The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-02-18

erals as the 8 Efficiency of the service NAV demand
The nulnher Of officers Of these grades now in
servtre are not more than required for their
respective commands but further Legislative
actinn during the present will, in INV Judgment.
he required. and tn which it is my duty respect.
fully I" invite your attention.
Should the war. contrary to my earnest desire
he pr"'racted Ia the close of the term uf service
at the volunteers now in Mexico, who engaged
t"r Twelve months. an additional volunteer force
VIII probably become necessary Ia supply their
place. Many of the volunteers now SERVING in
Mexico. IT Is not doubted. would cheerfully en-.
gage. at the conclusion "f their present term tn
serve during the war. They would constitute a
more effi"ent f"rce than could be speedily oh
tanned hy accepting the services of any new corps
VINO nigh, offer their services. They would have
the advantage OF the experience and discipline of
years service. and will have hecume accustomed
to the climate. and be in less danger than new
evies ut suffering from the diseases of the cnun,
try. recommend, therefore. that authority h,
gwen Ia accept the services If such of the vulun
'eers now In Nexico rs the state of the public
vice may require. and who may, at the iprinua-
ZION os their present term, Voluntarily engage To
serve during the war with Mexco. and that pro-
vision he made-tnr commissioning the officers
ohonld this measure receive the favorable con
sIderati"n at Congress. il is recon inended tina,
extending their term of service. This would not
only be due To these gallant men. but II would be
economy tn the government because if discharged
al the end of the twelve munths, the government
WOULD be bound to incur heavy expense in bring
Ing them back TO their homes, and in sending to
the seat of war new corps of fresh troops To sup
ply their place
by the act of the thirteenth of May last, the
president was authorized o accept the services uf
in hat
and regiments" but no provision was made for
ming up vacancies which might occur by death
or discharged from the SERVICE on accou ut of sick
ness or other casualties. In consequence of this
omission. many of the corps now in service have
been much reduced in numbers. Nor was any
provision made for filling vacancies of reginenla
or company officers " ho might die or resign. =
Illumination has been received at the War De-
partment of the resignation of more than one hun
drcd of these officers. They were appointed by
the State authorities, and no informant ton has been
| received. except in few instances, that their
places have been filled and the efficiency of the
service has been impaired from this cause To
remedy these defects. recommend thai authority
he given Ia accept the services uf individual vol
nnieers, TO fill mp the places of such as may die
| or become unfit fur the service and he discharged ;
and that provision he also made for filling the
places ut regimental and company officers who
may die or resign. BY such provisions, The vol
unteer corps may be constantly kept full. or may
approximate the maximum number authorized
| and called into service in the first instance.
While il is deemed to he our true policy To
prosecute the war in the manner Indicated, and
thus make the enemy feel its pressure and its
| evils. shall he at all times ready, with the au
ihority conferred me- by the constitution. and
with all the means which may be placed at my
command by Congress, 10 conclude just and
honorable peace
OF equal Importance with an energetic and
vigorous prosecution Of the war are the means
quired to defray its expenses, aud To uphold and
maintain the public credit
In my annual message of the 9Th December
last, submitted fur the consideration nf Congress
| the Propretv of imposing, as war measure.
revenue duties on some of The articles now EN-
braced in the free list. The principal articles
now exempt from duty. from which any consider
able revenue could he derived. tea and coffee
4 moderate revenue duty on these articles, it is
estimated, would produce annually an amount eX.
ceeding two and half millions nf dollars. Though
in period of peace. when ample could be
derived from duties other articles fnr the sup
| port of the government, it may have been deem
ed proper MOTTO resort 10 duty these articles ;
| yet, when The country Is engaged in a foreign
| war; and all our resources are demanded To meet
the unavoidable increased expenditure in main
| tanning orr armies in the field no sonrd reason is
perceived why we should not avail ourselves of
the revenues which may he derived from This
source. The objections which have heretofore
existed To the imposition of these duties were ap
! pIcabe 10 a stale Of peace, when they were moi
needed. We now, however, engaged in a
foreign war. We need money 10 prosecute it,
and Ia maintain The public honor and credit 1t
cannot be doubted that the patriotic people of the
| United States wonld cheerfully, and without com
| plant, submit to the payment Of this additional
| dniy. or any other that may be- necessary main
| tain the honor of the country, provide for the IN
avoidable expenses Of the government. and to up
| hold the public credit Ii ia recommended tina
any duties which may be imposed these ani-
cles be limited in their duration 10 the period Of
| the war.
An additional annual revenue. il is estimated
of between half million and a million of dollars
would he derived from the graduation and rednc
ton of the price of such Of the public lands as ha
been offered in the market nf the minimum price
established by the existing laws. and have remain
ed unsold. And, in addition 10 other reasons corr,
mendIng the measure To favorable consideration.
it is recommended IA financial measure. The
duty suggested on tea and coffee. and the gradua-
ion and reduction of the price Of the public lands,
w0mid secure additional annual revenue to the
treasury ofnoi less than three millions Of dollars.
and would thereby prevent the necessity Of incur
ring public debt annually To- that amount, the
interest on hich must be paid semi. annually
and ultimately the debt itself, by TAX on the
people
/ II is s,und policy, and one which has long
been approved by tho government and people Of
the United States, never 10 resort 10 loans unless
in cases of great public emergency. and then only
for the smallest amount which the public necessi.
lies sill permit.
The increased revenues which The measures
now recommended would produce. would. more
over enable The government To negotiate lUan, for
any additional sum wbich may be found to he need
cd with more facility, and at cheaper rates than
can he done without them