The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-09
PRICE TWO CENTS.

p ..I POI TN < 10 our hospital service more hu-
lutne ana generous character. Saiubrity Of
bn Ta dio,.taa ana pieasaptness Of surroundings
nave dietFted the choice o the hospita, sites,
ana stabiishn en- for our sick and wounded
"a "h,eh we nave every reas son to be proud
M MhaFN nern opened in st. Louis, Wishing
ton, Georgetown, Baltimore and anpanoI;s
and will be attached 10 every division ~ ,t,e
army in the field. To the close of the ,,,,r
yigiiant care shall be given to the health Of
the well soldier and to the comfort ana ro
covery of the sick.
recommen that the system orprone,iops
which prevails in the regular service be an
piled to thu volunteer forces In the respective
S;ates: restricting, however, the FRO motions
TO meG actually in the field 4 present each
Governor selects and appoints The cfic@rs tor
the troops furnished by his State, and com.
piant IS not unfrequently made, that when
vacancies occur in the field, men Of inferior
qualifications are placed in command over
tsose IA the ranks who are their superors in
mliltary expf TiaDce and capacity. ThS ad-
vancanlent OF merit should be the leading
PTacipie TO all promotions, and the yclua-
teer soldier should b. given to understand
tnaf pref'rment will be the sure reward of ia-
tellisence, fidelity and distinguished service
Inc course above recommended hes been
pursued by this Recruitment and il is my in
tenuon, SO tar rs is in my power Lo continue
sy yStem which cannot fail have most
penehciil effect upon the eutira servtca
by existing laWs and regulations an o onjcrr
OF the regular army ranks IN officer Of vol
unteeTs OF the same grade, notwIthstaG ing
the commission of the latter may be OF ante
cedert date. lA-sGi -, s,gfnent this practice
has q tendency TO repress the ard0r ard TO
limit the opportunity tor distinction OF vol
uhtePr pIiC>TS, and 4 change should be made
by which seniority of ccmni son saculd
confer the right OF command
su5mit fJr reflection the question whether
the distinction between regulars and yolun
tsers, which now exists, should be pernlitte
to continue. The efficiency of the army IL
appears 10 M, might be greatly increased BY
Z consolidation of the two during The contin
uHnce OF the war, which, mbining both
forces, would constitute them one grand ARM y
OF the Union.
Recruiting for the regular army has not
been attended with thai success which was
!tHAclpatPd, al though large nun Der of me
have entered this branch Of the service -
While IL IS admitted that soldiers in the regu.
lar army, under the can troll OF off ,ers of mil
ltary education and experience, are generally
better cared for than these in the volunteer
service, il Is certain that the popuiar prefer
euce IS largely given TO the latter. Young
tnsn evidently prefer to enter y corps ofiierred
by t:teiT friends aud acquaiatarces, SDd be-
sides he rcuaty giant red 10 volnn teers in NEST
o. the states, Inducements ara OIien directly
offered 10 them by these whose comm !ssi Jas
depend upon their success il obtainiog 2 re-
crulis. lu addition, ia" volunteer il allowed
10 draw his luli pay OF &E3 per month, while
oy law q PER month sra deducted from the
Pay If the regular, TO be returned to HIM at
The eud of his term I service
III my jude meut This law should he rereal-
-
ce;ve his fail pay when due He sh0ul ai-o
receive either reasonable bO9n v uD0n en-
listing, or az advance Of $40 # the 300 which
Il taW of he last sassi n of .'ougrasS grants
to rTg Uiirs and yOiuut-er rs on the exutratiou
OF their periods OF service This would dOupt-
less st!iEu late eniistlRents, AS il Voult enable
the id1er 10 make s me provision for those
GGDeudent upon him fer support until he re-
ctives his pIg
.}y the act approved August ,, ls6l. the
Preeident is authorized to appoint as many
aids 70 Major Generals Of the regular army,
ac'ing IN the field, as he may deem proUer.
TIE number Of aids, in my opinion, saouii be
limited, and no more should be allowed to
each VI iOr- General than can be a iyantaga-
ousiy EN- pioyed upoa ais o@n iro ger staH
-NACh expense WCald thus ba saved, and the
Executive and this department would be re-
heyed Of appliciticns very embarrassing from
their nature and extent.
Tne Ltth section OF the act approved Sept.
