Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-11-29
! ded we return to the policy of the Conven-

The Constitution gives 10 the Confederacy
the exclusive right to levy these duties,
and consequently the ability to sustain the
| vast expenses of war. When State keeps
up war establishment, the expenses must
be paid by direct<raxation. Besides, mil,
itary operations are more efficient and
less expensive when directed by one head
and one government, than when under
different commands, and supplied by COM
peting Commissaries and Quarternasters.
Our military establishment, therefore, ex-
cepting so much as may be deemed nee
essary for police purposes and the execu-
ton of the laws, ought to be turned over
to the Confederacy; or disbanded. and
made object to CONSUMPTION, where the
turning of them over would violate any
pledge of the. State under which the
troops entered into the service.
We have generously undertaken the exc
cution Of the Confederate act OF eonscrip-
ton, so far as arresting deserters IS con-
cerned. 1t seems to me that it is an an
omalous proceeding for State to assume
the burthen .of executing an act of Con
gress; and that the expenses incurred
ought to be paid out of the national Treas
ury.
have been forced into this reference
TO the State military operations, a subject
apparently foreign TO my department, be-
cause | could not otherwise present the
recommendations expected from me.
Whether you adopt this recommends
ton or not, the amount to be raised must
be very large. l recommend that the
amount required, be raised by taxation
and ii this course be adopted, unless your
appropriations be very small, a collection
should be l..ade at as early day as prac-
tcabfe.
+, If you adopt taxation as the means OF
supplying the Treasury, you will cO-ope-
rate with the Confederate government in
the only plan, in my opinion, materially
tending to sustain the currency.
1t is possible that the pressing wants of
this department may be relieved by the
payment into the Treasury of some Of the
large profits said to have been realized
from blockade running; or by an act Of
Congress, reimbursing to the State large
amount expended by us i'll the earl y part
Of the war
Under the act "to provide ways and
means of supplying the Treasury" ratified
Dec. 20, 1862, | appointed P. H. Winston,
ESQ, of BERTHE, to collect the debt due the
Stale from the Confederate government.
AssOon rs the vast number of vouchers
necessary to support the claim cOnld be
put in order by the State Auditor, Mr..
Winston proceeded with them to Rich
mond, and has since prosecuted the settle
nd
with as little expense to the State as was
consistent with the proper discharge Of his
duty. Many difficulties have retarded the
settlement of the claim in Richmond.
Some time elapsed before the Secretary of
the Treasury could assign to this duty the
necessary clerical force and the work has
been repeatedly arrested by the calling of
the clerks 10 the field TO repel attacks Of
the enemy. Within the past few days,
the auditing of about S2,10O,000 of the
claim has been completed. 1t is now be-
fore Congress for an appropriation to pay
it. l have good reason to hope that it will
be pad, either in currency or bonds. The
act Of $50 aforesaid, directs the Treasurer,
out of the money collected on this claim,
to pay off, by the Ist January, 1865, the
State bonds bearing per cent interest,
unless the holders of these bonds exchange
them for per cent bonds, payable on the
LIST January 1865, and also to pay the
debts due the Banks by way of temporary
loans, with a like option to the Banks to
take E per cent bonds. Some 100000 Of
this claim, which could be paid under ex-
! istingappropriations was paid some months
, ago. l advertised my readiness to pay
the s per cent bonds, or to make the ex-
change of bonds, provided for in said act.
A few OF the holders of the s per cent
bonds have exchanged them for the SKIES,
but none of'the bond holders or the Banks
have received payment III. Confederate
currency. The ground OIL which they re-
fuse to receive payment is, that the State
received from them currency much more
valuable than that now offered in pay
ment.
Another instalment of our claim is now
made ready by our State Auditor. to be
submitted to the Confederate Auditor.
As the principles on which he allows or
rejects our claims are now settled, and our
accounts are put in better shape than those
of the early part ofthe war, it is presum ed
there will be little delay in settling these
claims
Should Congress act favo1ably on the
amount now audited,e it will relieve our
Treasury materially, and diniinish, to this
extent, the means to be provided by you.
We get nothing for the bounty we pay
our troops.
The total expenditures of the State on
account of'military appropriations, since
the commencement ofthe war, as shown by
the books of the Treasury, are
S21,923, 4O7 70
Amount reimbursed, 1901, 1872 %
Excess $13,S3l, SIS 90