The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-28
IL 4 characteristic nisssAx<, Of xhish I
bfief abstract has been uublIshad

The message ef Governor 1jfowf, eolntpshces viii
ueiencc OF the State against the attacks Of tho
through the State He saws she was abandoned 70
nef tate ana neglected by the Confederate authori.
yes; and while her army OF able-bodicd sons were
heia Ior the defence Of other Statee and we're de-
n,ed the privilege Of striking IAN honest blow" for
the protection Of their homes Georgia was compelled
to rely only on few old men and boys.
lie claims that the golden opportunity was lost
| Tor overthrowing Sherman. Had he been resisted
from the start forced to fight and exhaust his am
muntion, his surrender would have been certain
He recommends the establishment Of militia
SYSTEM to be in no case turned over to the Conede-
rate Government, but retained for home defence.
lie says that there only fourteen hundred
exempts in the State, and most Of these are over
age.
lie recommends the passage Of a law authorizing
the imrressment Of provisions in the hands of per.
sons under bond to the Confederate Government
who refuse to sell their surplus to the INDECENT Ia
miles of soldiers.
He complains that the Confederate agents can
lock up the cOrn-cribs and smoke-houses against
the State purchasing agents.
Referring to the penitentiary, he says that more
than half the convicts released to fight have since
deserted.
y lie recommends the passage Of law prescribing
the penalty of death on conviction Of robbery
horse stealing or burglary.
lie opposes the arnlng of slaves believing IN on,
to be more valuable agricultural laborers than
they could be soldiers. They do not wish to %
into the army, and the principal restraint now upon
II
make them fight. Compel them to take up arms.
and they will desert by thousands. Whatever NAV
be our opinion of their normal condition ar in.
terests we cannot expect them to perform deeds Of
heroism when fighting to continue the inslayement
Of their wives and children, and 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 UNIT to be free. When We arm
the slaves abandon slavery
He complains OF the usurpations of the Confede.
rate Congress III ievylnS disproportionate taxation
and says that much of the Objectionable ls2is-
iation imposed upon the country by the votes of
men who act without responsibility to constituency
out of the army
He takes the Government to task for great va
riety of alleged abuses, such as illegal impress
ments, arrests of citizens without authority by pro-
vot guards, the passport SYSTEM and the partiality
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 .nimadverts severely on the generalship Of
the President, and traces his military during
the war. Our Government is now military des-
potsm, drifting into anarchy, and If the present
policy IS persisted III, It must terminate in recon-
struc,ion, with or without subjugation
Governor Brown states that he is utterly opposed
to both, but If lie favored either, he would give his
earnest support to the Presidents policy, as the
suiest mode OF dimnls lung our armies, eXhausting
our resources, breaking the spirit of people, and
driving thoinin despair to seek refuge from worse
tyranny by placing themselves under government
they loathc and detcst.
For the cure Of existing evils he recommends the
repeal OF tie consumption act and the return to the
constitutional mode of raising troops by acquisitions
upon the States the observance OF good faith with
the soldiers by paying them promptly the aban.
Comment OF impressments and secret sessions, and
no more representation without constituency; and
finally, taking from the President his power as
Commander n-Chef.
He calls for convention of the States to amend
the Constitution, and closes in the following Ian
guage:
My destiny is linked with my country. If we
succeed, am free man. If, by the obstinacy and
weakness Of rulers, fail, a common ruin
howls; the ship is dashed with turbulent waves the
'icim>lnan is steering to the wiir pool remon-
strances UNDECIDED, ana restrain him,
or the crew must sink together ana DC buried i'll
!rrctricyable ruin"