Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-30
SPEECH OF SENATOR JOHNSON, OF GEORGIA.

SPEECH OF SENATOR JOHNSON, OF GEORGIA.
Hon. II. v. Johnson addressed large Assemblage in
tia hall fthe House OF Representatives at hledgevie
Ga, on the night Of the Esd instant:
h said one year ago be Naselled unsolicited to the
Sena'e Of the Confederate Congress; yet when another
could be found who would be honorable, capable
and fhrA that he would yield 10 the ill of the State,
as expressed by er representatives, wi bout murmur
a. will cheerC1ness. That, from the solicitations .
had received would have proved derelct to duty and
rec to his trust heiaed this occasion
der an account Of his stewardship. He then discussed
the imprisonment law; spoke Of its imperfecton said it
would have been better If his smendmen; had been
ticn d. which provided for commissioners from the vi
csge to x the prices instead Of State commissioners
Who fixed the prices two months in advance Of
tie seizure. Necessity justified The passage of the bin
with 81 lts imperiecGi0Ds which he had doubt Con-
gress would remedy, when it met, far as possible,
On al eve 10 the interests of producers tide
the suferings and starvation OF army the Other
That before its passage soldiers living
fLrho pouad Of bac q week, N ! thai GeCer !
Long treet ordered to Suffolk 81 procure supplies
to rel eve our amshed sod cry. That he regretted
abcses, and hat the who authorizes otherwise
would abuee his power this regard, should have his
ears cut of and his character be puOried OF the sar
OF eternal iniamy-an object for " che slow, unmoving
ger Cf scOrn 10 be pointed He said our supplies
for the srmv would have been long since destroyed bun
iOr { Q cnal t1ent Of this law.
He was .sn p ised and Disguised TO meet with men
al given their sors to the sword and reioced that
tbey died in defence OF tag, Ourselves, our honor
and our all aud then grumbs because few bushels OF
wteat corn potatoes ground peas, or horse here
ard there were impressed for the of the Govern
ment lie was in savor OF constitutional impressmens,
and thar the Law was legal, he had douht that it
was strange that any man would oppose the Jaw, OF hs
abuses wren the drnm-beat OF enemies were IN our
hearing ard the isus and the Oss Of small quantity
Of our property for u Iteration or our tots dcs-
tructOn By spectators the enemy. T5at there VI re
people who could not be swskeQed TO sense OF duty
even by. the sound Ct GabrieIs tluupet-snch would
sleep o until they we're bound hand and foot unless
| re 10 I'd ~ our gallant army.
The Governor said but little on the ything law, taxa
on or the currency He sad that the y,hiDg law IVES
slrilr7 t. mpressnoDts, snd if We lad passed wise
and iucious tax bill at the beginning of the war that
Il III tine Gus currency would not have been Ce
prccjaed-lhat taxation had It's limits; on Que side il
should Tot parayEe the industry and energies of tie
people end On the other It should nOs embsrrass or
| : CD the Governm-nt That our Government and SOL
die were our only help now under the smiles Of God
OF Just cs-thst right wrong he uld sia1d by the
one aud give it his support during the war; and he t.
voked the blessings of that God who holds IN his han0
our most solemn d'siines.
BE was proud 70 see that the General Assembly hae
re affirmed the step she took in 1851 Thera is no sel
backward All is involved In the struggle that u
dear TO mani ONE society liberty, honor eyerythin
with the certSinty Of the most degrading fate 9 q
ever oppressed people it We fail IL Is not records
in history that 900 900 Of united people, resolved
b, free, have failed. We cannot yield if We would :
Yield tohe Federal aGthOrities-to vassasge and suh
jaga,ion-tbe bleaching bones of 100000 gallant sol
ders saiu ia battle would be clothed in tongues Of hr
d clrss everlasting intamy the man that Whispers
yield. God IS with us-because He ID always with Ia
r kht-