=, 1870, makes the discharge OF minors oo.I-
gtiorY upon this Department, upon proof
mat their en ljsilnent waa wit hou. the cCusen
OF their parents or guardians. In view Of
the Injurious operation OF this law, ard OF the
taciiutS Wni Il 1t oPaDS 10 frauds L respect
| fully urge its early repeal. Applications tor
discharges of minors can then be datsrI8i ed
! either by Jhl. u paFGment, IN &Cc5rdstcs.
wi III such regulations IL experience may
iiave shown to be nece essiry, or by the civil
tribunal. OF the cOauery.
Tha employ OF regimental band ;
should lie limited, the proportion Of musi-
p,
and their use fulness not 1T ali commensurate
! with their heavy eXpa!sse.
Corporations, like indiviGals. ar. liable 10
| be governed Dy selfish no,iVes i0 the absence
OF com petition Au instance OF this kind nc
cured in tae nanag-Inant OF ths railroads
between Baltimore aad rev York. The sum
Of f6 was charged upon that route tor the
trans E0rtation or each soldier +ro n Rev ORR
10 baltimore. A> t;iI5 rate Setned eXtrtY4-
CANT 10 the department, when considered in
&C counection with the great increase of trade
npUl these roa ts, made necessary by tie
wants # the Government, inquiry WAS II ;.ie
concerning me eXpedtency Of using the roads
from New York 20 Baltimore VIA Atarri ishurg.
Tie result Tas gu arr La GemeuI bV WnIeh
tr ops were brought by ne last named route
ut q e4cA; and, rs II consequence, this rate
was at once n-cessariiy Adopted by all the
railroads Ill the loyal States nakius a saving
10 the {ioYernmenJ OF thir;Y-turse anu QUE
third per cent. in ali its transp0rtat.Un Cts2l-
diers, ana at the same time giving 10 the rail-
roads, through increased business, u liberal
| con- CpenSaliJn.
| The railroad connection between washing
| tom and u tltlmore has ben lately much in-
| proved b. additional sidelnes, and ny exten-
sinns in this city. In order. however, that
ahun1 supplies may always be 1T the com
mand of the Department arrangements SHOULD
be n ade Tor laying 4 double track Del LWeen
this city and Annapolis Junction, with i'm =
proved sidengs and facilities at Anna poiis
and along the Draacn road.
Should the navigation of the Potomac river
of winter, 1t would baeome abso.ateiy ntc ces-
s1fy, for the prop-r sapI y Of the troops IL tne
IH5trict OF COiGclbi ;tla vicinity, and u the
irhah,taate Of THIS city, 10 provide add tional
railroad cGnnectlOn between Wasting on and
Il gilmore. A sppusibie company, with n
chdrteT from the State of Mtrylanh, have
proposed 10 do this upon condition that tae
, Government will endorse their bonds thvy
cindiug themselves To ser aside annually i.
sufficient snm tor their redemption at In,ttu- -
rity, und thus eventually reie2se the Govern
ment from any liability whatever, aud -
charge, for Transportation, rates in nc case to
exceed four cents n ton per miia tor freight,
aud three cents per miie tor pa sSenEers. Dur
iug the Continuance OF the war, howevr.',
their charge for passengers is not 10 exceed
| tv.o cents per mile. Tae charge TOR Ihe trans
pOftatiJn OF passengers between the tHC cities
is at present 81 cents per mil, aud tor fr"igh t,
| the Rates per ton witl average from five 10
| eight cents Per mile Tne large saving TO
| the Government in ccst Of trans portation
would amply compens tte EJr all liability, and
! give TO the citizens of all the loyal States
greatly improved fl ;iitles tor reaching the
IL tional capital and at much tess rats than
| they are now compelled To pay. To the citf-
| zens OF the District il would cheaper tao cost
| OF supplies. and prove OF INN eass value in
| every respect.
| re ommend that a railway be constructed
| through this city from tie Navy Yard, by
| the 'fapitpl to Georgetown, forming connse-
tions with the existing ilo.d depote, and
| usias the squeGuc bridge Tor the purpose oi
crossing the river at 0eorgato~n by A
| Junction or this proposed roliway with the
| Orange and Alexandria Railroad, rot only
/ Would the communic 4tl3n with .'ur troops In
! virginia be greatl i'm proved, bat easy az.
cess be obtained 10 the Btltiinors and Ohio
| Railroad near ttarpeF's Ferry, by meaus ol
| the Loudona and hampshire II liirGad IL
| its importance as afJriiag faci;ities for NOV
| ing troops and supplies III tigsle of war ma,
| be added the fature benefits il wOuio con f-l
| upon the District Of tolgmbia. The outla,
| required would oe saved IN few mon tbs by
| enabling the Government to dispense with
| the expensive Terry ~ George4own. and by
| greatly decreasing the costly wagon trans