Newspaper Page Text
(CONCLUDED FROM FIRFT PAGI.)
We need nut attempt to close our eyes to the
stem reality. The success of our cause depends
upon the galiantrv and endurance of our troops.
1 bev cannot tight unless they and their families
can be supplied with at least the otceseane- of
life. Trie wealth of the country most come to
their relief, and contribute whatever the exigent
e;e 9 may require. The question for each proper
tv bolder to consider is, whether be will giro 'ip
i, a rt for ibe protection of the on ance, or with
hold the necessary contribution and lose toe
whole.
exemption of SOLDIER* from taxation.
j 0 const del atioa of the hardship* and priva
hon, er,dared by onr said.ers in service and the
of ,ba families of many #f them, I re
oumm* nd the enactment of a law exempting all
soldiers while in service from the payment ot poll
•Jri i „)«, recommend tha exemption ot one
thousand dollars of the property ot each soldier ;
from all taxation during hit continuance in ser
voe Large numbers of our troops have not
more than on- thousand dollars worth of property
t ach This is ail needed for the comfort of their
families in their absence, eud should be exempt
from the burdens of taxation. Those who have
more than one thousand dollars should only be
required lo pay on the balance beyond that
" J T tliinh it just that the wealth of the Slate and j
those who remain in the enjoyment of home com
forts,many Ot whom are accumelatmg fortunes ;
bv speculation, should bear the burden of the j
taxation necessary to support the Government and
the families of those who meet the enemy on the
Held ot battle.
CLOTHINO roR TUB OEOROIA TBOORS.
Intimation of the most authentic
been received from the army, which venfirfthe
report that many of the Georgia troops in Con
federate service are almost destitute ot clothes
and shoes, and must suffer terribly tins winter if
*-,eedv relief is not afforded. This suffering should
never be permitted by the people u' the Slate as
iong as we are able to raise a dollar for their re
l,ef I have tec mmended tbe Georgia Relief and
Hospital A-socta ion to oraw aud expend for |
clothes ar,d shoes for the most destitute, the re ;
maimn* portion,of the appropriation which they
have not had o canon to nse for hospital tiuta
DIW cot doubting that such an application of |
ttemomy would meet vour cordial approval. I
They have done touch, but there is still much j
more to be done.
To meet the emergency, 1 recommend the pass- |
, OI a joint resolution of the two Houses, at 1
tl fearliesi day possible, authorizing the Gover i
nor o! this Mfate, if satisfactory arrangements
cannot be made with the proprietors, to seize all
the factor ns and tanneries in this State and to
appropriate their whole products to this use till I
♦ a il'sid pi irol shoes and a good suit of clothes are j
furnished to every Georgia soldier in service who ]
needs the asstsiance. Ido not know 'hat the '
Confederate Government would pay for ihe sup
ply, thus furnished. It not, the State is able to:
give these necessary arficles to her brave eons I
who are suffering for them, and her j
people should not hesitate a moment !
to do It. 1> would not be necessary to keep the j
possession of the factories and tanneries long, as .
the winter’s supply could soon be made, j
Tbe resolution should lix the price per yard to :
be paid for cloth, tbe price per pound to be paid i
for leather, and the pi.ee to be paid for shoes if!
found ready made. As no authority w.s given
me at your last session to expend money to fur
nish necessaries to tbe troops in Oonfedti ate ser- ;
.ice I have not felt authorized to make the seix
urrs’now recommended, fill you have given your '
aanrtion to the proposed actiOD. The cold part
of the winter is fast approaching, ibe climate of
Virginia and Kentucky is severe, and i think hu- 1
maniiyas well as justice to onr fellow-citizens
under arms, requires prompt action.
COTTON ASP PROVISIONS.
While cotton has long been the great staple
production of the State of Georgia and several ,
other States of tbe Confederacy, webave been ac« :
customed to draw a large portion o! our supplies
of provisions from tuc Western .States. Ju tbe ;
present condition of the country this is no longer
•oHsible. Our poits are blockaded and we cannot j
import from abroad. Wo-are, therefore, left to
depend upon ourselves for the production of a
supply sufficient for our people at home and our
army.' We have the ability to make this supply, i
,1 ail our labor, exet J.t enough to make cotton for
borne consumption, is employed in the produo
Mon of grain and o her art eles used to sustain
Ids But so large a proportion of out .adoring
„„ n will b. under arms during th- ensuing year, !
ihai we cannot probably lo mot
Without a supply of provisions it is nip - . "
suKiß.u cut aimy in the field and pM vt' Jl.een i
emy from triumphing over us. Tins question,
then, to coni's one of the most vi'al 'mportance, ,
one upon which not the national life, hu the live,
ot onr people and the cause of the Confederacy j
depend. The price which cotton niw brings in
tbe market presents tbe strong:-* temptation to
the blunter to produce a large crop. Aud it is
fear -d that without the reatrainirg nflue iceol
prohibitory legislation, much of oar laud aud la
bor Will be employed in its production next year.
Tue couduclot Ibe planters ol this State during
the present } ear has generally been alike com
a.eudable und patriotic. But lew have produced (
large crops of cotton. The fact must not be over.. ,
looked, however, that tbe price was low last I
spring and tbe i-iaptatiou very ,-mal! in compart- !
arm with that now presented.
