USA > Georgia > The Confederate records of the State of Georgia, Vol 2 pt 2 > Part 7
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I therefore recommend the passage of a joint resolu- tion by this General Assembly, requesting our Senators and Representatives in Congress to use all their influence and do all in their power to procure the speedy repeal of the law which provides for the imposition and collection of a tax in kind, and to procure such modifications of the impressment act as will compel the government to pay the market value as just compensation for property im- pressed by it. And to urge the passage of such laws as will require the tax in future to be collected in currency,
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and will absorb any redundancy of the currency caused by the payment of just compensation for property pur- chased by the government.
I am quite sure the people of Georgia are willing to bear their just and full share of the burdens of the war, and to pay any tax necessary to sustain the credit of the Confederacy.
They are well aware that it is infinitely better to pay their debts in the present currency than to avoid taxa- tion now and have to pay in gold or its equivalent after the war is over. This remark applies with as much force to the maintenance of State credit as of Confederate credit. I think I may safely say that there is not a mem- ber of the Senate or House of Representatives who, in the management of his own private business, will borrow the present currency and agree to pay back dollar for dollar in gold after the war is over. I will say further that there is not a member of either house, who has a single sensible constituent, who will make any such contract. How then can we justify our conduct if we do for the State that which no one of us would do for ourselves, and which no prudent citizen of the State will do in the management of his own private affairs? If we refuse to assess a tax sufficient to raise the sums we appro- priate, we are guilty, it seems to me, of this inexcusable folly, as we must then borrow for the State the present currency, and bind the people of the State to pay the amount we borrow in gold after the war is over. I am sure that nine-tenths of the thinking men of the State will agree that it is far better to meet our expenditures by taxation, to be paid in the currency, than to accumulate
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a State debt at present rates to be paid hereafter in gold or its equivalent.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA, November 23d, 1863.
STATE OF GEORGIA,
BALDWIN COUNTY.
Articles of agreement made and entered into this twenty-third day of November eighteen hundred and sixty three, between Messrs. Seago, Palmer & Co., of Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, the individual mem- bers of said firm are A. K. Seago, L. D. Palmer, S. D. Niles and L. L. Abbott, of the first part, and Joseph E. Brown, Governor of Georgia, in his official capacity as Governor of said State of Georgia, and not individually, of the second part :
Witnesseth: That for the consideration hereinafter mentioned. that said party of the first part covenant and agree with the said party of the second part, to make, at Saltville, Virginia, five hundred bushels of salt-50 lbs. to the bushel-per day, Sabbaths excepted, and such other days as may be set apart for thanksgiving or humil- iation and prayer by authority of the State government of Virginia, or by the Confederate government, and ex- cept also when the said party of the first part may be prevented by the public enemy from hauling wood or salt, or both, by R. R. train to or from the salt works on both the railroads leading to and from the works be-
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tween Georgia and the works, or when they may be pre- vented from making that quantity of salt per day for want of salt water being furnished them, or the breaking the engine hereinafter mentioned, or from some other unavoidable accident, for said State of Georgia .- The said party of the first part agree to ship said salt to Atlanta, Georgia, as fast as made, if possible, consigned to the Commissary General of the State, and to super- intend the shipping thereof free of charge.
When the salt arrives at Atlanta it is to be equally divided between the said parties of the first and second part, each party having one-half and each party to fur- nish one-half the saeks at Saltville, and to pay one-half of the cost of transportation of the salt from Saltville to Atlanta.
The said party of the first part agrees to commence making the salt under the contract by the 16th day of January, 1864, and to continue during the present war between the United States and the Confederate States.
