
tn i i like manner ID days previous to sale day.
N otice, to the debtors and creditors of an estatemust
r.l o be. published 40 days. .
Notice that application will be madetothe Courtof
Ordinary for leave to sell Land or Negroes, must be
published for two months.
Citiiioni for letters of Administration Guardianship.
Ac., must be published 150 days—for dismission from
Ad ninistratiou, monthly six months—for dismission
trom Guardianship, 40 days.
Rulesftir foreclosure of Mortgage must be published
monthly for four months—for establishing lost papers.
for the foil spore of three months—for compelling titles
from Exeeators or administrators, where bond lias been
given by the deceased, the full space of three
months.
l’ubl!'"itions will always be continued according to
tiie-e, the legal requirements, unlcssothcrwise ordered
atthe following
RATES:
Citations, on letters of administration, fire.
“ “ dismissorv from ddmi’n.
“ “ “ Guardianship.
!,en ve to sell Land or Negroes
Notice to debtor* and creditors,
pds of personal property, ten days, 1 sqr.
Sale of land or negroes by Executors, &c. pr sqr. 5 00
Edrays, two weeks * 1 50
Kora man advertising his wife (in advande,) 5 00
message
OF
HIS EXCELLENCY, JOSEPH E. BROWN,
TO THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY',
CONVENED IN THE CAPITOL BY HIS
March 25tii, J 863.
who runs his distillery without a license, shall be presumed j as the law now stands, it must bo from these sections. The
to be guilty of distilling grain, or other article prohibited, warm season is commencing, and the negroes from these
and the burden of proof shall rest upon him, to show the parts of the State, are not aeeOstomed to the climate of
contrary. j Savannah. Much sickness, and many deaths must there
The law should also make the owner of the distiller}’ lia- ; fore be expected among them. Again, the crop is now be
ble to the penalties, if his stills are run by an insolvent per- j ing planted, and it is a matter of great importance, that
son. And it should be made the duty of the Sheriff of thff j as little labor as possible be taken from the agricultural
county, to call to his aid, all the force necessary, and des- j pursuits of the State.
In this state of the case, I respectfully ask, that the Gen-
troy any distillery which is run in violation of law, as he
would abate any other nutpanct*.
It has been impossible for the Inferior Courts of some
of the counties, under my instructions, to find a per
son wlio will take the contract to make the quan
tity of spirituous liquors or alcohol necessary for me
dicinal uses, at the prices fixed by the statue. And
as it is a violation of the law, for a person distilling
under a license, to sell for more than the prices fixed by the
statute, 1 recommend such change, as will authorize the
lowest responsible bidder to be licensed, at such price, as
may be agreed on between him and the Court, for the sup
ply necessary for (.he county: the quantity recommended
by the Court, to be subject to the approval of the Gov
ernor, Before he issues the license.
$‘2 75
■150
3 on
4 00
3 00
1 50
TRANSPORTATION OF PROVISIONS.
So great is the scarcitv of provisions, in the Cherokee
BOOK-BINDING
The Subscriber is pow pre
pared to do Bock'Bind-
ing", in ail its branches.
Old Books rebound, &c.
MUSIC bound in the best style. Blank Books
a: ulactured to order.. Prompt attention will be
given to all wotk entilisted to me.
S. J. IvIDD.
Bioilcrj in Southern Fcdrrr.Sl'iiiau Ollier.
Millcdgcville, March 19th, I>561. 43
SPECIAL NOTICE.
riAJ'K undersigned having removed f
I ledgevillc desires and intends to e!
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ^
Milledgeville, March 25th, 1SGS. }
lo the Senate and House of llcjircscHtuticcs:
I lute felt it my duty to convene you at an earlier d^y
than that fixed for your meeting, when you adjourned.
