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OCR NEW TERMS.
An and nfiT March 2d, 1861, the Terms of Snb-
n. tinn to the Confederate Uia»n, are Tkn Doi.
8Cr ‘” ' . )Vdr iti!v in odvnnce. AH indebtedness for
' Vlnriution to'this paper, previous to Jute 1st. 1863,
■ t at tl J rate of Three Dollars per year.
ADVERTISING.
TrWSIF.ST.—Two Dollars per square of tin
lines for each insertion.
Tributes of respect, UesoiUtio
. exceeding six one* ) N
v LOE XXXIV.]
MILLEDGE VIL LE, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1861.
NUMBER 43.
GEORGIA, Jasper County.
W HEREAS, it is represented to the Ordina
ry, that the minor children of Joseph Jonea
late of said county, deceased, are * iutoul Guar
dian.
these are therefore to cite and admonish all per
sons concerned. to l>- and ■ p;var at iny office on
the fir«t Mouday m Atnil text, and fake out let
ters of Guardian hip, u r show cause, why the
• same shall not devolve upon the Clerk of the Su
perior or Inferior Court of said county.
Given under my hand officially, this 23d day
of Feb’y 1604.
41 5t • M. H. HUTCHISON, Ordinary.
MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MiLLEDGEViLLE, Ga., March 10th 1SG4.
j To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I lie patriotic zeal exhibited by you at your late
or t lepiomotion of the interest and protection of the
EORGIA. Do
„fs::iJ county. Hold
Young, late of Irwin
( IP f the beirs and credi
session,
i>y Societies, tobit j " J ‘ u, uouon oi tlienitercst and protectionof the liberties
i,tonal notices'r.r iuJivuiiai ^ ™ un,r . v ' an< l the personal kindness and official cour-
adverti-ing. | tesy winch l received at your hands, and for which I renew
j J 11 } uii.xs, hare ivrtisfied me that laying aside all past par-
Couiity. | ty names, issues, and strifes, jour object, as legislators is to
all
public
... the property ot George J. | ly upon your counsels as a ’ ^
>nn1y <Jeceaseu, l*»r the ben- • ^
v ■ j j * . ' » *»«.■ taw, \ kjui uDitra, isiuiurs js
\V IL,J ]u : - s0LU r dl * d,ar S e faithfully your official duties, and to sacrifice
the town of Vienna, in shkI county, lot of land No. P nv * tc interests ana personal preferences, to the pub
hundred and thirteen^ iiu. in'ti.e I Jih Gistiict good. In view of these considerations, I feel that I can 1
ly upon your counsels as a tower of strength in time
Jarkness and gloom. I hare therefore convened you that I K eCr ’ aiK1 piousion
nay have the benefit of your advice and assistance, at this LXu 101 ' ° r - SU ? 1
intical juncture in our State and Confederate affairs. < that provision bo
CHARLES ROBERT!
11, 1S64. lmc
Administrator's Sale.
II.L I5E SOLD, nn the first Tuesday in April
use door in the town of
itiiiu the legal hours of
e 4th, District of l’ierce
and place the following
and Sarah 3 years old,
s the property of llen'j.
sf the heirs anil creditor.-.
\ i 'II.L 1
tr next, at the Court if
It aekshear l’ierce county, ’
W1 :,..lotsno 243and 264 in l
<• iintv : also at the same ti:n
negroes Isaac 45, Naney 3ii,
said lands anu li eg roe 3 sold
Howard deed for the benefit
HITGIIEY CHANCY A.lin’r,
February 8tli,18C4. (i- h. a ) I’d |5 39 5t.
A dm inistrator's Sate.
py VIRTUE of mi order of the Court of Ordi-
t ) nary of Irwin county, will be sold on the
tirst Tuesdav in April next within the n.-ur.l hoars of
sale before the Court Housed..or in the town of Vienna
one town lot known as the Me!) mind lot, soi.l as the
j. ..perty of William McDaniel d.-e .1.
Terms cash, tills 17 th. t'dfy !8nh
D. J.KEXX Adrr.'r.
S A- E. McDANIEL Admr'x
11 Ids.
GEORGIA Berrien County.
YlfHEKEAS, Hamilton, W. McCranie applies
}\ tome for letters of Adniistration on the estate
of Allen T. Hart of said county deed. AH persons
interested will fake notice and file objections on or
before the first Monday of Marcii, otherwise letters
will be granted, Witness n.y official signature,
py I,. 5th 1864: II. T. PEEBLES, Ordinary.
