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jan***-*"'
inight need I sent Col. Win. Schly of Augusta to Ln-
>1 ,iui to purchase an interest in a Steamer. Finding that
~ w 1
in’was net successful by reason «f the noi
i( |. .|-party in getting: the vessel for hall
purchase that she may import, at her own risk and
he articles necessary to the comfort of herow:
i-compliatiee ot the j who are under arms lor her defence. r$!.e
interest, in which (from the Confederate Government, and ev
sk and cost,!chase of cotton mostly in localities threatened by the one-inly either in the Confederacy
,’u gallant sons my, which was earned to points ot greater safety and sold jcumstauces may show the one
■wan
Sl.c asks not a dolidr j for a profit. 1 ho had hot;* h<
Je nor hud. that i practical
en offers to pay j sum been realized at the date of tire Superintend u:t ? s re-
1 contracted at $1 >•>.000 in Confederate States S per j .ex port and import duties, (which the Confederacy has no j port. Fart of the < otvon nuw stored
right U> demand) on all she sends out and brings in. A
1 ln< . , . .
( . ent bonds, I made a contract with the Exporting and im
porting Company ot which Col. C. A. L. Lamar, was agent
for the charter of three vessels, with the privilege of adding
two others which the company expected to have ready in a
lew months.
This contract I considered advantageous to the State, and
if leit free to carry it out I could have exported cotton
enough to have purchased all the supplies the State might
need, and could have imported them upon leasonable
terms. .
At this point I was interrupted by the interposition J move these obstacles by enactments too plain and stringent
of the Secretary of the Treasury, who under the order of the j to be disregarded, but that they will invite and encourage
President refused to permit any vessel to clear unless she the several States, iree of hindrance or duty, to import all
or*tried out one half the cargo tor the Confederate Govern- the army supplies and articles of absolute necessity, which
went upon terms which were below what the State was to
nay for. the use of the vessels* This restriction was placed
money paid into me
\V
pomt she is met with a refusal to permit her vessels to char, j next repo it of the Superintendent
m#ess she will submit to such onerous terms as the Confed
erate Executive may choose to dictate. Can this action be
sustained under any law ot Congress, or upon anv principle
of enlightened or sound policy? Is it not a palpable as
sumption ol power, afbl an utter disregard of every princi
ple of State Lights and State Sovereignty?
I trust Congress when it again assembles, acting upon
principles of enlightened statesmanship, will not only re
’.VI i!
isurv Ililfi ;ie
soon be soul ami j
■onnted for in the I
to •">*)
the
the means at their command may enable them to do.
Should this expectation be disappointed I am satisfied it
upon the vessels of the States as it was said, by authority I would be sound policy on the part of this State to purchase
vested in the President by act of Congress ol 6th, Febv. j several vessels, and to import upon them such supplies as
under such uniform regulations as shall be made by ttie
president of the Confederate States. This construction
not be sustained however, upon any known rule, as
ton I u
t'ae'itli section of the act declares explicitly ‘’that nothing
ju rliis act shall be construed to prohibit the Confederate
States or any of them horn exporting any of the articles herein
enumerated on their own account.” This provision in the
act therefore leaves the States as free to export on their own
account either upon vessels owned or chartered by them, as
‘bey were before the act was passed. But as the proviso in
ihe act had been virtually repealed by an Executive order, 1
in common with the Governors of Mississippi, Alabama and
North Carolina, (the G<?vernor of .South Carolina concurring
as shown by his letter) appealed to Congress to take up the
question and make such provisions as would enable the
.States to exercise their just rights. After filature considera
tion Congress passed a bill for that purpose which the
President vetoed. Congress then as I am informed by
ut the Representatives of this State passed a resolution
unanimously in the House, and with almost unanimity in
the Senate, declaring in substance that the States should be
permitted to export end import without interruption upon
vessels chartered by them prior to the date ofthe resolution,
which would have It It the vessels chartered by tkis State
free. This resolution was passed near the close of the
session, and the Presid -lit refused, as the member informs
me either to sign it ort > return it. that Congress might lie
permitted to vote to ov rrula his veto. Thus by the order;
ofthe Excutive alone, t otwithstanding the action of Con- j
gress and the provision in the 5th Sectiou of the act above
referred to, the States were prohibited from exporting cot- j
ton and importing blankets and clothing for their troops,
and other necessary supplies, unless they would conform to!