In the midst of a revolution of such vast magnitude us ■
that in which we are engaged, the constant change in the !
circumstances by which we are surrounded, must frequently i
influence our actions, and develop sufficient reasons for a I
change of our opinions, or our policy. In December last, L, , . ... . ...
we passed an apt prohibiting the cultivation- of more than * lfc 1S ! m P osslb,eto subs,sfcthe idlers familie
three acres of cotton to the hand this year, which virtually a “ d c P °° r “ 1UC “ lori 3 er ’ wlthout the transportation of
legalizes and invites its production to that extent. Iam !from boutli Western Georgia. The rolling stock upon
now fully satisfied, if the quantity of land mentioned in I • &outh Western ’ ond the Macou and Western Railroads,
that act, is planted in Georgia and each of Hie other cot- IS 110t suffic,ent ttt carr - v forward flie corn ’ a,,d to do tbe
turn States, the result will be, our subjugation by hunger, I re Jf U rm 7 tbe Confederate Government Surroun-
and the utter ruin of the Confedpr.-u-v- iL,„ n I dt>d b y these difficulties, I have thought it best, to direct
put one of his
Georgia, for
to those who
of an acre to the hand. The enemy hm overrun an if now j ,ni ]? t ot !!f wlse suMer - 1 sha11 be obll S ed to continue this
holds a large part of the most productive lands in the Coh- P ° ,C f tl " tlie enier p" c y 18 Pf ^ tboi 3 gh 1 ma - V ” ot V®
federacy. As our limits are circumscribed and contracted, carr ? over tbe bta T te Eo ‘? d ’ al [ Go r ve i' n, 1 n ? nt Ee, § ht
many of the loyal people of the sections in the possession ! I ? P^opUy as I could wish I feel it to be my
of the enemy retire to the interior, and the number of per- I h, S Le . s , t dut y> to 80 usc the property of the State, as to pro
sons to be supported from the products of the lands in
j vent if possible, suffering, on the part of the poor, or the
is greatly increased, while the area of pro- j families ' of soldiers ’ for want of bread -
t I * SALARIES.
ui an act repealing
eral Assembly, by joint resolution, or otherwise, give di
rections, at as early a day as possible, as to the best mode
of furnishing tlie labor to complete .the fortifications. It
will also be proper that some just mode of ascertaining the
value, and compensating the. owners for the negroes who
have died in the service, arid the still larger number who
may'die during the summer season, be prescribed by law.
MILITARY LAW.
Section J040 of the Code provides, that all elections for
militia officers, of and above the rank of Captain, shall be
ordered by the Commander-in-Chief.
This will cause a great accumulation of labor in the Ex
ecutive Department, with much unnecessary delay and ex
pense. I therefore recommend that the old rule be re-es
tablished, and that all vacancies below the grade of Gen
eral, be filled by election ordered by the officer next highest in
command, except in case of lieutenants, whose elections
should be ordered by the Captain, as prescribeil by Act of
lltli February, 1850.
I also recommend tlie repeal of sections 980, 9S7, 9SS,
989, 990, 992 and 99-3, of the Code, which provide forthe
payment ot a commutation tax in lieu of military service,
as wholly inapplicable tq‘ the present condition of the
country. The Comptroller General, by my direction, lias
left tlie columns relating to this commutation tax, out of
the Receivers’ Digest, till you shall have considered {he
question.
A S>cnbi§-cod ridum's Power]
XX iu perfect orikr. We have used il J
recommend it. I5<d ‘>><40.
HOUGHTON, NISBET & BARN]
Milledgeville, March 10th. 1KC3. 42 I
eraey, and to advocate a reconstruction for the purpose of j
securing an early peace, aud of stopping further expendi* ’
ture, that they may save what is already owing to them.
The rivers of blood which have been drawn from the
veins of our fathers, brothers, husbands, sons and other rel-V
atives by tlie hands of our cruel enemies, form an impassa-.: :
ble Clllt between 11s il nil nnr wir>k<><l invniiPrs. Haw can
our possession
ductive lauds from wlreh tlie support must come, fs almost ‘
daily diminished. Most of the white laborers of the coun- !
try. are now in the army, and new levies arc constantly be-
SALARIES
I earnestly recommend tl
ing made from those who
;i or zbtn isovemlieri lSGl, entitled “An Act to fix
from Mil-
close up his
asineis matters of that place speedily as possi-
h'.e. AH persons indebted are notified that the
n.■*. cs and accounts are in the hands of J. A.
