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|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
