Year: 1864

The Georgia papers bring US q mes
sage from Governor Brown It is q
message that was prepared by him 20
be sent into the General Assembly of
Georgia; but while 1t was being copied
the Legislature adjourned, on account
Of the near approach of the enemr,
before the massage was received On
this account Governor Brown has au-
tkorized its publication


This message Of Governor Brown is
most emphatic protest against the ex-
traordinsry recommendation of the
President to Congress 20 repeal entire
ly the exemptions Of all classes, and
vest in him the discretion to detail
such as he may think fs to pursue
their professions Governor Brown
argues that to give the President such
power would be to annihilate the last
vestige Of State sovereignty, and to
subvert the great constitutional rights
of the people. He says:


Aside from the constitutional objec-
tions, what would be the effect of vest
ing in the Presidentthe absolute power
over all classes of the people in these
States which he now demands at the
hands of Congress? No man could
cultivate his fields 10 produce corn,
wheat or any other of the necessaries
of life, or run his factory to make cloth
ing, or work in his blacksmith shop,
mill, tannery, carpenter shop, machine
shop, or follow other industrial pur-
suits without the consent of and detail 4
from the President


Noman can then publish Newspaper
without the consent of the President
and detail for that purpose This
would at once destroy all independence
of the press and would abfidge its
freedom, WHICH the constitution of the
Confederate States expressly declares
Congress shall make mo laws" TO do
Il each editor must have detail from
the President, to publish his paper,
what freedom or independence Of the
press in future can exist? No bold, in
dependent, high toned man would be
willing to accept detail for this pur
pose, as it would be an acknowledg
ment in advance that his press shall
be the tool. of the President, With its
freedom abridged and les existence
dependent upon the Presidents will
As this law would give the President
the power to say how many editors he
will tolerate, it would leave it to his
discretion" what sort of editors he
will have, and what principles they shall
advocate.


Thus the public press of the country,
which, whatever may be its errors and
abuses, is, next to the Christian re
ligion, the greatest promoter of eivili-
zation, and whom left free and untram
melled is the strongest bulwark Of
Q institutional government and the
most powerful advocate of civil and
religious liberty, is 70 be prostrated at
the feet of the President and prostitut
ed to the base end Of overthrowing
constitutional liberty and establishing
despotism. Where did liberty ever
exist with the freedom OF the press
abridged and its existence dependent
upon the will of singleindividualf


The President not only demands of
Congress the passage of q law giving
him the power in the future to muzzle
the press and prevent it from exposing
the errors of his administration or the
corruption of his officials, but he de-
mands that the State governments be
placed absolutely under his control,
and that it be left to his discretion"
how many members and officers may
attend each session of the Legislature,
and what shall be the ages of the
members, and, if he chooses, whatshall
be their political sentimentS 1t is also
to be left to his discretion" how many
Judges of the superior, inferior or other
courts each State may have, and what
shall be their ages; how many sherifFs,
clerks, tax collectors. justices of the
peace, &c, he will tolerate in each
state.


Continuing upon the same subject,
Governor Brown enters his solemn pro
test as follows:


Give the President this power and
the minister Of religion can no longer
exercise the high functions of his call
ing under the commission he has re
ceived from Heaven, without detail
from the President This would give
the President the power in his disere-
ton to determine not only how many
may be necessary, but TO select the
localities where they will be tolerated.
and to prescribe, il he should think
proper, the denominations 10 which |
they belong. This would place the
freedom of religion as absolutely under |
his control as the freedom Of the press
and the government of the States.


Is not the freedom of the press a.
bridged when a news paper can only |
be published with the consent Of the |
President; and is not the independence |
and dignity of the legislator lost when |
he is compelled to enter the legislative |
han with detail in his pocket, subject |
to be ordered out of it any moment
when it suits the interest OF caprice Of !
the President Is this State sovereign. |
ty, freedom Of the press and free re-
hgion


When Congress enacts such law il
converts the republicanism Of the Con
federate States into the despOtism OF |
Turkey, makes the Presideut q dicla |
tor and prostrates the liberties Of the |
country, the independence Of the press
and the religious privileges of the |
people at his ieet kveo the Lincoln /
government, despotic as it il, has not /
AdAtA ~ e~SCA4Rt g. 1911 ~ASlco~A
ment upon the people Of the United
States.


/ wish, in advance, to enter my
solemn protest against this monstrous
proposition, which, if adopted by Con
gress, will not only endsDger the sue
cess of our cause, BY breaking the
spirit of our people, which may pre-
clpitate counter revolution. but may, i
and fear viii engendsr strong feel
ing for Reconstruction with the odiouE !
government Of the North as the only
means Of escape from worse despot-
ism. therefore earnestly recommend /
the passage Of q joint resolution by this
General Assembly, instructing our
s snator and requesting our Representa-
uyes in Congress to vote sgaInst and
use all possible influence TO prevent the
passage Of any such Law.


JosKPH E. BRorS.