Bttcr.nLOVE, and P. H. LAW LEU, who are authori-
to collect and make settlements If not ar-
rjii^cd at an early day, settlements will be enforced
bv law.
13 tf. A. <3. VAIL, Agent.
it ary service, our field
men and children are
still
remain. Ax these enter the mil- tlie salaries and compensation of certain officers mentioned
• lelt uncultivated, while the wo- j therein, and /brother purposesand that reasonable sala-
11 out nfuixt, ami roust be sup- I j-fes. be allowed,
ported. Hie result is, that the country and the army are jt nefw takes the whole salary of a Judge.of the Superior
mainly dependent upon slave labor lor a support. At the 1 Courts for twelve months to purchase fifteen barrels ot flour,
present prices of all the necessaries of life, it is impossible or fifteen hundred pounds of bacon in tbe markets of this
for the women and children to support themselves. In my State. The per diem pay of a Judge while on his circuit
opinion, it will take every acre of laud, and every days’ (] ots no t nearly defray his necessary traveling expenses. Is
productive laboAyliicli we can command this year, to make this fight l Can anv intelligent legislator claim that it is
Atlantic (Stale Railroad.
mmm
Atlanta
to Chattanocgn, 138 Miles, Fare §0 00
JOHN S. ROWLAND, Sl’i’T.
Arrivf
Leavt'
Arriv<
At 2a.ni
Plidvrn^er TraiEi.
r.ta at
attanooga at
.’ttanooga .at
Arcon:i»oda!iou E*n**c«£<■!•
Leave Atlanta
Arrive at Kingston
Leave Kingston — -
Arrive at Atlanta
Tins Road connects each way with tbe Rome
Branch Railroad at Kingston, the East Tennessee
A Georgia Railroad at Daltou, and the Nashville
A Chattanooga Railroad at Chattanooga.
July 29, 1862.
i 7 - — j 1 —— tuis |iguii : V/a Li a 11 v iiuv'iii^un tiaiiu iimi 10 10
our necessary support; and lie who employs any portion of compatible with either the justice or the dignity of a great
his lands and labor, !n the production of <*otton, tobacco, or j State '?
STATE ENDORSEMENT OF CONFEDERATE DEBT.
7 30 P. M.
4 57 A. M
4 eo A. M.
. r. 15 1’. M.
Train.
„ 2 40 r. M.
. 0 57 P. M.
. 4 30 A. M.
. 8 45 A M.
1.0 tf.
New
Arrangement.
Itanr.r of Schedule, on and after Monday lltli inst
c.s.
ersare eonvey-
| Mail from Mil
. il:.- via Sparta, Culver--
nl Powelton to Donblei
id would respectfully
the intention ot
ends an l tho travelling public, to their new
rnplete arrangement for travelling facilities
any other products that will not sustain life, to that extent, The Constitution of Georgia, which we are bound by sol-
endaugers the success of our cause. 1 he present prices ot emn obligation to support, says, “ The Judges shall have
cotton make the temptation to plant it very strong, and salaries adequate to their services fixed by law.” Are the
the planter will quiet his conscience by the reflection, that present salaries of the Judges, or other officers of the State, I transmit herewith copies of resolutions, passed by the
the legislature lias authorized him to plant three acres to the adequate to their services ?° The question, to my mind, is legislatures of of the States of Alabama, South Carolina,
hand, aud will plant his best laud, place.all his manure up- too plain for argument. I trust it is onlv necessary again Mississippi and Florida, proposing, upon different plans,
on it, and make it the object of his special care and atteu- to bring it to vour attention, to secure prompt action, the indorsement of the debt of the Confederacy by the
tion. There is now cotton enough in the Confederacy, to c ^ « States. No one can doubt the patriotic motives which
clothe our people for several years, and there is no reason ^ ini, nem code. . have prompted this action of our sister States. But as
why we should plant more than is actually necessary to keep ^ bs Code of this State haying gone into operation on the this is a question of great magnitude, involving important
seed. It may be said, that , tlie planter can make more first day of J.muary last, it is a matter of great importance principles, and as our action in the premises, must be fol-
money out oi cotton .than-grain and vegetables. This is that the public officers be supplied with copies of it, that lowed by consequences seriously affecting the credit of the
very questionable. But if we admit that he can make 1 they and the people may have an opportunity ol learning State, present and prospective, it is our duty to examine it
double as much, this is no reason why he should be permit- the law is. It is not in my power to supply copies f or ourselves, and not to lie controlled by the decision and
ted to do it, if by so doing, he. hazards the-very existence t° even a considerable proportion cf those who are entitled ac tiou of others.
