Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1847-02-18

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DECLARES IN 81 he act cft1s repsellc q Ae<l-
"a. : 1lSfo 81 var exists betNsea list t{osefa-
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III. Nm NJ nnllfcr1bic purpose since The i
.~amnSnes1n61i a localities 81 Mexico, and The
IseIsrS1;cn 81 f,s oSislcnce Of war b. Congress.
b prosrcuic lEe u1r N which the country was
unssoid8tiy Involved Nish the utnos, snergy, with
view d lie SPEEDY and snecsssful Ter nination'
81 n honorable peace.
Accordingly, ~ he opergtions Of orr naval /
and military iorces bape been directed with this
view. While the sword has been held IN one /
hand, and orr military movement pressed forward /
into the enemys country, and IL coasts invested
By cur navy, The tender Of an honorable peace |
has been constantly presented 70 Mexico IN the |
other. II
Hitherto lie ovsrtures Of peace which have
been made u this government have not been ac-
cepted by Mexico. With view 10 avoid q pro-
1rscted war which hesiiancy and delay on our
pan would be 60 well calculated TO produce,
Informed ron, Ia ny annual message Of the 9Th
December last, tlAt the war would continue to
BE- prosecuted with yigor = The best means u Sc
curing pc.eeT and recommend 70 your early and
a1sorabie con11oE.flon The Measures proposed BY
The Secretary 81 War, In his report accompanying
thai message.
Ii my message Of the 4th January last, these
and other measures deemed to Be essential 70 the
= speedy and successful termination Of the war,
and the attainment Of Just and honorable peace,
were recommended 70 yeur early and favorable
consideration. 8a
q war with such power Is Mexico, would be .
course Of indecislon and inactivity on oar part
Being charged BY the constitution and the laws
with the eondncfof the wa, have availed myself
Of al the means At my command TO prosecute Il
with energy and vigor
The eel 10 raise for limited time an addition
ii military force, and for other purposes" and
which authorizes the raising Of ten additional re-
gimsnts 70 the regular army, to serve during The
war, and to b disbandoned at it termination,
which was presented TO me On the 18th instant,
and approved on that day, viii constitute an impor-
tant part 81 our military force. These regiments
win Be raised and moved % the scat Of war with
the least practicable delay.
Il will DO perceived that this act makes no pre-
vision fer the organization into brigades and Iii.
visions Of tie Increased force which i authorizes
nor for the appointment Of general officers to com
mand Z. u will 30 proper that authority be given
By law 70 make such organization, and to appoint
By and with the advice and eonsent Of the Senate,
such number Of major generals and brigadier ge-
nerals Is the efficiency Of the service may demand.
4 The number Of officers Of these grades nowIin
service are not more than are required for their
respective commands |; but further Legislative &C.
ton during your present session viii In my judg-
meDt DO required, and to which il il my duty re-
. spectiully TO invite your attention.
Should the war, contrary to my earnest desire
be proraeted ID the close 1.-The term Of service Of
ths volunteers now In Mckee, who engaged foT
twelve months, an additional volunteer force will
probably become necessary TO supply their place
Many Of the volunteers now serving in Mexico,
!. Is not doubted, would cheerfully engage, At the
conclusion Of their present term, to serve during
the war. They would constitute a more efficient
force than could be- speedily obtained BY accept-
ing the services Of any new corps who might offer
their services. They would have the Advantage
o. the experience and discipline ola years service,
and will have become accustomed to the climate,
and DO Mess danger than nav leyies Of suffering
from the diseases pfthe country.
Irecommend, therefore, that authority be given
TO accept the aersiees Of such Of the volunteers
now In Mexico g tho state Of the public service
+ may require, and who may, At the termination Of
their sPresent term, Voluntarily engage to serve
during the war with Mexico, and that provision
be made for commissioning the officers Should
this measnfe receive the favorable consideration
OF Congress, K il recommended that bounty Be
granted TO them upon their voluntarily extending
their torn ofservice. This would not only bo due
10 these gallant men, but II woald Be ecohomy Ia
the government because, If discharged Il the end
OF the twelve months, the government would be
bound 70 incur heavy expense in bringing them
back to their homes, and in sending to the seat 81
war. new corps Of fresh troops to supply their
place.
BY the act Of the thirteenth Of NAV last. the
President was authorized to accept the services
OF volunteers, in companies batfalions, squad |
rons and regiments" but no provision was made |
Tor Milling up vacancies which might occur BY /
death, or discharges from the service On account
OF sickness or other casualties. In consequence
Of this omission, many Of the corps now In SER
4 vice have boon much reduced in numbers. Nor
was any provision made for filing vacancies I'll
regimen.alor company officers who might die cr1
resign. Information has been received at the
war Department Of the resignation OF more than
one hundred Of these officers They were an
pointed BY the Stale authorities, and no informa- l
ton has been received, except Ia few instances,
that their places have been filled and the eelen.
ey Of the service has been impaired from this !
cause - /
To Eemedy these defects, irecnmuiend that al. |
thotsiy Be given 70 accept the services Of indyidu
a volunteers, 70 al up the places Of such Is nav
Ute, Of pecome unht ot the service and be dschar-
ed, and that provision BE- also made for filing TIE
places Of rcgimensal and company officers who |
may die or resign. By such provisions. The vol |
unteer corps may Be constantly kept fab, or may |
approximate the maximum number authorised ana |
called Into service IN the first instance,
While Il i deemed to Be our true policy 10 |
prosecute the war in the manner indicated. and
thus make the enemy feel is pressure and its evils,
shall be ct al times ready, with the authority /
conferred on me BY the constitution. and with aiI |
the means which may BE- placed al my command
By Congress, to conclude jus, and honorable
peace.
OF equal impoFlanee with an energetic ana /
vigorous prosecution Of The war ere the means
required 70 dclraY its expenses and to uphold ana
maiatain The public credit
u my annual message Of the 9Th December
last, anbmitted Cor the consideration Of Congress
The pyopriety e imposing. Is . war measure, 70
venue 1stes On some 81 tho articles now emhran.
"a il thafrse list The principal articles now en-.
emps from duty, from which any considerable RI
venue eoald " derived, are tea and coffee. Al
moderate revenue duty on these articles. il Is Cd,
,imaied. would produce annually a. amount en-