The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-08-27


wise foresight requires that if necessity
should be suddenly developed during the re-
cess Of Congress, requiring increased forces
tor our defence, means should exist for call
ing such forces into the field without await
| ing the re assembling ofthe Legislative De.
partment of the Government.
In the election and appointment Of Off
GERS for the Provisional Army, it was to be
anticipated that mistakes would be made,
and incompetent, officers of all grades intro
daced into the service. In the absence Of
lexperience. and with no reliable guide for
selection, Executive appointments as we'll
as elections have been sometimes unfortu-
nate The good of the service, the interests
lof our country, require that some means be
devised for withdrawing the commission of
officers who are incompetent for the duties
required by the position, and trust that
you will find means for relieving the army
of such officers by some mode more prompt
and less wounding to their sensbility than
Judgment of Court Martial.
Within recent period we have effected
the object SO long desired Of an arrangement
for the exchange Of prisoners, which is now
being executed by delivery at the points
agreed upon, and which will, it is hoped,
speedily restore our brave and unfortunate
countrymen to their places in the ranks of
the army, from which, by the fortune Of
war, they have for time been separated.
The details of this arrangement will be
communicated TO you in special report
when further progress has been made in their
execution.
OF other particulars concerning the ope-
rations Of the War Department, you will be
informed by the Secretary in his report and
the accompanying documents.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Navy
embraces statement of the operations and
present condition of this branch of the pub
lie service, both afloat and ashore I; the con-
tructlon and equipment Of armed vessels at
home and abroad the manufacture of ord
nance and ordnance stores; the establish
ment of workshops and the development Of
our resources Of coal and iron. Some leg
islation seems essential for securing crews
for vessels. The difficulties now experen-
ced IN this point are fully stated ia the Sc
cretary's report, and invite your attention
10 providing remedy.
The report of the Postmaster General dis.
closes the embarrassments which resulted
in the postal service from the occupation BY
the enemy Of the Mississippi river and por
tions of the territory of the different States.
The measures taken by the department for
relieving these embarrassments, as far as
practicable, are detailed in the report. 1t
is subject of congratulation, that during
the ten months which ended on the Slst
March last, the expenses Of the department
we're largely decreased, whilst its revenue
was augmented, as compared with cores
ponding period ending on the SOth Of June,
1861, when the postal service for these States
wa. conducted under the authority delegated
70 tie United States. Sufficient time has
not Get elapsed TO determine whether the
n asures, heretofore devised by Congress,
will accomplish the end Of bringing the ex-
penditures Of the department within The lin
il OF its own revenues by the first OF March
next, as required by the Constitution.
am happy 70 inform you, that in spite
both OF Establishments and threats used in
prolusion by the agents Of the government
Of the United States, the Indian nations
within the Confederacy, have remained firm
in their loyalty and steadfast 10 the obser-
vance Of their treaty engagements with this
government Nor has their fidelity been
shaken by the fact that. owing TO the yacan-
cies ia some Of the Offices Of agents and Su.
perintendents, delay has occurred in the
payments Of the annuilies aud allowances to
which they are entitled. l would advise
some provision authorizing payments TO be
ala hy ofher officprs in the absence of
those especially charged by law with this
duty.
We have neyer-ceasing cause TO be CRATE
ful for the favor with which God has pro-
tected our infant Confederacy. And il be.
comes Us reyerently to return our thanks
and humby to ask Of his bounteousness
that wisdom which is needful for the per.
formance Of the high trusts with which We
are charged.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Richmond, August is, ls62.
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