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Cljc Camden Confederate. VOLUME II CAMDEN, SO. CA., FRIDAY7OCTOBER 2, 18(?3. NUMBER 49 J l)e Qinmiifn Qionffkriitc ; at tiireb dollars a yeah, | payable invariably half-yearly in advance ( Terms tor Advertising: For one Square?twelve lines or less?TWO DOLLARS for tho lirst insertion, and ONK DOLLAll 1 AND l-IFTY CKNS for each subsequent. Ol.t'jauy Notices, exceeding one Square, charged !o at advertising rates. * < Transient Advertisements and Job WorK MUST DM , PAID FOR-IN ADVANCE. N?> deduction made, except to our regular advertising ' natrons. , J. T, HERSHMAN" Kditor. j tiOVEKKOR BOKISATI^ 1 Executive Department, ) 1 Columbia, September 21, 1803. } j Gentlemen of the Senate i . and House of Representatives: The day for your annual meeting is $o near \ at hand that I should not have invoked you , again in extra session, but for what I deem a J pressing emergency admitting of no delay. The . progress of the war tor the last few months has 1 not been favorable to our arms. The brilliant i repulse of the enemy's iron-clad fleet on the | 7th of April last, in Charleston harbor, has < been succeeded by the fall of Yicksburg and ' Port Hudson; our retirement from Pennsyl- < mn M niM'l'ilw1 o li/l fl\ I ? ? ? I nceno ntwl olen !?* 1 I vein jo, mm | uvuu aim ciiavi aiou u \ j our evacuation of Morris' Island, but not with- i out a stubborn resistance i>y the brave garrisons \ of Wagner and Gregg, under a fire from navaj and land batteries such as no works have ever before withstood. . o ; Fort Sumter still holds out with an infantry garrison, which has recently achieved a brilliant success. Her noble ruins afford the best , proofs of the indomitable courage of the officers and ujen of the First South Carolina Ar tillcry. Our malignant foe is now erecting on ( Morris' Island powerful batteries of I'arrott ( guns, and repairing his damaged licet, preparatory to another and more determined attack . upon our harbor out posts, whilst his land forces j are being increased,with the hope, possibly, of carrying Charleston in*a combined attack by land and sea. The call of the 1'resident for , live thousand troops for si* months' service within the State, beginning the first of August ' o O O last, has been promptly responded to, with the exception of five companies, now in process of organization. This requisition and the enforcement of the Conscription Act to forty-live, em- . bracing almost the entire population between , the ages of lortv and fifty, so impairs the cfli- . eioney of our militia organization that I find it impracticable to obtain readily a force adequate to such emergencies as seem likely now soon ] to be upou us. To meet those emergencies I j have endeavored, under vour late Act and the , Act of 1841, to raise a volunteer force of one | mounted regiment, two .companies of cavalry j and one battery of artillery, for service whor- j ever in the State tbey may bo needed. This . force has not been so promptly raised as the occasion requires, and I have, therefore, felt it i my duty again to convene your bodies, and to < recoiiiint';. ! to you that you devise such plan, as in voir .sdom may seem expedient, for | furnishing i.?r immediate service a military i force of at ieast ?v\o regiments of infantry, one | of which should be mounted, and a proportion- i ate force of cavalry and artillery. Abo, that the law he so amended as to place in some mil- . itary organization, for the defence of the Slate every able bodied citizen between the ages of sixteen and sixty, not in-Confederate service or otherwise legally exempted. The immediate danger to l>e apprehended arises from raiding parties of the enemy, who may dash suddenly into the State from Tennessee, through Upper Georgia, or the pass< s of the mountains of North and South Carolina. Should the cue my in large force attempt invasion from these sections, the Confederate Government will no doubt, afford adecpiatc protection. But, to report raids and to protect our firesides, the State herself should make preparation. The persons to compose the organizations should be the ablcd bodied citizens between sixteen and sixty years of age, not in Confederate service or oth- ; urwisc legally exempted; and in this class should be embraced all persons who have procured exemptions by furnishing substitutes. No one > should be relieved from the duty of defending; his home because of having furnished a substi- ' tute for the war for Confederate service. Aliens ' who have declared their purpose to become j citizens, as also such as are domiciled amongst; ' r> us, enjoying the protection of our laws, should 1 he included. I recommend, also, that the class j of those whose service is limited to the district or regiment in which they reside, be reduced to the lowest practicable pyint consistent with j the safe policy of the State. I call, your attention to the report of the Adjutant and Inspector General upon the subject, herewith transmitted. In connection with the subject of cxemp- j Lions, 1 call your attention to my correspond- ; mice with the Commandant of Conscripts for ! South Carol in, Major C. 1), Melton, who is the j successor of Col. John S. Picston, with whom,' previous to your last extra session, I had a cor- ' respondent, a copy of which was then transmitted to you. Another copy, as also a copy >f that with Maj. Melton, is now transmitted, rhis subject