such rules as the President thought proper to prescribe, j
These rules 1 could not conform to under the provisions oi j
the contract made with the exporting and importing com
pany without heavy loss to the State. As 1 was tin* pro
hibited bv act ofthe Confederate Government from carry -
iji.r out the contract, I could not insist upon the exclusive
tot* and control ofthe vessels. Finding the Exportations
of the State forbidden by the Lincoln Blockade, ami placed
under a partial blockade by our own Executive, I encoun
tered great embarrassment in currying out the instructions
ofthe legislature in this particular. If the Company were
compelled to submit to the terms prescribed by the Presi
dent. and give up one half the storage room of the steamers
chartered by the State, to the Confederacy, they were un
willing to divide the remaining half allowed them by the
President with the State. By allowing the company to use
The name ot the. State in their business which under the cir
cumstances I felt justified in doing, and by undertaking to
aid them when necessary in the transportation of cotton to
the coastal was enabled to get them, after submitting to
the terms imposed by the Confederate Government, to
carryout occasional lots for the State, upon the vessels
owned by them. I have also through the agency of Col. A.
Wilbur, exported some upon small vessels from the coast ol
this State. I have given one half to the vessels for carrying
out the other. Owing to the difficulties in getting letters
from the other side, I have not yet received statements of
the sales with the net amount of gold on deposit to the
credit of the State in England. Should the sa*e bills and
accounts current be received prior to your adjournment
I will immediately lay them before the General Assembly.
About three hundred bales of cotton were shipped upon
the Little Ada, (a steamer chartered by the State,) upon
the coast of South Carolina. This vessel after she had
been loaded with State cotton, was detained in Port be
tween two and three months by order of the Secretary of
the Treasury, supported as I am informed by a military or
der from the office of the Adjutant General in Richmond, to
the commandant of the Post, not to permit her to clear.
Thus this State vessel was doubly blockaded and threaten
ed bv Confederate guns in the harbor and by Federal guns
our side, if she attempted to go to sea with State cotton to
mport upon them such suppl
I>G1 which prohibits the exportation of Cotton, &c., except | raay be needed bv our troops, andforState use. The State
should also export a sufficient quantity of cotton, to place
gold enough upon the other side, to ouablo her to. again
equip the State Ropd at the end of the war. In common with
other Southern Roads, its iron will be much Worn, and its
rolling stock nearly run down, and if some forecast is not
exercised, the State will not have the means at her command
to put it in running order. This may be provided for in the
'manner above indicated with but little cost.
If the legislature will appropriate S2,000,000 in currency,
and authorize me to purchase vessels and cotton, and to
draw upon the cotton on the other side when necessary to
pay for them or to purchase more cotton for shipment, if the
blockade does not become more stringent, with the State’s
usual good luck when her affairs are well managed, I am
firmly impressed with the belief that J can put gold enough
to her credit in Europe in one year to repair the Road
within six months altera treaty of peace, or to pay a large
one | proportion oi* the appropriations of the current year. To
Accomplish this the State must not be interrupted by Con
federate interference. The exchange which the cotton ex
ported this year under all tlfe embarrassments of a double
blockade places, to the credit ofthe State, with the cotton
now in store, is worth nearly double the whole sum expend
ed by the-State in the purchase of the cotton.
OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION’.
As will be seen by the Reports of the Treasurer and
Comptroller General, the public debt of Georgia, indepen
dent of the appropriations-of the past year for tee payment
of which a sufficient tax has been assessed, and of the change
bills issued which are payable in Confederate Stales Treas
ury notes, amounts to $14,474, 270. Of this the bonded
debt is $0,086,250 of which $216,000 being part due is
drawing no interest. The remaining debt consists of $6,-
903,000 in Treasury notes, and $1,395,000 iri Treasury
Certificates of Deposit. 'These notes and certificates bear
[liu interest and the State will not be called on to redeem
them in specie or bonds till six months after a treaty of
peace.
Of the above $2,670,750 is the old bonded debt which
existed at the commencement ot the war, incurred chiefly
on account ofthe construction of the Western and Atlant
ic Railroad which is the property ofthe State, and for
stock in the Atlantic and Gulf Road.
To meet her liabilities the State has public property
consisting ■of the Western and Atlantic Bail road, Bank
stock, and Railroad stock, valued before the depreciation ol
the currency at $$,$40,124.68. And her whole taxable
property worth over $700,000,000 upon a specie basis.
