Year: 1864

Resolutions OF the Rebel Governors at
Augusta, Ga.


! Ats meeting of the Governors of the
States of Virginia, North Carolina South
Corolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi,
held at Augusta, Georgia, on Monday, the
18th October, Governor William Smith pre-
siding, after full, free and harmonious COM
sultation and interchange of counsel, the
following among other views were expressed:


Resolved, That there is nothing in the
present aspect of public affairs to cause any
abatement Of our zeal in the prosecution of
the war to the accomplishment of peace,
based on the independence OF the Conteder
ate States. And to give encouragement to
our brave soldiers in the field and to
strengthen the Confederate authorities in the
pursuit of this desirable end, we will use
our best exertons to increase the effective
force OF our armies.


Resolved, That the Interests of each of our
States are identical in the present struggle
for selfgovernment, and wisdom and true
patriotism dictate that the military forces of
each should aid the others against invasion
and subjugation, and for this purpose we will
recommend to our several Legislatures to
repeal all such laws as prohibit the Executives
from sending their forces beyond their re
spective limits, in order that they may rem
der temporary service wherever most urgent
| y required.


Resolved, That while it is our purpose to
use every exertion to increase the strength
and efficiency OF. our State and Confederate
forces, we respectfully and earnestly request
that the Confederate authorities will send to
the field every able bodied man, without
exception, in any of its various departments,
whose place can be filled by either disabled
officers and soldiers, senior reserves or ne'
eroes, and dispense with the use of all pro-
vost and post guards except in important
cities and localities where the presence of
large bodies of troops make them necessary,
and with all passport agents upon railroads
not in the immediate vicinity of the armies,
as we consider these agents an unnecessary
annoyance to good citizens and of no posi-
bic benefit to the country.


Resolved, That we recommend our res
pective Legislatures to pass stringent laws
for the arrest and return to their commands
of all deserters and stragglers from the
Con nfederate armies or State troops, and that
it be made the special duty, under appropr
ate penalties, of all civil and military officers
to arrest and deliver to the proper author-
ties all such deinquents.


Aod whereas, the public enemy having
proclaimed the freedom of our slaves, are
forcing into their armies the abebodied por
ton thereof the more effectualy to wage
their cruel and bloody war against us; there
fore, be it


Resolved, That it is the true policy and
obvious duty of all slaveowners timely to ro-
move their slaves from the line of the enc
my's approach and especially those able to
bear arms; and when they should fail to do
so, that it should be made the duty of the
proper authorities to enforce the performance
of this duty, and to give such owners all
necessary assistance as far as practicable.
Resolved, That the course of the enemy
in approprating our slaves who happen to
fall into their hands to purposes Of war,
seems to justify a change Of policy on our
part, and whilst owners of slaves, under the
circumstances should freely yield them to
their country, we recommend to our authori
ties, under proper regulations, to appropriate
such part of them to the public service as
may De required


Resolved That the States have the right
to export such productions and to import
such supplies as may be necessary for State
use, or for the comfort or support of their
troops in service, upon any vessel owned or
chartered by them; and that we request
Congress at its next session to pass laws re
moving all restrictions which have been inn
posed by Confederate authority upon such
exports or imports by the States.


And, lastly, we deem it not inappropriate
to declare our firm and unalterable purpose,
as we believe it to be that of our fellow
citizens, to maintain our right of self govern
ment, and to establish our independence,
and to uphold the rights and sovereignty
of the States, or to perish in the attempt.


Resolved That the Chairman be requested
to send copy of these resolutions to his
Excellency President Davis, and also one
each to the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House OF Representatives,
and the Governors of the several States of
the Confederacy, to be laid before their re-
spectve bodies.