Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-12-07
mand, in reference to Georges revolving

mand, in reference to deorge's revolving
cannon. '>+' '
I ask your attention to the suggestions Of
the State Auditor upon the subject of pay
ing all salaries of State officers out of the
profits Of the bank for thepast fiscal year in
bills of the Bank of the State. Whilst /
am not prepared to recommend its adoption,
do recommend an increase Of the eompen'
sation Of all public officers, whether they
receiye salaries or perquisites Of Office; at
least Of all officers whose salaries are not
fixed by the Constitution. The large profits
of the bank for the past year or two, J. think
will fully warrant such increase. In this
connection, I transmit a Communication
from Mr.. Jessee Dent, Sheriff Of Richland
District, In reference to the compensation
allowed for feeding prisoners to which in.
vite your attention. 49,
The undrawn balance to the credit of the
Military Contingent Fund, for the current
year, amounted to sl,1s5, ,293. .O2; drawn
up to list October, 1854, 20lO0O-leaving
a balance undrawn on LIST October, 1854, of
995, ,298.02. The Comptroller Generals
report shows cash balance in the State
Treasury, on the LIST October, 1854, of
1872, ,354.26; the nett profits of the, bank
for the came time amount to 883, ,055. .76-
amOdntingto ,755,41o.O2. But for the
recent. call for troops, I should have felt at
liberty to recommend that none, or very
small tax should be imposed for the ensuing
year.
I transmit copy of the resolutions ,adop.
ted by the Governors Of the States Of Vir.
ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor.
gia, Alabama and Mississippi, at their meet
ing in Augusta, on the 18th Of October last
to which I invite your attention. The. en-
pIoyment of slaves in the army, is engaging
a large share of public attention, and the
action of the Governors in relation thereto,
has been the subject Of some misapprehen.
sion. There was no purpose in the resolu'
tions adopted at that meeting, to declare
that slaves should be used aBsoldiers, much
less that they should be emancipated for
such service; and for myself, I may say,
without undertaking to indicate the opinion
of any one else, l have never recognized,
and so far as I am concerned did not mean
to be understood, by the term "our author.
ities," thatthe Confederate Government has
the right to conscribe them. I do recon-.
mend that the authorities of the State ap-
propriate to the public service Incorporation
of so many as may be needed and called for
by the Confederate Government as teamsters;
cooks and pioneers, in order to relieve the
soldiers engaged in. those employments. /
do not feel called upon to make any recon-
mendation upon the subject Of using any
portion of them as soldiers. The discussion
is premature. If the able-bodied white men
between seventeen and fifty, both officers and
privates, who are detailed in places at home,
which may be.a we'll filed by disabled Off
GERS and soldiers, and old men above con-
script age, or those within couscript age,
older and less able than themselves, and all
consoripts in every State, are put into the
service, it cannot be doubted that this Con.
federaoy is able to sustain itself against all
the forces that the enemy can possibly bring
against Us. Shouldthe alternative of sub.
jugation, or their use as soldiers, ever lead
to such use, the wisdom of emancipating
those SO employed, is not at all clear. But
should such policy be adopted, it can new
er be claimed that the Confederate Govern.
ment should exercise that power-a power
which, for three-quarters Of century, has
been claimed for and belongs exclusively to
the States themselves.
Those in whom the treaty making power
of the Confederate Government resides,
have done all they can with propriety to
show the North and the world that we are
desirous of peace. The President of the
United States, on the other hand, has re-
peatedly declared that there can be no peace
without submission on our part and recon-
struction. A people who, under such cir
oumstances, could be induced>to persist in
efforts to obtain peace, outside of the con-
stitutional mode, are already subjugated.-
Such course, with the blood of their sons
and brothers still moist on their soil-the
wrongs Of their outraged women still una
venged-the ruins Of their residences and
granaries still smoking-would be unbe-
coming the great Confederate people who,
four years since, with so much. unanimity
and enthusiasm, resolved to mai6tsin at ev-
cry cost their right to abolish thei, former
Government, "and to establish new Gov
ernment, laying its foundation on such prin-,
ciples and organizing its powers in such form
as to them shall seem most likely to effect |
their safety and happiness" We can OBJ
tain no peace that would not degrade us,
except such as we shall secure by the de-
feat of or enemies. -..r... a. Il
In this great crisis, which requires the |
exercise of wisdom, prudence and irdness,
invoke the blessing Of Almighty God
upon your deliberations. 80 d !
,-... -a M. L. BONHAM.
A RA1D.-A raiding party Of Yankees,
AL