Jhe debt to bo paid in Confederate Treasury notes is
$1,411,442 of change bills, and $$,095,000 payable iu new
issue of Confederate Treasury notes 25th December next,
which by the terms of the contract are to be presented for
jmyment by 25th March next, or the State is not bound to
redeem them, but they are to be receivable iu payment of
public dues at any future time.
To redeem.these notes and the undrawn appropriations
of the past year, there is bow in the Treasury $2,146,0S7
and a balance still due on the tax digest, about sufficient to
cover the whole amount. But as some ofthe counties
whose digests have been returned have since been thrown
within the enemies lines, it may not be possible if the ene
my is not driven back, to collect a sufficient sum within
the time to pay p.11 these notes when presented.
In that event I respectfully recommend that provision be
made tor the issue and sale of seven per cent bonds running
20 years with semi-annual coupons, to raise the Confede
rate currency necessary to pay the debt, which it is believed
would command a high premium, or that new State notes
be issued upon the same terms as the notes to be redeemed
payable in new issue of Confederate notes ouo year after
date, which could be exchanged it is believed for Confed
erate notes with which to make the payment. This would
enable the State to pay the debt in Confederate notes as
soon as the taxes can be collected.
I also recommend that the appropriations of the present
Jen we had rolling stock winch could l>e spared from
Government transput ration I thought tills a legitimate busi
ness. When the road was taken possession ot by the ene
my and our engines and cars sent to the interior ofthe
State, 1 found it necessary to keep the most ofthe employ
ees ofthe Road with the stock, that we might have them
at command in case we recovered ti:e road. As they were
generally dependent upon their wages for the support ot
their families it was necessary to keep them upon such pay
as would accomplish this object.
The loss of-our engines and cars has been heavy. The
raid under General Stoaeman destroyed at Gordon and near
Griswoldville seventeen passenger cars and thirty freight
cars and seriously injured four engines. At the evacua
tion of Atlanta three of our engines and eighteen cars which
were in the employment of the Government transporting
ordnance and commissary stores were destroyed by order
of Gen. Hood, to prevent their falling into the hands ofthe
enemy, The families of part oftl.e employees who have
been driven out without shelter have been permitted to oc
cupy a portion ofthe freight cars. The balance of the
rolling stock when not engaged carrying cotton has been
used on other l oads to carry government freights for the
supply of the army.
The Confederate Government owes the road, as will be
seeii by the Superintendent’s report the sum of $975,774.60,
I have made every effort in my power to collect this but
have not been successful. 1 trust the Government will not
much longer delay payment, which lias been withheld from
time to time under various pretexts.
fC TAXON BANKS.
As' the act ofthe last regular session imposed a tax upon
both the assets and capital stock of the different Banks of
this State, which amounts to a double tax, and as these cor
porations have not the advantages over the other pursuits
m the State which they hid before the war, on account of
the suspension of their regular business which has been
absorbed by the Confederate Treasure; ami as thev exchang
ed largeamountsof their own bills with the Government
at the commencement of the war for its notes as an accom
modation, which have greatly depreciated in their hands; I
doubted whether it, was the intention of the legislature to
make this discrimination against them. I therefore direct
ed the Comptroller Gen ral to suspend the collection ofthe
tax upon their Capital Stock and collect only upon their as
sets till your pleasure shall be known.
TAX ON COTTON.
As the law now stands cotton in the handsof all persons
other than producers is taxable, but the cotton held by the
producer in his gin-house from year to year as investment
pays no tax. I can see no just reason for this discrimina
tion. If the planter sells his cotton and invests the proceeds
years m
datitem of
8U{q»!hs
or in foreign markets as cir-
or the other to be the most
with the least cost.
. rnKcHVSK OF PROVISION
1 no conscript law irtivinir been extend*,
age,embraces much the greater portion <
[tins iState. Most ot these men who make suiplu
I of provisions have received details inun milirniv set vice on
• condition tout they sell to the Confederate Government all
I their surplus at schedule prices, which are now so tar below
j market value a* to afford not*even the appearance of just
compensation. In this way the Confederate Government
prohibits the citizens of Georgia from selling their surplus
productions to their own State, when the State needs these
productions and is ready to pay just compensation for them.