In consideration that the said party of the first part covenants and agrees to make the quantity of salt per day as aforesaid, at Saltville-to have it all shipped to Atlanta as aforesaid, and to receive but one-half of it there, said party of the second part covenants and agrees to furnish the engine "Texas" and train of nine box cars, and a few platform cars now at Saltville belonging to the W. & A. Road, to the party of the first part, to be used by them in hauling wood and salt and necessary sup- plies to carry on the works to and from the salt works without other compensation for the use of said rolling stock; the said party of the first part to make all ordi-
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nary repairs needed upon said rolling stock at their own expense, and to deliver the same in a reasonably good condition to the said W. & A. R. Road when the said party of the first part shall cease to use it for the pur- poses aforesaid, or when this contract shall be fulfilled : Provided, the said rolling stock shall not be taken, cut or destroyed by the public enemy so that it can not be re- turned-or shall be destroyed by an unavoidable collis- sion or other accident without blame upon the said party of the first part.
Whereas, heretofore a contract was entered into be- tween Dr. J. W. Lewis, as agent of this State, and Messrs. Stewart, Buchanan & Co., of Smythe county, Virginia, by which the said Stewart, Buchanan & Co. agreed to supply to this State, at Saltville, Va., a quantity of salt water sufficient to make five hundred bushels of salt per day for a certain period of time, at fifty cents per bushel of salt made therefrom:
And Whereas, M. S. Temple & Co. have since been making salt from said supply of salt water for this State, under a contract with the State, and have notified the Governor of this State of their desire to discontinue the further manufacture of salt under their contract for the State: Now, the said party of the first part, in consider- ation that they are to receive said supply of salt water from Stewart, Buchanan & Co. to make salt under their contract, agree to pay to said party of the second part for said supply of salt water, at the rate of fifty cents in Confederate States Treasury Notes, per bushel of salt made by them therefrom until such time as the said party of the first part shall make a satisfactory revision of the said contract between the State of Georgia and Stewart,
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Buchanan & Co. for salt water; from which time the said party of the first part assumes the payment to Stuart, Buchanan & Co. for the said supply of salt water to the extent of said contract with them. The said party of the first part further agrees that in any reversion of the said contract between this State and Stewart, Buchanan & Co. for said supply of salt water which the said party of the first part may hereafter make, it is to be distinctly stipu- lated that the right to said supply of salt water shall be given to any other party to make salt for this State which may be selected, contracted with, or appointed by the said party of the second part without impairing in the least the State's rights under subsisting contract with Stuart, Buchanan & Co. for said supply of salt water in case, from any cause, the said party of the first part shall fail to carry out the contract in good faith. It is also fur- ther agreed, by and between both of the said parties to this contract, that the said party of the second part may appoint and keep an agent on the part of this State at Saltville, who shall have the right, at all times, to exam- ine, view and inspect the works, salt houses, and all other matters and things pertaining to the manufacture of salt for the State of Georgia under this contract, and pertain- ing to the measuring and shipment thereof; and it is fur- ther agreed that in case the said party of the first part shall, at any time, fail to carry out this contract in good faith, the right is hereby reserved to the said party of the second part to annul and reseind this contract in all respects, except so far as the same may at such time have been performed or executed, on giving ten days' notice of such intention to annul the same.
The party of the first part is to procure the written consent of Stewart, Buchanan & Co. that they be sub-
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stituted for and permitted to make the State's salt in place of M. S. Temple & Co., and that if they cease to be the State's agent to make salt, any other responsible person or persons employed by the State shall have the right, under the original contract between the State and Stewart, Buchanan & Co., so that none of the State's rights shall be affected by the change of the agents, who are selected from time to time, to carry out the State's contract with said Stewart, Buchanan & Co.
Signed and sealed the day and year above written.
Attest :
J. B. CAMPBELL,
Sec. Ex. Dept.
LEROY SUTTON.
(Signed) SEAGO, PALMER & Co. (Seal.)
(Signed) JOSEPH E. BROWN, (Seal.) Governor of Georgia.
