Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-07-12
5ajIp AppeaI,

- ~
Cav. sSnrTJs, tno military Hoard aud
the TObsCcO aSd whisky Question.
EuIrczs APPEAL: In an editorial il the Bal-
Jstin few days ago, the startling intelligence
is proclaimed that our volunteers in every
camp, are eursing the governor and military
board FOR their pusil sBimous course in refer
eDce to tobacco, whisky and ration issues.
Had The Bnlsfiu, before iDdorsing the exc
crstions ab We, examined into the origin of
To, military board and Gov. Harris controlling
power upon them, it would have discoved,
that il the irst place, it was an act Of the
legislature which created the military board,
giving the executive only the right Of making
the appointmsnts-aubject to the approval or
disapprovsl Of both branches Of the iegisla-
turs that party feelings were cast IN oblivion
b. the governor in selecting wha, he imagined
were compel ut men; that two, it not TIE
whole board, were uncompromising Union
men, to within = few months ago; that the
legislature bestowed upoR The military board
no mere power to transcend the adopted army
regulations Of the Confederate States, than
had the c0mmissaries, or ether distributing
army officers. That the board was expected
"a enforce strict observance Of the army
rules That II was created by them, not as
HsFi; opponents sssert, from want OF faith
IN his ability TO discharge his duties, because
there was no prece 'snt in the history Of Ten
nessep-but because, in their estimation, the
ext duties that would devove upon him,
outside Of this particular branch, would Ue
sufficiently laborious for any one naa to per-
form.
That the governor has no control over the
board, the nature OF the legislative act e suti-
Client evidence, bis having the privilege Of ap-
poin'ivs, subject to he ratification Of ho'h
houses, relieved him Of further responsibility.
That tie creation Of this board in the man
DsT it was performed, without instruction from
its source, 40 dIssTet onarY action left them,
has resulted in 40 wise beneficial, and If ny
opinion is not sc error, in much dissatisfac-
ton 70 he soldiers, annoyance TO thn dis
Il hutiug officers, and sn unnecessary
and useless expense to the State
A coTy Of the army reeu'stions
60 be strictly adhered to, and certain para
graphs, calling attention to, has so far BEEN
about the result Of their lsb0rs, which was
about all thsy had a legal right 10 perform
and results in each ofieer's havirE as much
poser vested in him - the board. Hers, sir,
we serd voI csuF OF The sTmY regulations Of
the Ia United s. tltss which have been adopt
ed hv The Confederate States "Y7u will not
Transcend one io's of the rules laid down, at
The risk of vou and your securities being held
sBsEerable For snY tTsnsgressious." All Off
Gers knew This was their guide, and SO sctrd.
This was about the cum end substance OF the
powers vested in the bnsFd by the legislature.
The legislature, when in session, passed sn
ordinance Of secession. There was this con
dition a'tschsd-'bst the Confederate States
Government would take the war debt Of Ten
nessFe, and in pro rata eac9 State would pay
IT'S proportion to tie army, 20 be governed ac-
corijrg 70 the rulrs and regulations Of the army
regulations. Hence the sTgnmsnt is advanced
that If we (the military bnara) transcend
those rules, We (tie military boaTa) wiz have
L settle for all that is issued, and not allowed
by these army regulations Had the lsgisia-
tu~e paid that attention thst was due tie vol
untsers, they would have giveF discretionary
powers o the board; as it il, cannot see IS
use or necessity In any respect L should al
once be either abolished or lowed .E'srs pow
er. am satisfied that the inteHtion If the
legislature. when me bill was passed, was 70
vest in the board Discretionary power 10 act
on an subjects properly brought before them,
as the legislature could not continue IN session
until fhr way wss over, nor could tha soldiers
aG I'd 70 wait until its next sitting, to have
their vents supplied.
Isths militarr board would make tAs allow
sRce of tOSacco as a regular ration, and
whisky, und-F the army regulations, previous
TO Lewis Czss' reign as secretary Of war.
w0nld meet the hearty approval Of niue-te1ths
Of the people ard ell az ne volunteers.
That II wauid not result IN suv IGoTe cost ia
manifsst from these facts. There is not A. in
staHcr, 5siisve, when the issuing commis-
ssries have not distri buied more provisions
than the regulations allowed. ard the Only
reason I can assign for his universal occur
renee is, th=t tobacco, from fixed habit and
an uninterrupted enjoyment, having beceme
necessity, a. mneh so as eatsb'as. the bovs
prefer 10 trade their provisions, (Eueh s. cOf-
fee, sugar. candles and s0sp,) "a su'tisTs and
iriners nt traders for taharco, paving exoTbi-
tart prices for an Indifferent article # the
weed, and Teceivinr Tunouslv lew price for
.ber provisions. ghe ove-ara y ing is proven
hiai, anH it cesis the government more for to-
baeco in fhis wsv than If The regular allow
arcr IF Cne pourd per Month was issued. So,
had the iegis Hre givei discretionary pow
er 10 the military board. ard thsse facts hsing
brourht 70 the Tua'ico, tie allowance would a.
ouce he sivsn, but representing a power
Col body, in appearance, bv their ere
ator b-iag deprived of representation in
fact hank without specie and notss-iUst
the sizn over the door.
With the ARMY regulations distributed 70
every issuing officer 70 govern him, and be
b.e-ssd v7irh common underst andjRg 7siih the
positive command that this shall be heir guide
and E, be BIZ them held ss sacred f'om change
as rhe Constitution Of cur country, they
each end every one arrived at ezsctly the
sare eHainsRcc Of power in fact, as the militia
" hoard hence its forming becomes matter
Of rsug ghf.
The whole sun and substance Of Ely remarks
ere that Governor HsrTis is and should be held
enfirsir blam less, - slso the military board,
and that the legislature sbOnld be severely
ceusured By the press, the people and the sol
disrs, for creating body that has only the
power Of refusal and not the power Of grant
ing.
Gov. Harris having 30 power to control the
actions Of the military board and having had
onjv 2 conditional one, to oppont, we cannot
20 Justice blame, much less curse him.
SEVEN STARS.