I’d $J, :>t
1 ItANSPOUTATIOX OF CORN TO INDIGENT SOLDIERS FAMILIES.
iSince vour adjournment experience lias shown that it is
not possible without assistance from the State, which will
require further legislation, for the agents of the counties
\\ here iheie is great scarcity ol provisions, to secure truns-
and influence, who are engaged in the daily violation of the
law.
Distillers in some parts of the State, are paying ten dol
lars per bushel for Corn to convert into Whiskey; while
soldiers’ families, and other poor persons are suffering for
bread. . , °
I renew the expression of my firm conviction, that the
evil can only be effectually suppressed by the seizure of the
stills. We now need copper for the use of the State Road,
and for military uses, and I earnestly request, that an act
be passed, authorizing the Governor, to impress all the
stills, in the S*ate, which he has reasonable ground to sus
pect have been used in violation of the law; and convert
them into such material, for the Road, apd implements, of
war, as the State may need; and that he be authorized to
tin! ' L f! ^ SC ad ^ !C milita 7 f° rce necessary to accomplish the ob-
*k?j°T ! j ec f? and that provision be made for paying the owner just
stills when seized. I also recom-
niade for annulling the commission
of any civil, or military officer of this State, who fails to
exercise vigilance, and to discharge his duty faithfully in
the execution of the law against illegal distillation.
IMPRESSMENT OF PROVISIONS.
£'uce yeur last Session, experience has proven, that from
ini press-
for the
property
r the county agents for soldiers families, be transported in
-c. <.-11 1 ... . 1 SLAVES ESCAPING TO THE ENEMY.
I he official reports of Federal officers, are said to show
. , ~ . that the enemy now has of),000 of our slaves employed
nfhut mnoncoiL f ti pjow e oi ' against us. If these 50,000 able boiiied negroes, had been
pJrvment ol just compensation, for the use ot such means of ~nrnVri tnfr. f • > ,, •
1 - • • c .i • , earned into the interior by their owners, when the enemy
m possession of the authorized o n- . J
preference to all other articles or things ; except the troops,
and the supplies necessary for the support of the armies’of
the Confederate States, and that the act
transportation, whil
cers ot this State-the compensation to.be paid out ot the | pu ^ to work c ,e ari ug land
money already appropriated as a relief fund, by the agents | * hou]d to . day have been 50,U0<
or persons at whose request the transportation may be fur- much weak / r> making a di ff er€
A
Xotiee to Debtors and Creditors.
I.L perrons indebted to Wilford
late of Thomas county, decease
to come foiward and make immediat
, are notified
tneut to
undersigned, and all those having claims
against him. will present them in form, and with
in the time prescribed by law.
JOHN RICE, Adni’r.
Feb. 1, 1661. [II H Tj 33 fit
approaclictl the locality, where they jvere employed; and
and making provisions, we
000 stronger and the enemy that
uished * v v.^-an-ci, i,luiviug a uiu'erence of 100,000 in the present
i\i.<.'rinnnn a..) a s* fv ’ i T- relative strength of the parties to the struggle. When a
ter,, Georgia most remote from the Railroad cannot obtain I ,j “ , ‘ V,’ ‘ b ^; ^apea to tire
sufficient menus of transportation to cam- the corn from the : [vl ichfhe !lmo ,1 VP, ? P r ’ “T
Kail Road to the place* of consumption? The scarcity ofi "S ll? bborer wh#
teams is owing to the fact that their horses have been
taken for cavalry service, and their oxen have bt?en im
pressed for beef for the army. Finding that there was
GEORGIA, Twiggs County.
r HEREAS, Jubti Chapman, Guardian f» r
Win. M., John T. and M. L Chapman, mi-
mirs nf William Chapman, lato of said county,
deceased, makes his application to nie for letters
of dismission from his -«i<l Guardianship, in due
form of law, he having fully executed his trust
faith ally as will fully appear by reference to the
Vouchers tiled in office.
These are therefore to cite and admonish all and
be employed in the production of provisions is also
lost, while one laborer, or one more armed man, is added to
the strength of the enemy.