The following message was transmitted to the Gen- eral Assembly, to-wit:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
November 25th, 1863. To the General Assembly:
It becomes my pleasant duty to communicate to you the fact that I have received at this office a number of
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN 551
the old battle flags of distinguished Georgia Regiments, and several flags taken from the enemy by the intrepid- ity and valor of our Georgia troops, and to ask you to order such disposition to be made of them as will best perpetuate the memory of the glorious deeds which have been performed under them upon the battle field, and will do appropriate honor to the gallant men who have par- ticipated in the brilliant achievements which will trans- mit their names to posterity as the benefactors of their countrymen and the bravest defenders of their country's rights.
Each battle flag has attached to it a statement show- ing the engagements with the enemy through which it has been carried; and each captured flag a statement of the regiment or brigade by which it was taken from the enemy. I recommend the appointment of a committee to receive these flags and report to the General Assembly the disposition proper to be made of them. As a Geor- gian, I am proud of the valor displayed by her sons when they have met the enemy in deadly conflict, and it will afford me great pleasure, upon all appropriate occasions, to unite with the General Assembly in doing honor alike to the memory of her immortal dead and to the names of her living heroes.
Appended hereto is a statement giving the numbers of the Georgia regiments whose battle flags are returned, and of the regiments and brigades which have sent in flags of the enemy captured by them.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
ยท
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Battle Flag of 4th Georgia Regiment.
Battle Flag of the 14th Georgia Regiment.
Battle Flag of the 20th Georgia Regiment. Battle Flag of the 26th Georgia Regiment. Battle Flag of the 12th Georgia Battalion.
Federal Battery Flag captured with the guns of the enemy at the battle of Chancellorsville, by the 4th Geor- gia Regiment.
Two Battery Flags, captured at the battle of Gettys- burg by Gen. Doles' Georgia Brigade.
The following message was transmitted to the Gen- eral Assembly, to-wit :
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
November 28th, 1863.
To the General Assembly:
I herewith communicate copies of a letter received from Maj. Locke, the chief commissary of the Confeder- ate government in this State, in reference to the difficul- ties which he encounters in having manufactured the whis- key which the statute authorizes that government to have made in this State.
For the accommodation of the Confederate authori- ties, I recommend such change in the law as will remove
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the restriction complained of, to the extent that the dis- tiller who has already been licensed to make whiskey for the government shall not be prohibited from distilling corn furnished to him by the government, nor shall he be required to know where the government purchased the corn. I also recommend that such distillers for the gov- ernment be permitted to use rye, barley or shorts pur- chased within twenty miles of a railroad or navigable stream.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
[Enclosure.] OFFICE CHIEF COMMISSARY, Savannah, Nov. 25th, 1863.
To His Excellency Governor JOSEPH E. BROWN,
Milledgeville.
SIR: It is known to your Excellency that under Acts of the last Legislature, the Confederate Government was authorized to make contracts for the distillation in this State of one million gallons whiskey for the use of the troops. A few contracts have been made for this pur- pose, and of these nearly all, with one exception, that of Messrs. High, Lewis & Co., of Atlanta, have proved abor- tive. The quantity distilled by Col. Parr, on his contract with Maj. Allen, is quite insignificant.
Mr. Andrew Dunn, of Forsyth, after distilling a trifle more than 3,100 gallons, has lost his distillery by fire ; and your Excellency has withdrawn his license already, at my request. Of the 80,000 gallons attributed to High, Lewis & Co., they have not yet furnished more than about
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one-third, as our receipts and issues show. At the pres- ent moment, our sole reliance is upon them. Meanwhile unexpected difficulties of the greatest magnitude have interposed themselves-such as the price of labor, fuel, its transportation, hops and other material. The great- est obstacle, however, is found in the prohibition against taking their corn and small grains, consisting of rye, shorts and ship stuff, from any point within 20 miles of any railroad or navigable stream. It is extremely desir- able that this restriction should be removed: and I pro- pose that a bill be presented to the legislature withdraw- ing it. I therefore respectfully invoke the aid and coun- tenance of your Excellency in favor of the introduction of a bill in behalf of the Confederate Government embody- ing this feature.
