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ANNUAL MESSAGE GOV. JOSE I'll E. intOV.V • To the Georgia Legislature, ASSEMBLED NOV. ISM. Executive Department, > Milledt'eville, Nov. LI, lSol. > 'Senator* and }lr,,r cantata' : The period ■ end threat pleasure to-welcome you to thert. fff'-l, wnl to aseure you of my earnest iL--ire to unite Willi vou harmoniously ami cordially in all prac tiettl measures which may promote tin- •■m i-1 welfare, and redound to the glory and honor of our beloved Slate. We are pas-in th h a trying ordeal, hav ing taked Upon th ales ot war all that r..n be valuablem; a- . a people. If we are sub jugated, we lose home, property, liberty, repu tation, and all, so far as this world ii concerned, that makes life desirable or it., burden tolel - able. Our enemies have repudiated and trampled under foot the great principles of • institutional liberty, and have attempted to rear, upon th .ruins of our Republican institutions, a ennsidi dated empire, under the ixipular name ol a union of the States. \VT have lak uup arm • o resist this, and to maintain Republicanism in ■its purity, with the sovereignty ol the ."-taley aid the personal rights and liberie ol the peo ple. No people ever accepted the . diet native Hi war in a nobler cause, or exhibited lo the •World a more sublime spectacle oi tm»i;d :',tan steur and heroii valor. Our gallant annic lm\ •won for these States a name which will aland mpoua bright page in history, when pyramids 'have decayed and marble monument have crumbled into dust. It honld be the plea lire the patriot, and pride of the hero to emit rib etc bi- property, hi eni i <*- and, il need be. . . t . . n r. ... his life,lor the suec. sol a. noble ac.m a-, t poll *,ur flUi’Ce'sfnlel Is (lie last hope ol Republican in -titati<.l)9 gml civil liberty, witlieon-litutioiral ■guarantees. It. who would prove recreant to ui-.o sacred a cause, hi Jr-oio a de ire of per onal tfi-vgrarulizeinent. or the gratification o! pci onn! Cinibilioii, Would trample nndei hi. led and sir •litiee tfieie great principles which underlie the va-ry foundations ot mil- lederalive y rtom, ;m,l ainon the Hiicee. of which the liapplne sol lili- Liun millioici depends, desert vs an eternity ol infamy with the ever-fasting execrations ol mati- N. nil I upon his head Ah a baud of patriot . lei, in unite all our en <»roand e\rl I all our inlliieiic ■ for the ueeess ot oui ‘dorious cause, and for (lie m.iiiltennjiee in their original purity of the great principle of civil and reliev'd bberty, which form the ven pillars upon which tfniplo ol -m Republi < aiiinm rest s. i ON FEDERATE lit:TION'S. The war i , still waged ne.iiin the people of •t he Confederal e Stales, by the Itnvi'i'.mnenl ol the United Stales, with a \ indict i velusss pud a ruelty which has few parallels in history, Pm’ nearly four years we have met (lie mighty as saults of the federal armies, and have repulsed .attid driven them liaek on many a hard-fought -field. We have lost imporlant points, but none which wo can not temporarily surrender-to tire *uiemy, and, with good management, tinally suc ceed. Atlanta was probably (lie most vital point to our success that lias been won by the isvupei'ior numbers of the enemy. Its fall was a severe blow, and for a time caused great des jmndcniy among our people. I am happy to nee, however, that they are fast reeoverm ; from and contidonce i being re dmvd. At the time of General Sherman's march from Dalton to Atlanta, w-e Jiad a large force we t of the Mississippi of as gallant troops a; ever Jared an enemy, which had been alniosl in a ■jstilte ol inactivity, sinee our plendid vietories except a few garrisons, from that departmf-nt. JWajor Ueueral Early is said to have bad a force of 20 000 men, of the very best of tlie'ArWx in 'Virginia, with w hich lie drove the federal Gen aural out of the valley of that State, and pro a-d tforward into Maryland and Pennsylvania, and .remained there till his presence provoked the. e Sind the adjoining States t.. organise a force us jiicient. to drift' hint back and to threaten llicli iinond in the rear, {.pneral Imio-.t, with a large •wavalry force, was operatin'"' in North nix is-.i|>- •j.i, repelling raids from a country (bat had been iMjverrutl till there was but little public property •for the enemy to destroy; mid General Morgan tvas raiding in Kentucky. \\ bile our fori were -thus scattered from I‘eimsy lvani* to Texa . < ien. .'Gherman, strengthened by a eoncentratioii of the enemy’s forces from different, depart iftcjils, was ■steadily pressing forward to Atlanta,,the very .heart and railroad centre of the Confederacy, •with a forcemitlieient, by reason of ii superior .Lumbers, to coiitioually flank and drive back the .gallant Army of Tennessee. During this whole vcuinpaigu, General Shermans base of supplies jut Nashville and Louisville was hundred: of ■auiles in his rear, and be was dependent for transportation upon a railroad constructed -Through ail exceedingly rough country, with "bridges,culverts and curves along its entire line, 'fin this condition, more than three hundred miles . from the border of Kentucky, in the midst of an enemy’s country, lie was permitted to go for • ward, without serious interruption in his rear, •jmd to accomplish his grand design. Georgians, whose homes have been overrun, property destroyed, and fields laid waste, Ii we imturaiiy inquired, as doubtless the future his torians will, why part ot the large h.ree unem ployed west of the Mississippi were not brought io aid the Army ot Tennessee during the sum mer months! And w hy, when the enemy were driven from the Valiev of j .ir min. the key points were not garrisoned and lieii, 1 by part of ' Early's force, and tin balance sent to Gi.nv.i 4 ', (Instead of the whole being sent upon the cam •jrnign into Maryland and Pennsylvania, which ».idy served to stir up and unite Northern semi i meat against us, and to enable the Federal Gn V to raise an additional force sulli. ient to ,<lnve Lack the expedition with >!i a .t»-i to our xjirnis. If this whole h.i.v could he pared lYnni Juiihusoiut to invade lVnuaylvaiiiu, mi"lit not -part of it have held the \ alley of Yii ini i, ui.l -the balance been sent to (loot gin ; And eotil t ■not Forrest, even nt the expen e of 1em,.,.,- loss fn Mississippi, nave t ern rot to ,1, Mr., the railroiui? in the rear, and stop the su|mli,. of the Federal army If we had adopt, " the rule by which most great General in ,u. h <*«nergeneies have sneeeeilt'd. ot the evacuation Abr the time of all point nrti absolutely vital, and the rapid and vigorous eonefnirat;, nos •wvery soldier in the Confederacy not ne,v ,rv So hold Richmond and probably ~ne or two -other key point' - , and had hastened the whole to Atlanta and to Sherman - rear, and hurled 'them upon hint in his exjrosed and critical Con dition, the repulse and rout, if not the tin, -tion or capture, of his army, could scarcely hate licoit doubtful. , And as his army was the only tlefenee provided by the Federal Government for the Western States, each a eon-ummation - would not only have relieved Georgia, Team - ■ North Alabama and North Mis-is-ippi frotii the n.-esette, of the enemy, but it would have thrown . o P*‘“ 1,10 “green tields" of Kentneky, ~ liivli bar.’ b® l '!! more than <>nce twomisid to .Tur troops, «->•>•'' probahly have opened the wav for an t-J rl . v 1 1,, 1 . 1«>" V s '. ll:U tie, determined upon , :1 ditlerent lun ~t peli. v. Tlie world knows the res,.' I,S-;UI 1 ae •ptiesce. Hut the mUturtuih.' ( 1 K * misguided judgment ot our rulers in, Ni l ,’” ! !i :vo the effort of relaxing our zeal , r elan. " '' T l,oe for the cau^e. We may, as we have a right to do. i l; ;l .-am >ngourselves as to the wisdom of a eei: , , Uine of jsiliey, and of certain acts ot the Con Moderate administration; and some of n- mav •deplore its errors and mismanagement’, while •oilier: may attempt to justify all it mistake, and defend all its errors, aud may be read, in advance to approve everything ii may do. illtvi infill we may all, as one man, r. main true t,. , , s IMVWiI cause, and !