While our pnrtH are blocksded, we cannot make
useful more tbau is required tu clothe our own
people. Then why produce it, and lay it up in
atoic to tempt he enemy to penetrate the interior
Cf our country to obtain it ? Or why keep it tor
tbe beui'tilot commercial nations alter we have
achieved onr independences They have left tisat
a most critical period to take care of ourselves.
Why, then, should we not leave them to feed
their'own starving operative* till such time ua it
is compatible with our public interest to produce
the supply ol cotton, without which they must
number their paupers by millions, and support
them by luxation r The State can regulate this
production bv Ihe exercise of tbeir taxing power.
There has, I believe, never been a tax act in
Georgia, In in the earliest period of the S'ute
(levelmnenl to tins day, which did not discrum
Date betwei n d ff rent kinds ot property aud tax
smite one higher than another. When the power
ot discrimination is admitted, the extern of its
eli l v i-e is dependent upon tbe discretion of the
Legislature Tbe bower to discriminate has not
only beet, adnutt. d in this Hi fa, but the practice
has been uniiorm in its exetcis-. 1 therefore re
contme.id the enactment of a law imposing a tax
ot uue hundred dolluis upoa each quantity of
m c f cotton, sufficient to make a bale ot four hun
d-eil pounds of picktd notion produced next year
apoa all excess ..ver wbat, is actual,y necessary
fur u home supply Beyond such tipply, produc
tion Should only be permuted upon the payment
ol a tax which renders it unprofitable to the ava
ricious.
1 make no recommendation for the imposi
tion of a tax upon tbe crop of the past year, for
the r. ason that the Legislature had not in ad.-
rauoe notified the people of the State of tae ne
cessity winch mom induce a change of poltcv in
Ihe taxation ol this staple production. As the
saw upon Ihe Statute Book exempted the growing
orop from taxation when planted, and as many of
our planters were absent Iroui the State in mill,
fary service and had bnt little opportunity to look
te their crops or other home interests, it would
stem to be improper, by retroactive legislation,
to load it with a heavy fax when gathered. Our
policy should be made lxnwii ’u advance, that
each citizen, when he plants hie crop, may know
what the Stale will require on the production
when made.
WKSTKRN * ATLANTIC HAILROAO.
For The operation* of Ihe Western A Atlantic
Railroad during the past have! year, you are re
ferred to the Report of ns laithlul Superintend
ant. It will be observed that the Road is now
out of debt, so far as the existence of any just
olaitr against it is ascertained. It has paid mic
the Treasury of the S ate four hundred and forty
thousand dollars out of not earnings for the past
roar and there was due the Road on the S(nh
September last, »577.8«4 78 from the Confederate
•Government tor transportation of troop* and milt*
tary stores. Payment has been demanded, but
act made, the Becvetow of the Treasury lasistiag
that we snooid receive Confederate bonds. This
[ have declined to do, on the ground, that there
is no law of the State authorizing the Superin
tendent to receive bonds and pay them into tbe
Treasury, and on tbe lurtber ground, that it ta
not me policy of the State, while she is in debt, to
invest in the bonds of any other State or Govern
ment. I have, therefore, demanded Contederate
Treasury notes, which pass as currency, and can
be used by the Slate in payment of her own in
debtedness and her current expenses. I trust the
clan, may be paid without much further delay.
The Road bed is in excellent condition, and I
j have at my command the means to keep it so. i
was so fortunate last winter as to be able to pur
chase eleven hundred tone ol new railroad ta: at
ifiT dollar* per toe This iron is now worth in
the maiket at least one hundred and b tv thou
sand dollars more than I paid for it. 1 was not
tie legal purchasing agent of the Road, and if
iron bad fallen as much as if bas risen, it is
quite probable ihere might have been load com
plaints, bad I in isted that the Road take tbe
iron. I have, however, giveu the Road the bene
fit of tbe contract, which is worth to the .State tbe
gam above mentioned. I could sell tbe iron at
any time, and, after refunding the sum paid for
it, could pay into the Treasury of tbe State one
hundred and kity thousand dollars as balance of
proceeds of the gale.
Since 1 w»a first inaug n rated as Governor of the
I Stale, the Road has paid into lie State Treasury
j 11,848,600, and has paid $802,081 07 in satisfaction
i ot debts and unliquidated demands lor which it
i was then liable It is ifow in as good condition in
| every respect as it then was, with the exception
of tbe rolling stock, which has not been kept up
as well as usual for tbe fast two years, on ac
count of the impossibility of procunog, at any
price, part of the material used in construction
and repairs. Tbe amount due the Read from
the Confederacy is, however, more than double
the sum that woutu be required to make the re
pairs complete.
Op n tne application si the milit-ry authori
ties of the Confederate Htates, they bare fr«.
quentlv been permitted to take our cars and en
gines and carry them on other Roads, to such
point* as emergencies might require. Tbe fa
i mented General Albert .Sidney Johnston had or
dered a large number of our cars upon tbe klem
; phis A Charleston Road, aßhort time before the
j battle of Hhiloh. which, on account of the pos-
I sea-ion ol that Road by tbe enemy, have cot been
I returned. At this and other points we have lost
ISO cars while in Confederate set rice. Should
Ihey never be returned, it is expected that the
J Confederacy will pay for them j-:«t compensa
] lion.