T-, .,1 i ■ , . i i It is therefore unjustifiable and unpatriotic, for tlie owner
hkjly lube m,.l, aullcrmg m that oncuon lorIn-ea.l for t o keep lxi 3 ncgiocu, witluu meb distance of tl.e enemy's
irHBKEAO. taail.es, 1 .rdared the energetic Quarto. Matter Hues aa to malte it easy for them to escape. This should
” »- J »" n T - 51 L ”>■ i Gcueru 1 ot the .State, to purcuasc teams and wagons by not bc perniitted . nlll j to .. revent it j„ ,' WurCi suc |, laK ,
drafts upon the military fund, and aid those most destitute. c L„»iri I... i i . , •
, \ ~ tv -i i • a. , ! shouia be enacted, as may be necessary to compel their re
am! most remote from the Rail Road in the transportation i,„ „„ . „„ , J ■ . f. • e
... tc <1 * • • T —’ * , * mold! By the owner in such case or to provide for then for-
of the corn. II this action is approved by the Legislature, f* e itiir e to the State '
as I trust it will be, the teams now about ready for use, j No inan has a richt to s0 use his own property, so as to
, tl , tn , can be employed in this -service for a portion of the year. wcakeK our stre n g th, diminish our provision supply; and
t ^S - or bZe ,‘he- Firfc Jf l,ot m^od they will at any time command more m | add reC ruits to the army of the enemy.
Monday in May nexi. then and there to show tlie market than they cost the &tdte, if not needed for mili-
cause, if auy, why said letters may not bc grant- tary uses.
RELIEF FUND FOR SOLDIERS’ FAMILIES.
I am satisfied that the indigent families of soldiers, in
many*of the counties of this State, are not receiving the
benefits to which they are entitled, on account of the neg
lect or mismanagement of the Inferior Courts. Six millions
of dollars have been appropriated for this purpose, for tho
present year, which if properly applied, is sufficient to pre- j t j, e enem j es 0 ( their State.
vent any actual suffering. Complaints come up constantly j j recommend the enactment of a law, providing for the
that adequate provisions are not made for the needy. I* 1 j confiscation of the property of all such persons; and that all
many cases, I have no doubt, these complaints ai a " ell , suc h property be sold, and the proceeds of the sale, applied
These secret sessions of Congress are becoming a blighting
curse to the country. They are used as a convenient mode
of covering up from the people, such acts or expressions of
their representatives as will not bear investigation in the
the light of day. Almost every act of usurpation of pow
er, or of bad faith, has been conceived, brought forth and
nurtured, in secret session. If I mistake not the British
Parliament never discussed a single measure in secret session
during the whole period of the Crimean War. But if it is
necessary to discuss a few important military measures,
such as may relate to the movement of armies, &c., in se
cret session, it does not follow that discussions of questions
pertaining to the currency, the suspension of the writ of
Habeas Corpus, and the like, should all be conducted in se
cret session. The people should require all such measures
to be discussed with open doors, and the press should have
the liberty of reporting and freely criticising the acts of
our public servants. Jn this way the reflection ot the
popular will back upon the reprentative, would generally
cause the defeat of such unsound measures, as those which
are now fastened upon the country in defiance of the will
of the people.
But dismissing the past and looking to the future, the in
quiry presented for our consideration is, how shall the State
authorities act in the management of the finances of the
State? .As the Confederate States Treasury notes consti
tute the currency of the country, the State has been obliged
to receive and pay them out ; and she must continue to do
so, as long as they remain the only circulating medium.
The present Legislature has very wisely adopted the poli
cy, in the present depreciated condition of the currency, of
collecting by taxation a sufficient sum in currency, to pay
the current appropriations of the State Government; in
stead of adding them to the debt of the State to be paid in
future upon the gold basis. If the State issues her own
bonds and puts them upon the market, or if she issues her
own Treasury notes redeemable at a future day in her
bonds, she adds the amount so issued to her permanent in
debtedness ; and defeats the policy of paying as she goes ;
as her own bonds or notes, would then be out, and could
not be redeemed with the Confederate notes when received
into her Treasury
If the State receives in payment of taxes the present
Confederate Treasury notes, they will be reduced in amount
one third by act of Congress, after 1st April next, and the
State receiving them at par pays a Confederate -Tax of
33£ per cent upon all monies that pass through her Treasu-
ed.
Given under my
Feb 18th, 1864.
hand officially at Marion,
40 fit.
LEWIS SOLOMON, Ord y.
GEORGIA Lowndes county.
riHVO months afrer d. tn appHoulinn will be
S made to the Hoimraljji-th -Uoort ot Ordinary
of said comity fur It mvh to si ll Hip lands hel.inping to
tlie estate of Isaac D. Gaiter, lute ol Lowndes county
deceased.
SAMUEL CARTER Adni’r.
Febuniary 1st, 18C4. j. w. u. 39 !*t.
Notice to Debtors and Creditors.