<• pre|vued. if nee. to expend our last dollar and shed our last ,i, ■ ~f Mov'd ill its defence. Wliiic 1 am satisfied a large m ■.v of th jiCople of tins State disapprove many of the sn.ts and much <*f the policy of the Conte,! rate | AdKKiiietratuNi I :>.m of opiui.-ii there are but a .vets small nunHs i oi the people ~f Geo who are disloyal to the e.iu-o, or who w. old j »*uu*ent tocU.se the w.,1 w-iilioiit ih, i, 1 Qiret of tii. xu:e»t ml.- for which w< fe.-ik up 1 arra —the independence of the Confederate States and the vindication and establishment of the sovereignty of the several States. Confederate independence,. with centralized power, without State sovereignty and constitu tional and religious liberty, would Ire very little better than subjugation, as it matter- little who our master is, if we are to have one. We should, therefore, keep constantly in view the great principles upon which w-e entered into this un euual contest, and should rebuke every encroach ment made upon them by our own Government, while we resist, with arms in our hands, like a -aults -made upon them by our enemies. While our gallant troops in the field are sacri ficing the comforts of bomb, property, health and even life itself, and are enduring ail the privations, hardships, perils and dangers of the -ervice, they should never once lose sight of the great principles of equality, liberty, and consti tutional republicanism, for which they- unfurled freedom’s banners in the face of the enemy. Nor should they ever consent to lay down their arms till these principles are recognized by- our foe, and faithfully carried out in practice by our own Government. In other word-, wo should never be content till we Rave estab li-hed ii|H.n a firm basis the good old republi can iu-titutions of our fathers in all their purity, and should never, under any' circumstances, con sent to accept in their place strong centralized Government with military despotism. 1 do'not co how it can’ l.e denied by any candid man, that we have, in practice, made fearful strides, since the war began, towards a centralized Gov ernment with unlimited powers. The constant tendencies of the war seem to have been to the subordination of the civil au thorities and laws to the military, and the con centration of the supreme power in the bands of the Commander in Chief of the armies. The longer the war lasts, the greater the tendency to Ibis tesult, and the less probability-at ita tei'- niiiritidb of a return to the constitutional forms and republican simplicity which existed at its commencement. IJut it may be a fieri, when is this bloody struggle to terminate 1 No human forecastc can : o far penetrate the future as to give a satisfac-. tory reply to this questiou. The Northern States have resources and men enough to en able them to continue the war for years to came and wo have ntliciont'power of resistance and endurance to enable us to continue to baffle all tl.cir : cliemi- of subjugation. The swqr.l can never make peace between the two contei Ming pari ir W lion tins is done, it will Ik* by nego■ /iitfion. The prospect seems to indicate that the war in.iv probably last till both seetions are ox ha acted', before the passions of the people will uhsidc, and reason' so far resumes her sway as to prepare the people of both countries for negoti ation, a : the only means of adjustment, which can terminate the bloody* strife. This may not take place till we have accumulated a debt on both sides, greater than w e or our posterity can ever pay—till hundreds of thousands more men have been Gain,and millionsofwomen andrhild mi have been reduced to widowhood, orphan am- and poverty —till our taxes have become so burdensome, that endurance is no longer possi -1 ,i,._—till the civil laws cease Io be respected, and highway robbery mid murder are (be daily l, r _mec o| predatory bands, and till (lie Fedc ,Vl •i„d<.'"; , l --derate governments have usurped and' e.xcni edali (lie powers chimed by the most absolute despots, each pleading in extCrttUUiOn of its usurpations t be 'necessity growing out ot the like usurpations by the other. There is reason to fear that President Lincoln, If re elected,and President Davis, whose passions arc inflamed against each other, may never bo able to agree upon terms for the commencement of negotiations, and that the war must continue tofrage in all its fury, till (hero is a change, of administration, uute.-q the people of both countries, in their aggregate capacity as sover eign States, bring their powerful influence to bear, requiring both governments to stop the war, and leave the question to be settled upon (he principles of 17’iU, as. laid down in the Ueo- These re chit ions, in substance, propose that the treaty making powers in both government agree to stop the war, and leave c.-uh or any one of the sovereign Stales, by- a convention ol its own people, fairly chosen by the legal, and duly qualified voters, to determine lor itself whether it will unite its destinies with tb3 one or the other Confederacy. 'There may be daub!a whether Missouri, Kentucky-, or Mary land, wish to remain component parts of the govern'nont of the United States, or to unite with tha Con federate Stales. If either one of those States shall refuse to unite with us, w-e have no just , Did lo demand such union, as we have neither (lie ri .'ht to coerce a sovereign State, nor tor ov um hi- without her consent. And, if wc had (lie right, we certainly hare not the pofff r, wo'can only govern a State without lure sent, by subjugation, and we have bo p.oiyer t sub jiigaj* any one of those States, with the rig.!.' power of the If nil nil Stales at her back, -ejiar ed to defend her against out- aUai’l, i. We should stand ready therefore at njl tipiea to cltle the difflenlty by'a reference of the ques tion of future allianee, to lire Stakes, whose po sitions may be doubtful for determination by them in their sovereign capacity. Our Congress in it-; manifesto, has virtually indorsed the. great principles of the Georgia Resolution.:, and the President lias said in his me ages, that he desires peace upon the prin ciples to defend which wo entered into the struggle, lam not aware however, of any di n-el. tender of adjustment, upon tjiese princi ples having been recently made by the treaty making power of our Government, to the same power in the Federal Government. 1 regret that the wish of Georgia, as expressed through her legislature, has not been respected in (.his particular. Such a direct tender made through commi-stoners l.v President Davis to President Lincoln, would place the question fairly and properly before the Slates, and people of the North, tor discussion and action. Had it been (lone months since, it could not have failed to have .had a powerful influence upon the Presj' denied chvugn ill the North, which may have, iiuidi to do with tin' future course and conduct of the war, It may bo said, however, that the wrap a;:! tiou.to oltle our .litficultk s upon tb.esetelfipi, made by President Davis in President Pen ohi. would l,e a letting flown of the dignity . t our Government,and might be construed as an evi of . ..n vinos weakness on our part. 1 e ole my inability to see hew the direct tend er nt settlement upon these great and correct principles by the treaty- making power in our, < ioveinmenl. to the like power in the United St it, ..Government, could compromit the dig nity of our Government., any morn than an in,li re t tender of the same proposition, through the *rr, mlar channel of an Executive message, or a Com r, isional manifesto. There is certainly more true dignity in a Mi r,vi. oj a. tnaiily tender through the constituted 'ham:. !, Hat nice questions of official etiquette and fa lye notions of personal dignity, should he laid aside, whm they intervene to prevent ac tion upon which the blood of thousands,and the happiness of millions may dept ml. The democratic party of the North, whicit is the only party there, claiming to maintain jStatc ’ ght principles and which has great strength and ]mwer, whatever may be its" for tunes in the coming elec lion, has declared in fa vor a siispeii: ion of hostilities, and a onnven tioti of all the States, as the t-ost means of ad nistmenf. And l see no good reason whv the treaty making power in our should not tender this propo-itioii to the Government oi'-the Pniled States. Thcie can certainly bo nothin like humiliation or degradation in a proposition to leave llie settlement oi a f|iies tiou which the Gen, id Governments. which are the cn atm, > of the States, can not agree upon, ( 'heir , iva:.. ■ i- the sovereign States them .elves. ~ h the idea mav be ridiculed to , r-iudice the til:,.' m,, “ l !, J lh ? Slate . the Convcnt.on if cal:. would no doubt l>e one of nK ’ st a “ 0 a * Ugi • ias i,that aver mi ( °PP° y 1 continent. Inc.i trying an emergency, mvolv ei: : ..