Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-12-13

armofy, the only Government orc lef. :,
operations, has been extended and is now abl
70 turn out about IL, 900 guns a month
iur'her enlargemcnts will enable it to nro
duce 2oo,OoO of the celebrated Sprincfelt
rifles within the next year. The Govern.
inen' should rave at command not less thar
million OF small arms and cav, Try and ar
tiliery munitions to correspond.
A national foundry, for the makjno Of
L~-- siiivry, Is recommended
A reorganization Of the Militia of the
country upon uniform basis, so that the
militia can be made effective for active ser
vice at any moment, is urged upon the at
tention OF Congress. A change is recommend
ed In the relations of regulars and volunteers
In the service, to promote unity of action and
encourage merit and that seniority of COM
mission carry the right to command, in all
cases Consolidating the regular and yolun-
teer force during the war, would give power
and efficiency to the army. A change in
some particulars, to promote enlistment into
the regular army is recommended.
1t is possible that the Secretary of War
keeps in mind the ferocIous hcwls against
| him, which filed the land when be made
arrangements to have regiments from the
East transported by the way Of IIarrisburgh,
Pa, instead.Of by the more direct route from
New York through Philadelphia for he
tells the country that, by that measure, he
knocked in the head a virtual combination
of the Railroad corporations, to extort an
exorbitant price from the Government for
the transportation of troops. The direct
lines charged Sc per man that route
took them for $4 per man. The result was
reduction of thutythree and a third per cent.
in the fare for the transportation of soldiers
by all the roads in the loyal States.
Extraordinary labor, energy and talent have
been required of the various bureaus of this de-
partment to provide for the wants of our immense
army. While errors may have been occasionally
committed by subordinates, and while extravagant
prices have undou oubtedly in some cases, controlled
| by haste and the pressure of rapid events, been
4
refer to the economical administration of affairs
displayed in the various branches of the service.
| Our forces not only had to be armed clothed and
fed but had to be suddenly provi ed with means of
transportation to an extent heretofore unparallel
ed. While believe that there Is no army In the
| world better provided for in every respect than
| our regulars and volunteers candidy think that
no force so large and so well equipped, was ever
put into the field in so short space of time at
small an expense.
While it is my intention TO preserve the strietest
economy and accountability, think the last dollar
should be expended and the last man should be
armed to bring this unholy rebellion TO speedy
and permanent close
1.-The geographical position of the metropolis
of the natio1 menaced by the rebels, and required
to be defended by thousands of our troops induces
| me to su ggest for consideration the propriety and
expediency Of a reconstruction of the boundaries
of the States of Delaware, Mary land and Virginia
| Wisdom and true craftsmanship would die ate
| that the seat of the National Government, for all
| time to come should be placed beyond reasonable
danger of seizure by enemies within, as well as
| from capture by foes from without. by agree
ment between the States named, such as was effect
| ed. for similar purposes, by Michigan and ohio,
and by Missouri and Iowa, their boundaries could
| be so changed as to render the capital more re-
mote than at present from the influence of State
governments which have arrsyed Themselves IN
rebellion"
The change proposed by the Secretary,
would set the peninsula between the Chesa'
peake and the Atlantic, now belonging
partly to Maryland, partly to Virginia, over
to Delaware the part of Virginia east OF
the Blue ridge over to Maryland; and the
two northern counties OF Maryland (Alle-
ghany and Washington) between the upper
waters of Potomac River and Pennsylvania,
over to Virginia-=Maryland SO enlarged also
to consent so to modify her State constitution
as to limit the basis of her representation to
her white population.
The Report concludes as follows
"It is already grave question what shall be
dnoe with those slaves who are abandoned by their
owners on the advance of our troops into southern
territory as at Beaufort district In South caro-
lins The number left within our control at that
point is very considerable, and similar cases will
probably occur. What shall be done with them
Can we afford to send them forward to their mas
| ters to be by them armed against us, or used In
| producing supplies to maintain the rebellion -
| THEN labor may be useful to US; withheld from
the enemy it lessons his military resources, and
Withholding them has no tendency to lnduce inc
horrors eff insurrection, even in the rebel commu-
| mites. They constitute a military resource ana
| being SUCH that they sh ould not be turned over
| to the enemy is too plain to discuss. why de-
prive him of supplies by blockade, and yoian-
| tariy give him with men to produce supphes =
The disposition to be made of the slaves OF rebels
after the close of the be safely lett to the
| patriotism and wisdom of Congress. Ihe repre-
| sentatives of the people will unquestionably Sc
cure to the loyal Shareholders every right 70
\ which they are entitled under the Constitution ot
the country.
momentary stir has been made over the
fact that after Secretary Cameron's Report
had been put in print and copies sent to
sundry newspapers, previous to the delivery
of the Presidents message, at tho instance
of the President those copies were recalled,
and about dozen of the last paragraphs
condensed into one. The n. Y Tribune S
COPY was not recalled-at least not till the
original report was in print, on the outside
of that paper. On the inside the new par
agraph was given, and statement made OF
how the original came to appear. The Tn
bune indicates plainly enough its opinion
that the change was much for the worse, aud
its Washington correspondent gave sensa-
ton account ora fierce contention between
the President end the Secretary Of War, on
the subject of the change. The account has
a most apocryphal look, and we presume
will prove to have as little truth in it as
many other reports from g reliable sources
in Washington to the n. Y. papers. As fOl
any difference worth making stir about,
the two reports, we are not able to see it,
The original portion, as given in the Tribune
had good deal of "spread eagle in it, and
was mostly made up of arguments to show
that the Government had as good right tc
, coniiscate the slaves of rebels as any thing
. thing else which they call property, and tt
use the slaves, if necessary, as soldiers agains
the rebels. Thus
, "If it shall be found that the mea who have beeI
held by the rebeIs slaves are capable of bear