of the States. What will his money, or his cotton, or his 1 *° them, on account of tee neglect oi Mr. John II. Seals, t | )(; p r0 p 0se( ^ endorsement will have the effect of ar
slaves, or his lands, be worth to him, if we are subjugated, i * be priuter, to comply with Ins contract. Since the con- raying the capital of the country against the Confederacy,
and the civil and religious liberties, of himself and his po8- 1 tract was entered into by him, he has lepiesented to the an( j j n f avor 0 f a reconstruction of the old Union, however
terity are destroyed i * * \ General Assembly his inability to comply with his obligar laudable the motive, the act would he most unfortunate.
As the war is nowprosecuted by the Lincoln government, .ti° n without additional compensation, and five thousand Again, if the effect wiR be to level the credit of all tbe
for tlie avowed purpose of abolishing slavery, no class of j dollars of extra pay has been allowed him. Jfe has been St a t; es to an equality, without regard to the manner in
-our people has so much at stake, as our slaveholders, who paid the full amount agreed upon by the original contract which they have managed their financial affairs, or the
are generally our chief planters. They are dependent up- j fp 1 ’ t be whole job, and one-halt of the extra amount appro- amount of debt now owed by each, it would be gross in-
011 our white laborers in the field ol‘ battle*for the proteo- ; printed. After this had been done, he still failed to comply justice to those States \¥hieh ha ve conducted their affairs
tion of their property ; and i 11 turn, this army of white la- | with the. contract, alleging that he could not get g0 we ll as to incur but little debt, and have maintained
borers and their families, are dependent upon the slave ow- leather-to make the binding, lo relieve^11111 lrom^this dif- their credit at the highest point
C'lKDULE— LeaveMilleiRri ville after the arriva
•rains from Columbus. Macon and Savannah: Ar-
•in Sparta at tio’eloek V. M. and at Double Wells
1- evening.
. -five Double Wells a'ter the arrival of morning
is from Augusta. Atlanta and Athens; Arrive at
1 to tl o’clock, A. M.; Arrive at Millcdgcville same
• RIGHTS OF THE CHURCHES.
I recommend the repeal of section 1376 of the Gy 1 "-
which prohibits “any church, societv. ■ 1
„„„ ‘ „„ . ■ v - outer authority, to any
any persons, to "rant hr.er.o- . ■>’ .. J
o s - 01 color, to preach or exhort, or other-
I -..iciate in church matters.” I entertain no doubt,
that negroes tire sometimes very useful among their own
people as preachers or exhorters. This is a question of
which the church of the living God, and not the legislature
of a State, is the’proper judge. The loyal support which
the churches of ail religious denominations have given to
the Confederate and State Governments, and the aid which
they have afforded tlie government, in the maintenance of
our slavery institutions, have demonstrated, that they un
derstand this question, and may safely be trusted. The
legislature under pretence ol police regulation or other
wise, therefore, lias no right to infringe upon religious
liberty, or usurp the power which belongs to the churches.
Render to Cmsar the things that are Ctesav’s, and to God
the things that are God’s, is an injunction which the State
has no right to disregard.
ficultv, at your session in November and December last, you
ners for a support, while thus engaged. The obligation is, .
mutual and reciprocal, aud neither party has the right to authorized the Governor to receive the books bound 111 an
disregard it. I inferior style. Since this action 011 your part, lie has not
The conduct of our planters last year was most patriotic ! delivered a single copy, and no assurance is given when tlie
and praiseworthy, and has saved our cause for the present, j books will be delivered. I have reasons to believe that Mr.
With good Hacks, fine Slock and careful drivers,
; solicit a liberal patronage.
MOORE & FORRS.
