Journal and confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-05-15
To the People Of the State OF
South Carolina:

HNlIE SURRENDER OF IHE hRMI UN-
e DER the command of Gen. Ice in Viz
einia, las deem followed By the surrender Of
the army under the command of Gen. Johston
in North Carolina. TO these armies, South
CarI;ma has contributed, with very i"corsli!-
cra!le exec cptions her entire male population.
The !sayc men in these armies WHO have
survived the bIoody var o! the past foar years,
arc no.Y returning home, as. priaontrs Of f=%ar,
ufSS their parole and unable :gain to take up
their arms until the conditions have been per,
formed upon which their captivity has been
terminated. y
The Government Of tie Confederate States,
in tie creation of which South Carolina united
with her sister States, has suspended it's civil
and military authority, and the high duty. Of
providing measures for tlc welfare of its citi!
zers: by a stern necessity, has been developed
upon the Government of the STATE:
In this unexpected terrninat!onof of the active
powers of -tinvsrnmen't; in peace and in war,
which South Carolina granted to the common
Government of the Confederate States, circuai-
stances have rendered thc condition of this
State one Of peculiar embarrassment. Deeply
suffering from the. Consequences ofthe war, in
MANI respccls, in non1c is that Suffering. more
pectl;iary trying than in the misery which
now affects considerable portion Of its popu-
lation; winch threatens larger portion, and
NAV, involve the whole Of it in the suffering
which want, approaching starvation, has pro-
duccd and will produtc. The large supplies
contributed to the suppoft of the armies Of the
Confederation had been given at a time W ben,
abundance c.lablcd the population to bear its
Withdrawal" hout 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 wllcE 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:
stroying the support of the population,i 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 certainty Of evil consequences would
prevent the removal Of allsuch supplies.
With the dissolution Of the armies. of the
Confederation, the necessity for theses supplies
has ceased; with the removal of that necessity
arises the strongeroblgation 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
y,of tho 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 maybe 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 thege: 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
,::;shing subsistence md supports to the thou
.Ands who in different parts of the State are