Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-01-24


hope that you will adopt such plan
Of organization as will secure TO the
State at all times, and under all Cir.
an efficient and reliable
military force.
I am uuable, 10 the absence Of
full reports from the clerks Of the
counties, to inform you as to
the military strength of the State.
Such reports as have been made. to
this department SHALL be laid before
you. | do not doubt, however, that
the military strength Of the State
may be safely estimated at one hum
bred and twenty thousand men.
1t is proper, in this connection.
that call your attention to the re-
port of John Hereiges, Keeper Of Pub
lie Arms, herewith transmitted, show
ing the number. character and cendi-
ton Of the public arms Of the State
aud respectfully recommend that you
provide for the purchase Of such
number and character Of arms for
the use of the State, as may be nee
essary TO thoroughly arm an efficient
military force.
Iregret that / cannot close this
communication with the foregoing
recital Of facts pertaining to the all
important political crisis of the day.
But a comparative failure Of crops
for two successive years, with the
destruction Of commercial conf
dence. resulting in the suspension
of commercial transactions, general
stagnation Of trade aud financial en-
barrassment, which pervade the whole
country, with its ever attendant evil OF
general pecuniary distress, at the be-
ginning Of which many of the banks
in the State suspended specie pay.
ment, thereby mourning the penal
ties prescribed by the banking code
of the last session.
1t is asserted, and suppose truly,
that the condition Of the banks was
such as not TO make suspension nee
essary on their own account; that by
the adoption Of purely selfish poll
, icy, they could have weathered the
storm and sustained themselves, but
to have done SO they must have Gu
off all Discounts and enforced The
collection of their debts from tht
people, which would have increased
the general distress. 1t is alsC
urged with great earnestness, by
very large number Of the people
that you should pass laws Tor relief
, and 10 order to enable the banks t.
, afford The greatest possible assistanc'
to the people until another crop Cal
r Fbs made, that the penalties incur
red by The suspension of the banks
\ should be released.
While am confident in the-npin
ion that the suspension of specie
{ pay ment by the banks is wrong ii
principle and tends to depreciate tn
currency and unsettle the STANDARD
!. Of value, am equally confident tha
+ the policy of relief laws, to whiel
this general pecuniary distress ha
}. driven the public mind, is, to sa.
# he least of it, Of doubtful policy
y and generally injurious in their olti
. mate effects upon the community
e The idea of freeing a people from pc
' cuniary distress by legislation is, t.
: my mind, an impossibility. Yet s.
universal is the anxiety expressed
a and so confident the hope Of relic
e from the adoption of the policy sug
4 gested, that while cannot concur il
v the truth of the argument, or recon
!. . mend the adoption Of the policy,
. do not feel at liberty obstinately t.
f stand between the people of tn
. State aud their chosen Representa-
, tives 10 prevent the adoption of suel
: Legislation connected with thes'
4 questions as they may think vii
!. promote their interest and genera
= welfare.
= / therefore submit to your consid
Grafton these questions for such &C
i ton as YOU in your discretion may SCI
proper TO take with regard to them
!. am aware that there are many
; questions of a general character will
# regard to which the constituents o
o many of you desire legislation, bu
o having convened you in sxtraordin
f airy session, upon what | conceived
q 10 be an extraordinary occasion in TIE
history Of the country, and feeling
f the necessity of prompt and imme
date action upon the absorbing
i. questions connected With the politi
q cal crisis of the day, ] have in