|
{From the Journal of the
Convention of the People of at a Called Session, January 14, 1862}
|
|
|
|
Executive Department |
| Tallahassee, January 16, 1862 |
| |
| To the Hon. John C. McGehee, President of the
Convention |
|
|
|
Sir, |
|
***** |
|
At a time when an assault upon Fernandina was threatened
and expected, the Pensacola & Georgia Railroad Company had the
misfortune to lose by fire their Foundry, Machine Shops and one of
the Locomotives, all of the oils and materials necessary to the
operations of the road. I was informed by the President of the road,
that in consequence of the misfortune, for the want of the necessary
materials and the want of money to procure them, orders of the
officer in command of the military department could not be executed.
Gen. Trapier was at Fernandina gallantly awaiting the expected
attack of the enemy. The Confederate Government had neither money or
agent here to supply the means, and as the Governor of the State, I
procured by loan from the State Bank of Florida Five Thousand
Dollars, and advanced the amount to the road, it being necessary to
keep up the communication between the Capital and Fernandina, and
for the transportation of the forces, arms and munitions of war
necessary to the defence of Fernandina and East Florida generally.
The Executive does not claim to have done this as "a military
necessity" exclusively; but upon the good faith of the Confederate
Government to refund money advanced necessarily for the support of
military operations, as well as the promises of the President of the
Pensacola & Georgia Railroad Company, upon whose application the
money was advanced. The amount was borrowed in such money as could
be used in Savannah, not being able to obtain such funds under the
46th ordinance for equipments. |
|
***** |
|
Joseph Price |
|