The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-04 00:00:00

people to state that no manufacture of counterfeit
notes exists within our limits, and that they are all
imported from the Northern States.

" The report of the Secretary of Wa-, which is
submitted, contains numerous suggestions for the
legislation deemed desirable in order ti: add to the
efficiency of the service. I invite your favourable
consideration especially to those recommendations
which are intended to secure the proper execution
of the conscript law, and the consolidation of com-
panies, battalions, and regiments, when so reduced
in strength as to impair that uniformity of organi-
sation which is necessary in the army, while an
undue burden is imposed on the Treasury. The
necessity for some legislation for controlling mili-
tary transportation on the railroads, ad improving
their present defective condition, forces itself upon
the attention of the government; and I trust that
you will be able to devise satisfactory measures for
attaining this
purpose. The legislation on the sub-
ject of general officers involves the service in some
difficulties, which are pointed out by the secretary,
and for which the remedy suggested by him seems
appropriate. In connection with this subject lam
of opinion that prudence dictates some provision
for the increase of the army in the event of emer-
gencies not now anticipated. The very large in-
crease of forces recently called into the field by the
President of the United States may render it neces-
sary hereafter to extend the provisions of the con-
script law, so as to embrace persons between the
ages of 36 and 45 years. The vigour and efficiency
of our present forces, their condition, and the skill
and ability which distinguish their leaders, inspire
the belief that no further enrolment will be neces-
sary; but a wise foresight requires that if a neces-
sity should be suddenly developed during the recess
of Congress requiring increased forces for our de-
fence, means should exist for calling such forces
into the field without awaiting the re-assembling of
the legislative department of the government.
" In the election and appointment of officers for
the provisional army, it was to be anticipated that
mistakes would be made, and incompetent officers
of all grades introduced into the service. In the
absence of experience, and with no reliable guide
for selection, executive appointments as well as elec-
tions have been sometimes unfortunate. The good of
the service, the interests of our country, require
that some means be devised for withdrawing the
commissions of officers who are incompetent for the
duties required by the position, and I trust that you
will find means for relieving the army of such offi-
cers by some mode more prompt and less wounding
to their sensibility than judgment of a court-mar-
tial. Within a recent period we have effected the
object so long desired, of an arrangement for the
exchange of prisoners, which is now being executed
by delivering at the points agreed upon, and which
will, it is hoped, speedily restore our brave and un-
fortunate countrymen to their places in the ranks
of the army from which, by the fortune of war, they
have for a time been separated. The details of this
arrangement will be communicated to you in a
special report when further progress has been made
in their execution.

" Of other particulars concerning the operation
of the War Department you will be informed by
the secretary in his report and the accompanying
documents.

" The report of the Secretary of the Navy em-
braces a statement of the operations and present
condition of this branch of the public service both
afloat and ashore; the construction and equipment
of armed vessels at home and abroad, the manufac-
ture of ordnance and ordnance stores, the establish-
ment of workshops, and the development of our re-
sources of coal and of iron. Some legislation seems
essential for securing crews for vessels. The diffi-
culties now experienced on this point are fully
stated in the secretary's report, and I solicit your
attention to providing a remedy.
" The report of the Postmaster General discloses
the embarrassments which resulted in the postal
service from the occupation by the enemy of the
Mississippi River, and portion of the territory of
the different states. The measures taken by the
department for relieving these embarrassments, as
far as practicable, are detailed in the report. It is
a subject of congratulation that, during the ten
months which ended on the 31st March last, the
expenses of the department were largely decreased,
whilst its revenue was augmented, as compared
with a corresponding period, ending on the 30th
June, 1860, when the postal service for these states
was conducted under the authority delegated to the
United States. Sufficient time has not yet elapsed
to determine whether the measures heretofore de-
vised by Congress will accomplish the end of
bringing the expenditures of the department
within the limit of its own revenues by the Ist of
March next, as required by the constitution.

" I am happy to inform you that in spite both of
blandishments and threats, used in profusion by the
Government of the United States, the Indian na-
tions within the Confederacy have remained firm in
their loyalty and steadfast in their treaty engage-
ments with this Government. Nor has their
fidelity been shaken by the fact that, owing to the
vacancies of some of the offices of agents and super-
intendents, delay has occurred in the payment of
the annuities and allowances to which they are en-
titled. I would advise some provision authorising
payments to be made by other officers in the
absence of those especially charged by law with this
day.

" We have never ceasing cause to be grateful for
the favour with which God has protected our infant
Confederacy. And it becomes us reverently to re-
turn onr thanks, and humbly to ask of His boun-
teousness that wisdom which is needful for the per-
formance of the high trusts with which we are
charged. " JEFFERSON DA VIS.
" Richmond, August 15,1862."
Among the proceedings in the Confederate
House of Representatives on the first day of the
session were the following :
A bill was introduced making Treasury notes a
legal tender in payment of debts, and it was referred
to the committee on judiciary.
A resolution was passed directing the committee
on military affairs to inquire into the expediency of
compelling the commissariat department to furnish
the soldiers with more and better food.
Bills were introduced to extend the application
of the Conscript Act to all citizens under 45 years
of tagee; to provide that slaves taken in arms shall
be delivered up to the authorities of the state in
which tired, to be disposed of according to its
la
white officers, either to be hung or
ws, ac nadPf the
delivered up
to the state authorities. Also several
r billso
vd foreda
thatt o
any rY
purposes, among which it is
pFederal officers who may have
irel i aat
refused to treat Confederate soldiers as prisoners,
or punished innocent private citizens, shall be put
to death if captured;
that an equal number of P ri-
soners (officers preferred) shall suffer the fate
uin-
flicted on captured Confederate soldiers or citizens;
that Federal armies incongruously composed of
white and black, shall not he held entitled to the
privileges of war, or to be
taken
prisoners, and that
of suchas may be captured the negroes shall be re-
turned to their masters, or publiecommandersale
convenient.
The
to be hung or shot
OS od
be most
sold, l
may, and their
measures were referred to the mili-
taryßills were likewise offe
committee.
ing of 250,000 additionarled providing
- for the rais-
export
duty on cotton and tobaccomen, and for an
in indemnifying the losses
c:fot. 20 per cent., to aid
al:tiros by the enemy.
re
cc
er uthitesreinto R
fullyi c h
it is asserted that the erriv
mond had raised the Confederatedfaor
what it was before the seven
about a q uarter of a million of meiTls fighting, i e.,'
The New York journals have flaming acco
the demonstrations in honour of General Ccrs of
in Philadelphia and New York. They claim trht:lt
the enthusiasm of the people was " tremendous,"
and that the crowd in New York to witness the
military and civic pageant was fully 200,000.

It is asserted that a junction had been effected
between the Federal armies in Virginia. Williams-
burg was evacuated by the Federals on the 20th
and burned, according to one despatch; but another
and later account is, that it Was not destroyed, but
remained still in possession of the Federals.
The Washington Star of the 22d says it has the
highest authority for stating that the rumours of a
disposition on the part of General M'Clellan to re-