Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-12-07
MESSAGE FROM GOV. BROWN.


MESSAGE FROM GOV. BROWN.
GOV. BROWNS UNDEIIvERED MESSAGE TO THE
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
The following message was prepared by
Gov. Brown to be seat to the General As
se.nbly. bat while it was being copied for
the twr Houses, they adjourned on account
Of the near approach of the enemy, before
tic message was received by them. As
Congress probably now has the question
besore them, and as it is, in the opinion Of
tho Governor, important that the people
AL the presses OF the country should
slsak out boldly to their representatives
before the fatal step is taken by them, he
has directed tile publication of the mes
sac with a view 70 call special attention
to the subject.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Mliiedgeville, Ga. Nov.1S, 1864.
70 ths General assembly,:
feel it my duty to Gail your special at
tuaton to that part OF the message OF the
resident of the Coltederatc Stares, which
rc.utes to exemptions from CONSUMPTION.
The President declares that no pursuit
1lor position, should relieve any one who
il: abe to do active duty, from enrolment
in the army unless his functions or services
arc more useful to the defence of his coun-
try in another sphere" But he says, sit
is manifest that this can not be the case
with entire classes" lie then enumerates
several classes, such as telegraph operators,
professors, teachers, editors, mlllers, shoe;
makers, tanners, blacksmiihs, physicians,
dc, who should not be exempt as classes,
and adds, land the numerous other class
es mentioned in the laws" who he says,
''c;.n not in the nature of things, be either
necessary in their several professions nor
distributed throughout the country in such
proportions that only the exact numbers
required are found in each locality" Nor
SAYS he, "can it be every where impossi-
Bile to replace those within the conscript
aye, by men older, ard less capable of ac-
tive field service" lie then says, A dis
creion should be vested in the military
authorities, (Which can only mean in him
as the head of these authorities,) so that a
sufficient number Of those essential to the
public service mi ht he detailed to contin-
IL, the exercise OF their pursuits Or profes-
SINS, but the exemption from service OF
tise entire classes, should be wholly aban
don5d."
This is very comprehensive language
= If s:ich a law were enacted by Congress
and acquiesced in by States and people, il
would not only give he President absolute
mol over all persons OF the classes emu
laelated by him in the message, but o
what he terms the humorous other class
es mentioned in the laws"
Who are these other classes mentioned
in the laws, of whom the President seek
to get the absolute and unlimited control
without startling the country by the DIES
igns.5ion of them ill this message! One o
these classes mentioned in the laws" i
"tho members and officers ofthe severa
State Legislatures" Others cl!sses men
toned in the laws, are Judges of the Stat
Courts, Sherifs, Clerks, Ordinaries, o
Judges Of Probates,&c Another elias
mentioned in the laws is, "lninisters OF re
ligion," authorized to preach according t.
the rules oftheir Clutches. The Presiden
denies that these could be more useful a
classes "ln anothershere," than in the mil
itary field, and "thcy can not, in the ma
ture Of things, be either necessary il
their several professions, nor distributed
throughout the country in such proportion
that only the exact numbers required, ar
- found in each locality" He therefore dc
mands, that Congress leave it to his "dis
erection to say, who Of them shall be dc
tailed to continue in the exercise of thei
pursuits professions with the decaratio
in advance, that their exemption as " Ell
tire classes" should be "wholIy abandon
cd"
Aside from the Constitutional objections
what would be the effect of vest;ng in tn
President the absolute power overall clas
,es OF People in these States which he no'
dem mds at the hands Of Congress-
NJ man could cultivate his fields to pre-
duce corn, wheat, or any other Of the ne
ce:saries of life, OR run his factory to max
cloi,;ag, or work in his blacksmith shop
mill, taunery, carpenters shop, machin
shop, or follow other industrial pr rsui
with mt the consent of, and detail frol
the President.
No man can then publish a newspape
without the consent OF the President, an
detail for that purpose. This would
ancc destroy all independence in the pre-
AMI abridge its freedom, which the Consl
on of the Confederate States express
declares Congress shall make ono law"
/ ,,o. If each editor must have detail fro