Report from John Duncan to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; October 1, 1864

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Report from John Duncan to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; October 1, 1864

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People

Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Clemens, James L.Duncan, John Robinson, John W.Seddon, James A. (James Alexander), 1815-1880 Sherrod, Dempsey Virden, A.

Events

Finances Finances--Debt relief Legislation. Confederate States of America. Congress Legislation. Mississippi Legislation. Mississippi. Chapter XLIV (1864)Military Events--Impressment Military Events--Impressment. War Material Military Events--Invasions Political Office--Appointment to office Taxation

Military Units

United States. Army

Organizations

Confederate States of America--Congress Confederate States of America--Surgeon-General's Office Confederate States of America--Treasury Department Mississippi--Institute for the Deaf and Blind Mississippi--Legislature Mississippi--Legislature. Senate Mississippi--Treasury Department

Occupations

Auditors Legislators Treasurers

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Warren County. Vicksburg Virginia--Independent City. Richmond

Social Identifiers

Students

Page 1

[seal]

Jackson, MississippiOctober 1, 1864.

To His Excellencythe Governor—

Sir—

In obedience to a resolution of the Legislature, approved Dec. 7, 1863, requiring the Trustees of this, and other State Institutions, to report annually to the Governor, in lieu of biennially to the Legislature, we have the honor to submit that, at the date of our last report on the 2^dof November, 1863, Senate Journal, Appendix, pages 105@119, and to which reference is respectfully made, there remained in the hands of the treasurer a balance of $2,506.75.

Received Since that date from the

State of Mississippi	9,500.00
Confederate States	1,420.00
Corporation of Jackson, & others for rent	290.00
Sales of Rice	657.37
	$14,374.12
The actual expenditures during the same period were	15,408.09
Leaving a balance due the Treasury of	$1,033.97

to meet while, and scure $2000— more due by the

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Institution, we have only the regular advance Appropriation, now subject to draft, of ($2000) two thousand Dollars—

The sum of $15,608.⁰⁹ total expenditures¹, includes¹ the monthly accounts for the Superintendent—$270 paid for Rice, of which a portion was used by the Insti-tution, and the remainder sold for the sum of $757-⁵⁷ thus realising a profit of $487³⁷—one hundred of which yet remains to be Collected—also the sum of $1,410²⁶—being ¹/₃ off of $4,230⁷⁸ ($2000, of which being specially appropriated) the balance in Treasury, on the 1^st April last, when, by act of Congress, it was subject to this Tax. The Auditors of the Institution, like those of individuals, refusing, for weeks previous, to receive such funds at par. and, including, also $189.³⁶ incidental expenses, not passing thro' hands of Superintendent.

The sum of $9,500—, receiv'd from the State, includes the Special Appropriation of $2000, for repairs of premises, and removal of the School from [?], for particulars, ^of which,^ and information on other matters, reference is respectfully made to the accompanying report from the Sperintendent to this [Board?].

The $1,420— fom the Confederate States, were received in payment of a claim, long and justly due, for Furniture, &c. wrongfully impressed, and appropriated by officers of the Government—We respectfully ask Your Excellency's perusal of our late Ac report to

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the Legislature, Senate Journal, 107@108, in reference to this matter—The papers were sent to the proper Department, for final action, but subsequently were again returned for Certain Certificates. These, as has been already stated, could not be processed.

Independent of the great inconvenience, and loss, to which the Superintendent, and pupils, had been subjected by an arbitrary act of inferior officers of the Government, we considered it our duty as Trustees of the Institution, not to suffer our rights to be thus invaded, without remonstrances accordingly, a member of this Board proceeded to Richmond, where, bringing the matter before the Surgeon General, he promptly admitted its justice, Condemned the Course of his officers; and ordered partial payment of the claim—subsequently the case was brought before the Secretary of War, who ordered the remainder paid, and the same was collected a few weeks since. It is but fair to state that the cost, and expenses, attending the provacation, and collection of this claim, if charged, would amount to ~~[?]~~ not less than one half the ~~[?]~~sum received, yet this, of any part hereof, the member of the Board referred to declines reimbursement.

At the called Session of the Legislature, in March, and April last, a committee was appointed to enquire into the case of James L. Clemens, formerly a pupil of the Institution, who had presented a memorial

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to that body, praying to be reinstated; his request to that effect having been ~~deemed~~refused by the Board. [gap] We repeat, that in consequence of the then remote location of the Institution, the Committee found it inconvenient to assemble. The Institution being now again at its old location, in Jackson, the matter, in trust, will soon be acted upon.

The Board regret the necessity of asking your Excellency's special attention to an act passed at the late called Session of the Legislature, entitled

"An Act for the Relief of Dempsey Sherrod,"
approved, Aug. 12, 1864.

It is not our purpose to comment, at this time, upon the wisdom of the Legislature in thus introducing a foreign and independent element into an Institution when good government, and strict discip-line are so essential to success; nor do we intend, just now, to speak of the apparent disregard of the existence of this Board, when, without even our intimation that such a step was contemplated, an act was passed vitally impairing its authority and [Instructine?] of ~~its~~ the usefullness of the Institution, we wish, simply, to call your attention to the fact that in passing this law, the Honorable Legislature omitted to make any pecuniary appropriation to carry out its provisions. We beg again to refer to the report of the Superintendent accompanying this communication.

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For the first time during the administration of this Board, we find our Treasury empty, and the [Institutive?] sum of $3,000— in debt. Very little of this sum, we may add, is due to outsiders. Yet the debt exists and unless there should be a called Session of the Legislature, we will have to wait an entire year before we can receive additional appropriations from the State.

In this condition of affairs the question has presented itself thus: Shall we close the Institution, or increase our efforts to continue its usefulness? We have decided upon the latter; and although opposed in every way, to intercourse with the enemies of our Country, we consider it due to the Institution com-mitted to our care, to waive our personal objections, and to ask permission from the proper authorities, to send Cotton to Vicksburg, to purchase necessary articles for the pupils and employees of the Institution.

It is true that the Institution, in the present depleted condition of its

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Treasury, has no Cotton to sell, yet it is equally true that those who have sustained it thus far by their purse, their time, and their talents, will most cheerfully continue their aid and their assistance.

We are, Sir,
Very Respectfully,
Your Obt. Svts.

John Duncan
Jno. W. Robinson
A. Virden

Trustees of the State Institution
For the Blind.

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Institution for Blind.

Report of Board of Trustees.

1, Oct. 1864.