-u, sos such immense magnitude, ibe Slat,-- v.... 11 doubtless select their wisc-si. ai lest and best men to represent 41iem, men who ~ pa'-ions have 1 -vu sutuTued ,le. age and let's. and who are alike distil.guislnd fiir ! I- . : , tic, . hale,nee of rnind and dignity of ; , har.ie!,-r. Such a conventi,ai, coni|Hrsed oi the ; treat,-I and best tn, nos the country, c,f ma i i re a e and In. , experience, with the scenes ••I Id I. ~.-i ,a.l desolation through which v. inch in th> ir rv- lleetion, and the present and prospective condition of ilu country well known to them, could hardly be 1 expected to decide in favor of a continuation ol thh war, with all its blighting effects upon boll: the North and the South, or to adjourn without \ submitting a plan of settlement honorable and just to the people of both Confederacies, and all the States. All questions of boundary and inland naviga tion, and all treaties *>f amity, commerce and alliance, and all agreements necessary to pre serve in future the just balance of power upon the continent, could be properly shaped in such a convention and proposed to the treaty-making, powers as the result of its deliberations. Or it might be agreed in advance by the treaty-ma king powers that the convention settle the whole question, and that its action he final and conclusive w hen submitted back to the people of the several States and ratified by them re spectively. In that event it must of course bo understood that each State would enter the convention as a separate, independent sovereign—the equal ol every other State —and that the action of the body as in ease of the conventions which formed the Constitution of the United States and of the Confederate States Would only be binding upon each State, when submitted back to and freely ratified by the people thereof in their sovereign capacity. The propriety of submitting the question by thu treaty making (lowers to a ciHivention of the sovereign-States is the more obvious, in view of the want of power in ihe Presidents and Senates of the two Governments to make a treaty of peace without tin- consent of the sov ereign States to be affected by it. No (lorma uent treaty of peace van be made which does not contain an article fixing the boundaries of the two Governments, when the ’w hole country is inhabited as ours is, and one or the other Government must exercise immediate jurisdic tion over the inhabitants of each State and each county. In other words, we can have no treaty of peace that does not define the States or parts of States that are to be embraced in each Government. And tlii: can only be done by the consent of the States themselves. The action of se/iaea}e State* is therefore an indis pensable preliminary to the validity of any treaty of peace that e.yi be,made. This action may by agreement of the treaty-making power:, take place prior or subsequent to the dale ot the treaty, but in either ease the effect is the same, as tho validity of the treaty is dependent Ujion the action of sfpara't S/itfis. Suppose, for instance, it is agreed by the treaty-making’ powers, that the State of Ohio shall become part of the Confederate States, when an overwhelming majority of her peojile in convention, called by (he proper Stale au thority, decide by' solemn ordinance to remain with t he United Stales ; or suppose ij is agreed by the treaty-making powers that Kentucky shall remain part of the United States, when two thirds of her people decide to go with the Confederate States. Will any one contend that the Dealv making power has the right thus to dispo«e ites, and assign them their future . o-it -ns without their consent? And will anybidy say that a treaty of peace can be n.a.*! without defining the government with wifi, h (‘loo or Kentucky shall be associated in fit? re? Suppose, again, that the treaty ma king |towers, in fixing the boundaries ot the t.w~ Confederacies, should .spec, to a division ol Virginia, and that the territory embraced in the pretended new Stale formed of part of Vir ainia, shall become part of the United Slates, und that the balance ■Lull go with the Confed erate Stales. Will any Southern man contend that she can be thus dismembered and part of licrle.rr (cry ceded by the I'rc.-kleni and Senate to the Government ot the United States with rat ier consent I He who so contends denies da: very fundamental principles upon which lie Govt eminent, of the Conlederat-’ Slates was oiganizt'd. What would the old Virginian.: of iho Jell; rsoiiiiff! school say (o this sort, of State sovereignly ! Wlat would \Vas.liiiigti«i,.lifik'r ioij. Madison, JlloHee, Hem;, . Lee, Mason, I,‘an .- fid, it they bail ,een told that- the Coui-tilut ion of t he United Si a tel ei>nj'e,i reij upon the treat y maki ig power llm right io cede oi;,- halt f)m ten'it-.-'y of Virginia to a foreign Slate without colls.;!! log tier or obtaining her consent If President Davis and the Senate have the Aver to cede part <<f Virginia to the Unit ed j tales in fixing the boundaries of the two Confederacies without, hoi* consent, they have !]8 much power to cede the whole State to Great llriiaiti or France for commercial advan tages, or lo eivle Georgia to the Untied Stale.., iii'eoiisiileralion that the other plates shall be rceci'o. a J aijd the war cease. Such a propo sition is too preposterous for -c,,.ar. er: ament. He who claims such powers for tint Presi dent and Scnais, would ijof. only degrade the States to the Position of provinces, iaif vyotjld clothe the (Hviil.y making power oi the fioti Irijcrury with imperial dignity ;-.w atcr than the most eiiiigliti-ii.a! inomrrehs ol the present, day assume lo themed ye ••. It lias pern elaigied as one of the prerogatives of sovereigns that they could e?;je to each other their provinces at will. r.ut, in the late treaty jxtwcon the Emperors of Franco and Amiimi, the former refused to accept a province ceded by the latter, and incorporate it into his Empire and govern it. till the question was submitted to lho people of the Province and they gave their COIISOIjI It. is certainly too clear to be successfully questioned that, the Governments ot the two Confederacies have no power to make a treaty of jieijoe and fix the boundaries of the two •enquiries, which, situated as \ye arc, is a neces sary part of the treaty, without the concur rence and consent of the individual Stales to be uit’cetad by it. II this cannot be done with out the consent of the States, where is, the ob jection to a convention i;f l|ie States to settle in advance the necessary preliminaries; to W(.jrh their eon cut Is indispensable before the treaty can be valid and binding? In the con vention it could lie agreed which States would g,> with ttie Ngrlh and which w iih the South, and the ralitioiition of the notion of the oon v. ntien by the treaty making powers, and liy the people of the several States jo be affected by it, when, of a olmraeU-r to rytjuire tlieir t,, paratc l acUmi, would lix the future .