LL persons having demands against the es-
DESERTION OF OUR CAUSE BY REMOVALS WITHIN THE EN
EMY’S LINE.
I am informed that a number of persons in the portion of
our State, adjoining to East Tennessee, have lately removed
with their families within the lines of the enemy; and carri
ed with them their movable property. Those persons have
never been loyal to the cause of the South; and they now
avail Themselves of i he earliest opportunity to unite with
V LL persons havin_
tatc ot Benjamin James and Frances M
James, late of Pierce county, deceas'd, will pre
sent them duly authenticated within tlie time pre
scribed by law, and all persons indebted to said
estates, are requested to make immediate payment
to WILLIAM T JAMES, Adm r
Fehruary 12th. !e64. I’d $1 39 tit
founded. As evidence of the neglect of part of the Courts,
it may be proper to state, that great as the destitution is
i among those entitled to the fund, the amount due for the
last quarter of last year, has not in some cases been appli
ed for. Some courts have not yet sent in their reports of
tlie number entitled for the present year; so as to enable
me to have the calculation made; and the amount due each
GEORGIA. Mitcliel county.
^IX MONTHS after date I will apply tp the Ord
nary of said county for letters of dismissal froi.. „ - , . .
ti,.- Administration of the estate of Doily Oliver, de- no application for any part of the fund appropriated for this 1 -|
ased. This February 3rd, 1864.
(Pd $G
15. B. KEATON.
40 6m.
year.
AVliile the Governor lias power, to require the courts to
rnwo months after date application will be make reports, of the disposition made of the fund, in cases
I_ made to the Court of Ordinary ot Appiiag ^ j suspects it is being imnroperly applied; and to
county, for an order to sell the land boloupiug to . , , 1 , ° , 1 1 , 11 j ,
tlie estate of Christopher Chancey. late of said withhold payments to ihe courts in such cases; die has no
county deceased
HUGHEY CHANCEY, Adm r.
January 11, lsfi4. i L 3<J 9t
GEORGIA, Irwin County.
3IXT? DAAS after date application will bo
made to the Court of Ordinary of Irwic coun
ty, for leave to sell the land belonging to George
J. Young, late of said conn tv deceased.
CHARLES ROBERTS. Adm’r.
Jan’.y 11. 1834. LMe 36 9t
Notice to Debtors and Creditors.
Notice.
GEORGIA,Pulaski county.
S IXTY DAY'S afterdate application
t.. the I
of Abel T. Wright >lc
Fcburarylst, 1861.
of said deceased.
January 8lh, 1684.
MATHEW GRACE Admr.
fJ. g. c.) 37 9t.
ESTRAY XOTICE*
GEORGIA, Baker County.
Q hr Ids Office, Inferior Court, February
18 th, 1S64.
V I.L persons interested, are hereby notified
. that James T. Wl
trLt. G M, tolls before
the Justices of the Peace
tray mouse colored Mare
years of age, valued by Joseph Scollay and F
i-'-av. cr she will be dealt with as the law directs.
•H 5t THOMAS ALLEN, Clerk, I. C.
GEORGIA, Jasper County.
WHEREAS Isaac IT. Freeman makes appli-
** cation to me for letters of administration on
the estate of Bnijamia B. Freeman, late of said
county, deceased.
These are therefore to cite and admonish all
tiu'l singular the kindred and creditors ■ of sa d
d'ceased, to be and appear at my office on the first
-Monday in April next, to show cause, if any they
have, why letters shall not issue to the applicant
m terms of the statute
trijlbe granted.
” ituessmy official signature;Feb’y 12tb 1864.
II. T. PEEPLES Ord’;
Pd $3.
to the payment of damages, done to loyal citizens of the
same section; whose property lias been destroyed, by raids
of the enemy, or by armed bands of tories.
I am also informed, that some disloyal persons in that sec
tion, have deserted from our armies; or avoiding service have
left their families behind, and gone over to the enemy, and
. . are now under arms against us. I am happy to learn that
from | county ascertained; while inany of the counties have made j j| ie ntlin i )er of such persons is very small. I recommend
onfiscation of tlie property of this class of persons also,
and in case they have left families behiyd, that are a charge
to tlie county, that no part of the relief fund be allowed
them; but that they be carried to tlie enemy’s lines, and
turned over to tiiose in whose cause their husbands now
serve.
I also recommend the enactment of sucli laws, as shall for
ever disfranchise and decitizenizc all persons of both classes,
should they attempt to return to this State.
THE CURRENCY.
The late action of the Congress of the Confederate
States upon the subjecWif tlie currency has rendered fur
ther legislation necessary in this State upon that question.
