| Office Charlotte & South Carolina
Railroad Co. |
| Charlotte, N. C. May 20, 1863 |
| |
| To His Excellency |
| Governor Vance |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| I have the pleasure to
acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 18th inst. stating that
you have been informed that the C. & So. Ca. R. R. has not
respected your proclamations forbidding the exportation of certain
articles from the state and that you hope this is incorrect &c. |
| While I did not concur in the
opinion that the constitution vested in the Governor of North Carolina
the power to enforce the several proclamations issued on this subject,
I nevertheless appreciated the motives & objects in view and
endeavored to enforce their provisions as far as consistent with all
my relations regarding the wants & dependence of our people upon
the grain of a neighboring state I accordingly instructed the agent of
the Road to ship from the state only in conformity to the exceptions
of the proclamations. This I believe he has substantially carried into
effect. The instances have been numerous under the exceptions of the
proclamations when the military authorities agents of towns counties
or private parties for their own consumption purchased & shipped. |
| In several instances
producers -- not speculators have been permitted to ship on the
express understanding that the freight was to be exchanged for or
proceeds invested in corn or salt to be returned to the state. In my
absence there may have been shipments of which I was not aware. While
this has been my policy in carrying into effect your proclamations,
more than five loads of other freights -- chiefly corn were daily
arriving in the state from So. Ca. for every one going out of
prohibited articles/under the exceptions or otherwise. Concurring
fully in your patriotic purpose to cheapen subsistence and with every
disposition to conform to your views & policy the subject has been
one of much embarrassment to me. Situated near the border of the state
& controlling a Road constructed by private enterprise, which has
created much mutual dependence in the commercial relations of the
citizens of different states, greatly increased by the troubles of
this Country I have encountered complaints from the citizens of both
states on this subject. |
| I have again today renewed my
instructions to Mr. Martin agent to ship out of the state no articles
forbidden by the recent proclamation. |
| Shall be pleased to receive
any suggestions from you on this subject and while appreciating your
courteous manner in calling it to my attention I have the honor to
remain very |
| respectfully your |
| Obt. Svt. |
| Wm. Johnston |
| Prest. |