-ti’dns ot the clijlVrcnl Slates, «»d the proper boiirelaii,:.; of the two Cn-piederaci, , While 1 am e.iti k.d that separate Mate action may and most, j.iobatdy »i!j be a neces sary preliminary to a treaty of peace, 1 do not wish to be mi.unde: - :teed upon tin point. The sovereign State. - of the Confederacy each leecded from the old Union, Thi they hud perfect right to do. And each is a- sover igjr ill the present Confederacy lie wa m ie old. and has the same right under the like u'renni lances which she then exercised, tint when these States Hccedeil and lornnd the present Confederacy, and enl.-i. and into the precentdefeusive unr tog,.|,lu r, tiny, at 1. ,-t t,v strong implication, pledged tin m .1,, jo stand hy and ai.l each other a vain I Ihe r,cu rium enetoy till the eiul of the Ii n■!.•. 'i'ims situated 1 ileiiy that any one of the States can honorably withdraw from the contest, without the consent of her sister Stales, and make a separate treaty of peace with the enemy. The people of the States can,meet in con vention and abolish the Confederate Govern ment whenever its usurpations and abuses of power have reached a point where .the people are no longer secure under it. The people of the Northern Government have a right t„ do the same by a like convention, and to establish a new Government in place of the ['resent j tyranny by which they are controlled. If the people of the two Confederacies have the ]>owec which will not I pre-tune be denied ly any one professing the State rights doc trines of I77f>, why may they not meet to gether in eonveift ion, and agree upon the boundaries and treaties necessarily growing out of a serration which is already an ac complished fact? I arn n>ll aware that the advocates of-dr,.ug central power bt th in the United States’and the Confederate Stiit's, including many of the oiiiee holders of both Governments, ami the place hunters and I.t'xrc Gov-cun •nt con tractors who have made millions C? doiiais oat i»i th,. Government, without, fence exjwttmt tiulr persons to danger in battle, and the j secret epics in the employment of the Govern- ! meats who ate supported out of the large v . /v 7 vri 'ce funds at the command •! th, 1., o j Presidents, to do their hid,ling, and such oifi eials as wear gold hice in < iti< - an,l drive line horses and carriage:: supported oat of the pub- | Lie erib, while all around them j; misery and j waul ; and the large provost and passport corps, scattered among our country villages and upon our railroads, jealous of tho preroga tives of the central power, and anxious to moiutain end extend them, are ready by their m.'tiou to deny that the States have anything left but the name, or that they can have any regency in aiegotiating a treaty of peace, or that they can meet iu convention to consider of this subject without being guilty as “traitor ous Stale;.’ Those minions of power protected frorn the dangers of the battle-field, never faL to impugn the motives and question the loy ally of every one who denies the legality oi any act of the Government, or questions thi wisdom of any part of its policy. They very cordially adopt the maxim, “ . King can Jo no wrong.” Os course all sucl are loud and clamorous in their denunciations of those who advocate a convention of States lo agree upon the terms of separation and stop the effusion of blood. If the war should cease they must sink lo the ir natural level, for then, “Othello's occupation’s gone.” but the advocates of free government nTUv safely appeal from all such to the sober sound judgment of the great mass of the American people, North and South, who bear the heavy burdens of the war, without the offices or pat ronage of either government, whose sons have b< en couseribed imd torn from them ami slaugh tered. many of wluuA homes have been destroy ed, and their farms Iml cities laid waste, who are daily by impresa aqenis officials, out paving- for it, who bear tho burdens of the enormous taxation necessary to cany on the war, and support all the large classes above mentioned in extravagant indul gencies, and whose posterity and property must pay the immense public pent which is constant ly augmented. And the appeal may be made with still greater force to the gallant soldier in the storms of winter aid in the weary march, while amid the perils that surround him Ids thoughts recur to the enterings of loved ones at home, as well as to all true Christians iu both countries. Shall this bloodshed, carnage and desolation continue, to Ratify the ambition and obstinacy of those in power? Or shall the peo ple of both countries demand of their rulers that the war shall eease, and as it is impossible that the people of the two sections ran again live together in haimoiiy, that a convention of all the States ho held to agree upon terms of separation, and upon the treaties necessary to the happiness anil prosperity of neighboring governments at peace with each other. Me may be told that tho Northern Govern ment will not agree to such a convention. 1 very readily admit that, neither the Lincoln Govern ment nor our own will probably agree to it, till a stronger pressure of the people is brought to bear upon both, mid that the advocates of this policy in the North cannot control it so long as I our presses and officials, State and Confederate, denounce the movement and thereby put weaii oils iu the hands of the Government, at Wash ington with which to crush out this growing sentiment in the North,and more especially in the North-western Slates. fiq( I think recent, developments have shown that this doctrine will soon bear down everything before It in the North, if met by demonstrations of approval in the South. Stop the war and call a conven tion of the Slates to negotiate, and the people of the North who are as tired of it as we are, will agree to a proper adjustment upon the terms above indicated sooner than resume hos tilities. In the mean time till proper arrangements can be made to adjust our difficulties and slop the effusion of blood by negotiation, it is the duty of every man in ihe Confederacy to do everything possibly in his power to strengthen and sustain the gallant and glorious armies of the Stales and the Confederacy. Every man able to bear arms wh< i can be spared from home, : hoiti>l be sent to tho Front either iu the armies of the Confederacy, or as part of the Militia of ilu. States, and evyrything’po.-»itle be done to provide for the wants and comfort of our troops •;.u'l;temVo conduct negotiations successfully we must renew our efforts to strengthen cmr armies and maintain our cause with ability and energy m the field, cost what it may in blood or treasure. We must not, however, expect the troops to do all by hard fi'-htin", bloodshed, and the sacrifice of life. ° J ' The f.tatesnifin-Spd the people at home have an important part to act, as well as the general and tho troops in the field, in terminating the struggle. It the troops falter and fail to do t lieii' part in the hour of bat tip, the statesman is ready to' east censure upoh them. If the staie.unan neglects liia pnpt in conducting wise negotiations to slop the war, the troops have greater cause to eousme mid eoqdenm’ luip, as he lias no right, to trifle with tlmir lives, and '■mflifWt' ! ‘> expose them jn l.attje, if the object can be attained by negotiation without the shedding of blood. In a crisis like the present, statesmanship is more important than-general ship, Generals can never stop a war, though it may last twenty years, tj!i one |,aa been able to conquer the other. Statesmen terminate wars by negotiation. lU.OOKADE RUNNING. After Dm appropriation made by the General Assembly for the exportation of cotton and the importation of such supplies of clothing for troops, cotton Cards, etc., as the State might need, 1 sent Col. Win. Schley, of Augusta, to England to purchase an interest jn'a steamyr. Finding tbat he was not successful, by reason of the non compliance of the other party in getting the vessel for half interest, in which I had con tract o<l at 1185,000 in Conl'eiUyafp States 8 per u til, bunds, ! mode a contract ypith the Export ill"- and Importing Company, of which Col. C. A. L Lamar was agent, for the charter of three vessels, with tin- privileged adding two others which the company expected to have ready in a tew months. Tin icontra;. ll considered advantageous to the State, and if left free to carry 'it out I could have exported -cotton enough to have pui-olia-wd all ihe supplies the State might nee l, and could liqve imported them upon reasonable terms. At this point f was interrupted by the interpo sition of the Secretary of the Treasury, who under the mu. . ~f t-j.e Hreeiilent refilled to permit any ve: set to dear unle-s she r.iiiu and nut oue halt the cargo for the Confederate (Jovernnient upon to mi which wore below what the State was to |oy i- i' -l.c ~f the This restriction wc, pto.v.l upon the vessels of the States as it wa :.i,h by authority vested in the President by act of Congress of nth February, 1864, which prohibits ibe exportation of Cotton, etc., except under such uniform regulations as shall be made h> tie: President of the Confederate States. This e.uistrueiion could pot te sustained, however, upon any known rule, as the ith section of the .a r ih ,-lares explicitly “that nothing in this act t ill h: ..Mittal to prohibit the Confederate . or r.j the.n »ny of the on i, !.. iieiein cniiinei'ate.l ~n their own account. 