LEFB9CB C« SaVaXNAM.
| ] Lave been informed by the Military Com
| mander at Savannah, that it is intended to make
a defence <>f the city "to extremity,” and he re*
I quests assistance from the State in the remora!
! of the women and children and other non-com
batants from the city. In view of the fate oi Stvr
Orleans and other cities which have been sur
j rendered to the enemy, J cordially endorse and
{ approve this resolution of the Confederate Gec
! era!. Let us hold the citv as long as* a house c
a brick wall is left standing, behind which our
troops can tight; and let the State assume
the loss occasioned by the destruction ot
property, or a‘ lea*? divide it with the suffer
ers.
It will be necessary that food uud shelter he
provided for such of the non -combatants as are
unal/e to take care of themselves, as soon as
possible, that they may be removed in advance
of the at’ack. I therefor# rec »mme»id an early
1 appropriation ot two hundred and fcf:y thousand
dollars for this purpose.
STATS UNIVERSITY.
In compliance with the statute, I herewith
transmit the report of the Trustees of the Univer*
•illy lor the past year.
PENITENTIARY AND ASYLUMS.
Fcr a statement of the conditir n <.f the
tentiary and Asylums of the State, you are leltr
ed to the respective reports of the principles in
charge. It will be seen by reference to the rev
port of Col. James A. Green, the Principal Keep
' er of the Penitentiary, that he h -.s paid in'o the
I State Sresu»ury, ten thousand dollars of net pro
fits f or the past fiscal year. Col. Green’s übi*?
and faithful management of the Institution is
| entitled to h»gb commendation.
oamtrcnoNt of o»/r river*.
It is said the enemy are preparing gun-boats ,f
•ght draught to ascend our rivers, and plunder
! our inland towns and ci'ies, while the waters are
high in the winter season. This can probably
Ot prevented in no other way so effectuailr by
I tbe obstruction of our straws. Most of them
J can be entirely obstructed, by selling the uinof-r
; which stands upon the banks iuio the channel
jof the stream. It may, however, be very difficult
a; the end of the war to remove these obstruo
; tions and restore the navigation of the river.
Asa Confederate General, who is an Engineer
of the first order of ability and aequjrerueu 3, ig
in command of the Mi;itafy Department which
embraces this State, 1 Lave thought it he-»t to
leave the matter entirely in bis hands till your
meeting.
The question as to the best means of defence,
j in the aosence of any action by the Confederate
[ authorities, is an important one well deserving
j your serious consideration. I doubt*Rot, that the
| iegifehinve department of the State Government
participates in the regret felt by tbe Executive,
that the Confederate authorities have done uo
| more for the defence of the State, when so Urge
; a portion ot her ililma have left her limit* and
I gone into Confederate service, as to leave her al
most powerlesi for her own protection.
MILITARY ORGANISATION OF TUN STATE.
The efforts which our relentless foe has pro*
claimed to the world, that it is his purpose soon
to make, tn violation of all rules of civilised war
fare, to incite servile insurrection smoYig us, not
unnaturally create serious concern in the mind of
every Georgian. 80 large a number of our arms
bearing meu have already gone into the military
service ot the Confederacy, and so manv more
may soon be required, that we hare comparative
ly a small'number left in each, county, and in
Rome localities where the slave population is
very large, scarcely enough to direct their .aboi
rei iaiQ with them. Tbos-e who remain have sren
t-rullr given up all their best arms to those who
have gone, ana they are now nearly destitute of
1 arms or ammunition. * * * * Instead,
therefore, of permfitmg our military organization
■ to be disbanded »t this critical moment, I recoins
mend the enactment of Mich law* as w’tl protect
: every military and other State officer in his p.*r*
f uou, and compel him to discharge his duties, or
. submit to heavy penalties. I also reoomineud au
- extension of our State Militia laws soas to em
brace all persons between sixteen and sixty years
of age, who are able to perform service in their
i respective militia districts and counties; and
, that the best provision possible be made to
ariu at least a portion of the militia of each coun
ty most exposed to danger. As it is not possible
r to procure a sufficient supply ot tirosarms for this
t purpose, I recommend that provision be made
, to arm as many as possible with good pises and
knives. * * Pikes|acd| kuives in the hands
? of the militia might, m the absoence of better
f arm 9, be made very serviceable in defenoe of our
1 homes till the armed regiments, which 1 have
, recommended to be kepi the service of the
1 State, oould be thrown to the pom! attacked, or
i menaced with attack. * * It might also be wise to
provide fora mounted police 1a each of theconn
- ties most exposed, to be kepi as a volunteer
t coinpat y, ready for service at a moment 3 coil, to
: drill ouee a week, and each member to receive a
i reasonable compensation for his services on the
day of drill.
GEORGIA MILITARY INSTITITU.
It affords me much pleasure to state that this
valuable State Institution has been in a prosne
rous condition daring tbe past year. Many more
' cadets were offered than the buildings would oc*
commodate. I respectfully recommend an ap*
1 {iropriution of fifty thousand dollars to be used
‘ for the erection of the necessary buddings, the
' improvement of the grounds, and for such other
purposes, tte board may find indispensable to
the permanent establishment of the Institution
upon a solid basis.
