Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-12-09
BY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
Il PROCLAMAI7ON.

ME General Assembly at its late extra session
| 4 called lor the purpose, by me, appropriated hal
million OF dollars for the purchase of salt for the cti
zens OF this Commonwealth.
Immediately upon the passage of the act crdere
the OF the State forces procure tran
bo.laIon' IN the shortest possible time, for hauling
from the Aanawha Sailnes, all the salt which hi
means OF transportation would enable him to accom-
pltsn and caused him to be furnished with ample
lgnds Tor the purpose The nroads of the enemy int
the kanawha Valley and The destruction of ali COLI
yeyances which fell into his hands, and the transpor.
tation OF our own army to and from that section OF
the State had effectually occupied or DESTROYED
ali the wagons and teams that they could not be pro
cured there, and The country had been thoroughly
oeVasted thatit was necessary to send, with the wag
ons procured elsewhere, all produce requisite for
the support OF the teams going and returning Every
eIort was made promptly to procure the Transports
Ion. But the distance and tie difficulties TO be en-
countered rendered rapid movements impraetcable
The consequence has been that before the train of
wagons which had been organized and were on their
way thither could reach their destnatlon the enemy
10 superior force again appeared the Kanawha Sa-
lines. and our army has been compelled fall back
and but insignificant amount Of salt has been OBJ
tanned by individuals and none under the orders given
Having made these arrangements, ISSUED a proc
lamation taking possession Of all the salt then hand
Or that might be made at the salt works at Smyt or
Washington counties I Immediately set out in per-
son for oatyiiie, hoping obtain there supply to
meet the wants of the people. When arrived found
that the contracts then existing with the Confederate
States with sister Southern States and with county
aud corporation Courts in this Commonwealth.
OF such character, that this abrogation would result
In intermnable conflicts and difficulties in breaches
OF faith, aud in lncaiculable distress. found, too,
that instead OF purchasing for money, the necessary
supplies the fuel transportat labor ard mach ne
ry for these immense works, system had prevail
for Years to Farter them for SALT that written -
given for salt, for the amount bartet ed, ! % ,
these orders had become the subject ofspecr
extoron That this necessarily absorbed I' anu
amount of the salt manufactured, and "a: se.s ' 9
prietors forced furnish the 'uas sm1 =
meet the orders, or have their wor saonnsd for
Il and mad y;sahls circumstances rendered
of the works aad work t. % ioi lie ~. W ."Ae p PISS.
was lnOossioie 70 AZ 40 new works in time to NEE,
Anv the State, my only alternative
-, .;oe, :, " purchase all the salt aud
eAisoing O Jnracts that could be manufactured
within any req s,nable time After considerable diff
ss, n'ao coutract with responsible parties to
nlsh sa State with $50, 900 bushels OF salt, that
oeng 'D full capacity of manufacture by the existing
WorAs after supplying existing contracts. The sail
Is W ne furnished IN bags barrels and delivered on
the cars, Saltville, branch of the Virginia and
tennessee railroad, at the prices of 233 per bush
1t was my earnest desire to obtain the largest
titles at the earliest periods. But found this i'm
praetcable The contract requires the parties fur
nish the quantity contracted for follows: 1900
bushels In the month of ember at the of SOC
bushels per day, aud $4,000 bushels in each of the
months of December, January and February, at the
rate OF 1900 bushels per day.
AS it specially stipulated in the contract made
that the delivery of the salt contracted for to the
State, should not interfere with existing contracts
made with the Government of the Confederate States
with any separate State of the Confederate States,
with any county corporation of this State
and large supplies are being furnished under these
contracts, there Will not be great competition in
the markets and our people need not submit to the
extortion OF specuators; and especially sixty OF
the counties and corporations of the State wilt under
their contracts obtain upwards of 100000 bushels
IN addition to the amount purchased by me- it is
hoped that that amount, though great could
have been desired, will mitigate, In some measure,
the urgent wants of the people.
To all costs and charges incident to purchase,
transportation and distribution have fxea the sum
OF three dollars per bushei the price be paid by
all recipients of salt under the law being at the rate
of six cents per pound. And / do hereby proclaim
according law that the sale of any salt obtained
under the State and distributed by authority
OF this proclamation, at ghe price than the
OF SIX Cents per pound, under any pretext whatever
is misdemeanor, and the sale OF each pound thereof
oence and The person convicted thereof is liable to
fine Of not less than one hundred more than two
thousand dollars.
To carry out The provisions of the law, the regua-
tons hereto appended have been prescribed by me.
and any violation eeof Is also declared by law 10
be mlsdemeanor, and to be punished by like fine.
t-J-- 1lven under my hand at Richmond and
( l. >, funder the Seal of the Commonwealth, this
to- 10Th day OF November 1862, and the
S7th year Of The Commonw cath.
JOHN LETCHER.
By the Governor:
GEORGE W. MUNFoRD,
Spopo cf fboC rooIf1 !,