Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1862-03-07

tended. They afford cheering hope that our
resources, limited IS they were at the begin
ming of the contest, will during Its progress,
booome deveiored 10 such an extent As fully
20 meet our future wants. The policy OF en-
lstment for short terms, against which have
atesdilv coateuded from the commencement OF
,be var. has 10 my judgment, contributed 10
M imnaaterial degree, TO the recent naverses
xhicb we have suffered, and even now renders
il difficult to furnish you an accurate state
snent Of the army.
When the war fret broke out, many Of our
people could with difficulty be persuaded that
it would be long or serious. 1t Was MOI deem.
cd possible that any thing so insane as per-
sistant attempt 10 sabjugate these States could
be made. stlll less that the delusion could 80
far prevail as to give to the war the vast pro-
oortions which il has assumed. The people,
ineredploLs Of long war, were naturally
a9erse TO long enlistments, and the early le-
gisiation of Congress rendered it impraotcable
20 obtain volunteers for greater period than
II menths.
Now that il has become probable that the
var will be continued through series of years,
our high>sptited aud gallant soldiers, while
generally reenllstlng, are, from the fact OF
having entered the service for a short term,
compelled in many instances to go home to
make necessary arrangements for their faml.
lies duging their prolonged absence. The quo
ia of new regiments for the war, called for
from the different States, are 10 rapid progress
Of organiE1tion The whole body Of new
Ieyies aud reeulsted men will probably be
ready in the ranks within the next 80 dsys.-
But, in the meantime, 1t is exceedingly diff
cult to give an accurate estimate of the num-
Der of our forces in the field.
They may, in general terms, be stated at
400 regiments of infantry, with proportionate
forces of cavalry and artillery, the details of
which will be shown by the report OF the Sec
retary of War. deem it proper to advert to
the fact that the process Of furloughs and re-
enlistment 10 progress for the last month"; had
SO far disorgsnized aud weakened our forces
as to impair our ability for successful defense;
but hereby congratulate you that this evil,
which | had foreseen and was poWeIless to
prevent, may now be said to be substantially
at an end aud that We shall not again, during
the war, be exposed to seeing our strength di-
tninished by this fruitful cause of dlsas!sr-
short estimates,
The people Of the Confederate States being
principally engaged in agricultural pursuits,
we're uuprovded At the commencement Of hos
tiitIes with ships, saip,yards, materials for
ship building, or skilled mechanics and sea-
men, 10 sufficient numbers to make the prompt
creation of navy practical task, even if
the required appropriations had been made for
the purposes. notwithstanding our very lin
tied resources, however, the report of the Sec
retary will exhibit TO you a satisfactory pro-
portion in preparatian, aud certainly of the
near completion OF vessels of number aud
Ulass on which we may confidently rely for
contes.ing the vaunted control of the enemy
over wators.
The fuancial system proposed BY the wisdom
of your predecessors has proved adequate 10
supplying all the wants Of the Government,
Notwithstanding the unexpected and very large
increase of expenditure resulting from great
augmentation 10 the necessary measures of de-
feuse. The report OF the Secretary of the
Treasury will exhibit the gratifying fact that
We have ne floating debt, that the credit of
the Government is unimpared, and that the
total expenditure of tha Governmaut for the
year has been ia round numbers $40 600, ,0C0,
less than oBe-third of the sum wasted by the
enemy in bis vain efFDrt to conquer Us; less
than the value of single article Of export
the cottou crop Of the year.
The report Of the Postmaster General viii
shoT the condition of that Department to be
steadily improving, its revenues increasing,
sud already affoFding assurances that it viii
De self-sust aiming at the date required by the
Constitution, while aifording ample mali facili
ties Cor The people.
In the Department of Justice, which in
Cudes the Pateut Office aud Public Printing,
some legislative provisions will be required,
wbich will be specifically stated in the report
of the Head of that Department.
invite the attention of Cougrass to the du-
ty OF organizing Supreme Court Of the Con-
federate States, in accordance with the man
date Of the Constitution.
refer you TO my message, communicated to
the Provisional Congress in November last,
for such further Information touching the con-
ditiou Of public affairs it might be useful to
Say before you, the short interval which has
elapsed since not having produced any mlteri-
al changes 10 that condition other than those
80 which reference has already been made.
ln conclusion, | cordially welcome the Rep
reseutatiyss, who, recently chosen by tie peo-
pie, are fully imbued with their views aud
feelings, and can so ably devise means to the
needful provisions for the public service.
assure you of my hearty cooperation in all
your efforts for the common welfare of tho
country. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The greatest blessing of the ago, is toe dis
covery of perfect cure for Rheumatism, Gout
and Neuralgia and the nernieiaus efFe.ts of