Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-28

Reports Of he Press Association received sre'sivs
,, u blythe Wig.
cnv nnnWNs NEssAGE.

| GOV BROWNS MESSAGE
CHARlorrE, Fcb. 25.-The Charlotte papers con
tain tee message of Gov. Brown of which the i"l-
lowing is a summary
The message of Governor Brown commences
with defence OF the State against tho attacks OF
j.. The press for permitting Sherman TO march unmo-
Tested through the STATE. He says she was aban-
doned to her fate aud neglected by the Confederate
| authorities and while her army OF abie-bodied
son were held for the defence or other States aud
were denied the privilege OF striking '.an honest
blow" for the protection of their homes, GeorgiS
waS compelled to rely only on few old men ond
boys. ..
lie claims that the golden opportunity was lost
for oyerthrowing sherman. Had he been resisted
from the start, forced light and exhaust ns an-
| niunition his surrender would have been certain.
| He recommends the establishment of militia
system to be in case turned over TO the Conied-
crate Government, but retained for home defence
lie saws that there are ouly fourteen hundred eA-
enpts ia the State and most Of these are over age
lie recommends the passage OF law authorizing
the impressmcnt OF provisions in the hands OF per
sons under bond 10 the Confederate Government,
who refuse to sell their surplus TO the INDECENT fam.
lies of soldiers.
HE complains that the Confederate agents can
lock mp the corn cribs aud smoke houses against
the State purchasing SCENTS.
Referring TO the Penitentiary he says that more
than halo The concts released 10 light have since
deserted.
He recommends the passage of law prescribing
the penalty OF death conviction of robbery horse
stealing OF burglary.
lie opposes the arming of slaves, believing them
to be MORT valuable as agricultural laborers than
they could be as soldiers. They don't wish to 60
mo the army, and the principal RESTRAIN now upon
them Is the fear that ii they leave the enemy viii
make lhem tight. ComPel them TO take up arms,
aud they will desert by thousands. Whatever may
b. our opinion OF their normal condition or inter-
ests, we cannot expect them.to perioru deeds of
heroism when Sighting to continue the enslavement
OF their wives and children, aud it is not reasonable
TO demand it of them. Whenever We establish the
fact that they are military people We destroy our
theory that they are unf; TO be free When we arm
4 the slaves we abandon slavery. -,-.... \. -.
IIe complains of the usurpatons OF the Coincide
rate Congress leyying disproportonate taxation,
and says that much Of the most Objectionable legis-
ldtion Is imposed upon the country bythe votes OF
men who act without responsibility to constituency
oul OF the army. a.. G. $3.50 ~ ~
HE takes the Government to task for great va
riety of alleged abuses, such as Illegal impress
lnents arrests of citizens without authority by pro-
vost guards, the passport system, andthe Partially
of the Government 10 men Of wealth who are given
nominal positions which keep them ont Of the army,
while pour men aud boys are forced into the ranks :,
lie animadyerts severely on the generalship OF
the President aud traces his military career du-
ring the war. Oar government is now military
despotisn, drifting into anGrchy, andlf the present
policy is persisted ill., il must terminate in recon-
struCtion, with OF without subiugatiOn. n
Governor Brown states that he is utterly .op-
posed 10 both, but if he favored either, he would
give his earnest support to the Presidents policy
a. the Snrcst IN ode OF diminishing our armies, eX-
hausiing our resources breaking the spirits Of our
people, and driving them in de-, 'ar to seek refuge
from worse tyranny by placing themselves under
government they loathe and detest.
For the care OF existing evils, he recommends
the repeal OF the conScriptiDu act, aud the return
to the constitutional mode of raising troops by re-
QUESTIONS upon the States; the observance of goo
aith with the soldiers by paving them promptly
the abandonment OF impressments and secret seSr
sion>, and no more representation without con.tu-
ency and finally, taking from the President his
,poweE - ComuS Hisr -in-Chiei.
He calls lor CONVENTION Of the States to amend
the Constitutions, and closes in the following lai,.
guagc
"My destiny * linked with my country. If we
succeed, am free man. IL by the obstnacy aud
weakness al our ruleoS we fail acommon ruin awaits
us all. The night is dark the tempest bowls the
ship is dashed with turbulent waves the helmsman
lis steering to the whirlpool our circumstances are
UNDECIDED. and We must restrain him, or the crew
must sink together and be buried in rretrieyable
ruin"