Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-06
rho Message OF Gov. Brovu.


The Message OF Gov. Brown.
All the Richmond papers give the fol-
lowing abstract of the recent message of
Governor Brown, of Georgia:
The message of Governor Brown COM
mences with defense Of the State against
the attacks of the pres for permitting
to march through the State un
molested.
He says she was abandoned 70 her fate
and neglected by the Confederate suthori-
ties, 81 d while her army of able bodied cons
we're held for the defense of other States,
and were denied the privilege of striking
an honest blow for the protection Of their
homes, Georgia was compelled to rely only
upon few old men and boys.
He claims that the golden opportunity
was lost for oyerthrowing Sherman. Had
he been resisted from the start, forced to
fight snd exhaust his ammunition, his sur
render would have been certain.
He recommended the establishment Of q
militia system, 70 be in no case tprne d over
to the onfederate Government, but re-
isined for home defense. he says there
are only l,4Q0 exempts in the state and
most of these are over sge.
He recommends the passage Of law aI-
tborizing the impressment OF provision in
the hands of persons under bond to the
Confederate Government who refuse TO sell
their surplus to the INDECENT families of sol
diers.
He complains that Confederate sgents
can lock up their corn-cIibs and smoke
houses against the State purchasing agents.
Referring TO the penItensisry, he says
thai more than hslf the convicts released
to tight have since deserted. Hs recon-
mends the passage Of a law prescribing the
penalty of death on conviction of ROBBERY,
h0rse-steallng or burglary. He opposes
the srming of slsVeI, believing them 70 be
more valuable ss agricultural laborers than
they could be as soldiers. They do not
wish to go into the army, and the principil
res trsint now upon them is the fear that it
they leave the enemy will make them fight.
Compel them to take up arms, and they
viii desert be thousands.
Whatever msy be our opinion of their
normal condition OF interests, we cannot
expect them to perform deeds Of heroism
when fighting to continue the enslsvement
of their wives and children, and it is not
reasonable to demand it Of them. When
ever we establish the fact that they are s.
military people, we destroy cur theory that
they are unfit to be free. When we arm
he slaves, we abandon slavery.
He complains of the usurpation OF the
Confederate Congress in leVying dispro-
portionste taxation, and says that much
of the most Objectionable legislation is inn
posed upon the country by the eVoies of men
who &c. without responsibility to constltu-
ency out Of the army.
He takes the Government TO task for 8
great variety of alleged abuses, such as
Illegal impressmeIts, arrests of citizens
without authority by provost guards, the
passport system, and the partislity of the
Government to men of wealth, who are
given nominal positions which keep them
out Of the army, while poor men and boys
are forced into the ranks.
He sDimsdveIts severely Of the general
ship of the President and traces his militia
~ career during the war. de says:
R Our Government is a military despotism
drifting into anarchy, and if the present
policy is persisted in it must Terminate in
reconstruction, with or with ut sutjuga-
lion.
Gov. Brown states that he is utterly op-
posed to both; but if he favored either he
would give his earnest support TO the poll
cy of the President, as The surest mode of
diminishing our armies, exhaustiDg cur
resources, breaking thes spirit of our people
and driving them In despair to seek refuge
from worse tyranny by placing themselves
under 8 Government they loate and detest.
For the cure of existing evils he recon-
msnds the appeal of the conseription act,
and q return TO the constitutional mode of
raising troops, by requisilions on the State,
the observance of good faith with the
soldiers by paying them promptly, the
abandonment OF impressments and secret
sessions CT Congress, no more repreeenta-
lien without constituency, and finally
taking from the President his power ss
Com Chief
"Ae calls for a convention Of States 10
amend the Constitution, and closes in
the following langnsge; My destiny is
linked with my country. If we succeed
I am 3 free man. II by the obatinacy and
weakness Of our rulers We fail, q common
ruin awaits Us al The night is dark the
tempest howls the ship is lashed with
turbulent waves; the helmsmsn is steering
20 the whirlpool; yet our remonstrsnces
are unneeded. W. must restrain him, or
the crew must sink together, and all be
buried In irrecoversble ruin.