New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-27
rnOss FOnrREss MONROE.
E1pediency Of Opening the Port OF Nor
foIk-ssnitary Affairs.
From Oar Special Correspondent.

From Our Special Correspondent
FoRrRr.s MosxoE. June % 1864
Gen. vicle has done good thing in suspendiug
the functions of the civil officers of Norfolk and
Portsmouth, and ordering that " all complaints Of
every description Of violations Of order. or OF acts
preudical to the public good, will he reported at
once TO the Provost Marshal This action is pred-
Gated on late disorders and conflicts between the
civil authorities and citizens" The continuance Of
civil authority in the hands Of men in the interest Of
the Rebellion and strongly preiudced against the
large class Of citizens who support the Government
of the Union, led directly to serious and alarming
conflict. Union men complained justly tia, hey
had no safety but were denied Justice in the hands
of their prosecutors. In the hands OF Gen. Niele
thew were willing TO coniide their interests aud Tie
rcace OF society and the suspension Of the flnc-
tons Of the local Secession authorities IL not only
in obedience 10 well-deGned Union sentiment, but i
a direct step toward putting down the spirit Of re-
bellion in the two cities.
The situation OF the Union men Of Norfolk aud
Portsmouth Is one having many peculiarly hard ica-
lures Indeed in some respects IA worse than before
the Rebels evacuated there cities. Generally they
of the more humble walks Of life, ard least able TO
endure the high prices OF everything necessary for
daily subsistence and comfort, and the almost total
puslepson of demand for labor. The Secess0nists
being generally those who have degree Of oompe.
tency are able to say to the Union authorities, Tic
longer You keep the port closed and deny the bene
Cts of trade and intercourse, the ctser yon bring
your Union friends and supporters 20 the starvation
point" Really such is the iac-the practical effect
of the policy that has marked the treatment OF Nor
folk and Portsmouth since the Rebels gave them up.
II ANYTHING could dampen the ardor Of Union men,
this would. As q consequence, numbers have left
for the South. at no little sacrifice and not little
disgused while others are preparing 10 do so. IL
il TO be- feared that not few will be compelled 10
remain, peculiar sufferers by what i am con-
strained 10 think is mistaken policy or rather, no
policy at ALL for, while the port Is 10 all intents ard
purposes cosed, smuggling through the express ard
by other means, ia openly tolerated. The Govern.
ment owes il to itself and to long-sufering Union
men, 20 adopt policy that ehall be iii conformity
with an intelligent view Of the case.
An officer who hes for tho last three weeks been
confined in one Of the hospitals OF The White House,
makes @ suggestion, which appears 10 Inc to be well
worthy of the attention of the Government. There
are now in the hospitals, at different points on the
Peninsula, as there must be already hundreds, aud
no doubt thousands OF men, who in all human proba-
biiily never Will be able TO do duty again, many OF
whom are able TO go nome, more soon will be, bat
are still detained. Tue suggestion that Board
or Commission ~ specially clothed with power 10
examine into all such cases. and TO discharge non
service all the men Of this class, and send them hone
as fast AS they able to 60 This would free the
hospitals in great measure, aud cut oil s0urse Of
expense, beside bereilting the men, land no doubt
save the lives of many. The merits OF the sugges-
ton will be sufficient 70 cause TO command alien
ton.
Tie effective force Of ths army is, without any
doubt, considerably reduced by the sick list, which
has become swelled to many thousand. am assured
By field officer OF one Of the very best regiments in
the field, as know, occupying position fufIhesi IN
the advance, that Il cannot muster to exceed 3Oo
men. am constrained TO think, however, that this
ia an extreme case, though it is alleged not to be.
Without any doubt, the sanitary condition Of the
army lie the subject OF deep interest," If no! solctpde
Among the invalids who arrived by the White
House boat to-day s Major LarIabee OF the Wiscon-
sid 9Th, much reduced aud broken from dysentery,
though now in ali improving condition. Major L.,
in view Of his broken health has felt constrained 10
tender bis resignation which, il accepted, will en'
tail loss not only the regiment but on the ser
vice. After remaining few days here to gain
little strength, Major l.. will make bis way North.
Il 10 to be hoped that it will not be long before We
shall be permitted TO welcome him back TO the field,
with restored health either In hi. old position Or AZ