AMCtAKT AMT INSmCTCR <«NRRaU
The report of the Adjutant and Inspector Gee*
erai of this st£te, with tfce accctrpary'ci? doco
which give a full and sufficiently detailed
account of the official transactions and expendi
tures connected with that Department, together
with valuable suggestions upon the military or
ganization of the ri.ta'e, is herewith transmitted.
Chen. Wayne was the first man who responded
•o the call of his State, when the dissolution of
the Union was seen t-j be inevitable, ard resigned
ac honorable and comfortable position m the ari*
i by of the United S:atea to cast bis lo ? wi h his
native land, and-bare her fortunes whether for
; weal er for w -e. From that day to the present
time no one hag labored more incessantly zeal
ciust, t© secure the safety, and promote the pros
perity aEd glory of his mother State Hi» labors
r-oont-cted with cu: military organ: zitions, both
for State and Confederate service, have been in
valuable ; aDd while he has always shown the
self-sacrificingdisposition which is seen .in his
report, »c intelligent Georgian, acquainted with
the dunes ofkis affice, and its i nportance, wen id
’■wiliingly consent to dispense with his services
! dnnng the existence of tne war.
aFPOOPSI \TIO.N FOa uilitaet pcefoses.
To meet any expenditures which it may become
| indispensibie to mike for the defence ol tne State,
! and the protection of our homes daring the en
j suing yaa', I recommend, the appropriation of
j three millions of dollars as a military fund. I
j trust the fiction of those responsible during the
| past year will be received as a sufficient guaranty
j that no mere of the fund will be used th-n tber
j exigencies of the service may rec lire.
SMALL PCX.
This dangerous disease ha 3 . made its appear
.a. nee in several pie.cea in our State. Soldiers who i
j have been exposed to it without their knowledge, ;
! are occasionally returning home oa furlough, aud |
: there is danger that it may spread and become a
i great scourge.
As our people are to© careless about adopting ;
I the necessary preventive, I recommend such
j legislation a* will secure the early vaccination .
:of all persons in the State subject to the disease. ;
salt.
Messrs. Su tesberry and Humphries, of Scriven {
j county, complied with the *erms prescribed by the
act passed at your list session, on the subject of
: the manufacture of salt, and after giving a mort*
j gage on sufficient property, drew fIO.OOO of the
J appropriation. lam not aware of any active es
! foils made bv them to any considerable extent to
« make salt. the cl: cumsunces, they should ;
• either pr/ceed with the business or refund the
! money which.under the few,they bold without the *
1 payment o' interest.
Finding that the mone*- placed at my command j
bv the act would be wholly inadequate, and that ?
but little could be expected under the provisions ]
jof this statute, I felt it ray duty to take the r.*s- *
: ponsibility to make such arrangements a®, ic my
j judgment,would do ip m ‘ to secure a snpplv of tLis I
; indisoensible article to our people. Ihe Virginia j
Salt Works ir. Smyth e and Washington counties, }
i were believed to be the resource most to be rel ; ed j
! upon. The Legislature of that State held an extra
9eaaion early in the summer, and determined not
■ to purchase n*r lease those works, but to leave ;
them in the bands ot the proprietors. Immedi
ately after the adjournment of the session, I sent
i Hob. John W. Lew 3 (who tendered h s services j
: without compensation a: oik i.wi expense;) to the
works, as the age. iof this .Stale. While there he |
i succeeded in closing a contract with the proprie- ,
! tors fo* the of water and privilege to *iike <y)Q
bushels of salt per day. Tn:s was the greater ;
quantity he eouid at that t.ine procure privilege to j
make. He al*.» employed Major M. S. Temple, of ;
East Tennessee, to manufacture the salt f*»r the !
• State. The whole cost to the State of-each bushel j
1 of fifty pounds is one dollar and lifty cents, when
! weighed from the kellies. ML- have to receive the j
| salt as it is made, before t is thoroughly dry, and •
it loses about on- fifth n Urippage and wastage j
:by the tim-* it reaches Atlanta. The sacks, tae j
, express freight upon tnem, and the railroad !
j freights on »he roads in East Tenues ee and Vir% I
; ginia are alt uncommonly high.
Feeling that it was the duty of the State to ass -rd
relief us far as possible, hr-'t to the families of our !
• g&liant soldiers. T directed the Commissary Gen- j
| era! of the State, who is charged with the respon*
| sibility of the distribution of ihe salt, to ma«te a
: donation of oo*--ha f bushel to the widow of each j
I soldier of tb’S State wh har died in military ser- I
i vice, and to each widow wbu loot a son in serv.oe;
i and to sell to ’he Inferior Court of “ich county a i
half bushel for one dollar, for each family of a j
j so’dier B"W in stivice, or of a widow who has x
son .c service- The Justice-* of the Inferior*
i Courts of the several countie* have been requested !
to make a return to the Cocnmfessrv Genera! of th«*
: names of all the soldiers’ wives and widows »n i
; their re»- ective counties, and I d re **cd that !
| ficer to distribute the-a!: ano-r.g the counties j
in t.e order in which the Courv- made tb- ir re- I
: ptr’s. Consequently, the coh :.?»»* «• Lose <lour:-
j wore most active and reported first, have long since
received their salt, while sorm, i tiei eve, Luve not i
j yet reported.
i j So goo uan this distribution :s completed, it si
proposed to put the State .suit upon the market, at j
; such rates .is will enable us to pay all c<*s: upon !
j it. it will probably be necessarv to .-.ell the !
| balance at about five d tlare per bushel, to uuxe i
it pay all cost 3 and charges, by the adoption of t
; this plan, ail who purchase are taxed something ;
j for the assistance of she soldiers’ families ana
widows who l av.* had each onesha if bushel on the j
* terms above mentioned.