I have the honor to remain,
your Excellency's most obedient servant,
J. L. LOCKE,
Major and Chief Commissary.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
November 30th, 1863. Dr. Geo. D. Phillips, Sup. W. & A. R. R.
DEAR SIR: It having been represented to me that on account of the great difficulty in procuring teams with
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STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN
which to haul wood for delivery along the line of road from places where contractors are able to procure it, the supply is about to run out, which event would be followed by very serious consequences in embarrassing the con- veyance of supplies to Genl. Bragg's army, and also to destitute portions of our own population.
To meet this emergency, you will direct the detail of soldiers, and also any other labor that is now or may be at your command for that purpose, to cut as much wood as may be necessary, from any timbered lands which may lie contiguous to the line of road, except groves, shade trees, and also rail and board timber.
For the purpose of compensation to the owners, you will cause all the wood cut to be carefully piled and measured, and tender to the owner, or cause the same to be done, one dollar per cord for all the wood so taken from his land, and if the owner is not content with the same, let the road choose some disinterested party and he another, who shall fix the value, on oath, and if they disagree, then to call in a third as umpire, and the amount so ascertained by them shall be the value paid by the road. You will pursue this course only so long as the emergency lasts, or until a supply is procured suf- ficient to enable you to get a start with the contractors, so as to keep the requisite supply on hand.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
The following special message was transmitted to the General Assembly, to-wit:
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EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
December 2d, 1863.
To the General Assembly:
As the Western & Atlantic Railroad is justly relied upon by the people of this State as a source of consider- able revenue, it becomes my duty to call the attention of the General Assembly to the present heavy losses sus- tained by the State in the transportation of freights for the Confederate Government. The rates now allowed by the goverment are the same that were agreed upon at the Augusta convention, when all the supplies used by the Road were worth in the market less than half their present market value, which rates are much less than half the prices charged to citizens of this State. I have therefore notified the proper officer that, in future, the Road will charge one hundred per cent. upon the rates now paid for the transportation of Confederate freight. With the heavy increase of expenses, it will not be possi- ble to make the Road a source of much revenue and charge less. I trust my action in this regard will meet the approval of the General Assembly.
It became absolutely necessary that we import some springs for cars and other necessary material for repairs. Since the General Assembly has convened, part of these have arrived at a Confederate port, and the cost to the Road will be over twenty-five times the old prices.
It is proper that I mention the additional fact that the amounts now charged by the Confederate officers for
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STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN
losses upon the Road amount to very heavy sums. These officers load their own cars at one end of the Road and frequently check out their own freights at the other end and charge the Road with such losses as they may choose to report. Under these circumstances, if a Confederate Quartermaster should be dishonest, he might appropriate to his use large amounts of freight and charge it to the Road as lost on the way.
It may be said that the authorities of the Road should see that they are not imposed upon in this way. In the present state of things, this is often impossible. Two or three freight trains arrive together, and the army needs the supplies and officers are sent with detachments of men to unload all at one time. Each checks out for himself and makes such report as he thinks proper, and the offi- cers of the Road can get no other account than the one rendered by the officers in charge of these detachments. What they choose to report as lost is charged up against the Road and withheld upon settlement of freight account.
Again, it frequently happens that the loaded trains have to lie over for a time before the Confederate officers are ready to receive the freights. While thus detained, they are often entered by bands of straggling soldiers and valuable articles taken from them, which the Road is required to pay for. Our freight cars have again and again been cut to pieces by the troops being transported in them over the Road, which often leaves freight in them exposed, after all possible energy has been exercised in making repairs. This causes much loss, not only of pub- lic but of private freights, for which the Road is held liable.
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CONFEDERATE RECORDS
To relieve the Road from these heavy losses, I pro- pose that the Confederate officers be permitted to load and unload their own cars, under the inspection of officers of the Road, at the place of shipment, and that the gov- ernment be permitted to send a guard upon each freight train, free of charge for transporting the guards, and that the Road shall not be liable for any losses which occur after the freights are placed upon the cars. I should be happy to know that the course which I propose to adopt in the above mentioned particulars meet the approval of the General Assembly.
