The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-09-06

time before the session of the Legislature
anew MW0rGeneral, and three new BHga
dier were appointed 30 fll vacancies. W.,
are told that no official information oil
these appointments was given TO Tho State
Senate, nor was the approval 81 That
body asked in any form
Now IS 10 not clear that these appoint
ments have all become vacated, for want
Of that approval on which their VALIDITY
was made 70 depend 2 III this Is not 30
then does il not follow that the Governor
by Withholding his nominations from tine
Senate, may always keep in these high
places anybody he chooses, in defiance OF
the wishes Of the Senate, and in plain
violation Of law
Then, admitting the power of the Gov.
ernor and Major-General to FIJI these
vacancies when they happened, subject Ia
the approval Of the Senate, when il would
be in session, is it not equally clear that
a session Of the Senate having interviewed
and these nominations not having been
sent in for approval, the Offices are not
only vacant but that nopower now exist.
to Gil them until the Senate shall again
be in session Such is believed to be the
settled doctrine in this country, in such
cases.
What must the people of Mississippi.
think Of theauthor Of this, when inform
them that by special message to the
Senate, which is now a part Of the public
records Of the State, submitted for Their
approval the appointments made by my
self, and General Reuben Davis, and
General Clark, to fill the vacancies in the
Military Board. The message was spread
in full on the executive journal Of the
Senate, and am informed that the Senate
confirmed ana approved all the appoint
ments, without hesitation. Further com
ment on this is unnecessary.
In regard to the Treasury notes which
the Convention authorized me to use loi
the defense of the State, it seems to hC
the purpose Of Enquirer to depreciate
them by raising doubt as TO the legality
Of their issuance. In this he differs from
all patriotic citizens they have made a
united effort to give them credit, to cause
them to pas at par to induce all to take
them as money, and they have been So
taken throughout the State | can i'm
agine but two motives for any one to de
preciate them. One is to embarrass the
State in her struggle against a des-
potlsm which threatens her with subjuga-
ton and handouts, and the other to en-
able men of capital to buy them at dis
count and make large profits on their
money. But, for the information of my
fellow citizens who have sold their horses,
provisions, arms &C., for these Treasury
notes, have this to say, that there has
been no usurpation on my part in the
manner of issuing these notes. The Con-
yention gave me the power Of exchanging
them for money but did not stop there
Foreseeing that it might not be possible
to use them in that manner in sufficient
amounts for the necessities of the State.
they further provided in the ordinance
that che lthe Governor if necessary, may
adopt such means as he may deem expe-
dent to afford the people Of the several
counties an opportunity to participate in
the loan hereby proposed and have
deemed it necessary to afford the people
Of the several counties an opportunity to
participate in this loan, to offer to them
these Treasury notes for horses for the
artillery companies, for arms, for clothing
for the volunteers, for provisions and
whatever was necessary to put the State
in a condition to defend herself against
her enemies. In so doing | have only
done what the Convention authorized
aud the necessities of the State required.
There has been no deviation front the pro
visions OF the Ordinance in the use Of
these Treasury notes. But | will not
weary the public ear by further comment
on this Infamous article. 1t is part and
parcel Of a seemingly systematic effort to
assail and traduce one who was called by
his countrymen to lead in the most peri
lous epoch in the history of the State
They have falsely charged me with intern
perance. They have charged me with be-
ing too fast and with being too slow-with
being too eXtrayagant and too economi-
cal-wth bold usurpation of powers
not granted me by the Conventirn, and
with timdly shrinking from the respon-
sibilies which the perilous times called on
me to assume. When put together these
charges neutrallze each other and from
these unjust and untruthful assailments |
appeal to that law Of justice which God has
planted in the hearts of the people. A
brave and generous people will do justice
to an officer who has been unselfshly
faithful to the interest and safety of the
State. JOHN j. PETTUS.