Ningc Oili ccn—Hilledgerillr Hotel Milled "etVIe,G a
Edwards' House. t>porto.
Moore's Hotel, Double Wells.
Julvll, 1859. 8 tf -
TOXIitf ®, SOWPOIW,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
v, vv oxTos.ex.
u a ton ton, Ga., Feb. 14,1£G0.
50 Saw Cotton Gin for Sale.
but the temptations held out to the avaricious, are much Seals has sold a considerable number of copies to individu- ; a dopted.
- ton in tlie j als or. to tlie trade.. I call your attention to this subject, j lh us
Furthermore, if the indorsement of the Confederate
debt, by the States, can only be productive of temporary
appreciation of Confederate credit, without permanent ben
efit, and must be followed by serious injury to the credit
of the States, the policy is unwise, and should not be
greater this vear, owing to the high prices of cotton
market; and I consider legislation absolutely necessary, to and recqinmend such actiou on your part as may be neces
38 tf.
ONE of WATSON'S best 50 Saw Cotton Gins.
: offtredfor sale. This Gin is new, and is equal
i any i„ uge . Sold for rro fault, the present ow-
-r.- having no use for it. Any planter wanting a
•'0.11:In, An have, a chance to get one at a re-
77 .,] on the regular price. Apply at this office.
1 ot V Tift, or .1. H. Watson, at Albany
11 0 E S.
50
DOZ IIOES Just received and for sale
by WEIGHT & BROWN.
>d, isf,3. 37 tf.
A v\ S ! A DUN
1»
T
HE
ersigned request ail persons indebted
to their, to call and settle.
HERTY& HALL.
Milledgeville, Jan.10th. 1802. 34 tf
sam’l d. irvis.
GREENLKE BUTLEK
il i
IRYIN & BUTLER,
ORNEYS AT LAW,
ALBASY, Georgia.
pi!A< 1 ICE in the Superior Courts of the boutl
1 Western Circuit,—in Terrell, Randolph, and Ear-
the I’ataula Circuit,—in Worth and Ms-
Counties, in the Macon Circuit, in the United
l! '-8 Circuit Court at Savannah,—and by specia’
i‘'ract,in anv County in Southern Georgia.
lauuary 1st 5 1860. 3-1 tf.
ETHERIDGE 80 SON,
[’aclors, {'oRimission and Forwarding
X23RCIIANTS,
SAVANNAH, GA.
w » ETHERIDGE. W. D. ETHERIDGE, Jr
J oly 13th. 1856.
8 tf
Messrs. A. H. & L. I!. KENAN,
Associated in the Practice of Law
Office 1st Door upon 2dJloor of
T MASONIC HALL.
J’-n.'iM.vKr.
restrain those who would hazard all for gain. As it is now time
to commence planting, I invoke your early attention to this
question, in my opinion, second in importance to no other
that is likely to come under your consideration. Atthe
present time, money will not buy bread, in a large section
of our own State, at any reasonable price. This is caused,
partly by the severe drought of last summer, but is proba
bly, owing in a greater degree, to the fact, that the lands in
that section of the State,.are cultivated almost entirely by
white labor, and most of that labor being now in the army, j
the lands lie idle, and tlie women and children are destitute.!
of bread. But for the large surplus, in the cotton region, j
scones of suffering must ensue, which would beappalingto |
ltd which must demoralize, if not disband
us consider whether those would not be the legiti
mate effects of tlie proposed endorsement,
sary to compel performance on his part, or to take tlie ; present, almost every capitalist in the country, is
printed sheets out ot his bands, and have them bound by | ^|, e cre dit 0 r of the Confederate Government, and is direct-
others, at his expense
SMALL pox.
