Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-03-08
THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
GOV. BROWNS MESSAGE, Il


The Georgia Legislature met at Macon on the
14th. After abiding to Sher;nan's march through
the State, recommending the reorganization of the
militia, and referring to other local matters, the
GovernorSroceedst to the discussion of the more
important questions that affect US people We
copy the most important passages.
IMPREssMENTs.
beg leave to call the. attention Of the Legisls-
ture to the necessity for the passage of a law au.
thorizins the impressment of provisions in the
hands Of persons under bonds to the Confederate
Government or others who refuse to sell their sur.
plus at market value for the use Of INDECENT SOL
diers' families, and Of persons who are left desti.
tute by the ravages of the enemy, or of our own
cavalry, who receive aid from the State, under the
legislation enacted for that purpose The cases are
very rare where it would be necessary 10 resort to
impressment if the people were lef: free to sell
their surplus in the market; but they are denied
that privilege by the Confederate Government, hav
ing been compelled to give bond to sell all their
surplus to its agents at schedule prices, which are
far below market value. These persons would
gladly sell to State Or county agents. but they are
threatened with revocation of their details and
with immediate compusion to enter service if they
do so. The State should never submit to be driven
out Of her own markets and denied the privilege of
purchasing trqm her citizens by the act of any
other government or power. | therefore recon-.
mend the passage Of a law authorizing the Justi.
ces of the Inferior Court of each county, with the
consent or order of the Governor to impress pro.
visions in their respective counties, for soldiers
families and indig entIefugees, when from the cause
above mentioned, it may be. necessary to enable
thssm to procure the supplies required for that pur-
pose; and also authorizing the Quartermaster Gen.
eral of the State to make similar impressrnents,
with the like order, for their respective depart
ments.
The act should provide, in.case of such impress.
ments, for fair valuation of the property impress
ed and for payment Of market value as Just com.
psnsauon to the owner. Without the passage OF
this act, it will be impossible for. the State and
county agents, within the limits OF the State, to
purchase the supplies which are indispensable
The appropriation Of money will avail nothing
If the Confederate agents can lock the cribs and
smoke houses of the people of the State against
her purchasing agents. / have been unable, under
the late appropriation, to supply, the demands of
Those in great distress, for want Of this law. If
1t is not passed, great deal Of suffering will be the
inevitable result.
ARMINa THE SLAVES.
The administration, by its unfortunate pol!cy,
having wasted our strength and reduced our ar
mles and being unable to gef freemen into the field
as eoascfpts, and unwilling to accept them in or
gaIations with officers of their own choice, will,
n pessea resort to the policy of filling them up
oy tne transcription Of slaves.
i ea.saea that We NAV proftabIv t,se slave
so iar as it can be spared from Agriculture n
w 1 Una, service in connection with the armv
.aeteoy enable more free white men to take M
slaves ; ILL am quite sure any attempt to arm the
WA W great error. If We expect to con.