1 * this | i • ; i tion in the net therefore leaves the M ii, - a fire to export on their own account t-nli. r upon vessel-' owned or chartered hy them, ii they were hel'ore the act was passed, lint a* the proviso in the net ha t been virtually repealed by an Executive order, I in common with the Governors of Mississippi, Alabama and North Carolina, (the Governor of ,So%th Carolina con curring as shown by his letter) appealed to Cop gre-s to tako up the qaestion and ipake such provisions ns would enable the Stales to exercise their just rights. After mature consideration Centres-rpawetla bill for that purpose which the Trc-iJent vetoed. Congress then os I am in formed by one of the Representatives of this State, pa --, and a resolution unanimously in the House | and with almost unanimity in the Senate, de : . hiring in suH&tanee that the States should be I p. rmilted to export) and import without inter- i ntpti.'U upon vessels chartered by them prior to tlie date of the resolution, which would have left the ve'.-.-Is chartered by this State free. This resolution wa [iii-sed near the close of the ses sion, and the President refused, as the member informs me either to sign it or to return it, that Conjjre might be permitted to vote to overrule hi- v-:.'. Thus by the order of the Executive alone, n»twitbstamling the action of Congress ■ nd- the provision in the sth Section of the act above referred to, the States were prohibited fr,.m exporting cotton and importing blankets and clothing h r their troops, and other necessary -iipplies, unless they would conform to such rules the President thought proper to prescribe. These rulii- 0 i could n-d conform to under the pro, I. I..Ps of the cm,tract piade with the Export ing ~d,l fuq rting Ci'inl-iny without heavy loss to the .-late. A: I vva* thns prohibited by act of the Confe.le i.de Government from earning out tbe eontraet, I • iinbi not m i l upon (he exclusive use and eon ti.il of \,-. .* !-■. Finding the exportations of tbe St,»:c f.abidden by the blgctade, and placed under a pa.Ti.d blockade by ot r own Ext-'- entire, I encountered great can -arm- .uihtH in carrying out the instructiiyis of the Legisla ture in this particular. If six- C0;.:.-any vv> re compelled to submit to the* tones priuciibedj by the Myesident, and give up one bad' ihe storage "am of she su>a:nor» • -kart.-d by tho State to the Coid'ederu y. tiny .wcie tm willing to divide the remaining haif allowed them by the Pie.-idciu -with the Dtate. Kv. allowing lire company to use the name of the State iu their business, which, under the cir cumstances, 1 felt justified in doing, and by undertaking to aid tfiein when necessary in the transportation of cotton to the coast, l was enable-1 to get them, after submitting to the terms imposed by the Confederate Government, to carry out occasional lots for the finite, upon the vessels owned by them. 1 have also, through the agency of Col. A. Wilbur, ex ported some upon small vessels from the com l of this State. 1 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 ihe nett amount of gold on deposit, to the credit of the State in England. Should the sale bills and accounts current be received prior to your adjournment, 1 will immediately lay them before the General Assembly. About three hundred bales of cotton were shipped upon the Little Ada (a steamer char tered by the State), upon the coast of South Carolina. This vessel, after she ha 1 been.loaded with State cotton, was detained in port, between two and three months by order of the Secretary of the Treasury, supported, an 1 am iafimuo-l by a military order from the .office of the Adjutant General in Richmond, to the Commandant of ■he Post, not to permit her to clear. Thin- this State vessel was douhlv blockaded ami threatenc-.-i by Confederate guns hi ilie haihor and by Federal guns outside, if she attempted to gu to sea with State cotton to pay for blankets to be imported for Georgia troops in service,-who have great need of them. A complete statement of the'amount expended by the Stale for the pureha e of cotton, with the quantity purchased under the appfopriations, and the average cost per pound, together with the number of bales exported on /leecunt of the State, and the number now in store, with account of expenditures l'or storage, freight, insurance, lighterage, bagging, rope, compressing, &.<■., Ac., will be laid before t-he finance committee during the session. They are not transmitted herewith because reports of (lie agents with accounts cur rent have not alt Ween received. I have purchased and had stored on one of the .Islands HO,OOO pairs of cotton cards, and 30,000 soldiers’ blankets. 1 have also made contracts for soldiers’ clothing, eudhgli, 1 trust, with what are on hand, to carry the troops through the Winter without suffering. Part of oiwgonds were lost a few days since near Charlesmn, with the Florin, hut I hope soon to be able to import the balance. I have lately been informed by Mr. Treuholm, the present liberal-minded practical Secretary ol the Treasury, that, vessels owned by the State, will he permitted to clear without interruption by the. 0 (Ml federate Government, Were Ihe question an original one, 1 can not doubt that Mr. Trenhohu, with tip; act of Congress before him, would .decide, that a vessel chartered by a, State has the same right to a clearance, as no substantial distinclion can be drawn between the ; right of a State to export upon a vessel owned, and one chartered by her, which is a temporary ownership. Nor can 1 suppose that this financial officer would willingly throw obstacles in the way of the States in making all the importations in their power. Take the case of Georgia as an instance. Her sous are in the field. They need blankets, shoes, clothing, and oilier necessaries. The Confederate Government is often unable to furnish these, and they sutler for them. The State by her legislature says her sons shall not suffer, and if the Confederate Government can not supply these necessary articles, She will. She appropriates money for that purpose, and directs part of her surplus productions exported to pay for these articles, which ;;ho directs to be imported. She charters her vessels, purchases Cotton with her own money, and places it on board, to be carried abroad at her own risk-and expense, to purchase that she may import, at her comfort of her own gallant sons who are ui.ultr arms her 'defence, fitw asks not a dollar from tks Conb'd.Graie Go enimdnt, and even otters t.i pay export and import duties, (which (he Confederacy ban no right to demand) on all she sends opt and brings in. At Ibis point Die is met with a refusal to permit her vessels to clear, unless shn will submit to such onerous terms as the Confederate Executive may choose to dictate. Can this action he sustained undej- anv law of Congtjess, or upon any principle of enlightened or sound -policy t Is it nut a palpable as.