calls for legislation so as to reconcile as far as possible the difference between the laws of the two Governments. It is an impor- ' tant question involving the jurisdiction of the two Governments, and needs to be delicately handled. I am satisfied our true policy is, as far as is compatible with the constitutional j rights of the State, to conform to the law of Congress on this subject. I bave not felt at liberty to make any distinction between the classes exempted by our law when the cases have been made, but bave claimed the exemption of all alike. The action of the Executive Council, on the same subject, and the action of your two Houses, at your last session (the House approving and the Senate by its silence acquiescing) made it proper that I should reply to Maj. Melton as I had done to Col. Preston. Additional legislation is needed to enable the i Executive, through civil or military authority, I or both, more effectually to aid the Confcdcr- j ate Government in arresting deserters from the army. In most cases the absentees have prob- j ably not left their commands with the intent 1 to desert their colors; but the result of their j absence is the same, so tar as the good of the service and protection of the country .is concerned. 1 have endeavored, so far as 1 was authorized, to afford assistance, but the law is j inadequate to such efficient aid as is needed. Many construe your late Act on this subject to mean .hat the Sheriffs are not to render aid to the Enrolling Olliccr till resistance has been! made. In all such cases the deserter, of course j * ! makes his escape. Such law as you may think proper to pass should embrace deserters from State service, and should also punish aiding and in resisting or avoiding arrest. 1 invite your attention to the operation of the system of impressment adopted l-y thir Confederate Government. 1 am informed that i in some sections \yhcre the people have little ! more than is absolutely necessary for their own use, it is apprehended that destitution will be brought about by its unequal operation. Coming as you do from every section of the State; you are doubtless bettor informed upon this subject than myself, and better prepared to adopt a judicious policy than I am now to suggest it. I have called the attention of the Confederate Government to the subject; and suggested to them the probability that the collection of that tax in kind, which operates more equally on all, would obviate the necessity for the impressment of provisions. The system adopted for furnishing labor for const defenccfc has failed to accomplish its mir 1 A pose. Large numbcfs havo availed themselves of the provision of the law and paid the line of one dollar and fifty conts instead of furnishing the labor; and others, with the hope of impunity, have neither furnished the labor or paid the fine. With the money collected by the agent he has been unable to hire any labor. I recommend an amendment of the Acts 011 | this subjeot, so as to abolish the line and so as | to authoii/e the Governor, through the Com- | 0 missioneis of Moads, (who in the main are true ! 1 to their trust,) to impress the labor requisite to i I' enable him to respond to the en Is of the ; * Commanding General, giving credit for all la- ! bor previously furnished, and that the time of 11 service be extended to two months. The free 1 negroes should be included. I doubt not that J there has been cause for the complaint hereto- ' fore made as to the treatment and detention 1 of the negroes, but it is believed that through 1 the instrumentality of the energetic State Agent, 1 (whose report is herewith transmitted,) many 1 of the evils have been remedied. M. L. BONIIAM. i The Trouble** in Iredell and Wilkes. ^ Wo find the following in the Iredell Kxprcss, of Thursday : Considerable excitement was produced in ^ this place on last Wednesday morning by a re- ' port coining from the neighborhood of Jacob 1 Fralcy, Esq., that a number of deserters in that c section had massed themselves for a battle with I a portion of the State Guard, from Camp Vance, * commanded by Lieut, liobards. It appears that the people of that region had appointed a day for a Union meeting in the yicinitv ot Esquire Fraley's, and had extended ( an invitation to the deserters and skulkers thereabouts to attend and take part in the pro- * ceedings. The guard marched from near this 1 place Monday night and reached the place ' where the meeting was to be held about daybreak Tuesday, a distance of twenty miles. After the meeting asseidbled, (a large nuin- ber of women being present,) the guard and mili'ia surrounded the building and took possession of the ring-leaders, letting the females and a number of citizens loose, retaining under guard five deserters who were present and the 1 chairman, a Mr. John Diffee, who is from appearance seventy five years old and quite infirm. About one hundred and sixty deserters were 1 on their way to the rendezvous, but would not ' advance nearer than Warren's Bridge-, (three miles distant from the place of meeting,) on learning of the presence of the guard. The supposition was they were waiting for reinforcements from Trap 11*11, in Wilkes County, and intended attacking the next day; but the guard weVe disappointed on reaching the place of an anticipated battle the following morning, ! the deserters having skedaddle*! to the mountains in Wilkes. An attempt was made