April 9, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
MONTGOMERY, April 5, 1861.
The first of the Treasury notes have been issued and are now being signed rapidly. The first was taken by Judge A.B. CLITHERALL, the Register of the Treasury and Navy, instead of coin, for their salaries. There is considerable competition for the first bond of the Confederate States, and twenty per cent premium has already been offered for it. The form of these Treasury notes is as follows:
Twelve months after date the CONFEDERATE STATES will pay to bearer, $50, with interest at half a cent per day. Montgomery, ALEX. B. CLITHERALL, Register. E. C. ELMORE, Treasurer.
Receivable in payment of all dues except duties.
The vignette is a plantation scene–three negros hoeing cotton, one with a basket–fields and mansion in the background. They are of different denominations from fifty to five hundred.
In reply to the Treasury circular issued to the Banks, the President and Directors of the Banks of Charleston, Augusta and Savannah have agreed to the proposition, and will redeem, in coin, all notes of their respective banks which have been paid to the government for stock in the new loan. I am informed upon good authority that the Central Bank of Alabama, as well as the other suspended Banks in this State, will agree to the same. The Central Bank has been retarded in its action on account of the absence of some of the directory. There is no doubt of its course, however.
Nothing in particular has been done in the Navy Department, as all its operations must be slow. A few appointments have been made in the Marine Corps:
Captains. George Holmes, Florida; A. J. Hays, Alabama; R. T. Thorn, Alabama; A. C. Van Benthuysen, Louisiana.
First Lieutenants. C. L. Sayre, Alabama; H. L. Ingraham, South Carolina; B. K. Howell, Louisiana.
All these are officers resigned from the United States service, except Captains THORN and VAN BENTHUYSEN. They are all the civilians that have been appointed or that will be at present.
Despatches were received from Washington today stating that the United States had given the order for the reinforcement of Fort Pickens. This indicated the course that would be pursued, but per contra despatches were sent from the best authority saying that the question of practicability was seriously discussed, and the prevailing opinion was that LINCOLN had not backbone enough to enforce the order. The news served to draw the attention of the Administration more closely to the state of our army at Pensacola, and more troops will be sent, with orders for vigilance. The first of the Georgia battalion, which left Macon this morning, will arrive here tonight. Two hundred will then arrive in each succeeding train until all are sent on. The army list is now being arranged and classified, and will be finished in a few days. I shall endeavor to obtain an early copy of it for the benefit of your readers.
I called upon the Attorney General yesterday. He now has his Department arranged and in good working order. All the Confederate Courts have been established, and the officials appointed. The following judicial appointments have been made:
Alabama. Judge, William G. Jones; Marshal, Benjamin Patterson; District Attorney, A. J. Requier.
South Carolina. Judge, Andrew G. Magrath; Marshal, Daniel H. Hamilton; District Attorney, James Conner.
Georgia. Judge, Henry R. Jackson; Marshal, James M. Spullock; District Attorney, Hamilton Couper.
Mississippi. Judge, William Lanier Harris; Marshal, H. H. Tison; District Attorney, Carnot Posry.
Louisiana. Judge, – , Marshal, C. B. Beverly; District Attorney, Henry C. Miller.
Florida. Judge, Jesse J. Finley; Marshal, Elias E. Blackburn; District Attorney, D. P. Holland.
In Admiralty Court at Key West. Judge, McQueen McIntosh; Marshal, F. J. Moreno; District Attorney, John L. Tatum.
Texas. Judge, John Hemphill was appointed, but will not accept the position. As yet, no person has been selected to succeed him. Marshall, Wm. J. Austin; District Attorney, George Mason.
Assistant Attorney-General, Wade Keyes, of Alabama; Superintendent of Public Printing, George. E. W. Nelson, of Georgia.
It has been a matter of great surprise here that supplies are continued to be furnished to Major ANDERSON from the Charleston markets. It is conceded on all hands that the evacuation of Fort Sumter must be the result of necessity–that the U. S. Government cannot possibly reinforce or raise the siege before capitulation will have become necessary from starvation. This want of provisions is then the immediate cause of ANDERSON’S dependent condition, and this cause is being obviated by the course referred to. Why, then, is this done? If the peaceful evacuation of Fort Sumter is desirable, why postpone, and mayhap prevent, the evacuation from taking place? While speaking upon this subject, I have learned, as I telegraphed you, that the order to cut off supplies has been sent from the War Department.
TROUP.