James A. Seddon to His Excellency President Davis, January 1, 1864

Apri 7, 1864.

Apri 7, 1864. His Excellency JOSEPH E. BRown, Governor of Georgia:

S1r: I have the honor to acknowledge your letter inclosing a resolution of the General Assembly of Georgia recommending that no obstacle be interposed to the conscription under recent laws of the Confederate Congress of such persons as have been enrolled under the State laws, and desiring that the Secretary of War of the Confederate States be requested to exonerate from any penalties imposed by the Confederate law on such persons so enrolled as had failed to comply with the called-for enrollment under the Confederate law within a specified time.

While I will not disguise the feelings that even greater satisfaction would have been experienced from the cordial approval by your General Assembly of the wisdom of the Confederate law, yet it is gratifying to have the evidence afforded by the resolution of the Assembly of the spirit of harmonious co-operation and patriotic zeal that animated their deliberations. I take pleasure in responding to their request, that on reference to the Conscript Bureau, which is charged with execution of the Confederate law, I am informed that no measures have been taken which as yet have imposed penalties on those enrolled under the late law, and that opportunity has been and will be afforded allsuch to report themselves or volunteer before they will be subjected to the proscribing penalties. I should add the additional pleasure I have found in the assurance that your own original objections to the Confederate law will be relinquished in deference to the decision of your Assembly, and my hope that a spirit of wise conciliaCONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. PALE

tion and forbearance will always avoid any conflict, so much to be deprecated between Confederate and State authorities.

Very respectfully, yours,

Secretary of War.

ATLANTA, April 7, 18€4.

His Excellency President Davis:

My DEAR Sir: As you are aware, I submitted an application to you

in February last for the appointment of brigadier-general to command

a portion of the reserve forces in this State to be organized under the

late law of Congress. I inclose copies of the indorsements made upon