‘ln the next distribution, each c.tiz -n will only
be per milted to rece've one bushel, till ail have j
received some relief. The soldiers’ families need- i
ing over one half bushel will be allowed the t
preference in this distribution upon the uayment :
of the price* paid by others. Many a poor family
will need little more ‘ban the half bushel which i
j *hey receive under the tret distribution. Tnose |
j having more means ean afford to pay the prices
l paid by other citizens, for what they need over the
half bushel.
It affords me much pleasure, n this connection,
to smu*, that a sompany of patriotic citizens hav»
| ing its idhce u> Troup c«-UDfy, and another in
j Augusta, have obtained privilege to make sail at
the Virginia Works, &:id are now turning out j
. daily a large quantity The B’a*e is making 500 i
bushels per d.i*-, and these companies will soon
i average each that quantify daisy. They propose
I first tosvpp!/ and then to sell to the
i citizens of the without speculat on. The
State and each of there companies has had much
difficulty >n procuring life nece&tuir lab' r and
material \ * put tfceir works into successful operas
j lion. This difficulty has been overcome, however,
after some delay, which wt would gladly have
| avoided. 1 t'eei that I should fail to do uiy duty
j were I not to foate ;n this connrcron. that the
pAople of this State owe smuch of g-c*\Mdeto
H- l IV 11. B’gham, who is a member of your
body, tor h:s great energy and activity the
I Pre.'id»*nt of the Troup company. He baa spent
• j hia t n . it the works and super’fctecded in
i | and has rendered very ra uabie service to the
■ company and to the State,
l j Thd Railroad Companies of the State have
j promptly responded to a request made by uoe,
' ! that thej carry the State’s salt to the depots of
? deposit, and thence to trie depot of distribution
i tor each citizen /re« of toarg*. This act entitles
j them to the thanks of the whole people, I have
j : ordered that the State Salt,the salt made by the tw'.
t companies from this State, and all salt purchased
r at the works by persons or county associations
■ for their own use.wben no speculation is intended,
» be earned tree of charge over the State Road.
i As no appropriaten had been made which
r could be used, in carrying out mv oontract for the
> Virginia Salt, 1 ordered the Treasmer of the
■ | W. A A Railroad to advance to the CooruiftAary
r General sufficient funds to meet the necessity. It
> will be aecessary that the money be refunded to
i ‘ him to enable him to keep Lis accounts correctly.
* ! For thia purpose. I recommend the appropriation ;
| of one hundred thousand dollars to be used in the \
pnrcbuAr of sail and refunded to the Treasury of 1
i I the Stt»ie when the salt is sold.
; With in the last few days Messrs. Graves and i
> • Goldsmith have proposed to devote their whole 1
. ; energies to the importation of salt into the State J
! from the mine at New Iberia n Louisiana. Tbuy }
j do not propose to sell the sajt on speculation, but j
} w.sh oniy compensation for their efforts and ex
peuses... I have agreed to nay them |7.50 per j
i oushel of fifiv pounds for at! they will deliver in j
Atlanta t*v let of March next. If the enemy do *
not interrupt the transpcrui>'v.c, it a hoped}
; their patriotic effort* w:!i be atteooed
j ful reeuUaL
Upon 'hie a Abject it oaiy tru*x» r o» ae to ti» |
i*res= my deep regret at the course lately taken by
the Legislature of the State of Virginia. As
above stated, no contract was made with the pro
prietors of the salt works in that State, till alter
The adjournment of the Legislature, which in ex
tra session had taken the question of a supply «»f
salt into its consideration, and had
without having taken ary acti'-n, lar as lam
informed, indicating a purpose to seize : L? worics.
Feeling that I then had a prrf-ct rigut to contract,
with the proprietors, I entered raw the engage
meats, which I b *ve mentioned, with them, and
have bad large expenditures made in accordance
with the coo'ract. The two companies tr»-m this
Stare, with ncy approval, acted id like manner,
and have expended large sums ic preparing to
make salt, not for speculation, but for home sup
ply. O.her States also followed the example of
Georgia. I am not aware, however, that the
St*V of Virginia made, or, till a late period, at**
tempted »• utake a contract with the proprietors
of u.fe works for the privilege to make salt on
State acceußt. About the time the worse of Ihts
State, and of other States were going into success
ful operation, the Legislature of that honored
Commonwealth again met in extra session, and
finding that the people of Virginia were in need
of salt, au'borized the Governor, in case of neces
sity, if other resources failed, to seize the works
of the other sitter States within her borders.—
This seizure, if made, tak*s from the families of
Georgia sol die s cow in Virginia, defending tbe
homes of the people ot that State more immedi*
ateiy thno their own, ail hope of getting sal; in
| time to prevent great suffering. This i* not ac
; appeal to Virginia to furnish to our soldiers'
. turn lies that which she has made, but it is an ao-
I peal to her to act in good faith, and not taxe from
! ’Lem that which the State of Georgia ha* made
with her own capital and labor. If Virginia
| should make the seizure under the circumstances,
her conduct will, in my opinion, be inconsistent
with the character of the “Mother of States.”