on Tuesday night, to 1 release the prisoners who were being conveyed to Camp \ ancc, by a pni t\ of sixteen citizens, but <1 nl not succeed in their object, one of whom ' was captured early Wednesday morning and confessed being one of the parly. Two militia oilicers were .also arrested iho same da\ for aiding and .abetting deserters. ? >n Thursday, these men were placed, under guard of militia, to bo brought to this place, but on reaching a creek within four miles of here, they escaped through negligence of a portion of the men under whose care they had been placed for safe deliverance into the jail, prior to their shipment, to Camp Vance. A Tasspokt foii Non-com hat ants:?The Columbia Carolinian vouches for the following "case:1' A lady presented herself at Branchville to enter the car for Charleston. The sentinel told her it was contrary to law, and she could not go. She ordered him twice to take down his musket, which barred the entrance. , lie refused. She drew a revolver, and point- , ing it. at him, threatened to shoot him if he ( persisted in excluding her. With some surprise, he demanded, "Arc you a man in woman's clothes?" "No." was the reply, " 1 am a woman." "Then come in," said the sentipel, "for hang me ii I light a .woman, or be killed by one; you can't be classed with non-combatants, and they are what I am ordered to keep frr?m ooinor to (diarleston." So she was reeoor "w ? j nized as a belligerent power, and allowed to J pass. Kcr?liivw'g Brigade. I At a meeting of this Brigade, upon motion f Lieut. Col. Gail Hard of the 2d S. C.,regiment he body was organized bv calling Brig. Gen. < vershaw to the Chair, and appointing Adju- j1 ant Y. J. Pope Secretary. Gen. Kershaw explained the object of the g neeting to be to consider whether or not the I Misrepresentation of one of our leading State fl ournals, concerning the opinion the army en- fl ertained of the President, should be corrected ? >V the expression of the true feelings of tho nl brigade towards our worthy Chief Magistrate. fl Vfier which the meeting was declared ready ^ or business. ft Col. .lames D. Nance, of the 3d S. C. regi- 1 nent, thou said in substance: It is cause for iegret, Mr, Chairman, that any necessity should lave arisen for us to join issue with any portion of our fellow, citizens; and that thus an ap- ffj )earance is given that the unanimity aud liar- 'j liony of our State (which has always been her I thief glory) is disturbed. I think the policy of fl ivory one should be to avoid irritating issues or irovoking discussions which are likely to lead ^ o divisions and dissensions. But when we aro <1 o far misrepresented on a subject vitally afccting the efficiency of the army, and, as we ?elieve, the welfare of the country, it becomes ? >ur imperative duty to respectfully repel the jpinions attributed to us. If is not proposed ^ 0 raise a partisan issue, or to deny in an n 11 be- j mining spirit the allegations of one of the most . prominent papers in our State. * ' Whatever opinions I have hitherto held or loclarcd, have, for the most part, as some of iron know, been in harmony with those which 1 ' * iiave been so ably announced and supported ' by the Charleston Mercury. I am, therefore, 1 without prejudice. But I have never agreed ' with the Mercury, or those who agrees with it 1 in opposition to the President. Before Mr. 1 l>?vis was elected to his elevated and respon- ^ sible office 1 thought him'tho fit mar. wc had for President, agd, in my humble judgment, ho lias since vindicated this opinion. Apart from these considerations, the necessities of the times require of us all a heavy support of the President, who is bending his best energies and abilities for the good and independence of. our I countrv. Least of, all, should we, by our silence, give a tacit acknowledgement that the 1 n o Mercury has correctly spoken oui opinions in saying wo (a portion of the army) have "lost confidence in the President." The. paper which I now submit, it is cousid. crcd, embraces in substance and spirit what is piopcr 011 this subject. 1 submit, Mr. Chairman, tiie following paper for the consideration01'the meeting: A portion of the army from South Carolina have, bv the accident of republication in a T ? L liichmond paper, been made aware of the following misrepresentation of their opiuion: Speaking of the President, the Charleston Mercury is represented as saying, "He has lost the confidence* of both the army and the people." Among the first troops of South Carolina to enter the service of the Confederate States, this brigade allirms their entire confidence, admiration and respect for the President, and they believe their sentiments are shajred by the army of Northern Virginia, for which South Carolina knows they have as clear a right to speak as any troops representing her in the field;. Upon motion, the paper thus submitted was unanimously adopted and ordered to be printed in the Charleston Courier, Charleston Mercury, Southern Guardian, and South Carolinian, with the request that the other papers in the State copy. The meeting then adjourned. Brig. (ion. .J, B. KERSHAW, President. V. J. Popk, Secretary. UltID iE NOTICE. THK REFUGEES FROM THE LOW COUNTRY, residing in Camden or the vicinity, are invited to extend their pleasure rides across tho Bridgo over the Watoree River, at their will, free of charge. By order of Directors. JOHN M. DeSAUSSURE, Prcs't. September 18 #