-aimp t|on of potver, and an utter disregard of every principle of State Eights and Stale Rorcreigutv'!’ I trust Congress when if again assembles, aid ing upon principles of enlightened statesmanship, will not only remove these obstacles by enact ments too plain and stringent to be disregarded, but that they will invite ami encourage Hie sev ■ or a 1 rilates, tree pi hiinli-ance or duty, to import all the army supplies'and supplies and articles of absolute necessity, which the means at their command may enable them to do. this expectation be disappointed, X am satisfied it. would l,e topnd policy on the part oi' tbia SU|te to purchase several vessels, and to im port upon theip such supplies as way he needed by our troops, and for State use.’ The fitate should also export a sufficient quantity of cotton, to place gold enough upon tho other side, to enable her to again equip the State Load at the end of the .war. in common with other Southern Roads-, its iron will he much worn, and its rolling stuck nearly nut down! and if some forecast. i!*not exercised, tho State will not have the means at her command to pot it in running order. This may he provided lor iu the manner above indicated with hi:!, little c-.- t. if H# legislature will appropriate s2,thill,ooo in currency, and authorize me to puvehstxu vessels anil cotton, and to drjvw upon the c-utlnn' on the other .tide when necessary to pay fur tin m or to purchase more cotton for shipment, if the block ade does not become more stringent, with the State’s usual good luck when her affair- are well managed, I sin lirmly iinpre.' :e,l with the belief that I can put gold' enough to her credit in Europe in one year to repair tho Road within six months after a treaty of peace, or to pay a large proportion *f the appropriations of tho current year. To accompli ii this the State mu. t !>fd ba interrupted by Confederate interference. The exchange which tho cotton exported this year under all the enilThrmssments of a double blockade places, to the credit of the State, with tpe cotton now in store, is worth nearly double tho whole sum esTpended by the i state in the pur chase of the cotton. ot i: nxAsr.ui coNfet i lov. As will be seen by the Reports of the Ti, smnrcr and Comptroller General, the public debt of Georgia, independent of the appropriations of the past year, for the payment of winch a smtkient utx bus been asseeeeck and of the change i,j|U is sued, which are payable in (.'onfederate Suted Treasury notes, amounts to it I.RL It. (it thin the bonded debt id f.ij,t)Sr;. ! -'SO, of \\ hj, h Siif.,o4l(l, being part dr,s, ja drawing nf< intere .t. Tbe re maining debt cuiirista oT Sd.Wk.ObO in l'ica nn Rtltes, and $1,395,1101) in Tr.-a-nry Gi i tiiieote.: <i| Deposit. 'These liotea and eei I ili, ;it,- 1.. nr no in iercst, qnd the State will not 1,., called on to ie deem them in specie bonds, nil u,..ntli: alter a treatyjof pc-ace. Os (he above, S'2,fi7o,7 50 i : tffe old bonded and. bt, Which existed at the conuneneeinrait of the war, incurred cbicily ou account of ih„ const coition oi’ the Western and Atlantic railroad, wliieli is tbe property of the Kd.ate, and for -rock in this Atlantic and Gulf road. 'To meet her liabilii lea, the State has public pro perty, consisting of the Western and Atlantic Kail toad, Bank stock, and Railroad stock, valued, be fore the depieeiation of the currency, at £3,840,- 12*1.68 ; and her whole taxable property worth over $700,000,000 upon a specie basis. ( The debt to be paid in Confederate Treasury notes is $1,411,419 of change bills, and $3.095,000, payable in new issue of Confederate Treasury notes x’Otli December next, which, by the terms of j the contract, are to be presented for payment bv 25th March next, or the State is nut bound to re deem them, but they are to be receivable in pay. meat of public dues at any future time. To redeem these notes and the undrawn appro priations of the past, year, there is now in the Treasury $9,146,087 arid a balance si ill due on the tax digest about sntßcieut to cover the whole amount. But as some of the counties whose di gests have bee-u returned have since been thrown within the enemy's lines, it mav not be possible if the enemy is not driven back, to collect a sutii eient sum within the time to pay all these notes when presented. In that event I respectfully recommend that provision be made for the issue and sale ~f set (-n percent, bonds running twenty rears, with semi annual coupons, to raise tbe^-Confederate currency necessary to pay the debt, which it is believed would command a liigli pretuium, or that new State notes be issued upon llie same terin.-: as tbo notes to be redeemed, Irt \able in new 1 Ur of Con tinlerote tiotes one year after date, which could be exchanged, it is Deljeved, for Confederate notes with which to make the payment. This would enable the State to pay the’del,t in Confederate notes as coon as tbe taxes can be collected. I alto recommend that the appropriations of tbe present, fiscal \car be provided for bv the issue of similar notes payable in ConfedeAite uctvs, . o as to enable the State to pay the appropriations out of the taxes of each year v.'heu co'leefed. and that sufficient tax be assessed to meet ail the uppropiiu tious made. As the money must be used during the year, and tile taxes of each qrcar arc paid during the latter part of the year, it bec- ates necessary to issue these notes, to meet the den -noi of the Treasury ti : ! the taxes cuu he colic- tod. As I stated in a foimer message, no prudent man will now give his note for property tit piv.-cnt rates, payable in specie utter the war; nor will he borrow the present currency if he is obliged to use it, and give his note for if :-.t par, payable :n lawful money after the War lui be v. 'dt eel! j : petty even if if exposes h'mi to much imo-ivo liieiice and raise the vw. ietu v w hich i ;- is obfieed louse If no member of Hie General As on.hU. and no prudent c oust it went of any incada-; wi:l raise currency for Ids own uses and give for it his . ouligation for specie after the war, ini'legislator should do it f-ir tho State, which is composed ot the members and their constituents. If il laconics necessary to sell sonic portion of on.' property to raise the currency necessary to meet the demands upon the Treasury, wc should -io it w ithout lie.- Ita iion rather than incur an enormous debt in ear reiicv,to lie paid out of oar property and that, id' our posterity in tilt lire at spc. ic rates. In imp s mg the ncces..ary takes, the law should make prori.c ion for the exemption of the property of the poor who cannot sell pioperty to pay a heavy tax and live ; and should place the liar-lea mainly upon the wealth of the State where it can lv borne without causing suffering or want. As the poor have gen erally paid tht-ir part oi the cost ot tins war iu inilitaiv service, expnsme, fatigue and blood, the rich, who have l»oen in a nnuii i10j.,:.v iVom those, should meet the moiiev de niandd oi the ilovciimivat. W I’.STKMN AM* ATI. A XTIP IIA11.1!»* A t*. As an iil be seen by the Ivejmrt of tin* tendent \>t the YnV.'lciii and Alluntie Kailroml. the net earnings of tho road have been !i». foi-Tlio liru al year. in addition to thii, abMit half a million of dol laj> have been made to thi?i date, by the use oi »I>»‘ rolling ‘»ek, since the vl>ad was .^iven nj> to t);. em;my, bv the j»urcha--'e of eotton mosil) in loeali fcie.s thretitened by thu enemy, whir'h was canu and to points of greater salety and sold lava prolit. The ?• ales had not been made, npr had that sum been realized at the date of the ttupeunteialenf lieport. Tart of the cotton now stond will soon he S(»ld, ami the money paid into the Treasury and accounted for in the next lleport of the Supeim t endent. When we had rolling .dock wlii.h could bo sjftied iVom Government transport at ion, 1 thought tld a iegitgnato business. When the read an as taken of by the enemy, and oiir tin:ine.i and cars sent to the Interior ol the State,' 1 foilmf it necessary to keep most of the employees of the road Avith the stock, that aa t c might- have them at command in case aa'o recovered tin* ’road. As they NVere generally dependent upon their for the support ol''their families, it aah.m mvcv.ary n* J keep them upon such pav as AVonld nccompii.