St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-29
Gov. Magrath sounds Gov. Watts
Alabama.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Jan. 30, 1865
Ny DEAR SIR: The present condition o
our affairs, the march of conquest which
Gen. Sherman has made through Georgia
the calamtous termination of Gen. Hood.
campaign, the threatened invasion Of Soutt
Carolina, the attemp pied control of the com
munications between these states and Vir
ginia, accomplishing, if successful, sore dis
| aster to the forces under Gen. Lee, hav,
deeply impressed me with the necessity fo
the most thorough aud cooperative action
and the most intimate intercourse between
the states of the Confederation through thei
state governments, and especially between
those states which have been known as the
Cotton states, in which the separation from
the government of the United States wa
first accomplished. and where the contest in
augurated By them and won, as We hope, fol
all the states which are united in our Con
federation.
Under such convictions | have addressed
very recently, letters to Gov. Brown o.
Georgia and Gov. Vance Of North Carolina
urging upon them union of what was left d
our resources, and which were not received
by the govern meut of the Confederate states
so that in that union Of such resources al
be effectual for most purposes of defense
except when danger was appreheuded from
the armies of the enemy.
There are other matters which intimately
affect the public welfare, and require fol
their proper management the common coun
sells, and if practicable, a united course OF
conduct on the part of those who represent
the state governments in these states.
-
vOlutiou OF these states, the great fuudamen-
tai truth that the states were sovereign, and
that this great. fundamental truth was in
tended to be asserted and exposed in a man
ner too plain again to be mistaken. have
regretted that, in so many cases, influence
and authority which the state governments
could have exercised were not called into
activity. | have felt for some time, and now
do more strongly than ever. that the stats
are the proper sources of that strength In
which We are engaged, and the governments
of those states the bes; agencies by which tue
resources of these states can be developed
have felt this practically in. manner
which satisfies me that the longer the delay
which is allowed to take place in energizing
our state governments as the efficient means
Of developing state resources, the greater
will be the iuc0uveuieuce-probabl | may
add the mischiefs-wuich will result.
With the threatened invasion of South
Carolina l have been obliged to press on the
president the absolute need Of aid, but, with
the numerous and embarrassing calls upon
him, the suggestion was natural aud proper
that | should call upon the governor of
Georgia.
But the governor Of Georgia had recently
been forced to see his wv n state invaded.
The resources. limited as they were, of this
state, and not prepared for such an emer-
gency, could not at that tims be carried TO
the suecOr OF Georgia. When say 10 YOU
that whatever aid 1t can give TO its sister
states from these resources. which are within
its own control. that aid it viii gladly give.
and, in 50 doing, discharge It's duty and
secure its own qualification
have therefore proposed 20 the governors
OF the states 10 which have referred 10 iusti-
tute among aud between those states fire.
quent and free interchange of communfca-
lions in relation TO their means and their
necessities Closely, and as I hope indis-
sOIu5iy united, nov and hereafter, in all
measures OF policy and polity, what better
services can we render than in mutually as
sistiug each other. whether il De in the de-
Tense Of cur territories or in the Development
OF oar Fes0ureesi
This association, 50 to speak, would be of
great advantage. Think, in the influence
which would be given by the state govern
meuts 20 the measures required for the in
formation Of many OF the abuses which have
erept into the administrative Offices Of the
common government
/ deem il necessary now again, and for the