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About The Independent South. (Waynesboro, Ga.) 1860-186? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1861)
r -i- $ l |A„ SATURDAY, DEC. 7, 1861. jV As were "rowing, voluptuous, 1 wards us, that we may never fer tile drouth checked our tendencies, nnd disciplined us to hardships, pre paratory to the trials oftlio war that is now upon ns. The drouth caus ed the sowing of the large crop of wheat that resulted in such n boun tiful supply ot«rlireadstuff8 the pres ent year. As we have heretofore been dependent upon the western markets for corn, we were driven to procure a competent supply be fore the blockade closed the market pet his mercies. May we always be able to say, •‘Hallelujah; for the Lord God omnipitent rcigneth." Philos. Waynesboro. Gn., Nov. 25, 18G1. Ecciitlvc Department, Milledgeville, Nov. 2G. 1691. To the House of llcprcscntivcs: The committee appointed by the House to confer with mein reference to the correspondence between me upon us. These are clear evidences , and the Secretary of war touching of his goodness towards ns. By refer-1 the defence of Georgia, did mo the ence to the book of Joel, wo learn J honor to meet ine in conference that a large wheat crop was nn es pecial evidence of the Divine favor, nt one time and why not again?— yesterday evening, nnd I had the pleasure to lay before them such of the correspondence ns the commitee This suspension of produce induced nnd I have agreed is proper for the such a depression in commerce as I consideration of the House in aid to save us from a move that might j of legislative action. Eacli member have resulted in much more sorrow I of the committee, however, concurs nnd trouble than we now have. The God that rules the world has done these things, and wo nre now able to say, “the Lord resigneth; let the earth be glad)” Another evidence of the Divine favor toward us is the extraordi nary religions element that has pervaded all our nationals move ments from its earliest conception down to the present time. The con ventions which considered the - ques tion, and finally passed the Ortli- nnnee of the Stale Secession, were ropdocN'd tie lie; .-..1 - and the pious. These convention: were opened daily with the moss solemn appeals to a Throne of Grace for enlightenment and guid ance. Our first Congress was horn under the influence of daily prayer, and early baptized with the flowing ■ ears of a fervent, religious patriot ism. And the result was, the pro duction of a constitution which re cognizes the control and the sup port of a Supreme Being. On of the great defects of that able instru ment, than which a greater was rarely over produced by man, was the failure to sec and acknowledge their defendonee upon the all-sus taining hand of Him to whom we are responsible for all our actions; in the constitution of the United States; but not so with ours, it ack nowledges our depen.lee upon him with a reverence that becomes that superior instrument. In addition to tiles- religious movements, prayer has everywhere, and in every way pervaded all ranks and conditions of society. Prayers in the closet, around the family altar, and in the public atsepibly. They pray for our soldiers against. I; the spirit of vandalisms that has diffused the entire North, and would subjugate and extermi nate the South. And can any sane man suppose that all these influences were excited and perpetuated by any other than a divine agency? “Every good and perfect gift coinetb down from the Father of Light,” and should bo received with thanksgiv ing. We .are frone to doubt and unbe lief, nnd a frequent review of the ev idences of the goodness of God are very important—as they tend to in crease and stimulate our faith. The evidences that are now presented arc of sufficient force to stay our hearts in the opinion, the part of t his cor respondence is not the proper sub ject of newspaper publication or 1 comment, in the present sluto of affairs as it contains information which should be kept from the po ssession of the enemy. I have, therefore, respectfully to ask that the correspondence be considered in secret session. In this connection, I beg leave again to call the attention of the House to the fact that the military appropriation is entirely exhausted nnd that I am borrowing money every (lay, and paying interest upon it, while there is money in the Tivu-! sury uimpropriated sufficient to re lieve our present necessities. Un til the appropriation is made I must j continue to labor under great etn-j barrassmmts; and it is with much Ifidiculty that I can maintain our gallant troops in the field; We nre obliged to have large supplies of pro- vission for the support of our army during the winter, prices are rai sing daily, and in purchasing sup plies before a further advance. The single article of w heat has advanced fifty per cent, since the commen cement of the session, und it is believed the sum lost by the State bv delay in procuring supplies, cau sed by want of futids appropriated, has doubled if not quadrupled the entire sum saved to the Treasury by all reductions of stilarscs of public officers which have been made by the General Assembly. The foot of the invader now des ecrates tho soil of Georgia and while the Confederacy may not have done all which we could desire for our defence. It has probably done all which in the judgment of those in authority, it could safely do con sistently with wlint they considered^ their obligations to other points which have heretofore been exposed to more immediate attnek. Whatever differences of opinion may exist upon this point, I respect fully sugges that it is not now the timrto stop to balanco accounts with the Confederacy, or to count the cost of our defence. Many of the local and private bills before tho General Assembly may be im portant to particular individuals, and may promote particular interests but I beg you to remember that tho State is now invaded by a hostile force, and that tho flag of the enemy waves over part of her soil, and upon God, nnd keep our minds in insults her sovereignty, v/hilo it feet pence, with these and other i which we may present in jire so conclusive jh»jt- threatens tho existence of her ins titutions, the liberties her sons, nnd the safety of her daughters. I thSre- I f° re implore tho representatives of her people to lay aside nil differ ence of opinion and all other legis lation of minor importin''". upiiF
