The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-10-18

are thus specializing upon beir priva-
tions and necessities, tie authorities can
not be too vigilaht ~ their Efforts TO re-
strain the excesses of svse5es and pro-
tect society against the sSlls 10 ~ifch il
is exposed.
By a law of the Congress ot ;be Con-
federate States Of Anerica, entitled an
Act ITO put into operation t1e Govern
ment under the Permanent Constitution
OF the Confederate States Of AMERICA"
approved May 2lst, 1861, it ia provided,
that an election shall be held in the
several States Of this Confederacy On the
first Wednesday in November, 1861. for
members of the House Of Representa-
tives in the Congress Of the Confederate
States under the Permanent Constitu-
tom" 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 Con-
federate States of America, according TO
said Constitution. The Act directs the
time and manner in which said electors
shall discharge their duties. and desig.
mates the time at which the first Congress
under the Permanent Constitution shall
assemble, being the 18th day Of Februa.
ry, 1851. This law OF Congress was ap.
proved prior to the ratification and adop.
ton OF the Permanent Constitution by
the people Of tennessee, but anticipa.
ting that it would be done, the Congress.
of the Confederate States enacted tha,
the State of Tennessee should be entitled
to elect eleven members to the House OF
Representatives. The people of Tennes.
see having adopted the Permanent Con.
stitution of the Confederate States OF
America. are therefore entitled to partic-
ipate in the election of the Executive and
Legislative officers conformably to its
provisions, and the law enacted to put
the Government under it into operation.
1t will therefore devolve upon you to di-
gest and enact such laws as will secure
the representation of your State in the
Congress and Electoral College of the
Government Of the Confederate States OF
America.
lnasmuch as the State is entitled to
eleven Representatives in the Congress
of the Confederate States. and there are
but ten Congressional districts as now
laid off, it will become your duty to re.
district the State, which will doubtless be
done by you in q spirit of fairness and
equality. looking to the geographical po.
si,ion of counties and their population;
and as the time which intervenes between
the day OF your assembling and that fix
ed for the election is very short, it is i'm.
portant to the State that you discharge
this duty, by defining the districts at the
earliest day possible. Ia this oonnec.
ton, it is proper / should state to you
that there is on file iii the office of the
Secretary Of the State full returns from
the Marshals of the three Grand Divis.
ions Of the State of the census taken in
the year 1860. The information contain.
ed in these reports will be valuable, if not
indispensably necessary to you, in the
work of redistricting the State. there.
fore recommend that you have such parts
of these reports as may be necessary for
this purpose Immediately printed for the
use nt the General Assembly.
The universal interest felt in tins i'm
portant Struggle, involving US it does, the
destiny of a Republic, and the independ-
ence of great people. renders the dry
details Of ordinary legislation distasteful
to the public mind. The important duties
however, which are imposed upon the
State Government by the pending conflict
demands at our hands the strictest scruti
ny into all of its departments, in ordel
that it may be made fully equal TO such
emergencies as may probably arise.
The necessities of the civil government
however, demand very little legislation
except such as may be necessary to it
economical administration and the de
velopment of all internal purposes.
The reports of the Comptroller ant
Treasurer show the following to be tn,
fiscal condition Of the State.
Balance in the Treasury Oct. /, 1859, SiSO,3O3 s.
Receipts into the Treasury for the
year ending lst October, 1850, 79O,2i7 8
Total, $97O,550 7
Disbursements for same year, S9l ,944 2
Leaving balance in Treasury lst octo-
ber, ls6O s7s,6O6 4
Receipts into the Treasury for the year
ending Ist October, 1861, 9sc,s27 5
Total. $l,Ol5,434 o
Disbursements for the same year, S29,93T 2
Lcay ing balance in tho Treasury 1st
October, 1861, 1s5.406 I
1t will be seen by reference to the re
port of the Comptroller, that the aggrt
gate value of taxable property in tn
State in 1860 was $3.50 0l ,46S and in lS6
1868, lG9, ,30S, showing a depreciation i
one year of $40, 800. with the latte
assessment made previous TO the con
mencement of the war. 1t is contioentl
believed that if the assessment of tn
taxable property of the State should b
made at this time, it would show sti
further reduction, leaving the aggregat
at about S300,000,000. This depreciation
in the value of taxable property, demon
strated the necessity OF the most rig
economy in public expenditures, or al
increase Of taxation to support the civ
Government.
- zoo strongly urge upon you
consideration the policy of retrenchmen
and reform in every department of tn
Government where it is possible, and thu
husband our resources TO the utmost cx
tent for the support of our armies, and tn
maintenance of our independence.
In connection it is proper that shoul
call your attention to the 4th section @
the act of the Confederate Congress, NJ
proved 10Th of August, 1861, imposing
tax upon certain descriptions of propert
therein named "for the special purpos
of paying the principal and interest {
the public debt, ard supporting the Go'
ernment."
1t is believed from the best estimate