Shreveport daily news., 1861-05-11

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ing prepared for sea, at New CLEANS
with all possible dispatch. Contracts
have also been made at that city
with two different establishments
for the casting of ordnance-cannon
shot and shell-with the view to en-.
courage the manufacture Of these ar.
ticles, SO indispensable for our de.
fence, at as many points within our
territory as possible. I call your at.
tention to the recommendation OF
the Secretary for the establishment OF
a magazine and laboratory for the
preparation Of ordnance stores and
the necessary appropriation required
for that purpose.
Hitherto such stores have been pre-
pared at the navy yards, and no APP
preparation was 1aade at your last ses-
sion for this object.
The Secretary also calls attention
to the fact that no provision has been
made for the payment Of invalid pen
sions to our citizens. Many of these
persons are advanced in life-they
have 30 means Of support-and by
the accession Of these States have
been deprived of their claim against
the government Of the United States.
l recommend the appropriation OF
the sum necessary 70 pay these pen
sioners as well as those of the army
whose claim can scarcel Y exceed $50,
! 900 per annum.
The Postmaster General has al
ready succeeded in organizing his
Department to such an extent as to
be in readiness to assume the direc-
ton of our postal affairs on the oc-
cuIrence OF the contingency contem-
plated by the actof 18th March, 1861,
or even sooner if desired by Con-
grcss,
The various books and circulars
have been prepared, and measures ta-
ken to secure supplies of blanks, pos
tage stamps, stamped envelopes, mail
bags, locks, keys, &c.
He presents detailed classifca-
ton and arrangement Of the clerical
force and asks for its increase.
An Auditor of the Treasury for
this department is necessary, and q
plan is submitted for the organization
Of his bureau.
The great number and magnitude
Of the accounts of this department re-
quire ali increase of the clerical force
in the accounting branch of the treas
ury. The revenues Of this depart
ment are collected and distributed in
modes peculiar to itself, and require
special bureau to secure a proper
accountability in the administration
Of its finances.
l call your attention to the aadi-
tional legislation required for this s-de-
part,nent-to the recommendation for
changes in the law fixing the rates of
postage on newspapers and sealed
packages Of certain kinds. and speci-
ally to the recommendation Of the
Secretary, in which I concur, that you
provide at once for the assumption by
him of the control Of our entire postal
service.
In the military organization of the
States, provision Is made for Briga-
dier and Major Generals, but in the
army of the Confederate States the
highest grade IS that Of Brigadisr
General; hence it will no doubt some
times occur that where troops of the
Confederacy do duty with the militia,
the General selected for the command
and possessed of the views and pur-
poses of this Government, viii be
superseded by al officer of the mill
tia. not having the same advantages
To avoid contingencies in the least
Objectionable manner, I recommend
that additional rank be given to the
General of the Confederate army, and
concurring in the policy of having
but one grade Of. Generals in the ar
my of the Confaderacv. 7 recommend