-li 1 his object. The'l ns;: of our engines and ears lias been heavy. The raid under General Stenemau dcstr -ved at Gordon and near Griswohlville sevenfet n (rass.'-u --gci' emu and thirty freight curs, and seriously in lured four engines. At the evacuation of Atlanta, three of oar engines and eighteen cars, which were in. (he employment of tile Government Inins porting ordnance and commissary stores, were de stroyed by order of General flood, to prevent tLeir falling imo the hands of the enemy. The families of part of the employees who have boon driven out without shelter, have been permitted. Cos occupy a portion of the freight cars, The bal ance of ilo rolling stock, when not engaged carry ing cotton, hits boon used on other curry Government freights for the supply of the tinny. The Confederate Government owes the mad, as will lie ceil In tlie Superintendent’« lit port., the sum of fib'op i -l.tit). I have made every effort in my power to collect this, but have not been sue cesst'ul. 1 trust the Government will not. numb longer delay payment, which has been held from time to time under various pretexts. TAX ON BANKS. Ah the act of the last regular session uqpo.-s ff a. tax upon both tho assets and capital stock ot the different batiks of this S(ate, which amounts to ft double tax, pud as corporations have not. llm :;dyitytagcfl (Ivor llu* other pursuits in the State which they hud before the war on account of the suspension of their regular lot mem which ha been absorbed by the GoniVaterate Treasury, and as they exchanged hy.-ge amounts of their own hills with the Government at the- coiniecuccmen! in'tiu-i;-.haqilTi fioietl w hether it war tin* iutentiop of the. Lt-gi; lature to make this diserjutination against them. 1 therefore-d-ioctcd the Comptrollei'Gencral to sns pend the collection id’tlto tax upon thcic ciq-ital stock, and to licet only upon their assets tilt vour pleasure shall lie-known. TAX ON COTTON. As t lie law now stands, c-olton in the. hands of all persons other than producers is tax-aide, toss (lie 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 discrimination. If tho plant or sells his cotton and invests the proceeds in bonds or other property they are taxable as arc almost every other species of properly, toil if he considers ihe cotton a better investment than currency bonds or other property, and hohhvit IV,wn year io year, it is exempt in Via h.-mdu from taxation, while all other things of like value are taxed. If A pur chases cotton which he holds as investment, and E raises cotton which he holds from vc-ar to year for the same pul pose, 1 routes:, mv iuai.il.lv t-> Meno r just reason why the one should pay tax an 1. 1 In other ho exempt. 4, rNEOEALIIV IX TAX RETURNS. I call your special attention-to that part of the report of the Gomptroller Genoin!, w hich (-.lints out the inequality* of I lit' tax returns iroin the dif ferent counties under the present law, and respect fully rccoiuunanl the passage of tho hill suggested by him, or one of like character, to iciue-jy this t'Vil and prevent future inequality and injustice he tweci: the people of (he different comities. Eucii shoulff liear ils just part of tin* jaff.lic tmrdcn :, which is not amt will Hot he the case under ihe present law. js JfitiTarV .vt-t-r: orriaTtox.' As cun Slate ii invaded by a powerful ei;. r.iv and it is impossible to foresee the exigencies which may arise within the ensuing year to require the Use of oar military force, or the extremities to v. hu h we may be driven, 1 recommend the appro print ion often millions of dollars as a military fund for the political yenj. EEI.IEC OF SOl.nrKTts’ FAMILIES, j I recommend the appropriation of six million? of dollars mi a fund for the relief of indigent soldi, i -' families aud sick and \voiituk-d soldiers, and indi gent exiles. While hundreds and thousands of mir pat riotie 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 people whose homes li.ive not been overrun, it is tlie iniperatil>. duly of Tlie people at home to see that their families do not anifer for the necessaries of life. I have con stantly advocated this policy, and feel the impor tance of inlie more as tlie sufferings consequent upon the scarcity of provision.. are increased in the Slate. The wealt.i and prosperity of the Slate must lie taxed to any extent necessary to peer, nr imiicring among the.families of our brave defend er. 'i'h, v have freely r.lied tlieir blood in their country's service, and those who have money must he compelled to part \viih an much of it. a .mav be required lo cheer flic bean,! of the w blow* anti orphans of the slain, and tlie distressed farm lies of those still upon the fit-1,1 t.,-1 our soldiei . know that tlieir loved ones at borne are providr and for, and you stimulate them to greater exertion . and nerve them to nobler deeds. The law should be so amended a- to make it the duty of the Inferior Court,! of tlie r, rpeetive c.um ties to make quarterly reports to the Comptroller General of the disbursement of the fund i receive I by them, with a statement of tin; names of the in digent persons to whom the fund is distributed and Ibe amount received by each. It is tndiev. and that the courts ftre not held by the present law to snili clent accountability. Tlie law should provide for the prompt di-missal of t|n; courts from the trust, and the appointment of other agents to disburse the fund, when they fail to make legal mid satisfactory returns, or to discharge any olijer of the duties imposed upon them by t lie statute. Provision should also be made to enable tbe courts of comities containing refugees to draw enough of the funds of comities behind the ene my s lines to afford relief to such refugees when entitled, without the eertilieato of the court of the county of their former residence, upon other satisfactory evidence when the certificate of the court .cannot be obtained. ■jf. CLOTHING Ftrsn. 1 recommend tbe appropriation of two millions of dollars as a clothing fund, to be used for tbe sup ply of clothing to Georgia troop* in service when they cannot get what is necessary to their comfort from tlie Confederate Government. While it is the duty of that Government to supply all its troops with comfortable clothing, K it tails to dis charge Unit dulv from inability or otherwise, Georgia should see that tier sons do not .“litter by such neglect. This fund sbouh! bo used for the purchase of the necessary supplies either in the Confederacy or in foreign maiketa, as circum stances may shew the oue or the other to be the must practical with the least cost. FL'RtHA.SB OF PBOVISIONS. 'The conscript law having been extended to fifty years of age, embraces much the greater portion ~f i[,c planters of ttiis State. Most-ot these men, xvbo make surplus supplies of provisions, have received detail, from miliiaiv service, on condition that they sell to the Confederate Government all their- cui plus at schedule prices, which ate now so tar below markyt value as to afford not ex en the :;; p.-a::iucc and;: c, « at:.-i in thi* wnv tl a Goiife.;c:-a>i imc m j t.-hi! '.-..t!-.c ciiixeits of *'> (■:> : ifoia - fin: ■; t!.. :i Mirph:; piodu -tions to their mot I--:;!.-, a- ten I’:.- tc.ffe n,, ds tin »e pro duction. . an.! : - u-a-’y pav fir i coo [.uisatiou for them. Toi. mafic- -r - Nu,„ai::,iv diui, u lt for tho (Jm-.-toi: an I C-:-m , tic; State to the -implies ab-olutelv necessary for tho Sts- ~ tiooi*, imlt jent exit- s aiid oth< ml hv th-.- sta (■• !■ |: Us- otih r of IV. nil :dcrat'o --lU i-cra, :- ..; -iatl.-d yoco old sell -udv to l onlVd eiatc agent.-, t,s- , ■, the State during tho pa-: >:■' 1 ;i i. lwi re .v. it out ot her own markets and wet - olise. and (o go to -m.