The physicians’ bills sent to this Department by the In-
•outemplate,
that part ol the army, where the husbands and fathersbf i meiJ t 0 f these claims. The act only t
1 as a bulwark, between us and tile enemy.! the p ayme nt by tlie State of the expenses incurred at hosr- j hope of payment rests upon the success, aim perunuieut
3 of the cottomsections of the State, where I pgta j s established by the Inferior Courts of the different I establishment, of the Confederacy, and it becomes necessa
ry to invest another billion to establish the Government
ferior Courts of many of the counties, for attention to per
sons afflicted with small pox, have, in my opinion, been so
exorbitant that i have refused to pay them. There are
several instances of physicians who have made out bills
against the State for one or two months’ attention to small
pox cases, amounting to larger suyis than they would, I sup
pose, be able to make by one or two years’ practice. I re
spectfully ask that tlie law be so amended as to establish
■ some
ly interested in rriaintaining its existence, and sustaining its
credit. I speak Hot of individuals, but capital is general
ly selfish, and controlled more by interest than patriotism.
When we have ascertained what will be the interest of
capitalists we may generally Imve but little difficulty in
determining what will be their action;
Suppose the whole debt of the Confederacy to have
reached one billion of dollars, as it probably will have
done by the time the States-have all acted upon this pro
position. It is not probable that capitalists, as a matter
of choice
would prefer to credit our government with a
Yjust rule by which I am to be governed in the pay- b U?er debt than this hanging over it. But having already
t of these claims. The act only makes provision for j invested this enormous sum, it they feel that their only
Let not the people ot the cottomseetions 01 tlie state, wnere p gta ; s 'established by
there is labor to cultivate all the lands, risk the chances ot coun Ees. Many of the Courts have established no hospi-
similar, or worse distress another year, lest consequencest a ]s, a nd have had the cases treated at the houses of the
ensue, whicl* may cost them, not only their cotton crops, but' | in different parts of the county. It is desirable
all that they have, and ail that they expect to have in tuture. j ^ a j. ^j 1( , w jjj 0 f Legislature be more clearly expressed
We can never be conquered by the arms of the enemy. We - - —- - -
may be by hunger, if we negiect to husband all the resour
ces for tlie supply of provisions, which a kind Providence
lias placed within our reach. Attempt to conceal it as we
may, the fact undeniable, that the great question in this
revolution is now a question of bread. The army must be
fed and their families at home supported, or the sun of l(b-
ertv will soon set iu darkness and blood, and the voice of
freedom will be forever bushed in the silence of despotism.
S3 tf.
Plantation for Sale.
T UFf-’ER for sale a well improved Plantation
within three miles of Milledgeville, contain-
f <nrteen hundred acres of land.
,, , WILLIAM A. JARRATT.
4. 184* 3W mtt.
THE LAW AGAINST DISTILLERIES.
Experience has shown that the law against the distillation
of .rraiu into ardent spirits, needs amendment. From in
formation received from different parts of the State, I am
x-ni-fied that a large portion ot the potatoe crop, most of
Scried fruit, and aconsiderable quantify of the molasses
in the State, have been, and are being distilled. Under
pretence of distilling these articles U is also said that
quantities of corn arc being used by distillers, who keep
their doors closed, and refuse to admit*.visitors who might
testify against them. In other sections it is said, they are
running'their stills, in open violation of the law, and no one
i“ the nerve to withstand and prosecute them. To arrest
these evl£, I recommend {bat the law be so changed, as to
make it highly penal during the war, for any one, in addi-
- 8 y prohibition, to distil potatoes, dried fruit,
And tlPat everyperam who
keep, his distillery
Aud, that tL.
in reference to cases ot this character. While I -do not
think that stronger reasons exist why the State should pay
the physicians’ bills and other expenses incurred by atten
tion to persons who have small pox, and are treated at home,
when they are themselves able to pay, than in cases of other
eoutageous diseases of a malignant character, it may he
proper that such payments be made by the State, whey the
persons.afflicted are unable to pay, aud might otherwise be
lieglected’on account of their poverty.
IMPRESSMENT OF NEGROES.
remembered, that Brigadier General Mercer
It will be
made a requisition upon the State, while you were last iu
session, for twenty-five hundred negroes, for sixty days, to
work on the fortifications nround Savannah, and that the
Governor was authorized, by-the action ot the General As
sembly, to fill the requisition. A call was afterwards made
by authority of General Beauregard, for three hundred ne
groes to work on the obstructions of the Altamaha River,
which requisition was also filled.
