Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-12-10
Report OF the Secretary OF war

D -
The Chicago Times has the following abb
straot Of aud comment on the report Of the
secretary Of war:
lie states the numerical force of the ar
my to be $50, 81, IF which GIG. 63T are
volunteers aud 20 334 regulars @
lie estimates that the aggregate force
might. should exlgencies require it, be in
creased to 3,C00 eco
/ lie recommends the enlargement of the
national armory at Springfield. Massachu-
sets, tn an extent that viii enable it t.
supply the government with AL the small
/ arms II shHl! need IN the future. lie also
TecotGIebds the establishments Il t sumo con
venient place, oil national arm0ry for the
Manufacture Of cannon. -..a
! lie recommends a permanent reurcani
cation of the militia. and that in war the
1 distinction betv cen volunteers and regulars
/ be abolished.
/ lie recommends defensive works On the
I sea eoast and lakes.
The enlisimcnts in the regular army have
| been slower than il was ANTICIPATED thew
would be-
The government have assured the Balti-
more aud Ohio Railroad Company force
sufficient to protect them in repairing their
road.
With view to the future safety of the
/ federal capital, it is recommended that the
| boundaries of Delaware, MARYLAND and
Virginia be reconstructed.
In this connection, the secretary thinks
that Mary land, In consideration Of the ac-
QUESTION OF large territory. should amend
her constitution. so that her basis Of repre
sentation would be only whites, This
would be 40 exception TO the general rule
inali the States negroes are basis of rer-
resentation. 4.s,a
He recommends that the District of Co.
lumbia be restored to. It's original bounda-
ries. s -s % ~
On the negro question the secretary
makes an aPpruach TO the doctrine of Ere
monts proclamation. He declares tina,
slaves should share the common fate of all
property of rebels. They certainly ought
SO Tar AZ the rebels themselves are con
eerned. W hat shall be done with Slaves
who snail be abandoned by their masters.
| is question 10 be determined with refer
ence to tile interests of the Loyal white peo
pie, north and south, and IN no manner
with reference TO the interests of the rebels
1t VIII not be for the interCss of, the Ieval
white people, north or south. tban:anv
great number of the slaves shall he lei
loose. The.secretary, ahowerer. is. for piy-
ing them freedom, and employing them NV
the government. The scheme Of the gov.
eFnnent turning cotton planter, and, en-
Plying negroes 10 the business. is simnlv
lmpraeiicable and ridiculous. The praeti
cal solution of this question is to leave the
disposition Of the negroes of rebels 70 the
States IN which they are found after such
Staies shall .haye been redeemed from re-
oeiilon- As an element in the war. the
negroes are Of ne consequence after thew
have been Abandoned BY their masters
Before they bave been abandoned by them,
theyeareq beyond tue reach or influence oe
the government.
Inc Secretary has not gone so far 10 the
negro business as it has Leen supposed he
would -, but it is plain that be has. gery
strong inclination towards Rremonts old
shoes.
la-The ST. Louis correspondent of the
Cincinnati Enquirer says that the procla-
nation of General Halleck, for5idding.
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