-sistcrfitateAhl !.:,-t:a :o. 1 pm. .1 import it nt a very •avy ex]--. .to t la-,: - ,;:y to the ruffe rib g poor from cEj \ ."t. • For :'■ ■•. i> ’ gs*s of the difficul ties gg-. :. i- p hituM, uni are ie spectfnily tvfcnvd to th, (fificigt Reports of tho ti.uiu'teruiasiei' G-Tteral and the Commissary General. fi-'iue of Ihe otlicr States have enacted laws winch antiioii.-.e the VMate oilieers to iliip.itrss, "hen in the hands of producers, such siqipltea as ntv neoilml tor State use Tins, in my opin- is the only mono oi obviating tin;-1 iffic.u!ty. Such a law -Itonhl itiai,':; ample provision to se cure just compensation to tit,- owners propiuiy may be taken. A Confederate regu lation cannot i.a defended upon any principle of reason or justice, which drives a State out of her own markets for the purchase of her necos sarv supplies. TUB I VH/5 DRIVEN' OCJ TV TOE ENEMY. A'onr attention is invited to the deplorable rendition of tiie unfortunate exiles, who have la-on driven fium their homes in Atlanta, nipl other jrlc ot the filnte, try the .%\as,e cruelty of tho enemy. The inhumanity of the treat ment to which those unfortunate suilcrers have been subjected, his 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 Fnc-iificcJ their lives in the .defence of the liberties of their country, have been driven from their hotnea, with but little of their clot hire' and fuiHiijturo, and thrown out exposed upon the. ground to all sorts of weather, without food, house or shell •■■■■. I have had the be.,t tneati3 in my pc*wer *]>ro vided-for their protection, anti have ordered provision.; i net to those who were entirely destitute. As 1 had no speei il appropriation for this, purpose, I have used the military fund, or so nm.ii of iy as yotild be spt.red, not doubt in;; that my course would meet your approval. I ciits haw been tuiTusiied to such as could not got shelter, and 1 have directed that log- cabins bo constructed, fit-a suitable locality, by the ( juartermasti r General, who has taken great interest in their behalf, for their comfort during the winter. The (jnarterniaster and Commis sary General have done all in t heir power, with fin- moans at their command, to tuif ‘gate th« suUermgs ot the: most unlortunato class of our follow-ciiizens. I iecoimaetul that proper pro vision he made by law to tuipply thoso who aro destitute with si.sli;r and ihe necessaries of life tilt they can provide for themselves. GEOr.OIA HOSPITAL AND I; fit.TPF A.-SOFI ATICN. Your attention is invited to the Annual Jin port pt tits Hoard of Snneiip.tc.ndonts of the Georgia llospital and belief Assoria!ion.. Thin association is conif.-osid of gentlemen of- tho highe.it character who hqvo labored faithfully and taicc.ea.-f>.tl!y to alleviato the sufteringß of our rick and wounded soldiers. 'Their efforts, merit the thanks of our whole people. It is doubted whether r.uy other aesselution with the same amount of means at command nas ttoeomplbhed on much good. I respect fully /<■ omnWd an appropriation 01 *soo,urn) to ba expended by the association us herclolbro, duviug the ensuing year. SCHOOL FUND.. As our rc-lmols i-annot be conducted with smce.M, till we have a change in the condition of tho country, I .-recommend that the school fund, for the future, be applied to tho support of ilio widows and orphans of onr soldiers, till cq- con again revive onr rdtv.dtonal intefPH.tß, with reasonable prenpeets of the accomplish ment of good, by the .distribution of the fund afiiong the coiititP-a, for educational purposes. BBSKU-rcrci AwnsrfiAm i.aas from vis« army. it is a fact that requires no effort at conceal ment, i,nice Ihe late announcement of tho Presi dent, in his speech at Macon, that our armies havo been weak curd to an iila ruling extent by dcuovtion mid struggling. The success of our cause, and tin . .dei.y of our people, re quire prompt action to remedy this evil. Mnny ot than; men have lotud-t gallantly, and liuvo left their cemmand:;, under (.ircumstanecs the most laying to which Iranian nature can bo exposed-. An our tinnies have retreated and iett large set tiiins cl eoimtiy iu pr.sscsßion of the enemy, they have found their homes anti their fsiiniiu - - I*:r.■", w behind tho etu lily's lines where the latter are RuV.jci, not only to in sult and ir.jury, but to great suffering, for the nece: rat ii sos life. Under these eircum stnneos their sympathy and c ue, for their families, triumphed over their patriotism and sense of duty, and in an unfortunate hour tliej' yielded to their f. lie ;.t, IniiTdown their arms and abandoned t heir colors. A fitioti; - ; appeal shof.lil be njade to these men to return to their companies, and n free pardon should l»o (xtondtil to each onoVho vviilalo so. 'ilis is already offered to them by Gen. Beauregard, ami Gen. Hood, and 1 have reason to believe would It- granted by the General in command of each of tho Military Departments. Ail who refttss to accept tho pardon, and r( !iqn, Mould be arrested, anil sent forward witii the least possiblo delay. The civil officers of the State, i% their res pective conn I v. ith the aid of the Military officers, when at home, and tbp patrol of cacti county, iu believed lo ■he the most affective, (or the arrest and return of deserters and strag glers, if placed by the laws of the respective .States, under proporji gul obligations, to act iuthis capacity, 'th eftieern, by the Gon slitutionof tbecoußfry and lav.irol the States aild ol the Conieii, r.t,o States, are exempt from Confi di late cji: .' liptiori, anil should I 3 required in nir.sidinaf.ion of tho exemption ex tended to thorn, to keep all deserters and strag glers out of their counties. when not overrun by the enemy. To compel the eUil officers to act, as many of them ate not inclim ,1 so do so, i recom mend tho j .: ol a iuw, authorizing the Governor to turn over the civil c-fticers of any ooilnfy, or any fcrtion of flicra, to consctiptioa when ti.ey rclu'.-o to : ior lo obey orders, for the apprehension of sliagglors aud deserters, f.-om htnto nr Conlcdeiat,; Ecrvice, and if they cannot be ftnnod over lo conxciiption from ago (,r otln i v. i-- •_ that they l,a subj, ct to Milila duly, and to f,i:d by court martini, for neglect of duty or rc-fu-,nl to obey orders. AtiTl that all necessary penal sanctions be added, to compel Iho disUiargo ot ‘lbis duty. Proper provision thould be ma le, by the Confederate * anthuiilk«, to receive the deserters at conven* ient points , not too remote from any [ art of the Slate, aud lo pay j lil feon and other neccs siiry e>:pi n.-cH ['R-mpfly. The.want of t.oiper regnlaftoi.n, in fh;s j .rrficiihir, deters many civil ofj.ee;;!. v.1:o w old be willing to act, from making erre '-,n ' • have notVtuoncy tospavo to i'.y the t.'.;i;nse3, and do not know to whom or where they should deliver the persona arrested. W liilc it is the duty of the States to make provision to compel deserters anil persons ab- Bmit without leave, _ lo return to their com mands, an imperative obligation rests upon them to make such provision for the families of the needy as will sec ure tbern from want of tbo necessaries of life, in (he absence ol their husbands and falhers. Whatever tax upon the wealth ol each State, may lie necessary for this purpose, thouid be assessed by legislators without hesitation, and paid by property hold ers without complaint. uoeetii hands or nusEitTcns and stbauglikg gav ai.uv. It is a lamentable fact that bands of desert ers from our armies, and small bodies of cav alry belonging to the Confederate service are constantly robbing and plundering onr people of their stock, provisions and other property. This is generally done by these robber bands under pretext of exercising tbe power of im pressment. in the name of the Government or of homo (h iieial, who not only knows noth ing at their conduct but disapproves and con demns it. They go armed and take what they please by intimidation and force, having re gard to neither age, sex or condition. They are not amenable to any civil process as there >Ls not generally sufficient foice at home to ar rest them, and they pass on and cannot in fu - turete identified. If arrested and committed to prison they will aid each other to escape