Many of the negroes sdht to Savaunah, have not yet been
discharged, because, in the ooinion of the military authpr-
ities there, tlie emergency was such as to make it a milita
ry necessity to retain them. New and additional fortifica
tions have been projected, and no one seems to know when
they will be completed. It is now required, that the ne
groes remain ninety days longer; or, if they are discharged,
that their places be supplied immediately by a new levy.
The upper and western portions of the State, have not
yet furnished their quota. If a new impressment is made,
and avoid the loss of the sum already invested, interest
will prompt them to stand by the government, sustain its
credit, and make further advance if they have the means.
But suppose at this period, all the States indorse the whole
debt, or each indorses its proportion of it, what effect will
this have upon the mind of the capitalist? If prior to the
act, he looked only to the Confederacy for payment, and
having now obtained the legal, as well as moral obligation
of the individual States to pay, he is satisfied that this se
cures the debt, his interest in the permanent success of the
Confederacy ceases, and lie looks in future to the States for
payment. If after this,-tlie old Union should be recon
structed, and the States of our Confederacy should return,
and become members of it, the capitalist is not'left to look
to a Confederacy no longer in existence, for payment, nor
to rely on the moral obligation of the States, to assume
and pay the debt, but he rests upon the solemn legal in
dorsement of the individual States, which would be as
binding upon them, in one Confederacy as in another.—
The capitalists having thus obtained ilte solemn indorse
ment of the States, for a sum as large as they could reason
ably be expected to pay, would naturally desire to prevent
an increased liability, on the part of their debtors, tlie
States, which wonld weaken their ability to pay, and might
in future, cause the people to throw off the whole burden,
omaccount of its accumulated weight. Knowing, in other
words, that it is possible to increase debt to an amount so
ble gulf between us and our wicked invaders. How can
we again shake hands with them over the slain bodies of-
our loved ones, and again embrace them in fraternal rela- ■
tions? Were Georgians to do this, the blood of their
brethren, who have fallen martyrs to ^ur glorious cause
would cry to them from the ground, and rebuke the das-- ]
tardlydeed. Sooner than reunite with those now seekirigStii
to enslave us, and under the name of Union with them,
become, with our posterity, hewers of wood and drawers „
of water for them, let us submit, with more than Romanigf
firmness, to the devastation of onr fields, and, if need be, Y
the extermination of our race. But let us do no act has- ,
t-ily, which, however patriotic the motive, may tend,to ar
ray a powerful class in our midst against the Confederate :
Government. While Georgia with the dignity ot a great
State, should firmly maintain her reserved rights, and if
need.be, restrain the Confederate Government within tbe
limits assigned it by the constitutional compact to which
she is a party, she should stand by it, confined within its
constitutional limits, with an unyielding determination to
sustain it at every hazard, as well against injuries inflicted
by the injudicious action of imprudent friends, as against
the thrusts of domestic enemies, or the herculean assaults
of foreign foes. The future happiness of her posterity is ,
firmly linked with the Confederacy. Thousands of her
sons have nobly immolated their lives upon its altars, and
the tens of thousands who survive should see to it that no
rude hand is uplifted against it, that no false policy'under
mines its foundations, and that no usurpers destroy the
beautiful symmetry of its magnificent structure.
We should not only sustain tL« Oouffideracy at all hazards,
but wc should fl 1 *—- the administration. NY e may
di(B.- A^di it on constitutional questions, or questions of.
policy. Such is the nature of the human mind, and such
the variety of human intellect, that no two honest men
were ever fully agreed in every sentiment. As long as
freedom of thought and freedom of speech exist, vve should
have the independence to express our dissent from what we
consider the errors of our rulers, and they should have the
magnanimity to tolerate the difference. But while we
contend earnestly lor what we consider sound principles
we should do no act which can seriously embarrass the ad
ministration in the-prosecution of the war. In my judg
ment the proposed indorsement would, in. the end, array
a class of capitalists against the Government which would
amount to serious embarrassment.
