Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-09-30
Gsge6eh aab1xtlsn.
By s1MKIas, DURIsoR & co.
Gov. Bohhc MS Message.
Gentlemen ofNe &e.u.e
Qnl Hnnse ofRcms.sntatiet

a'2 Hmuse Of Hrmsssntetiees:
Thu day for:yuur annual meeting is SO usa,
at hand th2tI should not have invoked you
aSain in extra @se-ai.n, bit Or 0l,alf ttearn Il
pressing emvrgency admitting Ut no dalay.
The progress of the var for iao last fnv
months has not been favorable to our armi
The. hrillian. rspu4c. of tho enemy's i~roncls1
fleet ON the 7.hof April last in Charleston
harbor, has been succeeded by the fall q
Fictsburg and Pert Hudson; our rctiremon!
from; Pennsylvania, Msryland and Tenrcssse,
and also by our evacuation of Morris Island,
but not without 3 stubborn reaistance by the
brave garrisors Of Wagner and Gregg, under
n lire from naval and lsnd batteries ssch rs
NO works !rnvo ever before. withstnod. Fort
Sumter still holds out with an infantry gerri-
son which haS recently achieved q brilliant
success. Her noble ruins afford the baat
proofs of the iRdomitable courage of tile Off
GERS and-nen of the first South Csrolh,s Ar
s1illsry. Our malignsnt foe is now erecting
on Morris Island powerful batteries of Parrot
guns, and repairing HIS damaged eeet, pre-
paratory TO another and moro determined at
tack upon our harbor outposts, whilst his
land forces are being Increased With tho hope,
possibly of carrying hsrlesionin o combined
attack bylahd and SOY. The call Of the pre.-
ident for five thousand troops for six months
service within tho State, beginning the first
IF August last,has been promptly responded
ia, with the exception of Eve companies, noy
in process Of organization This. reputation
and .he-enforcemeat o! the Consciption Act
10 forty five, embracing almost the entire
population between the ages of tnrty and fifty,
80 itnpairs the efficiency OF our militia organi
z.tion that ! fad it impraclicsble to obtain
readily o force adequate to such emergencies
rs s.eIn likely now soon to be- upon us. 70
meet these emergencies | have rondcavcred,
under Your lale Act sud the Act of 1871, to
raise u Volunteer fnTce Of one inointet regi-
me.,,, Two companies Of cavalry, anl oaa but
trryp artillery, FOR service wherever in the
State they rlsy he needed. THIS force hms
not bcen 30 Promptly raised az the occasions
requires, aud | have therefore felt it my. duty
TO again convene your bodies, and TO recon-.
iD;rd to,you that you- devise such pin,,, rs IN
your wisdom may secal cXpcIient, iVr iu:-
nisti,g for immediate service a military force.
OF &; ie;l.t two regiments of infantry, one at
whic,; Should be mounted, ard i praportioltite
force of cavalry AID a~r'iilrry. A!so, shat the
lswhe so amended aS to place in srnic m;ll
tar orgln'zstaop, for The defence Of the Stale,
every 1D.c badial citizen t.ctween the ages Of
siX.ern aud SAY. .iot N Confederate service
ur Otherwise legally exempted. The ilune-
dinic digger ~ oe apprehendcd arises FROM
rAiiing ~.:artics ui tae oacunv, who raw dash
e.uaGvn.y into the state itoin Tennessee,
through; upper Georgia, ,r the passes of thu
n,ou'..ins Of Nor'h sud South Carolina
Should The cneu,y i'll large force attempt IN
~Asion frjm tle5e sections, the Confederate
Government will, no doubt, afford adequate
protection. Ba., to repal r.j.is aud to gro
make preparation. The PERSONS to ~co,nlr's'
tho orgau:z:tions should he tho sb!e bodied
~.itizGiIs between sixteen and SIXTY years of
sge, not in Confederate service ur Otherwise
legally exempted and in'this class should be
embraced all per.o!l, who hare procured ex
emptions BY furnishing ruhstitnt@. No ore
should b., rclirvedfrn,n tho dnty Of defending
bis Lome because of having armed Is suhstitu,u
for the war lur Confederate sor pice. .A!iaas
who have declared their purpose 10 b,-c,mo
citizens, az also SUCH rs arc dorIicIted amongst
rus, enjoying the protection Of our laws, should
4e included. | recomxcnd, also, that TAG
sriAes of those whose service is limited 10 the
district or regiment in which they reside, be
Tcduced ~ tie lowest practicable point colt
sistci,t with tho safe policy Of the State.
call your attention to the Report Of the Ada
tuA apiIlnspeetor General upon 1ls subject,
bcrowitt transmitted. {.
in connection with thc subject Of excInp-
SONS, l cell yaur attention ~ my c"rfcSlpn-
nesce with tie COMMANDMENT of Cons1ris',s Tor
South Carolina, MsjurC. d. Melton. Wa" Is
tic srccerro- 1T Col. John S. Preston, wi1l
whom, previous To your last extra session, !
had o corrvspundonce, copy of which was
sisn transmitted TO you. Another copy, rs
1iso a copy Of that With Maj. Melton, is now
transmitted. This subject calls for Legislation
50 as To reconcile ~ far as possible the differ:
.nce between The laws Of the two governments.
1t is al important question involving tho Jl'
risdiction of the two governments, and needs
to be- dclicately handled. am satisfied our
true policy in, as far IS is compatible with the
constitutional rights Of the State, to conform
80 The law of Congress on this cubject. | have
1iuG felt at liberty to make any distinction be-
tween the cases exempted by our law when
the cases have been made. but have claimed
tha exemption of all alike. The action of
the Executive Council, On the sa,ne subject,
and the action. of your two Houses, at your
last ocssion (the House approving and tho
Senate by its sil5ncc acqniescing) made it
proper that I should reply 10 Maj. Melton as
/ lad done to Col. Preston.
Additie nsl Legislation is needed TO euable
the 1tx1cuayc, through civil or military au-
ehority, or both,T ."-.e eff,rtually u aid the
Confederate Govcrnment t.->.;astiDg deser-
tors from tho army. In most cases the alb
qcnteos have probably not left their commands
with the intent to desert their c%olors; but
the result of their absence is the sarne, 80 far
US tho good Of tho service and protection Of
the country is concerned. Ihavc endcavored,
SO fer as I was authorized, to afford asaistanco,
but The law is inadequate to such efficient al
as is uceded. Many c%onatrae your late act
ON this subject to mean that the Shcriifs are
not to renG.,;. aid to the Eurolling Officer till
rosist-ace ha. been made. In all such cases
s5c deserter, of course, makes his escape.
Such law as you may think proper to pass
fSSsS.N