So soon a« I saw the act of the of
! that S ate in the newspapers. I addressed a letter
; f> His Excellency, Governor Letcher, upon the
j subjec*, » copy of which I herewith transmit I
regret tc say to you that I have received no reply
from him, aDd am, therefore, unable to announce
to yon what wilt be bis policy. The sait made
by the Troup Company was seized under fcis proc*
lamatien and subsequently released, but we have
r.o guaranty against future seizures. While I will
not believe, t;.i compelled, that Virginia will at
*.erupt *c rob Georgia of rights so important, at
j so critical * period, ! shall be ready to carry out
| any insTracu *l* o( the General A33ittihiy for tfce
! defense of the r.ghts of the State of Georgia to
| tbe los r extremity. We cannot submit to be de«
; pnved of the salt we are making under fair con.
i tracts made with the proprietors of the works,
I with the assent of the State ->f Virg aia strongly
implied, and with sud kno*i-dg» on ler part for
| months prior to tLe lare act of her Legis’aiure,
; that Georgia was making heavy expenditures at
! the works, to wh.ch she dii mt object.
CONCLUSION.
Profound:y impressed with tbe importance of
; the struggle :n which we are ail engaged, the
! commondasgers and privations to which web
•‘Xposed, and with the necessity for unanimity and
j harmony c our legislate action, 1 am prep: *
to sacrifice every persona! con«idera*.ioii. tc iuc
. promotion ot concord uDd unity, between the d:f
--; terent departmeots of the Government of the
i'TP.di State, wb-*ne people have honored us with
: ’he.r confidecce at a time of no ordinary peril;
* v.ad to j<>:n with the General Assembly in return
( mg thanks to A’mighty God for bis p iet mercies,
| and offering ferveni iLVocations for His future
j protection. Josefs E. Bh< ws.
zjerrEi feom viegiku
j We are permitted w publish the following ex*
■ tracts trerc a fetter received by a lady in this c.ty
from a refer ve, an cAfeer in McLaws’ Divis.or.
Hewn at Evening, i
CLtr.p near M inebester, Ya V
Oc ober 25th, 18b-. 1
My b-ar >. You may think that we live in a
*t.v_ ro:«rta.Bfcy, being still here, though ac
: ,ue.ng .l z.-j ast that we were about to move,
j Tbe eaeirv wer . Ivancing, as we to
attack us , bat icured uh soon as we Ex
hibited a rtadmesH to meet them ha.f way. The
next day Jackson’s* corps and two brigades of ;h.
L>;vi=*on within 4 miles of their-camp,
II 4.rp "s Ferry, and de»*r-»yed,before retaining,
twenty-’.hree n: ec of the Haiti more k Ohio Ru !
road- not merely polling up the track, hut piling
up the .tors ties, laying tne heavy iron, 7u pounds
1 to the yard, acros®. and se’.tmg nit* to the w • d;
t : bMru'tg wv<: i heated the irvti, the bar
wouid bend until both ends rested on the ground
Th* waw*: tanks, ulverte, and depots Were com
! pie.e'y destroyed. This road, said t» be the most
I important connecting link between the Eastern
and Wes’erc cf the Northern States, waa built iu
j the molt substantiai manner a double track
‘ To repaJ tbiS r «.d, it will, under the moat favor-
I ibfe circumstances, require days constant labor
—should they work at both ends, 5u days. This
| ig the opinion of competent and experienced rnil
i r<n*4 men. This destruction occupied three day*.
| During this time,the enemy wire drawn up, night
und day, in line of battle. Their tents were in
I full view on Maryland, Loudon, and Bolivar
: Heights; our operations were plainly visible, aud
• though they must have realized the memem*
value of this v o ad, yet they moved, or in
ao? w&y interfered with the work.
Now cosuoieiicee the winter campaign, no one
knows where or how this will begiu, nor can we,
who are on tbe defensive, say whtre we will not-et
our Abolition ooemies agaiu.
Winchester, the nearest town to us of any size,
:s a cons deraefe placcontaining from 7,to> i *
I io ->m) inhabitants. The j>la<-e ik handeotkielr
built, mostly w tb rock tod brick, the streets fe d
offat right angles aud paved with rock. The
water a brought from mouui.ua aprings, aud ie
plentitul and the best lever dr-uk. inert are
many very hue residences m tiiet.*wu, exhibitiug.
as 6 56 the whole place, great tasie. Tn- tiofetr
careens tarsene* are prominent objects, and
form a somewhat plea-ing contrast with the snow
Hlc.ghß which meet the eye in every siroei—idle
nuw it is true; but the fading Vfrdare of the gar
dens, denote that very soon the** vehicles will
travel over tbe ground covered with a different
•surfaoe than the green sos; gras* a>w displayed-
Were our soldiers shod aud clad, and bad axes
in their hunefe, we would be wiFing to brave a
inucL colder : .iuie. Efforts are be.ug made mat
anould have been made long aiuce. i oid ail that
waji possible to be ew-a to du, but it resulted
in nothing.