It can not be denied that this act lias seriously embar
rassed tlie financial system of this State, and has shaken
tlie confidence of our people in either tlie justice of the late
Congress or its competency to manage our financial affairs.
Probably tlie history of the past furnishes few more strik
ing instances of unsound policy combined with bad faith.
Tlie Government issues its Treasury note for §100, and
binds itself two years after a treaty of peace, between tlie
Confederate States and the United States, to pay tlie bear
er that sain ; and stipulates upon tlie face of the note, that
it is fundable in Confederate States stocks or bonds; and
receivable in payment of all public dues except export du
ties. The Congress while tlie war is still progressing, pas
ses a statute that this bill shall be funded in about forty days
or one third of it shall be repudiated, and that a tax of ten
per cent a month shall be paid for it after that time by the
holder, and it shall no longer be receivable in payment of
public dues, and if it is not funded by the 1st of January next,
the whole debt is repudiated. Did the holder take the
note, with any such expectation? Was this the contract,
and is this the way the government is to keep its faith?
If we get rid of the old issues in this way, what guaranty
do we give for better faith, in the redemption of the next
issues ? Again, many of the notes have the express prom
ise^ their face, that they shall be funded in eight per cent
folios. When ? The plain import is, and so understood by
all at the time, of their issue, that it may be done at any
time before the day fixed on the face of the note for its
payment. With what semblance of good faith then, does
the government before that time, compel the holder, to re
ceive a four per cent bond, or lose the whole debt? and
what better is this than repudiation ? When was it ever
before attempted by any government-, to compel the fund
ing of almost the entire paper currency of a country,
amounting to seven or eight hundred millions of dollars in
forty days ? This is certainly a new chapter in financiering.
The com try expected the imposition of a heavy tax, and
all patriotic citizens were prepared to pay it cheerfully at
any reasonable sacrifice; but repudiation and bail faith
were not expected, and the authors of it cannot be held
guiltless.
Tlie expiring Congress took the precaution to discuss this
measure in secret session ; so that the individual act ot the
representative could not reach his constituents, and none
could be annoyed during its consideration by the murmurs
of public disapprobation being echoed back into the Legis
lative Hall. And to make assurance doubly sure, they
fixed the day for the assembling of their successors, at a
time too late, to remedy the evil, or afford adequate re
dress for the wrong.
power to ^compel the courts to do their duty, nor can be
take tlie fund from them and appoint any other person or
agent to distribute it among those for whom it is intended.
QilXTY days r.fi<-r date application will li* It the courts fail to act, the law makes no othei provision
lO made to the Court of Ordinary of Irwin enun- for the distribution of the fund. Unless some better plan
is adopted, I am satisfied the objects of the Legislature, will
be very imperfectly carried out, in many ot the counties;
and the needy will not receive tlie benefits of the liberal
provision made for them, by the appropriation. As it may
v LL persons indebted to the estate of e. T Bui- be necessarv to provide for the appointment of active reli-
jA.iard late of Mitchell County, deed are no- „ ents in t i ic counties, to assist the courts, or to take
tehed to make immediate payment, and those hav- u Q cuw 111 v/v # ’ 7
indemands against said deed,are notified to hand charge of tllfi fund III CflSC of licglcct, Ol* mismanagement
them in, ill terms Of tlie law. 1 by them; 1 respectfully suggest that provision should be
M. JANE BLLLAhl), Aon n. i - , « L . . J ,, 00 , c a 1 --0<-„<-„
Febnary 1st, 1864. j j. 1; Pd .•$4, 36 (it made for commissioning all such, as officers ot this state, so
— as to protect them against conscription. It will be im
possible to relieve the needy, if our most valuable county
„ . , a (rents, are taken from the discharge of their important du-
honcrab!e the Court of Ordinary of said tics by tllC enrolling OinCCrS OI tuG LODIGCreracy.
‘■ a ' I T!i™- i - l 'i"ia ,, af"' l ii ! Provision should also be made for the removal from of-
I f 1C e of all Justices of the Inferior Courts, who neglect or
U (j L1 j I 3 M ' VKI 3s 1 ^’ refuse to discharge their duties promptly and faithfully.
rU'-T. „ , , - " COTTON PLANTING.
