Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-10-18

cessilies Of the Government and the wants Of the
people. .,.,.t..3 ,.,..., ss....
i Complaints have reached ME from various por-
uons Of the State Of this unpattiotic and des,ruct
i've tendency TO extravagant speculation, placing
every article, Indispensable TO the support of the
army, as well as the ordinary necessaries Of life, at
prices far above those warranted by the legitimate
laws of trade, and In many cases beyond the reach
Of the more INDECENT classes Of society ls..
~ The merchant and tradosman, while restrained
within proper limits are necessary and useful mem-
bers Of the community and In common with every
other legitimate pursuit are entitled TO the foster
ing care Of the Government; but when forgetfil
Of their duties citizens, they suffer themselves
tempted far upon the of speculation, as to be-
come serious evils rather than conyepences to the
public, II becomes your duty, as guardians Of that
public, 10 adopt such measures as will best tend TO
restrain illegtiniate and improper speculation and
put down an evil which is becoming so prevalent
and mischievous. ,,,,s.
! In ordinary tines an outraged public sentiment
and the laws Of treie would accomplish this end !;
but in tiraes Of general distress and threatened
danger, when the Government is involved in war,
and must sec1re regardless OF price, whatever may
be necessary to the comfort and maintenance Of our
biase and patriotic countrymen who have gene to
the field TO uphold the rights ard the honor of their
country, and to defend the lives and property Of
this class who thus Specializing upon their pri-
Vations and necessities, the authorities cannot be
too yigilan in their efforts to restrain the excesses
of avarce and protect society against the evils to
which II is exposed, go
By a law Of the Congress of the Confederate
States Of America entitled an Act to put into op-
Grafton the Government Under the Permanent Con-
stitution of the Confederate States Of America
approved May 81, 1861, 1t is provided 'that an
election shall be held in the several States of this
Gonfederacy on the first Wednesday in November,
1861, for members of the House of Representatives
In the Congress Of the Confederate
States under the Permanent Constitution T; . and
said Act further provides and DIRECTS that on the
same day the several States shall elect or appoint
electors for President and Vice-President of the
Confederate States of America according to said
Constitution. The Act directs the time and manner
in which said electors shall discharge their duties
and deslgnates the time at which the first Congress
under the permanent Constitution shall assemble,
being the l8.h day of February, 1862 This law
of Congress was approved prior to the ratification
and adoption of the Permanent Constitution by the
people of Tennessee; but anticipating that would
be done, the Congress Of the Confederate States en-
acted that the State of Tepnessee should be entitled
to elect eleven members to the House of Represen-
tatives.. The people of Tennessee having adopted
the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate
States Of America are therefore entitled I'd pattici-
pate in the election of the Executive and Legisa-
tive officers conformaby TO ite provisions, and the
laws enacted to put the Government under it into
operation. i will therefore devolve Upon you to
digest ard enact such laws as will secure the re-
presentation of your State in the Congress and Eec
toral College of the Government Of the Confederate
States of America ...f,...t q, .t,.
lnasmuch as the State is entitled to eleven Rep
resentatives in the Congress OF the Confederate
States and there are bnt ten Congressional districts
as now laid off 1t will become your duty to re-dis-
trict the State, which will doubtless be done ty
you in spirit of fairness and equality looking to
the geographical position of counties and their pop
nation and rs the time which intervenes between
the day of your assembling and that fixed for the
election is very short J, is important to tie State
that yon,discbarge tbis dnty, by defining the dis
tgietspat dle earliest day possible. % this connee
ton st isfnopel;I should statsto you that there is
on file inthe Office Of the Secretary of State full re-
turns from the Marshsls Of the three Grand pitis-
ions of the State of the Census taken in the year
1860. The ilfotthation contained in these reports
will be valuable, if not indistensably necessary to
you in the work of re-districting the State. l
therefore recommend that you have such parts of
these reports as may ce necessary for this purpose
Immediately printed for the use Of the General As
Eembly. y ., .,
The universal interest felt in this important
struggle involving, it does, the destiny of Re-
public, and tho independence of great people,
renders the dry details of ordinary legislation dis
tasteful to The public mind. The important duties,
however, which are imposed upon the State Coy
ernment by the pending conflict demands at our
hands the strctest scrutiny into Ill Of its depart
ments, in order that it may be made fully equal to
such emergencies as may probably arise.
The necessities of the Civil Government, howev-
or, demand very little legislation except such as
may be necessary TO its economical ADMINISTRATION
and the development of all of internal resour-
ces. ...s
The reports of the COMPTROLLER and Treasurer
show the following to be the
7 FISCAL CONDITION or rnB STATE:
Balance in the Treasury lst Oct 1852 $3.50, ,3O3 SO
Receipts into the Treasury for the year
/ ending lst Oct. lS5s.....,.. ,..3... 700, 247 3s
Total. 970550 II
Disbursements for the same year...... s9l, ,944 %
Leaving bal. in Treas. 1st Oct ls6o... $7s,eOe 4s
Receipts into the Treasury for the year
ending lst Oct ls6i......."....... ssesi7 So
Total Ol5,435 10
Disbursements for year,. ....... s29,931 30
Leaving bal in Treas. Let Oct 1851 Sls5 496 72
II viii be seen by reference to the report Of the
Comptroller that the aggregate value of taxable
property in the State in $50 was $3.50, oil 46S and
in 1851, $685. 269, 308, showing depreciation Id
one year Of $50, 752 96o, with the latter assess
ulent Iaue previous 70 tut COMMENCEMENT OF tue
war. IL is confidently believed that il the ASSESS
meR Of the taxable property of the State should be
made at this time it would show still further re-
ducon, leaving the aggregate at about $500, ,o00,
O00 This depreciation in the value Of taxable
, property demonstrates the necessity Of the most
rigid economy in public expenditures, or an increase
of taxation 70 support the Civil Government.
cannot too strongly urge upon your considera-
ton the policy of retrenchnent and reform in eve
nv department of the Government where it Is pos
sble and thus husband our resources to the utmost
extent for the support Of our armies and the main
tainanee Of our independence r...' q
In this connection it lie proper that ! should di-
rect your attention to the 4th section Of the act Of
the Confederate Congress approved 10th August,
1851 imposing tax upon certain descriptions OF
property therein narcd "for the special pUrpcse Of
paying the pTincipaland Interest of tire public debt
and supporting the Government"