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

rSrposs al the last session Of Congress, a Tel
egraphsc Bureau was established, and has
been found Of the creates, service In our MIL
itary operations. Eight hnndred and fftv-
seven miles Of telegraphie lire have been al
ready built and put in operation, with an
efficient corps of operators, and q large exten.
sion is now in I recess OF construction.
Congress, ut it's late session, made On ap-
preparation for the reconstruction Of the Long
BriaRe across the Potomac, which, in It's then
dilapidated condition was nnsafe for miiit4ry
purposes. The work, which has be carried
on without interruption to trade or travel, 10
rapidly approaching completion, and, When
finished, will be n substantial structure.
On The first of the present month Lieuten-
ant General Winfield Scott voluntarily re-
liEqu!shed his high command as General in
thlef OF the American army. He had faith
Tally aBd RalIaDtly served his country for
upwards cf hall a century, and the glory Of
his achIe'ements has given additional iustre
70 tne brightest pages o. oar national annals.
Tae aHsc tions, OF a gratefai people folio wed
him into his retirement, Tne President I'M
| med lately conferred the command OF the
army upon the OH cer next in rank Fortu.
nateiy for the country, Major General Nc
Clellan has proved himself equal to every
situation in which his great talents has been
called into exercise His brilliant achieve
men Is III Western Virginia, the uu tiriug
erry and con -umm ate ability he has displayed
In the organization and discipline of an en-
tirely new arasy, have icstiy won for him ths
conndeace and applause OF the troops and OF
the naion.
Extrpordinsrr labor energy and talent have
been r. 1uirsa ct fhe 'tsaS bureaus Of this
Department 10 provide for the wants Of cur
immense army. While errors may have been
occa sioaaily committed by sabordins tcs and
Fhile extr"vagant prices have undou 6tedIy
in some eases, controlled by haste and The
pressure of rapid events, been pad fer sup
plies, 1t Is with great qualification that
refer to the economical administration of at-
fairs display ed in the various branches OF the
service. Our forces had not only to he ar med,
clio he'd and led, bnt had 10 be suddeu " pro-
rided with means Of traEsporta ton TO an ex-
tent heretofore unparalleled. " ale be'Ieys
that there Is no MY in the world better pro-
sided for in eve rs respect than our regulars, /
candIdly think that 10 force so large and so
well equipped was ever put In the ii iG in
slort space OF time at so sm' II an expense.
While IL 's my intenti 10 preserve the
strlcteS: economy aud accountability, / think
| the is st dollar should he expended nd the
| last man armed TO bring has uuho!y rebel
| Ii Il 70 speedy and permaneot close.
TRe geographical position uf the mieiroyoli-
| OF she nation, nenaced by The II. bells, and re-
| qulred To be defended by thousands OF our
troops inGuces me TO sugge-t for cons dera-
| tion th propriety and ex edieuey of 4 recon-
structIon of the boundaries OF t6e States of
| Delaware, Mars land, and Virginia Wisdom
| aud true statesman. ship would dictate shrt
| The seat uf the National Government, tor all
| time 10 come. should be placed beyond reas-
! onHbie danger OF seizure by enemies within,
| as well as from capture by foes from with
| out. By aRreement b.twesu tho States
! med, such as was effected, Tor similar pur-
/ poses, by Michigan ana Ohio, AMI by Missouri
| 4nl Iowa, their boundaries could De so
| Cf.anGad as to render the Capt. 81 more remote
| han ~ present from The influence of .etate
| governments which have trrny 4 themselves
| iT rebellion against the Federal uuthGrity.-
| 10 this end, the limits Of Elreinia might be
| 50 altered as 10 make her boundaries consist
| ct the BtEa Eidge on the cast, and Peansyi-
| yani on the Worth, leaving those on the soul
and We st as + present
| by this arrangement two counties OF Mary
1 fAtiFLnAhy uyt tItt h.l
! transferred to the Jurisdiction of Tirginia-
Ali thdt potion OF ktIgiHia viii D .les be-
| tween tns Blue Ridge and Chesapeake hay
| corid then ne added u Mary land, while that
| portion o; the peninsula between the waters
! u the Chesapeake aud The Atlau lic, now
| Jointly held by Maryland and Virginia, could
| oe incorporated into the state of Delaware
| reference 10 the map Will show that these
are great natural boundaries, which, for all
| time to come, wuuld serve to maik the limits
OF these States.
To make H. protection OF the cauitai COM
plete iii consideration OF the iergs accession
| Of territory which Harylaud would receive
! under the arranPem snt pro gosod, il would be
necessary tntt the state should consent 80 TO
. modify her Constitution as t. limit tae basis
OF her repreSel tatiJn TO ne: white pJpU !ation.
| In this connection, it would he the part of
| wisdom TO reaapsx 10 the District Of Column
| bia that portion OF its original limits which
| oy act OF Congress was retroceded to the
| State Of Virginia.
! tisalreany a grave question what shah he
| by their owners ON The advance OF our troops
! into southern territory, as at beaufort dis
! rrict in SJuth Carolina. The number left
| within oar control lt that point Is very con-
| siderh ble, aud similar Gases will probably oc
! cur. what shall be done with them =? Can
| We afford to send them forward u their mas
! teTs, 10 be ny them armsd against Us, or used
| in producing supplies TO maintnin the rebel
| lion Their Labor may D. useful to us
| withheld from the enemy it lessons his mill
| tary.resources, and W. tniioluiLg tueJn has no
| 4 l. r.
| ton, even in the rebel communities They
| constitute u military resource, aud, being
| such, that they shoc4d not be turnad over to
| tue enemy is TOO plain to discuss " by de-
| prive aim of supplies by a blockade and vol
| Untatily give hiG u.eu to produce supplies
! The Gispo -. lion 10 be made OF ia" slaves Of
! rebels after the eice. of the war can be safely
| left 10 The wisdom and patriotism OF Con-
| Zress. Tae repTesen tatiFeh OF tas- poo pie VIII
| unQu.stlonabiy SECURE 10 ne !oy:j sIeyenold-
| eIs every righi to which they are entitled un-
| der Ike Constitution oI the country.
SIxspS CAMERON, Secretary Of War.
| TO the President.