This makes it exceedingly difficult for the Quartermasters
and Commissaries ofthe State to procure the suppliesabso-
lutely # nocessary for the State troops, indigent exiles, and
others supported by the State. Under the order of Confed
erate oflicers that detailed men should sell only to Confed
erate Agents, the officers of the Stateduringthe pastsuinmer
were driven out of her own markets, and were obliged to go
to our sister state Alabama, and purchase corn and import it
at a very heavy expense to the Treasury to save the suffer
ing poor from starvation.
For a more detailed statement ofthe diflieulties growing
out of this prohibition you are respectfully referred to the
official Reports of the Quartermaster General and the Com
missary General.
Some of the other States have enacted laws which au
thorize the State officers to impress when in the hands of
producers such supplies as are needed for $tate use. Tills
in my opinion is the only mode ot obviating the difficulty.
Such a law should make ample provision to secure just
compensation to the owners whose property may be taken.
A confederate regulati(4P cannot’ be defended upon any
principle of reason or justice which drives a State qut ot
her own markets lor the purchase of her necessary sup
plies.
THE EXILES DRIVEN OUT BY THE ENEMY.
Your attention is invited to the deplorable condition of
the unfortunate exiles, who have been driven' from their
homes in Atlanta, aud other parts of the State, by* the sav
age cruelty of the enemy. The inhumanity of the treat
ment to which these unfortunate sufferers have been sub
jected, has probably no parallel in modern warfare, and but
few in the history of the world. Thousands of helpless
women and children, many of them widows and orphans of
brave men, who have sacrificed their lives in the defence of
the liberties of their country, have been driven from their
homes, with but little of their clothing and furniture, and
thrown out and exposed upon the ground to all sorts of
weather, without food, house, or shelter.
I have had the best means in my power provided for
their protection, and have ordered provisions issued to those
who were entirely destitute. As I had no special appropri
ation for this purpose, I have used the Military fund, or so
much of it as could be spared, not doubting ►hat my course
would meet your approval. Tents have been furnished to
every other species of property, but if* lie considers the cot
ton a better investment than currency bonds or other prop
erty, and holds it from year to year, it is exempt in his hands
from taxation, while all other things of like value are taxed.
If A purchases cotton which lie holds as investment and
B raises cotton which he holds from year to year for the
same purpose. I confess my inability to see any just reason
why the one should pay tax and theother be exempt.'
INEQUALITY OF TAX RETURNS.
I call your special attention to that par of the Report of
the Comptroller General which points out the inequality of
the tax returns from the different counties under the present
law, and respectfully recommend the passage of the Bill
suggested by him, or one of like character, to remedy this
evil and prevent future inequality and injustice between
the people ofthe different counties. Each should bear its
just part of the public burdens, which is not and will not be
the case under the present law.
MILITARY APPROPKIAl ION.
As our State is invaded by a powerful enemy and it is
impossible to foresee the exigencies which may arise within
the ensuing year to require the use of our military force, or
the extremities to which we may be driven, I recommend
the appropriation of ten millions of dollars as a military
fund lor the political year.
pay for blankets to be imported for Georgia troops in ser- j fiscal year be provided tor by the issue of similar notes pay-
vice who have great need of them. !able in Confederate Treasury
A complete statement, of the amount expended by the
ry notes, so as to enable the
to pay the appropriations out of the taxes of each
State for the purchase of cotton, with the quantity pur-1 . w h e ifcollected, and "that sufficient tax be assessed to
Hissed miner the appropriations, and the average cost P er j meet ail the appropriations made. As the money must be
pound, together with the number ot bales exported on ac - - - - -■ ...
t*ount of the State,and the number now in store, with ac
count of expenditures lor storage, freight, insurance, lighter
age, bagging, rope, compressing, &c, will be laid before
the finance committee during the session. They are not
transmitted herewith because reports of the agents with ac
counts current have not all been received.
1 have purchased and had stored on one of the Islands
5.),0i)0 pairs of cotton cards, and 30.000 soldiers blankets. I
Li ve also made contracts for soldiers clothing, enough I trust
with what are on hand to carry the troops through the
winter without suffering. Fart of our goods were lost a few
days since near Charleston with the Eiorie, but I hope soon
to be able tp import the balance.
1 have lately been informed by Mr. Trenholm the present
liberal minded practical Secretary of the Treasury, that
vessels owned bv the State, will be permitted to clear with
out interruption by the Confederate Government. Were
the question an original one, lean not doubt that Mr. Tren-
liolm with the act of Congress, before him would decide,
that a vessel chartered by a State lias the same right to a
clearance, as no substantial distinction '*n be drawn be-
tween the right 0 f a state to export upon a vessel owned,
° no 'bartered, by her, which is a temporary ownership.