GEORGIA. Pulaski Countv. I . , . . c r
oixty day*after dat<- application will be made to Having on formor occasions, brought the question Ot tar-
o u ,e OrdinaryofPuia.aki eounty. for leave to sell i , restriction of Cotton planting to the attention of the
all the lauds belonging to the estate of C. G- Davis lnpr resil louuu yt wn l o . . .
late of said county deceased, for the heirs and credi- i General Assembly, I feel a delicacy in again lecuiung to
that subject. The present prices of provisions, and-the
great Importance of securing a continued supply of the ne
cessaries of life, are my excuse for again earnestly recom-
1 mendin", that the law be so changed, as to make it highly
penal, lor any person to plant or cultivate in Cotton, more
than one quarter of ail acre fo the hand, till the end of the
war.
This additional restraint is not necessary, to control the
David" L Parker, one of cotldu ct of the more liberal and patriotic portion of our peo-
M a re' Mu le, 'about * ■‘xt cen 1 1^5 but there are those, who for the purpose of making a
. n jy Joseph Scollay and F. j little lllOTC UlOnGJ) Will plflllt tllG lftSt S4?6u fillOWCU b3 lllW,
Ij - Jarr *tt, freeholders of said county and Dis- thout stopping to enquire, whether they thereby, endan-
S ar tie- liberties of tl.e people, and tl.e independence of,he
Estiny i* required
property, pay charges, and take said mule P oufederaCV
rr •*’“ - :n w - To'control the conduct of this class of persons, and to the
extent of our ability to pro' ide against the possible contin
gency of a failure of supplies in future, I feel it to be an
imperative duty, again to urge upon your consideration, the
importance of the legislation abo\e recommended.
ILLEGAL DISTILLATION.
I hc(T leave again to call the attention of the General As
sembly? to the illegal distillation of grain into spirituous li
quors? So great .are the profits realized by those engaged
Given u;der™bTnd officially, this 22d day of in this business, that the law is evaded in every way that
February, 1664. ingenuity cau devise; and I am satisfied that the evil can not
-A' M - 11 HUTCHISON, Ord'y. 0 „ y suppressed without farther and more string-
frhORfu^ Berrien county. - ent legislation. Some of the Judges have ruleci, that the
act passed at your last Session, does not give them author-
6'inon the eatntefif Daniel Gackins dec’d.all per . r j - . . ~
' 'H" ii.t. routed will take notice and file, objections if d p aw aild compel the attendance of u jury, ouk-ot the
by the first mooday in April next, otherwi^lottem term t ; me of the Court, to try the question of nuis-
ance; while some public officers have shown no disposition
to act, for fear of incurring the ill-will of persons of wealth
Jrdy.
41 ot.
ry. This of course can not be submitted fo.
The repudiation policy of Congress, seems therefore to
have left us but one alternative ; ami that is to receive and
pay out only such issues of Confederate notes, as under the
acts of Congress pass at par, without the deduction of
o3s or any other per cent. But as we are obliged to have
1 unds before the time when the new issues of Confederate
notes can go into circulation, the question presented is
how shall we supply the Treasury in the mean time. In
my judgment the proper plan will be to issue State Treasu
ry notes, payable on the 26th day of December next at the
Treasury, and in each of the more important cities of this
■State in Confederate Treasury notes, of such issue as may
be made after 1st Ap ri! next, to be used as circulating me
dium. This enables the State to anticipate the new issues,
and use them in advance of their circulation by Confede
rate authority. The new Georgia Treasury notes of this
issue, would be just as good, as the new issue of Confede
rate notes; because payable in them, and would be as cur
rent in payment of debts. The act should provide that all
taxes hereafter due the State for this year, shall be payable
in the Confederate Treasury notes of ihe new issue, and
that they shall be deposited in the Treasury, when collec
ted, to redeem the State notes payable in them. The act
should also provide that the State notes .shall be returned
and the Confederate notes j'eceived in place of them with
in three months after they are due, or that the State will
no longer be liable for their payment. This would pre
vent holders from laying them away, and refusing to bring
them in for payment when due, according to the terms of
the contract. As the State tax is not due till next fall,
there will be an abundant supply of the new Confederate
notes in circulation by that time, to obviate all diflicultyin
obtaining them by our people to pay tlie tax.
I recommend tlie passage of a joint resolution, authoriz
ing the Governor to have funded in the six per cent bonds,
provided for By the act of Congress, all Confederate notes
which may remain in the Treasury ; or may be in the
hands of any of the financial agents ot the State ; after the
first day of April next; and to sell and dispose of such
bonds at their market value in currency, which can be
made available in payments to be made by the Treasury ;
and to credit the Treasurer with any losses that may ac
crue by reason of the failure ot the bonds to bring jrar in
the market.
