Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-12-31
Conflict with the Confederate Government---
1aaraia...The Richmond Enauirer.


Conflict with The Confederate Government---
Georsia-.-The Richmond Enquirer.
\ few days before the Legislature of Georgia ad
| iournel, Gov. Brown sent in special message to
that BODY, dated December u, 1862, in which he
nrotests in the most earnest terms against the usur
nation BY the Confederate government of the power
to appoint officers for the Georgia troops In this
message the Governor says:
sTbe complaint is frequently made to me, by Georgia
troops the service of the Confederate States that The
right Of elecns their own officers to M vacancies whch
bnnep in Companies and Regiments, is denied them by
the Generals in command in the execution OF the Con-
scrpton Act and that officers, who have not their CONT
dence and are OF their choice for the positions to be
lel assigned 10 them by promotion or Otherwise at
the pleasure of the President
The Governor then argues the question at some
length, showing the Constitutional right OF Georgia
i to officer her own troops, and adds:
"The testimony of Mr.. Benaniu who was at the time
Secretary of War; is also to the point upon this question:
In his letter OF 18Th February l>52 referring to The
Twelve regiments which requsition had been made he
saws Il viii ada that the oiccrs of the Regiments called
for the State under the recent act of Congress are IN
my opinion to be conlnss 'ncd by the Gi Heo
ra as tiev are troops rendered % the Confederate
(iovernent The right oil he State toappnt the oicers
TO command her militia now employed IN the service OF
the Confederate States Is therefore admitted oy me res G
idcn aud the Secretary of State and has been decided by
the General Assembly and clear for doubt cavil
Yet this right is denied b. the Couscrpon Act and our
troops deprived of its benefits:
THIS is pjacti5 question OF the utmost Importance 10
The r,cs They feel and know that they deprived Of
An important right They have no where to 'ok tor pro-
tectlon but to their State al present they can only
be heard at Richmond through their Stale authorities
They have appealed their Executive fox The pro-
lection due them have demanf OF me rrsSaehI yns ',s
are representatives. OF the people and probably e'c
one Of you represents portion Ut those Whose ats are
disreglrded.
admit that the State owes it to her people. and
e.peciav to her brave trorps that their pan Con-
stuiiona| rights are respected
therefore submit the question for your calm cnhSne'
ation and earnestly recommend That take sne acI'"n
in the premises will vndcae the dignity and s'veTe-
rny the and r"1ect those rights wiich are 81
T,Ia t" her citizens now udtr arms r INC aeence "' all
/ that is dear to people.
1t may be inappropriate Tor me- I" rein4rk IN c"ne'n
sion that the A,.,;ut, lJovernnem at aH!'agIo' lr"'
which we seeded account of It's disregard Tor ahn Vi
lalions OF State Rgnts has in this respect shown IiSe
attached t" the rights OF the Sa e. ana mo t ef'u
violate theu. than own Government WHICH "1u
its very origin this great doctrine, as wii be sen y
reference to paragraph l,, OF the Regulations oi 'ie ar
Department ut Washington edition OF 1851, wh'cn Is IN
the following words: Vacancies occurring a;M9h| the
omms>oued utttrs in v"'unter regiments VIII De "'e0
by The Governors Of the respective states ns Wn eh ie
regiments furnished ln:"rma On I" sucA appni"-
rentS will all CASES. b. furnished TO the adj ant Cen
Thu, il viii be seen that the Lincoln Government does
lot dare violate the rights Of the remaining otaes OF
the old Union by taxing from them the appointment VI
the officers command the volunteer militia wheh en-
II e
that Gvyernne ent is fast tending military deSpnsm
very recent decision Of own War Department. unaer
the Conscrption Act upon case carried otioFe r',
th regiment corga Volunteers which IS one "i Inc
regiments furnished by this State under the cali made upon
the State last spring for Twelve regiments has am III.
formed expressly denied this right the Georgia troops
i'll the Of the Con'ed sa'e States IN 'he "nF o
revolution whittier are we dritting:
l The Atlanta IntelNgencer from which We make
| the above extracts states that the Legislature o.
Georgia has pronounced the conscription law un
constitutional, in the authority it has given th'
Governor to raise two regiments CT troops Tor th'
/ defence of the State"
What will the Richmond Enquirer say now
Will it see in this movement Of Georgia no contc
with the Confederate government? VIII it con
clude that Georgia has turned page in Coniederat
history which our people "would blush to read !!
l Will it charge Georgia with purpose to "breai
the unity of the Confederacy, and to point the pat
to anarchy and subugation?' Will it call for tn
"brand of Cain" to lie applied to the forehead G
Gov Brown and the Georgia Legislature: No. an
whvs Gov. Brown is an original sesessionist, or il
other words, Destructive. 1t will lecture, an
brand and insult the Legislature Of this State, be
cause majority of that body are Conservatives; bu
it will deal very cautiously and very gently wit
l Gov. Brown, even if it should notice him at all
Gov. Brown discloses the extraordinary fact tha
the Lincoln consolidation is more liberal and jus
towards the old United States to the appoint
nents of their officers, than the Confederate govern
ment is towards the Southern States. He conclude
his message with the startling question, in tn
mhirL Of rerolution mhithsr are De dryting?" W
do not propose to answer the question. We fec
that events will answer it soon enough
While OF this subject invite the attention c
Our readers to the following extract from the mes
] sage Of Gov Vance. 1t will be seen that Gov. '
substantially agrees with Gov Brown IN the view
he takes of the question of offering the troops.
Gov. V. says:
III becomes my duty a'so to call yoar attention to III
sHtjprt If offering troops i'll the feid-sume connt
l Of opinion existing III regard thereto.
The right of the State au horities to commission IN
officers Of the regiments originally raised for the war,
mt dnIOcd It is conceded by the Act of Congress
April 18TH 1852, known the Cunscrip Law. Bat tn
Confederate authorities claim the right 70 commission th
regiments of :welve months men, continued i'll service b
tbs law, and also all regiments whatsaere raised since
Went operation And in both they bave elaine
" commission and appoint all regm1ntal staff officer
even when they conceded 20 The Executive of the Stat
The appointment of the lcers OF the linz. AEan, VIII
app ntng and commissioning field officers the Secretar
=" War has declined TO apprint the c,mPI any officers
remedy, if Possible, this cisi,n and to avoid conflict
eied IN tn the President, who promised to tax
ne nlhlnn of the Attorney General on the SUBJECT
ieg!h have not yet lad the pleasure of seslng Thu
opinion, and now lay Tie matter before you ard recon
thH you t" take such steps will preserve the rgl
"nn honor at the State 1t may we!l be doubted II II
1hcerngo Of he whole of troops does not belong
CSveiy 10 State authority, by strict reference to ii
I'lrii'n"n they may be found to be in point OF aV
"sa II Is mDrtiyng to find entire brigades of Mort
ihpf cd hpl