]°[ m 1 * u PP°8e that this financial officer would willing-
. row obstacles in the way of the States in making ail
,!e ltT >portations iu their Dovver. Take t he case of Georgia
power. -
' an instance. Her sons are in the 'field. Uhey need
'.ankete, shoes, clothing and other necessaries. The Con-
cerate Government often unable to famish these, and
- > sunn for them. The State by her legislature savs
“ er f 08 sha U not suffer,,and if the Confederate Govern
or can not supply these necessary articles, she will. She
Jfpmpnates money for that purpose, and directs part of
wh;M r[ i US ,P roductioDS ex P orte,J t0 P»y for these articles,
u cu she directs to be imported. She charters her vessels,
F' J 1chases cotton with her own money, and places it ou
■ J °aia, f 0 i )e carr j e jj abroad at her own risk ami expense, to
used during the year and the taxes of each year are paid
during the latter part ofthe year, it becomes necessary to
issue these notes to meet the demands of the Treasury till
the taxes can be collected.
As I stated in a former message no prudent man will
now give his note for property at present rates payable in
specie after the war ; nor will he borrow the present cur
rency if lie is •bliged to use it, and give his note for it at
par payable in lawful money after the war, but he will sell
property even if it exposes him to much inconvenience and
raise the currency which he is obliged to use. If no mem
ber ofthe General Assembly and no prudent constituent of
any member will raise currency for liis own uses and give
for it his obligation for specie after the war, no legislator
should do it for the .State, which is composed of the mem
bers and their constituents. * If it becomes necessary to
sell some portion of our property to raise the currency nec
essary to meet the demands upon the Treasury we should
do it without hesitation, rather than incur an enormous
debt in currency to be paid out of our property and that of
our posterity in future at specie rates. In-imposing the
necessary taxes the law should make provision for the ex
emption of the property of the poor who eann«t sell prop
erty to pay* a heavy tax and live; and should place the
burden mainly upon the wealth of the State where it can
1x2 borne without causing suffering or want. As the poor
have generally paid their part ofthe cost of this war in
military service, exposure, fatigue and blood, the rich who
have been in a much greater degree exempt from these
should meet the money demands ofthe Government.
WESTERN & ATLANTIC RAILROAD.
As will pc seen by the Report of the Superintendant of
the Western & Atlantic Railroad the net earnings of ihe
road have been $1,117,522.48 for the fiscal year.
In addition to this about half a million of dollars have
been made to this date, by the use of the rolling stock
since the road was given up to the enemy, by tfie pur-
RELIEF OU SOLDIERS FAMILIES.
I recommend the appropriation of six millious of dollars
as a fund for the relief of indigent soldiers’families and sick
and wounded soldiers, and indigent exiles.
While hundreds and thousands of our patriotic fellow
citizens who are poor and without means to support their
families in their absence, are standing as a bulwark between
the enemy and the safety and property of the whole peo
ple whose homes have not been overrun, it is the impera
tive duty ofthe people at home to see that their families do
not suffer for the necessaries of life. I have constantly ad
vocated this policy and feel the importance of it the more
as the sufferings consequent upon the scarcity of provisions
are increased in the State. The wealth and property ofthe
State must be taxed to any extent necessary to prevent
suffering among the families of our brave defenders. They
have freely shed their blood in their country’s service, and
those who have money must be compelled to part with as
much of it as may be required to cheer the hearts of the
widows aud orphans of the slain, and the distressed families
of those still upon the field. Let our soldiers know that
their loved ones at home are provided for, and you stimu
late them to greater exertions aud nerve them nobler
deeds.
The law should be so amended as to make it the duty of
the Inferior Courts of the respective counties to make
quarterly reports to the Comptroller General of the dis
bursement ofthe funds received b\ them, with a statement
of the names of the indigent persons to^wLom the fund is
distributed and the amount received by each. It is Be
lieved that the courts are not held by the present law to
sufficient accountability.
The law should provide for the prompt dismissal of the
courts from the trust, and the appointment of other agents
to disburse the fund, when they fail to make legal and sat
isfactory returns, or to discharge any other of th# duties
imposed upon them by the statute.
