Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-08-18

and to their brave defenders in the army, cal
not be without it, effect 1t has tones whic
should SIR the patriotic mind Of all classe.
No one is so weak or so l"wly that he canno
d. somethingin an humble way for the grea
; cause at stake. Major Walker shows hO,
every larm and farmhouse in the country
and every householder in IL" cities. can cor
tribute TO the indispensable work Of raisin
food for onr soldiers.
The following is Major Walkers address
TO THE PLANTERS AND FARMERS Of ALADAMA
The foregoing order introduces new plSa TO
the purchase and collection of army supplies il
your State. This system places tho entire wcrl
/! under the control Of the Chief CormiSsary wh
divides the State into districts AMI assigns L
each district ~ officer nj the Governments
These district officers appoint purchasing agent
in zach county i'll their respective districts, sub
/ ject to the approval of the Chief Conmissary-
/ The names ": The officers and agents thus ap
+. pointed "niNDc made known by publication. niiI
they will not bc changed except for misconduc
or incUmpetency They wi reside in you
midst, and they alone will be authorized 10 max,
purchases for the Government Thus YOU vii
become personally acquainted with the recog
nized agents OF the Government, and for ever,
Illegal net committed by them. tl!c laws of til,
country will afford yon redress against them. in
dividuall.', in addition to the military punish
| ment, for any abuse oi their trust.
4 single set Of agents thus located and defined
will protect you from the mposiiiOns of fraud
| ulent impostors. falsely representing them
selves rs Government agents; and the sole ria hi
| OF purchase being limited to the published
! agents. deriving their authority from sourcC
all conflict and competition will be avoided
and the work conducted far more efficiently
| for the public service than has heretofore beef
! done.
! The Government, therefore. has performed its
duty in adopting = system ior the indispensable,
work of collecting supplies for the support O
| i's armies, by which you will he subjected to n.
little Inconvenience and protec' ed in all your le
| gal rights rs far rs practicable, in the various
question arises, are you willing 10 perform your
| dniy
! The first obstacle in vour path is the popular
| fallacy that there is any natural an'agopism be-
tween you and the government This unna;u-
| raj idea must be banished from your minds be-
fore You can see clearly that the only possible
outlet for you is to tread The straight and mar
row path OF honor and duty. To Il people in
your situation. opposition and hostility 10 the
| Government is sheer madness. You have no
Government recognized beyond your own bor-
1
| your choice unless we succeed in tho present
| great struggle for national existence.
When. therefore, present myself before you
M an ctficeY nj the Government, and nsl: your aid
and co operation in collecting supplies for the
support of it, armies. simply ask you to help
yourselves in doing that which must be dune, il
you would ever establish any government ut all
| What, then, is tn" plain, Imperative duty OF
the planters and farmers in this crisis OF theII
country1. Nothing more, and certainly nothing
! less. than 70 provide food and clothing for the
armies in the field. The power to achieve your
independence stand between you and the enc
| my, in the organized bodies OF our noble sol
| diery, but you alone can keep that power alive
| and preserve its OrgaTi1alion VIII you do il!
| Let me tell you hcw.
For nations in distress. there are certain graIt
and comforting truths. which shine like ii1ct
stars when tho darkir:ss covers the earth
Among these. should remember that sem
| timent or primo pie Of action, which finds uni.
versal acceptance in the hearts and lives OF {
people, is conqucring sentiment or principle
which will .rulnp ph over all opposition and sori
fy tho his.ergyGf ia: prppic. in other words
the united at,ion Of whole nation, impellet
and driven or by n sentiment dearer to its bear
| than life Itself, creates power Of irres!sllbl,
sway and fixed destiny.
| If, then, our people are resolved and united
| heart and soul as one man, to be free, no powc
| on earth can prevent it. Remember that the
military occupation Of 4 country and the sub
iugation of its people are totally different things
TO All enemy with unlimited resources the for
mer is possible, but it is Il mere raiding posses
sion, and gives only fetlock hold in the soil
iThcy can never disE:ount aud occupy against th,
determined opposition oi a uutcd people s.
| long then, ~ yuu can keep an organized arm,
in the field suhnga'ion is The falnical 'lream o
q Yankee robber. Now let us apply this powe
of associated action 10 the homcly but vital Qres
ton Of food With regard to breahstr.Ts rhcr
! is no apprehension. since the product of III" pre-
sent season will furnish an ample supply for al
the wants nf the Government and the people.
Meat is the only question Of doubt and dan
ger. | can speak alvisel!y on the subject. nm,
tell you in all franknes- and seriousness. ther
is ground for great apprehension. Official ret;
cencc OH this sub ect would be suicidal, and
| will not disguise from you the fact that in consc
Guenc. of the recent contraction Of territory
if we rely alone on the ordinary sources OF supply
| in tho hands Of farmers and planters. VIC slIal
| fail to meet the wants of the Government. Is
there. then, remedy for this threatened and fata
evill / say th"rc is and it only requires tn
| united action of the people to prove it. The dc
ticiency can and mnst be supplied by what ma )
be termed IN artificial culture and production.
the stare Dl bltD!lIllR lll'trC less
| one hundred thousand planters and farmers. VIII
could put up and taten by next fall or winter
for army use, at least an average OF one beef ant
one hog beyond their supply for domestic con
sumption. This would give one hundred thou
| sand beeves and one hundred thousand hogs
| which would otherwise not be prepared for mar
! ket. Again. there are in the hands Of TIL
| wealthier class of. planters and farmers in tn
State, probably not less than one hundred thou
| sand work oxen that cnuld be spared from agri
cultural lnbor-all Of which should be fattene'
| for beef and held subject 10 the wants of tn
| Government.
| In this way supply OF BOZ, ,0Do head Of cattl
and hogs could literally be created out OF An ex
isting stock. which would otherwise b. unayail
| able Tor use.
This is no fanciful and impractcable sugges
ton, but perfectly easy aud feasible if only tn
epeope will take it TO heart and determine TO d
it, There is ample tine and material if the wor
is begun noE in earnest and Prosecuted wit
vigor.
A. regards impressments, ':':st that the pco
| pie of Alabama will not presen, ho huiniliatim,
spectacle Of compelling public "iIic"r to rrsor
to a military seizure Of their r. .ncr.y, but. OIL
the contrary. that they will freely and cheerful.
sell to the Government agents such portion &
their surplus productions rs may be needed 70
the support OF the army. )'u' while | shall no
lay military hand on legitimate trade for do
mestic use, or any supplies in 'ic hand OF pro
ducers. unless fo.ccd to do So ~ their refusing
to sell their surplus storcs-l hereby forcwarl
spectators. that their accuHHulations will t
| seized wherever they are found and, by spec,i
ators. mean those who buy provisions and with
hold them from the market for the purpose o
specializing on .he future waits OF the Govern
ment and the people.
Such disgraceful class Of traders coud no
exist in this country. ii the people would trea
them As public enemies deserve to be treated.
join J. WALKER, Major and Chief
| Cnumssary State OF Alohan,