Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-08-27

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legislation for controlling military transportation
on the rail roads, and improving their present deiec-
tive condition forces itself upon the attention OF the
Government and I trust you will be able to devise
satisfactory measures for attaining this purpose
The legislation on the subject Of general officers
involves the service in some difficulties which are
pointed out by the Secretary, and for which the
remedy suggested by him seems appropriate.
| In connection with this subject, am OF opinion
that prudence dictates some provision for the IN
crease of the army in the event of emergencies not
now anticipated The very large increase OF forces
recently called into the field by the President OF the
United States may render it necessary hereafter to
extend the provisions of the conscrpt law so as to
embrace persons between the ages of thirtyfve and
forty.fve years. The vigor and efficiency of our
present forces, their condition. and the skill and
ability which distinguish their leaders, inspire the
belief that no further enrolment will be necessary.
But a wise foresight requires that if = necessity
should be suddenly developed during the recess OF
Congress requiring increased forces for our defence,
means should exist for calling such forces into the
field without awaiting the reassembling OF the leg
islative department of the Government
In the election and appointment of officers for the
provisional army, it was to be anticipated that mis-
takes would be made, and incompetent officers of all
grades introduced into the service In the absence
of experience and with no reliable guide for selec.
ton, Executive appointments, as well as elections,
have been sometimes unfortunate. The good OF the
service and the interests of country require that
some means be devised for withdrawing the commits
sions of officers who incompetent for the duties
required by their position. And trust you Will
find means for relieving the army of such officers
by some mode more prompt and less wounding to
their sensibility than the judgment OF court mar
tial
Within a recent period we have effected the object
so long desired of an arrangement for an exchange
of prisoners which is now being executed by dellv-
cry at the points agreed upon, and which WILL 1t is
hoped speedily restore our brave and unfortunate
countrymen to their pacesin the ranks OF the army
from which, by the fortunes ofwar, they have been,
for a time, separated. The details of the arrange
ment will be communicated to you in special re-
port, when further progress has been made in their
execution.
OF the particulars concerning the operations Of
the War Department you will be informed by the
Secretary in his report and the accompanying docu-
mentS
The report of the Secretary of the Navy embraces
the operations and present condition of this branch
: of the public service both ahoat and ashore, the
construction and equipment of armed vessels, ct home
and abroad the manufacture of ordnance stores, and
the establishment of workshops, and the develop
ment of our resources of coal and iron. Some leg
islation essential for securing crews vessels
The difficulties now experienced on this point are
July stated IN the SeCretaTy 0uu lHVlte
your attention to providing remedy.
The report of the Postmaster General discloses
the embarrassnents which resulted in the postal
service from the occupation by the enemy of the
Mississippi river and portions of the territory of the
different States. The measures taken by the De-
partment for relieving these cmbarrassments far
as practicable are detailed in the report 1t is a
subject of congrauaton that during the ten months
that ended on the Sd March last the expenses Of the
Ia al xrh; it,
venue was augmented, compared with CORES
pondlng period ending on the thirtieth June, eigh
teen hundred and sixty one, when the postal system
was conducted under the authority delegated to the
United States.
Sufficient time has not yet elapsed to determine
whether the measures heretofore devised by Congress
will accomplish the end of bringing the expenditures
of the Department within the limits of its own re-
venues by the first of March next as required by
the Constitution.
am happy to inform you that in spite both of
Establishments and threats, used in profusion by
the agents Of the government Of the United States
the Indian nations within the Confederacy have
remained firm in their loyalty, and steadfast in the
observance of their treaty engagements with this
government. Nor has their fidelity been shaken Dy
the fact that owing to the vacancies in some Of the
offices of the agents and superintendent, delay has
occurred in the payments of the annuities and al
lowances to which they are entitled now advise
some provision authorizing payments to be made by
other officers, in the absence Of those especially
charged by law with this duty.
We have ceasing cause to be grateful for
the favor with which God has protected our infant
Confederacy, and it becomes US reverenty to return
our thanks and humbly to ask Of his RIGHTEOUSNESS
that wisdom which is neediul for the performance
of the high trusts with which we are charged.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
RICHMOND, Va, August 49, 1862.