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Executive Department;
Montgomery, March 10^th 1862.
Mr A[?] J. Con[?]. Athens, Limestone Co. Ala.
Dear Sir:
Your letter & report, of the 25^th Ult. to P. H. Brittan, Sec^y
of State, had been handed to this department, for answer.

The Governor directs me to inform you, that you are exempted
from Militia-duty, during the continuance of your agency, to collect -
purchase - or receive contributions of arms & munitions of War for the State;
Very Respectfully,
(Signed) Ja^s S. Albright
Private Secretary.

Executive Department;
Montgomery, Alabama, March 12^th 1862.
James Q. Smith, Esq^r
Dear Sir,
Your letter of the 8^th Inst., in relation to the
transfer of your brother from the "LaGrange Military School" to the
University of Alabama, has been received.

The Governor directs me to inform you, that, under the act -
referred-to in your letter, he has no power to authorize the
Superintendent of the University - to receive your brother - or any of the
Cadets of either of the Schools - mentioned in it - to be educated at
the University - at the expense of the State.
Very Resp^y c
(Signed) Ja^s S. Albright,
Private Secretary.

Executive Department;
Montgomery, Alabama, March 15^th /62
Hon J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, Richmond Virginia
Sir,
I beg leave, respectfully, to bring to your notice, that some
months since, Wm P Vanderveer - acting as agent in the Clothing
Department of Alabama, - supplied Lieut. Spalding - commanding a
Company of Col. T. Lomax' Regiment Ala. Vol. - with Clothing, for
which Lieut. S. - as the officer commanding the Company - executed
a clothing Contract to pay the State-agent the amount due, out
of the commutation money - when paid Lieut. S. has some time since -
received the Commutation-money for the Company, and repeated
applications have been made - by the State-agent, Mr Vandeveer - to him
for the money, but - so far - without being able to obtain it. Lieut.
S. has not - and I fear - will not pay the money.

Under the circumstances, I ask that Lieut. S. may be,
immediately arrested, and charges preferred against him for
unofficer-like Conduct. It is highly important that defalcations,
like these, should be met at the threshold, otherwise the evil
will spread. The State has - at this time - due it, from
Communtation-money, in the hands of officers commanding Companies -
nearly two hundred thousand dollars, and defalcations
will increase, unless thre first offenders are promptly punished -
A severe example would have the most beneficial effect.
I have the honour to be, c
Very respectfully
Your ob'^t Ser^t
(Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter. 120[?]

(Signed) Ja^s S. Albright,
Private Secretary.