Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1861-07-31

| r.
war taken By the enemy on board the arm
ell schooner Savannah, sailing under our
commission, were as | anu eredibly advised
treated Ike common tslons, put in irons
confined in the Jail usually appropriated 10
criminals Of the worst dye, and threatened
with punishment as such, had made an
application for the exchange Of prisoners 70
the commanding officer Of the enemy
squadron oil Charleston, but that oiheer haa
already sent the prisoners TO New 10TH
when the application was made ! 'here,
fore, deemedit my duty TO renew inc p,oPosa'
for an exchange TO the Constitutional COIN
mander-in-eLlef Of the army aud navy OF
the United States, tho only ofiaer having
control of pi isoners, To this end dispatched
an officer 10 him, under hsgof truce, max
ing the proposal, ami informing President
Lincoln of my resolute purpose TO cheek all
barbarities on prisoners OF way, by such
severity Of retaliation on prisoners held by
us, as should secure the abandonment Of
the raoticc. This oommun cation was re-
eelyei and read By an off OF in command
OF the United States forces and message
brought from him, by the bearer Of any
communication, thata reply would be return
ed by Lincoln, as soon US possible. ] earn
esliy hcpe this promised reply, (Which has
not yet been recciycd) will convey the as
suranec, that prisoners of war W II be treat
Cd in this unhappy contest with that re-
gard for humanity, which has made sneh
conpseuous progress in the conducio oil mod
ern warfare. As measure Of precaution,
however, and until the promised reply IS
received, | still retain in cns'oiy some ON.
GERS captured from the enemy, who II had
bosn my pleasure previously to set at large
on parole and whose fate must necessarily
depend on that Of the prisoners held by the
enemy. append n copy of my COMMUNE
alton TO the President and commander-in-
chief of the army and navy Of the United
States, and Of the report Of the officer
charged TO delivermy communication. There
are some other passages in tho remarkable
paper which have di ectcl your attention
TO, having reference TO the relations
which exist between this government and
the States usually termed the border slave
States, which cannot properly be withheld
from notice. Tie hearts 81 our people are
nm mated by sentiments toward the inhnb-
tants of these States, which found express
sion in your enactment, refusing 10 cons d.
er them encni S, or authorize hostilities
against them.
iHNl u Nci ~ P'''iOh W Wv fNNf'~
of these States regard us rs brethren, that
il unrcstrained by the actual presence of
large armies, and the subversion Of civil
authority, and declaration Of martial law,
some of them at least, would joyfnlly unite
with us; opposed 10 the prosecution the
war wngcd against us, are facts which daily
recurring events fully warrant the asser-
ton of.
NJ. d. - L., nf,,-
ses 10 recognize in these, our late sister
States, the right of RETAINING from attack
on us, and justifics his refusal by the asser-
ton that States have no other power than
that reserved to them in tho Union by the
constiiution-no one Of them having ever
been n State of the Union. This view Of
the constitutional relations between the
States and the general government, is
fitting introduction to another assertion of
the message, that the executive possesses
the power OF suspending the writ of haheas
corpus, dclegating that power to military
commanders ut their discretion. And both
these propositions claim respect equal to
that which felt for the additional statement
Of opinion in the same paper, that it is pro-
per in order to execute laws; that some
single law made in such extreme tenderness
of the citizens liberty, that practically re-
lievcs more of the guilty than innocent,
should to very limited extent be violated.
We may we'll rejoice that we have forever
severed our connection with government
that thus tramples on all principles of con-
stitutional liberty, and with people in
whose presence such avowcls could be haz-
arded.
Operations in the field will be greatly ex-
tended by reason Of policy, which hereto
fore has been secretly entertained and is
now aroused and acted on by us. The
forces hitherto raised, provided amply for
the defense of the several States which ORR
ginallv organized in the Concderacy, such
is evidently the fact, for with the exception
of three fortified islands, whose defense is
efficiently aided by a prepondcrating naval
force, the enemy has been driven compile
tcly cut of these States, and now at the ex-
piration of five months from the for nation
Of the government, not single hostile foot
presses their soil. These forces however,
must necessarily prove inadequate to repel
an invasion by the half million ofmen, now
proposed by the enemy. A corresponding
increase of forces will become necessary
Recommendations for the raising of efficient
equipment for this additional force will be
contained in the communication Of the
secretary of war, which need scarcely in
vite your earnest attention to.
In nv message delivered in April last, l
referred to the promise Of abundant crops,
with which we were chcered. The grim
crons have partly been harvested. The
Weld has proven 10 be the most abundant
ever known in our hisiory-many believe
the supply adequate to two wears sonsump-
sion of orr population. Cotton, sugar and
tobacco foring surplus of productions Of
agriculture, and furnish ne basis TO- our
commercial interchange presents thu most
cheering promises. ever known. Providence
has smiled on the labor, which extracts the
teeming wealth of our soil in all parts of our
Confederaoy. 1t is more gratifying to be
able to give you this, because of the need of
large and increased expenditure in the sup
port of our army Elevated and purified
bv the sacred cause, thus mainta n our fell
low citizens Of every condition of life, ex-
hibitcd the most self-sacrifcing devotion.
Thev manifest laudihlc pride in unfolding
their independence, unaided by any resour-
ccs. other than thoir own. The immense
wealth which the fertilized'and genial eli
mate and soil have accumulated in this
Confederacy, could not he moro strongly
displayed than in. the large revenue with
eagerness agriculturalists have contributed
to the call oftheir country, in the single
article of cotton. The subscription loan
proposed by the government cannot fall
short of fifty million of dollars, and will
probably exceed that sum. Scarcely an
article required for the consumption of the
army is provided otherwise than by sub
scription to produce the loan so happily
desired by your wisdom.
The secretary of the treasury has report
to be submitted to you, which will give you
the amplest details connected with that
branch of the public service. But it is not
alone by their prompt pecuriary contrib