The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-28
To the Planters nnd Farmers or Ala.
bama g.

P''es >" YOU o'ale' 1hiS system places the
entire work under the control of the Chief
Commis>arT VINO divides the State into dis
trc;s and assigns t? cach district al officer of
the No'ermeut.I These district officers an
go''' purchasing agents in each county in their
respective districts, subject to the approval of
the Chief Commissary.-Th names of the off
GERS and agents thus appointed will be made
known by publication and they will not be
discharged except misconduct or incompctency.
They will reside in your midst, and they alone
will be authorized to make purchases for the
Government Thus you will become person.
ally acquainted with the recognized agents of
the Government, and for every illegal act
committed by them, the laws of the country
will afford You redress against them, individu-
ally, in addition to the military punishment,
for any abuse of their trust
A single set ofagents thus located and de
fined will protect you from the impositions of
fraudulent impostors, falsely representing them
selves as Government agents; and the sole
right ofpnrchase being limited to the published
gents-deriving their authority from one
source-all conflict and competition will be
avoided, and the work conducted far more cf-
ticiently for the public service than has hereto
fore been done.
The Government therefore, has performed
its duty in adopting system for the indispen-
sable work of collecting supplies for the sup
port Oft armies, by which you will be sub,
Jected to as little Inconvenience, and protected
in all your legal rights as far as practicable, in
the various cxigcncics of revolutionary war;
and now the question arises, are you willing to
perform your duty
The first obstacle in your path is the popular
tallacv that there is any natural antayonism be-
tween you and the government. This unnatu-
raj idea must be banished from your minds be-
fore you can sec clearly that the only possible
outlet for you is to tread the straight and mar
row path of honor and duty. TO people in
your situation, oppositio and hostility to the
Government is sheer madness You have no
Government recognized beyond your own bor-
ders, and you can never have a government OF
your choice, unless we succeed in the present
great struggle for national existence.
When therefore, present myse If before you
as an officer of the Government, and ask your
aid, and cooperation in collecting supplies for
the support Of its armies, l simply ask you to
help yourselves in doing that which must be
done, ifyou would ever establish any govern
mcnt at all.
WHAT then, is the plain, imperative duty OF
the planters and farmers in this crisis of their
conntry' Nothing more, and certainly moth
INC less, than to provide food and clothing fol
the armies n he field. The power to achieve
Nonr Independence stand between you and the
enemy, in the organized bodies of our noble
soidiely, but You alone can keep that power
alive and preserve its organization. Will you
do it? Let me tell YOU how
For nations in distress, there are certain
grand and comforting truths, which shine like
liked stars when the darkness covers the earth
Among these we should remember that a sen
tlment or principle of action, which finds; lni
vcrsal acceptance in the hearts and lives of q
people, is conquerng sentiment or prime ilole
which will triumph over all opposition and g o
rity the history of that people. In othcrwortls
the united action of whole nation impcllc d
and driven on by sentiment dearer to it's hear
than life itself, creates q power of irresistible