It is to be hoped that tbe people of the diff-r
--eni counties in Georgia, which have companies
intb.s Division, are exerting themselves to iu
aisb shoes, blankets and cioibmg, os these art>
cles are oadly needed.
W’e have to transport in wagons from ri-muntoii
;<>,• miles, but the roads are Macadam thau
is, the rooas wtnch cr<»p out over this country it
every direction are laid ever the road, and having
been broken into small pieces, varying from the
sil* ol » guinea hen egg to that of a g A.se, the
puae.ng ot wagons very soon presses them down
and crushes them into still smaller pieces. aDd a
smooth and hard road is thus very soon formed.
The repairing is easily done, by placing snail
pice 2* ot rocks in the worn and broken places
Tne great difficulty is to obtain a passage over
; the railroads, a« the Government Agents appro
j priale every ip ing. Coob has arranged
! that matter w’tn the authoritio* "in Richmond.
! Should there be any want of energy, it is to be
i hoped that the Conscript Act will take every man
1 exhibiting this want, and that his locality may be
I in the most Extreme Northern portion of theCoc
i TederuTiy, where, bsret«>o!ed, without clothes or
I blankets, he may repen< at his leisure.
The country around, for thirty miles, has been
j exhausted of ts supplies, except wheal, of which
1 there is aL immense supply on hand. Flour is
: selling here at fit? per barrel, and this would be
' lessened at least $2, but for tne long spell of dry
weather. The water courses are so much dimin -
ished that they cannot grind but onedourth. We
art new tec’ by copious rains—cold, wintry
rains. The P .totna? will tbm be rendered ix,
passable, except by bridges, which are not vtn
convenient, there being none between CombeZ
land and Washington except the Pontoon at Has
per’s Ferry.
Oct.27;h, « o’clock, P. ,V! , 1555
We have, been alarmed bv aeoonnls of smai
pox in our camps. We h»ve noneiu .. ur Dni,,,?
nor ai-e we certain that there is any to the arm?
beyond a few gcat'emg cares brought bt wi,: 1
; prisoners trom Yankee land. All precautions an
being taken to prevent any increase of the rs-H
ease. We have-out little sickness, though -u
weather has become very cold, and Osin ; . "
i will have onr coldest. 'The troops are virv ?
; duatrious. and make comfortable booses ,
j brush and logs, and they, also, make verv iarai
i lires. Shoes and blankets ate tnosi needed, t?!
troops do not complain, bat taey sußer. Taerr”*
; nothing new in camp, except the rumors that «£
| President is on his wav to visit this arat us
j other rumors that causes us to think there is
movement on foot t wards the enemy. l ao
I see how we can cross into Maryland, and da n '
. believe we are intending any advance. 0i!
Ail through this country are small, substantial!,
built villages, sometimes within a few mil ,
each other. The country is divided into
generally two or three hundred acres. The' m .
or wood landa are in small bodies only formji)i a
. very small part of each iraet; this is reserved; *
wood Kails sell at from 10 to Sh) cents an -
accordicg to material—chestnut and locus: b.,*’
the most valuable. The houses are built of 5
and brick, sometimes of wood. The br* n( " ! ’
much larger than the dwellings. Xhe 5 - T*
hogs, cows, and horses, are very large ’7?
horses are much larger than any we have bt.
neavy draught horses. The sheep are noth ?
extra. The usual product of the couatrv m t ?
So to SO bushels of corn, and So to 30 busbe til
wheat. Off the turnpike roads, in bid weait*
; it is difficult to transport any loads; but when o’
ground is covered with sn ;w sl*ighs and sfed-"
are used. The farmers here plough the lend v*
three horse* fastened abr-ast, sometimes with si"
horses, three and two. These large animals
large ploughs tear up ground very deep, j, j
j then harrowed to break the clods, and sotneti- *
. rolled. Clover is considered the great restore", 11
; of worn out s< il; it is turned over when in bines' I
This is aiso a fine country l»ir honey—ib- m*.,, I
, tains and fertile valleys" affording fl„werg, “ I
whioh to abstract the sweets, and the long ,. 1 1
, severe winter forces the indust-'ous laborers". I
lay up large stores. It is soid at 50 cts u, f j
pound. Apples sell at 1 1 0 ner bushel in camp. I
! DkIEIITUIIOS IH OUK WEbTEKN AEX: ;
, Tfce correspondent of the Mobile Ailver .1
and Reg.ster writes thus from Hdiiy Spiny's ’ I
, der date of the 2V'h ult..
Hoar poorly «ur Western army is prepo-*. I
mne but those who have seen it c*o I
; Everything that con ributes to a soldier’s c'n/ - I
10 the Held is sadly needed, every species o . . I
termaater’s supplies being out. It is a safe
■ meat to put forth ffca> one third of the soldiers •
this department ere without a single blanker (j.
' ! the marches tc- and retreats from luka and Cor.
inth one half of tfce rmv icst their knapsack I
clothing &Dd blankets, and there is no boi l :
now on hand to relieve their destitution -.a *,,
respect. I know of a quartermaster cf oneri:-.
