The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-11-29

ertv their temporary services were within reach Vi
the government like all other property, to be en
rloyed pioneers, erecting Notifications, cooks
teamsters hospital servants laborers in the
Departments and wherever in short the negro
could take the place of any ablebodied white nIau
who could carry musket. Under crcum
stances would l consent to see them armed, which
| would regard not only dangerous 10 the ex
treme, but as less degrading only than their EN-
| ployment in this capacity by our enemies. The
proposition to enancipate them by the Confederate
| Government (Which in conscience should be done
if they fought in our armies) regard as entlrel
out of the question. [ imagine that such an idea
as aboshing slavery by the general government
| advocated five years ago would have made people
stare and caused some little excitement This
course would, it seems to me, surrender the entire
uestion " hch has ever separated the North from
the South, would stultify ourselves in the eyes
Of the world, and render our whole revolution nu-
patdry-a mere objectles OF human life.
need not allude at all to the constitutional question
involved, which l presume must be understood BY
this time. Our independence imagine is chiefly
desirable for the preservation of great political
Institutions, the principal of which is slavery; and
it is only to be won by the blood of white treemen.
The slave, however. should certainly be made to
do his part as non combatant.
The resolution referring to the reinforcement Of
the army is worthy of your special and earnest at
/ teution. The Supreme Court having In the case
of johnson u.s. Mallett affirmed the opinion ad-
vanced by me in my last message, that the exemp-
tion of officers and agents of the State is derived
from higher grounds than acts OF Congress, thus
placing it as tayorably the friends OF State SOW
ereignty could desire, it becomes to examine
carefully to see if there be not many who could of
our own grace, be spared to the servicee OF the
country. know that the growing disposition of
the public to do this has received severe check in
the recent revocation of details by which the War
Department has stripped the country bare OF its
most valuable and indispensable mechanics and ar
tlzans. Still there are quite number OF our Off
GERS whose official services are not indispensable
and who are neither farmers nor mechanics. With
the retention of such l do not sympathizc, and
think it hardship that they should the bread Of
and comparative idleness whilst others bear the
heat and burthen of the day Should you not
think proper to turn them over to CONSUMPTION,
then think discretion should be vested in the
Executive when a less number than the whole OF
the militia or home guard is called for, to discrm
mate against those who are not producers or me-
chancs And if In the reorganization of the
militia the power vested in the Governor to
appoint officers only farmers or useful mechanics
much good might be accomplished aud much dis
satisfaction removed from the army and people
My observation has been that it is not SO much the
many of whom are he worst of spectators, which
causes the dissatisfaction. A wise policy calls
upon US to remove it, if not by the means sug-
gest, then in some other way.
BY recent agreement entered into between our
government and that Of the enemy, it is provided
that each may have the privilege of supplying it's
soldiers held prisoners of by the other with
certain necessary articles. Judge Ould, our Com
missioner of Exchange, informs me that the same
ID t. TAl-.
fore ask your consent to expend, should it be ne
cessary portion of our funds abroad, not exceed
ing 1000 sterling, for the benefit Of North Caro-
lima soldiers held in Northern prisons-oficers and
men. | understand the United States will parole
any officer designated for this purpose, which
would guarantee an easy and proper disposition Of
the funds.
The report Of the Surgeon General, which is
sent in, is worthy of your consideration l doubt
if any department of the State Government has
done more good to our soldiers with so small an
expenditure of money. Every effort will be made
to increase its usefulness and extend its aid where
ever suffering soldier be found.
desire also tc call your attention to the subject
of the supply OF salt. The monthly reports of Mr.
d. G. Worth, superintendent of the State works at
Wilmington, are herewith submitted. From these
it will be seen that owing to the unwarranted Gas
conceve) interference of the General commanding
that department, the production of salt FROM that
has greatly fallen off and considerable loss
has been incurred in labor and material. After
appealing in vain to Gen. Beauregard and the Sec
Rotary of War, and being apprehensiye finally of
their destruction in case Of an attack upon Viii
mington, | have at length ordered the removal of
the property to the railroad My intention was to
them at some other point if such could be
found where salt is not held in such dlsesteen and
its manufacture would not be deemed injurious to
the cause of the Coufederacy. The correspondence
with Confederate officials this subject is also
submitted, and shall await your advice as to the
proper place for putting them in operation again,
which think indispensable to be done
| have received no written report for many
morths from Mr. Woodfn, our commissioner at
Saltyille, Virginia, but understand that they are
making about $50 bushels per day. The princi-
pal difficulty ut that point is in getting it away,
the transportation being entirely under the contio
of the Confederate government and the State of
Virginia. l have recently been endeavoring to
hire or buy engines to put on the Virginia roads
to transport our salt, and hope to succeed. With
except in wagons. Through Mr. Wood6n l have |
also made 40 excellent contract with Stewart, Buc-
hanan Co for the purchase of $4,000 bushels |
at six dollars per bushe deliverable the works. |
4 considerable quantity Of this has already been |
delivered and paid for, and more is ready awaiting
trans ortatlon. An appropriation is called for to
meet this amount, which be refunded to the |
Treasurer when the salt is sold. A small appro- |
priaon is also required to pay the amount of taxes
levied somewhat to my surprise [ Y the State of !