Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-05-21
GOVERNOR BROWN OF GEORGIA, AND THE
CUNSCRIPTION ACT

CONSCRlPIlON ACT.
We find ir the Milledgevile Union the following
Interesting statement Of the views and recent action
of the Governor of Georgia
When Governor Brown was notified by the Sec
rotary OF War of the passage of the Consumption
Act and that all the State troops between Is and
35 years Of age must go into the Confederate service
he yielded to the necessity and promptly transferred
the State troops to the Confederate General rather
than have open conflict in the face of the enemy
lie, however, promptly notified the President that
he considered the Act violation of the Constitu-
ton of the Confederate States and severe blow at
the rights of the States and the fundamental doc
trines for which we are contending; and that he
should have nothing to 90 with the enrolment Of
the conscripts; that he should do no act to commit
the State to the policy, but should reserre the ques
ton Of the constitutionnly of the Act and its bind
ing force upon the people Of the State, for their
decision at the earliest period when it can be done
without serious embarrassment to the COnfederacy
in the prosecution of the war that Georgia. in re-
Spouse to every call made upon her, had furnished
more troops than the President asked for and tina.
she would have furnished 10000 more if her Exc
cutive had been called on part of her quota for
so large number. No plea ofnecessity could there
fore, in the opinion of the Governor be set up for
the passage of the Act Is far as Georgia is con-
cerned
1t is we'll known fact that the President has not
The Consumption Act will call into the field very
large additional unarmsd force and take these men
all from their farms at time which will cause many
thousands Of acres of land to lie idle when it is Of
the utmost Importance that they be cultivated to
produce supplies of provisions. The Governor has
written the President calling his attention to the
importance Of exempting overseers as are neces
sary to govern our slaves aud cause them to Guilt
vate our lands apd make provisions. The President
has oH rofo him, tn thn EYoD Act
which does not exempt them and declining to give
any assurance that they will be exempt
The Governor is of opinion that we have never
been in danger for want Of men, but that our def
cheney has been the want Of arms and if the dsfen
siue poLey is to be persisted in and large numbers
of men forced to leave their farms and go into camp
for the summer without arms, when they are so
much needed in their fields, he seriously fears that
we are in greater danger Of being overcome with
hunger than from any other cause.
For the last twelve months, Governor Brown has
favored more active and an aggressive policy, and
his>opnion now is that the best thing that could
possibly be done would be to throw a column of
fifty to, seventy-6ve thousand of Our best trained
men to Chattanooga in the shortest time possible
and put them under General Price, or some one else
who has shown that nature made him General,
and march them rapidly by way of Nashville upon
Louisville and Cincinnati This would throw them
into General Buells rear, and he would be COMPEL
ed to follow them into Kentucky. Gen. Beauregard
could then follow close after Buell.. This would
compel the Federal column operating against East
Tennessee to fall back towards the Ohio, and Gen
eral Kirby Smith could follow, and in thirty days
there would not be Federal soldier in Tennessee
The effect would De not only to lberate that noble
State, but to arouse her whole people and the peo-
pie of the whole Confederacy to renewed energy
and activity. We are now supporting our own
armies and large portion of the Lincoln army from
the productions Of the cotton States. The proposed
movement would drive back the Federal army and
place our own army in the rich fields and green
pastures Of Kentucky, were supplies would be album
dant; while the railroad connection would be re-
opened into the heart of Tennessee and enable us to
draw supplies from her rich valleys for the support
OF our people at home now so hard pressed for pro-
visions. 1t may be objected that we have not the
u, 900 men in the field to spare We can readily
concentrate them by withdrawing them from places
where they are guarding points which must fall
when attacked by the gun boats Of the enemy and
which are Of but little value when compared with
the grand object to be accomplished We have
simply hunted at the outline Of policy to which we
may recur at q future time.