The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-18
COLUMBIA PH(ElylX.

OVuUlUUEll llIu1lVlAs
Resignation of Governor Brown.
To the People Of Georgia:
I feel profoundly impressed With a
sense Of the obligation which I am
under to you for the manifestations of
your Kindness and confidence, which I
have so often received. At four diff.
ferent elections you have honored me
with your sutfrages for the highest po-
sition within your gift, and I have to
the best OF my ability represented you
in the Executive Office for nearly
eight years. While my duties have
been Of the most laborious and trying
character, I feel the consciousness that
I have labored with an honest purpose
20 promote your best interests. That
I have committed errors, is not denied;
that they have been Intentional, your
conduct has shown you did not be-
lieve.
During the period Of my admins
tratlon the country has passed through
a most trying ordeal. The great ques,
tions at issue between the North and
the South having failed to find a peace
full solution in the; forum Of reason,
have been submitted for dcsision to the
arbitraments of arms, and the judg.
ment has been against us in the high
est tribunal known among nations.
The contest has been long and blaody.
Each party has learned to respec: the
manhood and chivalry of the other.
But the South has been overcome by
the superior numbers and boundless
resources of the North. We have no
further power of successful resistance,
and no other alternative but to accept
the result.
The Government of the United
States having refused to recognize or
tolerate the State Governments which
have existed under the Confederate
Constitution during the struggle, has
ordered the arrest Of the Governors of
these States. | was arrested and i'm
prisoned after I had surrendered the
Georgia State Troops and Militia, and
had given my parole upon the same
terms allowed to General Lee ,and
General Johnston, and had received
from the Major General, to whom the
parole was given, the usual pledge Of
the faith of the United States that I
was not to be molested so long as l
observed the parole and obeyed the
laws in force prior to the lst OF Jauu-
airy, 1861. Upon the facts being
brought before the President of the
United States, he ordered that I be
released upon my parole, and permit
ted to return home.
[ am embraced in one of the ex-
cep;ions in the Presidents Amnesty
Proclamation. I have received no
pardon, nor have l taken any oath,
nor am I permitted to resume the
exercise of Executive functions. J
was in the Executive office prior to
the commencement OF the war. and by
the Constitution of the State then in
existence it is declared that I shall
hold 1t till successor is chosen and
qualified. I have felt it my duty to
announce these facts to you, and as l
can be of no farther use to my State
by attempting to hold the office Of
Governor, [ hereby resign it into the
hands of the people who have so long
and so geoerous y conferred it upon me.
While taking my leave of you and
retiring to private life, / trust it may
not be considered inappropriate for me
to add few remarks upon what l
consider the true interests and the
duties of the people of GEORGIA in tbe