Provision should also be made to enable the courts of
counties containing refugees to draw enough of the funds of
counties behind the enemies’ lines *to afford relief to such
refugees when entitled, wjtliout the certificate of the court
of the county of their former residence, upon other satisfac
tory evidence when the certificate of* the court can not be
obtained.
CLOTHING FUND.
I recommend the appropriation of two millions of dol
lars as a clothing fund to be used for the supply of clothing*
to Georgia troops in service when they cannot get what is
necessary to their comfort from the. Confederate Govern
ment* While it is the duty of that Government to supply
all its troops with comfortable clothing, if it fails to dis
charge that duty from inability or otherwise, Georgia
should see that her sons do not suffer by such neglect. This
fund should be used for the purchase of the necessary sup-
bonds or other property they are taxable, as are almost j suc-li as could not get shelter, and I have directed that log
cabins be constructed, at a suitable locality, by the Quarter
master General, who has taken great interest in their be
half, for their comfort during the winter. The Quarter
master and Commissary General have done all in their pow
er, with the means at their command, to mitigate the suf
ferings of this most unfortunate class of our felloxjj-citizens.
I recommend that proper provision be' made by law, to sup
ply those who are destitute, with shelter, and the necessa
ries of life, till they can provide for themselves.
GEORGIA HOSPITAL AND RELIEF ASSOCIATION.
Your attention is invited to the Annual Report of the
Board of Superintendents of the Georgia Hospital and Re
lief Association This association is composed of gentlemen
of the highest character who have labored faithfully and
successfully to alleviate the suffering of our sick and wound
ed soldieis. Their efforts merit the thanks of our whole
people. It is doubted whether any other association with
the same amount of means at command has accomplished as
much good.
I respectfully recommend an approproation of $500,000 to
be expended by the association as heretofore, during the
ensuing year.
. SCHOOL FUND.
As our schools cannot be conducted with success, till we
have a change in the condition of the couutry, I recommend
that the school fund, fot the future, be applied to the sup
port of the widows and orphans of our soldiers, till we can
again revive our educational interests, with reasonable
prospects of the accomplishment of good, by the distribu
tion of the fund among»the counties, for educational pur
poses.
DESERTERS AND STRAGGLERS FROM THE ARMY.
It istf fact that requires no effort at concealment since the
late announcement of the President, in his speech at Macon,
that our armies have been weakened to an alarming extent
by assertion and straggling. The success of our cause, and
the safety of our people, require prompt action to remedy
this evil. Many of these men have fought gallantly, aud
have left their commands, under circumstances the most
trying, to which human nature can be exposed. As our ar
mies "have retreated and left large sections of country in
possession cf the enemy, they have found their homes and
their families thrown behind the enemy’s lines, where the
latter are subject, not only to insult and injury, but to
great suffering, for the necessaries of life. Under these cir
cumstances, their sympathy and care, far their families, tri
umphed over their patriotism and sense of duty, and in an
unfortunate hour they yielded to their feelings, laid down
their arms and abandoned their colors.
A strong appeal should be made to these men to return to
their companies, and a free pardon should be extended to
each one who will do so. This is already offered to them by
Gen. Beauregard, and Gen. Hood and I have reason to believe
would bo granted by the General in command of each of the
Military Departments. All who refuse to accept the par
don, and return, should be arrested, and sent forward with
the least possible delay.
The civil officers of the State, in their respective coun
ties, with the aid ofthe Military officers, when at home, and
the patrol of each county, is believed to be the most effec
tive, for the arrest and return, of deserters and stragglers,
if placed by the laws of the respective States, under proper
legal obligations, to act in this capacity. These oflicers, by
the Constitution of the country and laws of the States, and
of the Confederate States, are exempt from Confederate
conscription, and should be required in consideration of the
exemption extended to them, to keep all deserters and strag
glers out of their counties, when not overrun by the enemy.
To compel the civil officers to act, as many of them arc
uot inclined to do so, I recommend the passage ofalaw, au
thorizing the Governorto turn over the civil officers of any
county, or any portion of them to conscription, when they
refuse to act or to obey orders, for the apprehension of strag
glers and deserters, from State or Confederate service, and
if they cannot be turned over to conscription from age or
otherwise, that they be subject to Militia duty, and to trial
by court martial, for neglect of duty or refusal to obey or
ders. And that all necessary penal sanctions be added, to
compel the discharge of this duty. Proper provision should
be made, by the Confederate authorities, to receive tho do*