I again beg to call your attention to the imperative necessity which exists for a change of the law which authorizes an increase of fifty per cent. only upon the salaries and pay of officers and employees of the Road over the rates which existed when they were paid upon the gold basis. The officers and employees can not live at these rates, and I shall be unable to work the Road much longer if I am not permitted to increase their pay. They have to perform great labor and take heavy respon- sibilities, and I think it right that the freights be in- creased, and that they be paid reasonable compensation.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
The following message was transmitted to the Gen- eral Assembly, to-wit :
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STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
December 4th, 1863.
To the General Assembly:
The report of the Commissary-General of this State has been delayed on account of difficulties in getting in report from the salt agent in the different parts of the State, as that department has been charged with the receipt and distribution of salt among the soldiers' fam- ilies.
I now have the pleasure to transmit copies* of both his military and salt report. These reports show that their author has been faithful and prompt in the discharge of his duties, and they also afford much interesting infor- mation.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA, December 5th, 1863.
Whereas, I have been notified that, by order of Sur- geon-General S. P. Moore, C. S. A., all [contracts] en- tered into by W. H. Prioleau, Surgical and Medical Pur- veyor, on the part of the Medical Department of the Con- federate Government, and Messrs. Shone and Crawford
* Reports not found.
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for the manufacture of alcohol and whiskey, have been cancelled; therefore it is
Ordered, That license No. 7, issued by me on the 21st day of January, 1863, to said Shone and Crawford, au- thorizing them to distill thirteen thousand gallons of whiskey for said department of the Confederate Govern- ment, near the city of Macon, in Bibb county in this State, be, and the same is, hereby revoked; and also, that license No. 8, issued by me on the said 21st day of January, 1863, to the said Shone and Crawford to distill for said medical department two thousand gallons of alcohol, near the city of Macon in said county of Bibb, be, and the same is, hereby revoked; and it is further
Ordered, That said Shone and Crawford, or one of them, or the person having charge of their distillery near the city of Macon, be served personally with a copy of this order by the sheriff, or his deputy, of said county of Bibb, and that this original order be returned to this de- partment with entry of such service thereon.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the Executive Department, this the 5th day of December, 1863. 1
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
By the Governor,
H. H. WATERS,
Sec'y. Ex. Dept.
,
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN 561
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
December 5th, 1863.
Whereas, It has been officially represented to me that it is confidently believed that the license issued on the 11th day of March, 1863, to William G. Smith authoriz- ing him to distill, in Campbell county, in this State, for medicinal, chemical and mechanical purposes, two thous- and gallons of whiskey for the use of the people of said county for said purposes, has been abused and perverted from the uses intended by the act of the General Assem- bly of this State, by authority of which it was issued; therefore it is
Ordered, That said license issued as aforesaid, being license No. 3, be, and the same is hereby revoked and de- clared, from this date forward, to be of no effect and void; and it is further
Ordered, That the sheriff, or his deputy, of said county of Campbell, do serve personally upon said Wil- liam G. Smith, or upon such person as shall have his distillery in charge, a certified copy of this order, and that he return to this department this original order with his entry of such service thereon.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the Executive Department, this 5th day of December, 1863.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
By the Governor,
H. H. WATERS, Sec'y. Ex. Dept.
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CONFEDERATE RECORDS
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
December 5th, 1863.
Whereas, It has been officially recommended to me by four of the Justices of the Inferior Court of the county of Carroll, in this State, to revoke the license issued by me on the 9th day of May, 1863, authorizing John B. Bailey to distill in said county twelve hundred gallons of whiskey for the use of the people of said county for medicinal, chemical and mechanical purposes, for the reason that said Bailey had, up to the 17th of November last, distilled and delivered only about one-fourth the said quantity of whiskey, and because of the scarcity of corn in said county ; therefore it is
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