Letter from Howell Cobb to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 30, 1861

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Letter from Howell Cobb to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 30, 1861

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People

Cobb, Howell, 1795-1864 Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889 Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867

Organizations

Armories Confederate States of America--Congress

Places

Alabama--Montgomery County. Montgomery Military Forts Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Navy-yards and naval stations

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[seal]

Montgomery, Ala., March 30th, 1864.

To His Excellency,
Governor Pettus,
Jackson, Miss

Sir: In accordance with instructions from the Congress of the Confederate States of America, I have the honor to transmit, herewith, the Report and Resolutions, below

Respectfully,
Y'r Ob't Serv't,
HOWELL COBB,
President of the Congress.

The Judiciary Committee to which was referred the subject of the public lands, lying within the limits of the Confederate States, beg leave to

REPORT:

That in the opinion of this Committee, the Provisional Government has no power or juris-diction over the public lands, forts, arsenals, navy yards, light houses, and other public establish-ments within the limits of the several States. But they would respectfully recommend, that the several States, in which any of the public works aforesaid may be situated, should, at as early a day as practicable, make cession of the same to the Confederate States.

They would also recommend that, in the event the several States aforesaid, should not cede the public lands within their limits to the Confederate States, they should at least acknowledge their liability to indemnify the Confederate States, for any amount which the Confederate States may, by treaty, undertake to account for to the United States, for or on account of said lands, in proportion to the quantity of lands received by each State.

They would farther recommend to the said States, that they should cede to the Confederate States so much of the lands reserved by the Government of the United States, orother vacant public lands in their respective limits, as may be necessary for timber, or lumber, fornaval or other purposes of public concern.

They beg leave to recommend this course to the Congress, and pray to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. All which is respectfully submitted.

RESOLUTIONS IN REFERENCE TO FORTS, DOCK YARDS, RESERVATIONS AND PROPERTY CEDED TO THE CON-FEDERATE STATES.

Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States, That the Congress do recommend to the respective States to cede the Forts, Arsenals, Navy Yards, Dock Yards, and other public establishments within their respective limits to the Confederate States, and, moreover to cede so much of the lands reserved heretofore by the Government of the United States, or other public vacant lands in their respective limits, as may be necessary for timber or lumber for naval or other purposes of public concern ; and that the President of Congress be requested to communicate these resolutions and the accompanying report to the Governors of the respective States.

Resolved further, That in case of such cession, the President be and he is hereby authorized and empowered to take charge of any such property ceded.

HOWELL COBB,
President of the Congress.

Approved, March 15th, 1861.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

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March 30^th 1861
Howell Cobb.