Again, it cannot be denied, that some of the States have
managed their financial affairs better than others. Some
have submitted to the necessary burdens of taxation, and
met their liabilities as they were incurred, while others have
added much of them to their debts. Hence, the debts of
some are much larger, m proportion to their resources, than
the debts of others. The consequence is, that the credit of
the State that has the greatest ri sources and the least debt
is worth most in the market. But, suppose all tlie States
indorse the immense debt ot the Confederacy, what is the
result ? As each State has its own individual indebtedness,
and would then have assumed a legal liability lor the debt
of the Confederacy, the credit ot each State is at once
placed below the credit of the Confederacy; and as each
would then be liable for as much as it could reasonably
be expected ever to pay, tlie credit of the respective States
would be placed, not only at a low point, but very nearly
upon a level with each other. This would be injustice to
those States which have maintained their credit at the
highest point. Take for instance our own State. It may
be truly remarked without disparagement to other States,
that the. debt of Georgia is less in proportion to her
resources, than that of any other State in the Confederacy,
or indeed any other upon the continent. The consequence
is that her credit is worth a higher premium in the market
than the-credit of any other State in the Confederacy.—
Her people are therefore entitled to the benefits of her
economy, her wise management, and her far seeing states
manship. If she and the other States now indorse the
Confederate debt, her credit is at once placed upon a level
with Confederate credit, if not below it, aud very nearly or
quite upon a level with that of all tlie other States. The result
is, that the people of the other States, reap the benefits of
her better credit, to which the people of .Georgia are alone
entitled. This would be injustice to the people of Geor
gia, and to her creditors who have invested in her securi
ties and are entitled to the benefits of ber superior credit
in the market. If it is said, her people should make sac
rifices for the common cause; I reply, that no Staterhas
responded more promptly to every call made by Confede
rate authority for men, money or other assistance, and that
she is ever ready to comply with every constitutional obli
gation.
Having shown, I trust, to your satisfaction, that the pro
posed indorsement would place the interest of the capital
ists of the country, in the scale, against hazarding further
appropriations for the establLuHicnt of the Confederacy ;
that it fVould be productive of injury to the credit of the,
individual States, and of injustice as between the States
tHemselves; I now proceed to inquire, whether, If we
waive these objections, it could be productive of the per
manent benefits t© Confederate credit claimed by its ad
vocates.
Before proceeding, however, it is proper that I remark,
that the advocates of indorsement are not agreed among
themselves, and that two plans are proposed. One propo
sition contemplates a general indorsement of the whole
debt of the Confederacy, by the several States ; each to be
liable in proportion to" its representative weight in Con-
gress.
Tbe other, which may, I believe, properly be designated
the South Carolina proposition, proposes the indorsement
of $500,000,000 of the bonds hereafter to be issued by the
Confederacy ; each State indorsing its proportion of the
bonds, on the basis of its relative representative weight in
Congress. The latter proposition, is to my mind the less
objectionable of the two ; as it does not hold out the temp
tation above mentioned to capitalists, to whom the present
debt is owing, to favor the reconstruction of the old Union,
to prevent an.increase of debt to maintain the further ex
istence of the Confederacy.
The advantages claimed for both propositions are I be
lieve, substantiall}( the same. The chief of which is, that
the proposed indorsement would reassure the confidence of
capital, in Confederate credit, and cause its investment in
the bonds of the Confederacy, in amounts sufficient to fund
all treasury notes issued in redundancy of healthy circula
tion ; and thus reduce the circulation to an amount only
necessary to meet the legitimate commercial demand for
currency.
This looks well on.paper ; and might work well in prac
tice, if there were enough surplus capital in the Confedera
te convert hundred dollar bills into interest bearing
cy, ...
bonds, and lay them away as investment, as fast as all the
. . paper mills in the country can make the paper, and all the
onerous, as to drive -a people to repudiation, they might £ ngrave r8 can print upon it the likeness of emulating me-
preferto take their chances ot payment of one billion of; dium> and an arm y of Government clerks can si^n these
dollars of State debt, in the old Confederacy, rather than of promi8C8 to pay> But here i ies t i ie difficulty. YVhatever
two billions in the new. Hence it would be their interest {navbe the con *fidence of capitalists in these securities, the
to oppose the appropriation of the second billion of dollars, f -
to prosecute the war for the establishment of the Confed-| . [concluded on fourth pale-J
