Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-11-12
THE BREAD QUESTION AT The SOUTH

The Importance Of the following document will at
be recognised il in reality what it is alleged to bean
intercepted letter from the rebel Commissary General
signed only for perusa by high officers of the Government
Since April last when it written the scarcity Of food
the Southern States has become apparent and the OBJ
tanning of supplies for the winter is topic of the
most anxious discussion in their different newspapers:
ATHENS. APRIL 25 1863
Hon James A. Seldom Secretary Of Var
SIR: As the excessive want of supplies in this depart
ment will require to proceed back to Atlantis Geurgis
before returning to the capital deem il expedlent
view of the present Importance Of time to acquant you
by letter Of The mprr received from my Conference
with the Governors, &c Governors Brown, Shorter,
and Vance only were present; but Governor Pettus,
learned arrived at Medgevie after my Departure
All ages that the planters of heir States evipcs dis
position TO seed for more than the usual quantity of grain
and other articles necessary for the subsistence of the
people and the army Neither the resolutions of Con-
gress requesting the Pr, sdeut to appeal the people,
the appeal itself have produced any visible effect
Such If the planters doubt the expectancy of raising
Gotten and tobacco bent upon clearing new
lands instead Of tilng those fit for cultivation La
riding by rail from Medgeve to this point passed. as
you through one Of the best districts IN
Georgia. aud not IN fifty, assured by my
observations aud the reports Of travellers the road
being prepared Tor raising that indispensable article or
other products requisite for the subsistence of aud
beast
1t amenabe that the people are 20 dea! to the sp-
peas Of their representatives and blind to their
DteIests 1t obvious that something must be done
medlaely, D0tn the people and must
winter. This alarming reflection but il is fully
ranted by the situation Now is the time to the
impending danger. few days aud it will be too
late.
Several plans suggested by the Governors for pro-
noting object-among them that Of convoking the
farmers at numerous points throughout the States and
addressing them through prominent speakers the absO
lutte importance OF meeting the wants OF the nation Al
though tis plan favoraby regarded it deemed
late n the to attain the desired results by its
executions and the Governors finally decided send an
adj he shad hy he
wants to the eDemy-to all the Leading planters in their
respective States urging upon them the imperative neces
y of producing all the grain live stock, &c possible.
But since the appeal Of the President is dsregarded by
this class of citizens what response We expect hem
to make to similar appeal Of the Governors In my
judgment nome
that prevent distress in towns aud sub
st the armies in the field through next winter and spring
The appeal put forth by the President and the one pro-
posed by the Governors will be entirely useless THIS is
the opinion also of Gen. Bragg, with whom yesterday
conferred two hours at Dalton.
The General suggests three plans for preventing the
threatened famine The fret 49, that the President, by
proclamation prohibit the raising of any cotton and
tobacco, clearing Of lands, until further notice.
The second h that by proclamation he order all planters
to seed certain number Of OF grain oher articles
Of necessary consumption in proportion to the quantity Of
cleared land and negroes belonging to them The third is
for the Government to take possession Of the plantations
such portion Of them the do not intend to seed
with grain &C. and employ the negroes belonging thereto
raising such agricultural pr'ducs may be deemed
necessary Officers and soldiers who have been rendered
by wounds and disease unfit Tor further service in the
field could be employed superaepdents and overseers
The last mentioned plan appears TO TO be feasible
and entirely the best that be adopted As rea
sonable would Of be allowed for the
Of the land and negroes, &c ibiUk the plan would
general meet with favor At all events, the measure
would not bs arbitrary than others the Government
has been forced resort TO- and in view Of the emergency
aud military necessity it would be per ecty justifabe
The wheat harvest IL is easy to and learn from
trip through the country will not be half bouniiu
have anticipates and the belief into which the Gov
eminent has been led, that there large quantities Of
bacon In many parts Of the country erroneous. The
inventory ordered by Governor Brown Of the bacon and
live stock Georgia of which you have by this time pro-
badly receiv copy shows tho weil-ught exhausted
condition of hat state and yet beyond peradyenure
less nearly exhausted than any other State 10 the Con
federacy.
1T will, therefore, be Of no easy matter to keep
armies in the field without causing suffering the
people till the harvess gathered next autumn. From
that shall be entirely dependent those harvess,
aud that they may be rendered adequate our wants
unbesatngy recommend the adoption of the third plan
suggested by Gen Bragg.
Let the ergency be urged upon the President while
there 10 yet time to save ourselves
Your 0bediont servant,
l., B NoRTHRoP,
Commlssary General c. y. A.