Washington telegraph., 1865-08-02

NOT WAS IL 10 ne e4 pecteu tnsst IL SHouiu
The discontinuance of sin is Away
the commencement of a struggle"
CFrom the Augusta Constitutionaliss, 5th
Gov BRowN TO THE People or GBoR.
GA.-I feel profoundly impressed with
sense of the obligation which am unde,
to you for the manifestations of YOU
kindness and confidence which have 50
often received At four different elec-
tions you have honored me with You,
uffrages for the highest position within
your gift, and | have to the bes. of my
ability represented you in the Executive
office for eight years. While my duties
have often been of the most lsborious
and trying character, / feel the conscious
ness that have labored with an honest
purpose to promote your best interests.
hat have committed errers is not de-
MED; that they have been Intentional,
your conduct has shown you do not be
lieve 1
During the period of my administrs-
ton, the country has passed through a
most trying ordeal The great questions
at issue between the North and the South
having failed to find a peaceful solutioa
in the forum of reason, have been sub
mitted for decision to the arbitrament of
arms, and the judgment has been against
us in the highest tribunal known among
nations The contest has been long and
bloody. Each party has learned tn RE-
spect the manhood and the chivalry Of
the other Bu' the South has been over
come by the superior numbers and bound
less res surces of the North. We have
no further power of successful resiste ce,
and no othar alternative but to accept
the result.
The Government of the United States
having refused II recognize or tolerate
the State Governments which have ex
listed under the Confederate Constitution
during the struggle, has ordered the ar
rest of the Governors of these states.
was arrested and impris med after | had
surrendered the Georgia State militia
and had given my parole upon the sa g
terms allowed to Gen. Lee ana Grn.
Johnston, and had received from the IL
jor General, to whom the parole was v
en-, the usual pledge of the faith of the
United States, that | was not to be mo-
Tested SO long as ! observed the parole
aud obeyed the laws in force prior to lst
January, 1861. Upon the facts being
brough' before the President of rhe
United States, h, ordered that / he re
leased upon my parole, aud permitted to
return home. - @
1 am embraced in one of tn, excep-
tions in the Presidents Amnesty Prpc-
lamation. have recei,ed no pardon.
nor have | taken any oath, nor AN per-
mitted to resume the exercise of Execu
tive functions. was in the Execu I've
office prior to the commencement of the
war, and by the Constitution of the State
then in existence, it is declared that !
shall hold till successor is chosen and
qualified. l have felt it my duty to n.
neunce these facts to you, and as | can
be of no further service to my state by
attempting to hold the Office of Governor,
l h reby resign it into the hands of the
people who have so long and so gener-
ously conferred il upon me.
While taking my ieare of yon and re-
firing to private life, | trust it may not
be considered inappropriate for me TO add
few remarks upon what cons der the
true interests and the duties of the people
Of Georgia in the present hour. | have
lately passed through several of the
No thern States, and have been in some
of the largest cities; have read their
newspapers closely. have had interviews
with public officials high in authority,
and have taken pains to ascertain both
the policy of the Government. and the
popular sentiment of the country. on the
subject of the emancipation of the slaves
of the South; and 1 beg to assure ysu
that there is no division of opinion upon
the subject of immediate abolition tits
decreed alike by the people and the Gov
ernment. They have the power. and
they are determined to exercise it, and
to overcome all obstacles which we may
attempt to throw in the way. Indeed,
they treat it as an accomplished fact. un-
der the proclamations of the late Presi-
dent, issued as W lr measures necessary
to the life of the Government AS mat
ters now stand, to fight against it is to
contend against manifest destiny. Be-
sides, slavery has been so disturbed and
the slaves so demoralized during the war
that it is matter of great doubt whether
they could ever be kept in state q.
proper insubordination, and the instifu-
ton made profitable in future. ..
Under these circums ances the quesi ION
arises what shall we dot Nothing that
We can do will prevent the result. and ii
is my deliberate opinion that any effort
on our part to thwart the will of the Gov
ernment on this great question will onl '
add to our miseries and misfortunes The
statesman like the business man should
take a practical view of the questions as
they arise, and do for those dependent
upon him the best that can be done, an
der all the circumstances by which they
are at the time surrounded. a- s-1 asl
Applying this rule to our present con
dition, and remembering that revolutior
and war often sweep away long estab
lished usages, delnolish theories AN,
change institutions, it is, in my judg
ment, the best that we accept the fate u
posed on US by the fortunes of war, ant
that we give up slavery at once, by tn,
action of the convention, which it is sup
posed will assemble under the c',lI fth,
Provisional Governor app inted to reor
ganize the State government Thai W,