’ sion having a hundred r.r sc of blankets f ; r t; s |
division and no more are expected. It :s stst
that there is not more than one thousand b ant.l
’ etg within the departments for Pnce’s corps, i |
those who are desirous of assisting in raitiga* :: j
| the sufferings and toils of our soldiers, cazz. l
i do bo in .k m••re substantial or welcome tDa,-,- r
than by sending biankets, coverlets, or bed c. j
; mg of any kind.
Any supplies thus donated may he addrt ß y l
, to Major Isaac Broker, Chief Quart*rm* J
Army of the West, Holly Springs, and they *J
quickly Sod their way to the suffering troo»>-
more rapidly than t-y any other means. SupphJ
♦hus forwarded should, when convenient, be st: i
' by either the Pioneer or Southern lixpresa cot*,
'equally as bad as blankets, and wirhout the lari J
o t the Sou’h again exhibit that salf-sacrifLJ
patriotism whict- has been their glory, the prJ
fellows in the held who are battling and suffer..-
tor these very home endearment*, must ind*;
pass a cold and comfortless winter.
The recent *oow storm was severely fe!*,
winter quarters bavin;/ beeu erects
and tie command bemir entirely destouv >
tents. Ata brigade cr division “encarApuY
' seal cel v enough tents ur»- visible for the ehei •
icg of a hnn ired men. It j* true, there are ;
’ tents—a fui! supply for the whole eommar
som-where wdfcm the department. Hut whr
Certainly not whtre onr army is quartered. IV
are pr r .tpaily the Mobile and Ohio Raiirosi!
an-! tr 1: te Bent forwar J to the troops so J
• j ike railroad is pu‘. at the d»*pi -a! of the Qijare:.
’ master’s department but in the meantm,*. *.
"eager, nipping air” is penetrating to the vY
bores oi the shelterless thousands.
! tsr We take the following paragraphs f r ;i
, the Chattanooga (Tenn.' Rebrl, of Nov. r tb: j
j John Morgen has been at his old tricks ag
, j Whilst peregrioatiegover the railroad track inn ]
region of B»»wung Green, he scddenly camsupu.
j apart 3of Vackf e speculators, loaded with sb<*,
1 blankets, bats, Ac. John seized ibe contraba::
articles, and is now as snug in them as a bug ici
ru &'
Forrest, too, the indomitable, lias had aarouf:
ng skirmish with rttobes' cavalry, outsidr
Nashville. Col. Dibbrelly, it will be recollect
killed this same Stokes three times last we«<
But, like Paddy Murphy’s ghost, he woull
dead, bad luck to him f So he came ouid;
before yesterday, and he and Nelson Bedford liil
j a bout, wherein Stokes lost four men and i:f
| horses
Hon. Washington Barrow, prisoner of Hr.l
| away up among tue icebergs of Michigan, **l
j recently offered a parole and return to his b I
; upon heavy bonds. He refused both, sajiDgtuj
, his only parole would be a fair exchauge, fn:
only b nd the bayonets <*f his tellow cm j
. Good for General Barrow ? Batter aye, »<*! b J
? ter, to rot in chains wi»h nri unchained s r - I
than m hffl ience, wi’h manacles upi-i a
. hand and heart. General Barrow ha.i aivyl
! proven a true son of the South, end now duui l
verifies his fealty in exile and a dungecn.
i return to his fireside will he, we hope, »oon t'-C
wtfhave driven theaccurs a foe from it ai.d
others :n our fair Tennessee and our t-wte; : I
j ol Nashville. $
! u P. W A." the Army Corresponded I
! the Savannah Repnbhcan, in his letter, to I
j journal, dated Richmond t Va.) October Z p
j says:
i I>r. Citnak, special agent of the Georgia i.f.
. lief and Hospital Association, has jas' arr»«
I from Winchester, and informs me that on!- ! «-l: ; jj
j tv-fi7e cases of small pox hod been |j
the entire armv, and that but few dealb> h d
{ curred. The Georgia regiment in which :ftrc< I
first made its {v z : the 7ih
Vth and 11th,) have oeen sent back to O'-uf
j Court House and placed in quarantine.
j had been taken which n was believed wowc*
fectuullr prevent the further spread of thec
i ease. The patients had notonlv been teparr
j from the regiment, but the regiments then.**’
had been from the army aud sent v
: distant port of the country.
! Nearly all the sick and wounded at Wmcbe*z
! had been carried back to Staunton and other?*
• oes in the rear.
* Jackson still continues the work of
{ on the Baltmore and Ohio railroad and tbebr>“
j road to W icchester.
A CARD
Editor of the Knoxville Register: I !
your issue cf this morning an extract of a I* l '' I
j a leged to have been «ddres«-d by me to the H-- I
j Garreit Davis, of the U. 8 Congress, on the r-ft
! j et of tbo difficulties between the North ncfl ‘ ft
j South, and read before a Convention in Brooi r: I
New York, *s genuine.
I had heard that such a letter was in ex>;’ ft
and in circulation tor several months past I
sire to say it is a lorgery throughout I B* I
never addres.*e<i a letter to Mr Davis on '•bn** I
any other subject.
Respectfully,
Your obedient servanj I
L hu I
Teon., Oct Wth,