Journal and confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-05-17
To the People of the State OF
South Carolina.
HEADQUARTERS,
COLUMBIA, May 2, 1865.

South CarOllna..
vHvIIE SURRENDER OF THE ARMY UN-
E DER the command Of Gen. Lee in Fir-
ginia, has 'dccn followed by the surrender of
the army under the command of Gen. Johston
in North Carolina. To these armies, Sonth
Carolina has contributed with very ipconsid-
cradle exceptions, her entire male population.
The brave men in these armies who have
survived the bloody war Of the past four years,
are now returning home, as prisoners of war,
on their parole; and unable again to take up
their arms until the conditions have been per-
formed upon which their captivity has been
terminated.
The Government of the Confederate States,
in the creation of which South Carolina united
with her sister States, has suspended its civil
and military authority, and the high. duty of
providing measures for the welfare Of its citi.
zcns, by stern necessity, has been developed
upon the Government of the State.
In tlissslncxpectcd termination of the active
powers oi Government, in peace and ia war,
Which South Caroliua granted to the common
Government Of The Confederate States, circum-
stances have rendered the condition of this
State one of peculiar embarrassment. Deeply
suffering from the consequences OF The war, IN
many respects, in nome is that suffering more
peculiarly trying than in the misery which
DOW affects a considerable portion Of its popu-
latioI; which threatens larger portion, and
may involve the whole of it in the suffering
which want, approaching starvation, has pro-
duced and will produce. The large supplies
contributed to the support of the armies OF the
Confederation had been given at Il time when
abundance enabled the population to bear its
withdrawal without aggravated suffering. But
the great destruction Of means of subsistence
at the present time, and the difficulties of Sc
curing it in the future by the next crop, had,
even before the reverses whicE befell the armies
of the Confederation, satisfied all that it would
be impossible to part with the supplies which
had been gathered for the armies, without de-
stroyng the support Of the population, in many
portions of the State. And attempts were made
to inform the authorities Of the Confederate
Government, that not only the apprehension
but the certaifty Of evil consequences would
prevent the removal of all such supplies.
With the dissolution of the armies of the
Confederation, the necessity for these supplies
has ceased; with the removal Of that necessity
arises the stronger obligation upon the author
tiles of the State, to preserve these supplies for
the mitigation of the suffering Of the people of
the State. To that end, therefore, it is now
declared that all subsistence stores and proper.
ty of the Confederate States within the limits
Of the State, should be turned over to and
accounted for by the agents of the State ap.
pointed for that purpose. The subsistence
and other stores to be used for the relief Of the
people of the State, and the other property of
whatever kind to be held for the common
benefit of the State, and subject to such distri-
button as may be hereafter determined upon
by the proper authorities of the State.
1t will be recognized as duty in the high
est degree obligatory upon the agents of the
State who will receive thcge supplies, to pro.
vide out of them freely to the soldiers Of this
and other States passing through our limits who
may need aid. Subject to this claim, all such,
supplies will be held for the purpose of fur
nisbipg subsistence and supports to the thou