ORPHANS’ ESTATES.
On account of the present depreciated value of the Con
federate securities I recommend the repeal of the law which
authorizes Executors, Administrators and Trustees to in
vest the funds of those whom they represent in these secu
rities. As the law stands it enables unscrupulous fiduciary
agents, to perpetrate frauds upon innocent orphans, and stance, if we desire to reinfor
other helpless persons represented by them ; and in effect
compels orphans and those represented by trustees, to in
vest their whole estates, in government bonds, which no
other class is required to do. . *
FURLOUGHS REFUSED.
On the 27th of February, when I issued my Proclama
tion, calling you into extra session, I telegraphed the Sec
retary of War ; and asked that furloughs be granted, to mem
bers in military service, to attend the session ; and received
a reply stating that it had “ been concluded riot to grant fur
loughs to attend the session”, that, “ officers so situated are
entitled to resign and may so elect”
nient; as it places our gallant officers, who have been elec
ted by the people to represent them, and to whom, as well
as their predecessors similarly situated, furloughs were nev
er before denied, in a position where it costs them their
commissions to attempt to discharge their duties, as Repre
sentatives of the people.
THE NEW MILITIA ORGANIZATION AND CONSCRIPTION.
Since your adjournment in December, the Adjutant and
Inspector General, under my direction, has done all in his
power to press forward the organization of the Militia of
the State, in conformity to the act passed for that purpose ;
and I have the pleasure to state, that the enrollments are
generally made ; except in a few localities, where proximi
ty to the enemy has prevented it; and tiie organizations will
soon be completed.
At this stage in our proceedings, we are met with formi
dable obstacles; thrown in our way, by the late act of Con
gress ; which subjects those between 17 and 50, to enroll
ment as Conscripts, for Confederate service. This act of
Congress proposes to take from the State, as was done on a
former occasion, her entire military force, who belong to the
active list, and to leave her without a force in the different
counties sufficient to execute her laws or suppress servile
insurrection. *
Our Supreme Court has ruled, that the Confederate gov
ernment, has the power to raise armies by Conscription ;
but it has not decided, that it also has the power, to enroll
the whole population of the State, who remain at hom^^o
a? to place the whole people, under the military contro^f
the Confederate government; and thereby, take from the
States all command over their own citizens, to execute their
own laws; and place the internal police regulations of the
States, in the hands of the President. It is one thing to
“ raise armies”, and another, and quite a different thing, to
put the whole population at home under military law, aud
compel every man to obtain a military detail, upon such
terms as the central government mav dictate, and to carry a
military pass in his pocket, while he cultivates his farm, or
attends to his other necessary avt cations at home.
Neither a planter nor an overseer engaged upon the farm,
nor a blacksmith making agricultural implements, nor amil-
lur.grinding for the people at home, belongs to, or consti
tutes any part of the armies of the Confederacy ; and there is
not the shadow of Constitutional power,Tested in the Con
federate government, for eonscribing, and putting these
classes, and others engaged in home pursuits, under milita
ry rule, while they remain at home, to discharge these du
ties. If Conscription were Constitutional, as a means of
raising armies by the Confederate government, it eon Id not
be Constitutional to conscribe those not uctually needed, and
to be employed in the army ; and the Constitutional power to
“raise armies”,could nevercarry with it,the power in Congress
to conscribe the whole people; who are not needed for the ar
mies ; but are left at home, because more useful there ; and
place them under military government, and compel them to
get military details to plough in their fields, shoe their farm
horses, or'go to mill.
Conscription carried to this extent, is the essence of mili
tary despotism; placing all civil rights, in a state of subor
dination to military power; and putting the personal free
dom of each individual in civil life, at the will of the chief
of the military power. But it may be said that Conscrip
tion may act upon one class as legally as another : and that
all classes are equally subject to it. This is undoubtedly
true, ll the government‘has a right to conscribe at all, it
has a right to conscribe persons of all classes, till it has rais
ed enough to supply its armies. But it lias no right to go
farther and conscribe all, who are bv its own consent to re
main at home, to make supplies. If it considers supplies ne
cessary, somebody must make them ; and tiiose who do it,
being no part of tlie army, should be exempt Irom Conscrip
tion, and the annoyance of military dictation, while engaged
in civil, and not military pursuits.
lf all between 17 arid 50 arc to be enrolled and placed in
constant military service, we must conquer the enemy while
we are consuming our present crop of provisions, or we are
ruined ; as it will be impossible for the old men over 50, and
the bovs under 17, to make supplies enough, to feed our ar
mies and people, another year. I think every practical man
in the Confederacy who knows anything about our agricul
tural interests, and resources, will readily admit this.
