| Quarter Master General's Department |
| Richmond, April 18th 1864 |
| |
| Gov. J. E. Brown |
| Milledgeville, Geo. |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have only delayed a reply
to yours of 1st instant, that I might receive a full report of the
facts from Capt. Frizzell at Atlanta, who was charged with the duty of
paying the Western & Atlantic R. Road. This report had been called
for before the receipt of your letter; as I had been informed that you
directed the officers of the Road not to receive Confederate money at
par, soon after the passage of the recent currency acts. The facts now
seem to be all before me. |
| The first delay in paying
this Road occurred because its officers declined to allow the
deductions for losses as on all other Roads. As soon as you notified
me of the resolution of the Legislature on the subject, I instructed
Capt. Frizzell (Feb. 15th 1864) to pay the entire amount due without
any deduction, (keeping an account of losses for future use); &
informed your Excellency of the same on the 27th of the same month. On
the receipt of my instructions, Capt. Friggell offered to pay the
entire amount due, but the Treasurer declined to receive the money
until he had further instructions from you. Capt. Frizzell a few days
afterwards (March 2nd) made a formal offer in writing to pay the whole
amount due up to 31st Jan. '64 which was declined under your
instructions. |
| I would gladly yield to your
request, & pay the amount due this Road in the new currency; if I
could see any ground on which to base the distinction between this
& other claims of like character. All the other Roads received
payment in the old currency & most of them up to last day of
February. The Western & Atlantic Road is but a corporation,
though owned by the State of Georgia; & even if this be regarded
as a claim, due directly to a Sovereign State, unfortunately we
have a precedent which prevents the payment in the new currency. North
Carolina had a large claim for clothing furnished, the account of
which had been made up monthly. It was claimed that this amount being
due to a State should be placed on a different footing &
paid in new currency. The matter was fully discussed; & payment
was made in the old currency, for everything due up to 1st March.
For amount due 1st April payment is to be made in new currency; &
I will be happy to pay the West. & At. R. R. in the same way. |
| Should you desire to verify,
the facts, dates etc of this letter, Captain Frazzill will be
instructed to furnish you copies of all papers bearing on the question
in his possession. It is painful to me to be placed in a position of
apparent antagonism to the claims of my state; but a definite rule of
action must be adhered to, in order to do justice to all. The Treasury
Department, not the QMaster settled the rule by which payment should
be made for supplies furnished, or services performed, before 1st of
April. |
| A. R. Lawton, Q. M. Genl. |
|