the Government and non-producers the necessaries of life at reasonable preices the simplest and best plan-constitutional and therefore unobjectionable-is to dispense entirely with comissioners and fix by law a standard of prices; not forbid sales at other prices, but impose a tax upon all sales-and let that tax be the excess obtained by venders over the prices fixed by law. There would then be no inducement to dmand more than the prices fixed, but if sellers obtained more it would be received by the Government and credited to their patriotism.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

JOHN MILTON,

Governor of Florida.

[Inclosure Numbers 1.]

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Tallahassee, July 30, 1864.

To the PEOPLE OF FLORIDA:

FELLOW-CITIZENS: Current events admonish us of the absolute necessity of immediatae preparation to defend Florida against the raids and attack of an enemy who are attempting to subjugate the people of the Confederate States by the basest means, regardless alike of the laws of civilization and of sentiments of humanity. Murder and robbery mark their footsteps, and with instinctive cowardice and meanness they offer the grossest insults to unprotected women and children. Aided by deserters, they are making destructive incursions in various parts of the State, and the time has arrived when every citizen capable of bearing arms, not actually in the military service of the Confederate States, should take up arms in defense of his country and State. The services of all are demanded and required. As fathers, husbands, brothers-as freemen-I call upon you to defend at every hazard and at every necessary sacrifice your property and your homes, the honor of your wives, your sisters, and your daughters, the high character of your State, and your rights as freemen. The orders necessary for the preparation to repel the threatened dangers have been issued, and it is hoped will be promptly and cheerfully complied with.

All who hold civil offices which exempt them from Confederate servince, and who have been exempted from such service on the ground that their services were "necessary for the administration of the State government," and who, under the laws of the State, are liable to do militia duty and who yet shall refuse or neglect to enroll their names for the defense of the State, shall be considered as desiring to enter the military service of the Confederate States rather than serve as State troops. Their services will longer be considered by me as "necessary to the administration of the State government" and they will become subject to be enrolled as conscripts as conscripts for military service in the Army of the Confederate States. I cannot be presumed that any one capable of bearing arms will hesitate or fail to take up arm sand vindicate the cause of freedom, or will shrink from the high and holy duty of defending the Government from which he claims protection and which alone can protect the rights of himself and of his fellow-citizens. It is not contemplated to keep in campts or to keep in constant service the forces which have been ordered to be organized, but to have them ready as minutemen, to act as emergencies may require. If the militia organizations necessary to immediate defense can be accomplished by all of those capable of bearing arms immediately associating themselves voluntarily in the formation of companeis, volunteer companies would be much