If, on the other hand, it is not the intention to put those
between 17 and IS, and between 45 and 50, into service, as
soldiers, but to leave them at home to produce supplies, and
occasionally to do police and other duties, within the State,
which properly belong to the Militia of a State ; or in other
words, if it is the intention simply to take the control of
them from the State, so as to deprive her of ail power, and
leave her without sufficient force to execute her own laws,
or suppress servile insurrection ; and place the whole Militia
ot’ the State, not needed for constant service in the Confed
erate armies, under the control of the President, while en
gaged in their civil pursuits, the act is unconstitutional and
oppressive, and ought not to be executed.
If the act is executed in this St ate, it deprives her of her
whole actire Militia, as Coggress has so shaped it as to in
clude the identical persons embraced in the act passed at
your late session, and to transfer the control of them all from
the State^to the Confederate government.
The State has already enrolled these persons under the
solemn act of her Legislature, for her own defense, and it is
a question for you to determine, whether the necessities of
the State ; her sovereignty and dignity, and justice to tiiose
who are to be affected by the act, do not forbid, that she
should permit her organization to be broken up, and her
means of self-preservation to be taken out of her hands. If
this is done, what will beour condition ? I prefer to answer
by adopting the language of the present able and patriotic
Governor of Virginia: “A sovereign State without a sol
dier, and without the dignity of strength—stripped of all
her men, and with only the form and pageantry of power-—
would indeed, be nothing more than a wretched dependen
cy, to which I should grieve to see our proud old Common
wealth reduced”.
I may be reminded that the enemy hr.s three times as
many white men, able to bear arms, as we have, and that it is
necessary to take all between the ages above mentioned, or
we cannot keep as many men in the field as he does.
If the result depended upon our ability to do this, we
must necessarily fail. But, fortunately for us, this-is not
the case. While they have the advantage in numbers, we
have other advantages, Yvliich, if properly improved, they
can never overcome. We are the invaded party, in the
right, struggling for all we have ; and for all that we expect
our posterity to inherit. This gives us great moral advan
tage, over a more powerful enemy ; who, as the invaders,
are in the wrong ; and are fighting for conquest and power.
We have the inner and shorter lines of defense; while they
have the longer and much more difficult ones. Cor in-
Dalton, from Wilmington,
Charleston, Savannah, and Mobile, or to reinforce cither of
those points, from Dalton,.xve cau do so by throwing troops
rapidly over a short line from one point to the other. If the
enemy wishes to reinforce Charleston or Chattanooga, from
Washington or New Orleans, he must throw his troops a
long distance around, almost upon the circumference of a
circle; while we meet them with our reinforcements, by
throwing them across the diameter of a semi-circle: This
difference in our favor, is as great as four to one, alid enables
us, if our troops arc properly handled, to repel their assaults,
with little more than one-fourth their number.
In consideration of these, a*nd numerous other advantages,
I regret this determination of the Confederate govern- which an invaded people, united and determined to be free,
always has ; it is not wise policy for us to undertake fo keep
in the field as large a number as the enemy has.
It is the duty of those in authority, in a country engaged
in a war, which calls for all the resources at «ornmand, to
consider well, what proportion of the whole population, can
safely be kept under arms. In our present condition, sur
rounded by the enemy, and our ports blockaded, so that we
can place but little dependence, upon foreign supplies, we
are obliged to keepa sufficient number of men in tlie agricul
tural fields, to make supplies for our troops under arms, and
their families at home, or wc must ultimately fail.
The policy which would compel all our men to go to the
Military field, and leave our farms uncultivated, and our
workshops vacant, would be the most fatal and unwise that
could be adopted. In that case, the enemy need only avoid
battle, and continue the war, till wc consume the supplies
now on band, and we would be completely in their power.
There is a certain proportion of a people in our condi
tion, who can remain under arms, and the balance ol the
population at home can support them. So long .as that
proportion has not been reached, more may safely be taken ;
but when it is reached, every man taken from the field ot
production, and placed as a consumer in the military field
makes us that much weaker; and if we go far beyond the
proportion, failure and ruin are inevitable; as the army must
soon disband, when it can no longer be supplied with the
necessaries of life. There is reason to fear, that those in au
thority have not made safe calculations upon rliis point, and
that they do not fully appreciate the incalculable impor
tance, of the agricultural interests, in this struggle.
We are able to keep constantly under arms two hundred