Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-05-21

5nail lnulcate the pOSslolllty OF Improvement ID
these regulations, effort will be spared to free
commerce from all unnecessary embarrassments
and distractions.
Uunder your act authorizing loan, proposals
were issued inviting subscriptions tor five millions
of dollars, and the call was answered by the
prompt subscription of more than eight millions
i by our own citizens, and not q single bid was
made under par. The rapid developments of the
purpose OF the President of the United States to
invade our soil, capture our forts, blockade our
ports and wage war against us, induce me to
direct that the entire subscription should b
accepted. 1t will now become necessary to raise
means to much larger amount to defray the
expenses of maintaining our independence and
repelliDg invasion. Invite your special attention
to this subject and the financial condition of the
Government, with the suggestion of ways and
means for the supply of the Treasury, will be
presented to you in a separate communication.
To the Department of Justice you have con-
hded not only the organization and supervision
of justice, but also those connected with patents
and with the bureau of pu bile printing.
Since your adjournment, all the courts, with
the exception of those of Mississippi and Texas,
have been organized by the appointment Of Mar
shals and District Attorneys, and are now pre-
pared for the exercise of their functions
In the two States just named, the gentleman
confirmed as Judges declined to accept the ap-
pOintment, and no nominations have yet been
made to fill the vacancies. | refer you to the
report of the Attorney General, and concur in
his recommendation for immediate legislation,
especially on the subject of patent rights. Early
provisions should be made to secure to the sub
jects of foreign nations the full enjoyment Of
their property in valuable inventions, and to ex-
tend to own citizens protection, not only for
their own inventions, but for suoh as may have
boop to noy hor ffor ho
signed by persons not alien enemies. 20
The Patent Office business is much more ex.S
tensive and important than had been anticipated.
The applications for patents, although confined
under the law exclusively to citizens of our Con-
federacy, already average seventy per month,
showing the necessity tor the prompt organiZa-
ton of bureau of patents.
The Secretary of War in his report and ac-
companyiDg documents, conveys full information
concerning the toroes, regular, volunteer and
provisional, raised and called for under the sew
eral acts of Congress, their organization and dis
tribution. Also, an account of the expenditures
already made, and the further estimates for the
fiscal year ending on the 18th of February, 1862,
rendered necessary by recent events. | refer to-
his report also for full history OF the occurren-
ces in Charleston harbor, prior to and including
the bombardlnent and reduction of Fort Sumter,
and OF the measures subsequently taken for the
common defence, on receiving intelligence Of the
declaration of war against US made by the Pres
ident OF the United States. There are now in
the field ut Charleston, Pensacola, Forts Nor
gan, jackson, st. Philip and Pulaski, 5000 men,
and liz, GOO are now en- route for Virginia. 1t is
proposed to organize and hold in readiness tor
instant action in view OF the present exigenc;es
of the country, an army of 100000 men. If
further force should be needed the wisdom and
patriotism of Congress will be confidently ap-e
peaed to for authority to call into the field ad-
ditonal numbers of our noble-spirted volunteers,
who are constantly rendering service far in ex-
cess of our wants.
The operations of the Navy Department have
been necessarily restricted by the fact that sufi-
cient time has Lot yet elapsed for the purchase
or construction Of more than limited number
of vessels adapted to the public service. Two 4
vessels purchased have been named the ''Sumter"
and ''Maeree," and are now being prepared for
sea at New Orleans 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 3
to encourage the manufacture of these articles so
Indispensable for our defence, at as many points
within our territory as possible.
call your attention to the recommendation of
the Secretary for the establishment ofa magazine 4
and laboratory tor preparation OF ordnance
stores, and the necessary appropriation for thaa
purpose Hitherto such stores have usually been gs
prepared at the navy-yards, and no appropria-
tion was made at your last session for this object.
The Secretary also calls attention to the fact
that no provision has been made for the pay nient
of invalid pensions to our own citizens. Many
of these persons are advanced in ife they have q
no means of support, and by the secession of 4
these States have been deprived of their claims
against the Government of the United States
l recommend the appropriation OF the SUN nec-
essary to pay these pensioners, as well rs those
OF the army, whose claims can scarcely exceed 1i
seventy thousand dollars per annun. c.EIbk
The Postmaster General has already succeeded
in organizing bis department to such an extent
as to be in readiness to assume the direction of
our postal affairs, on the occurrence of the con-
tingenoy contemplated by the act of 10th March,
1851, or even sooner, if desired by Congress.--ls
The various books and circulars have been pre-.sl
pared, and measures taken to supplies Of 80
blanks, postage stamps, stamped envelopes, mail
bags, locks, keys, etc. He presents q detailed !,
classification and arrangement of his clerical
force, and asks tor its increase. An auditor OF y
the treasury for this department is necessary,
and plan is submitted for the organization OF
his bureau. The great number and magnitude
of the accounts OF this department. require an in
crease of the clerical force in the accounting
branch in the Treasury. The reveHues of this d
department are collected and disbursed in modes q
peculiar to itself, and require special bureau to a
secure aproper accountability in the adninistra-
ton of its finances.
call your attention to the additional legisla-
ton required for this department to the recon-
mendauon for changes in the law fixing the rates 1E
OF postage on newspapers periodicals, and sealed u
packages of certain kinds, and especially to the
recommendation of the Secretary, in which
concur, that you provide at once for the assnnIp-
tion by him of the control OF our entire postal
service.
In the military organization of the States, pro-
vision is made for Brigadier and Major Generals,
but in the Army OF The Confederate States the 2
highest grade is that of Brigadier Ge1eral.--bi
Hence it will no doubt sometimes occur that
where troops OF the Consederacy do duty with
the militia, the General selected for the COM
mand, and possessed of the views and purposes
of this government, will be superseded by an Of
fcer of the militia not having the same advan- :
tage. To avoid this contingency in the least {
Objectionable manner, recommend that aedi-s
tiOnal rank be given to the General OF the Con- a
tederate Army, concurring in the policy OF hav-
ing only one grade of Generals in the Army OF
the Confederacy, l recommend that the law OF
its organization be amended, that the grade be
that OF General. s5ast. 5ea &c
To secure thorough military education, it is
deemed essential that officers should enter upon
the study of their profession at an early period
OF life, and have elementary instruction in mil
ftorx ILL