Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-12-17
VOL. Ono. Is.

which occur in every national struggle.
A chief hope of those who set the rebellion
on foot was for aid and comfort from disloyal
sympathisers in the Northern States, whose
efforts were relied upon to divide and distract
the people of the North, and prevent them
from putting forth their whole strength to pre-
ssrve the national existence. The call for
volunteers and draft of the militia afforded
an occasion for disloyal persons to accom-
plish their evil purpose by discouraging enlist
ments and encourage opposition to the war and
the draft of soldiers to carry it on. Anxiety
was fet in some States al the probable success
of those disloyal parctices, and the govern
ment was urged to adopt measures of protec-
| zion by temporary restraints of those engaged
| n.these hostile acts. To that end provost.mar-
| shals were appointed in some States, upon the
nomination OF their Governors, to act under
I the direction of the State Executive, and the
writ OF habeas corpus was suspended by our
! ORDER
By order of the War Department arrests
were forbidden uniess authorized by the State
Executive or Judge Advocate. Some instan-
ces of unauthorized arrests have occurred and
when brought to the notice of the Department
the parties have been immed stely discharged.
| By recent order ell parties arrested for dis
couraging enlfstments, or for disloyal practi-
ces in the States where the quotas of volun-
teers and militia are filed up, have been re-
leased Other persons arrested by military
commanders and sent from departments where
their presence was deemed dangerous to the
public safetys have been discharged upon pa
ral "a fn bn of hah a of
hostility against the government of the Uni
ted States.
While military arrests of disioyal persons
| form the subject of complaint in some States,
the discharge of such persons is complained
of in other States 1t has been the aim of the
Department to avoid any encroachments upon
individual rights as far as might be consistent
with the public safety; but rejecting miHds
will preeeive that greater encouragement
can be given to the enemy, no more danger
Gus act of hostility be perpetrated in this
war than efforts to prevent recruiting and en-
listing for the armies upon whose strength the
national existence depends.
The expectation OF rebel leaders and their
sympathisers in the loyal States that the call
of volunteer. would not be answered and that
the,draft could not be enforced, have failed and
nothing is left but to clamor at the means by
which their hopes were frustrated, and to
strive to disarm the Government in future, if
in the chance of war, another occasion for
increasing the military force should arise
The absense of officers and privates from
their posts is noted, and measures taken to
correct the evil, also TO punish fraud in re-
gard to bounties. The expenditures for enlist
ments, recruiting, and subsistence of voluteers,
regulars ard militia amounts to the sum of
S2O, ,692 ,2S2 9f.
In relation to contrabands it is said In Lou.
isana, where at one time there were apprehen-
sions of embarrassment from the number of
efuSees, the reserve of tract Of rich land
along the railroad TO Barracks Bay opens up a
territory in which many thousand can be
profitably employed, if placed under proper
regulation and control. AT Port Royal such
persons have been extensively employ ed in the
works of the Quaitermaster Department, and
in cultivating some thousands of acres of the
Sea Island OF the coast, fhe product of which
are used in the support of themselves and
families. In the operations of the army on
the James river, and on the Potomac, in the
fortifcations of Washington, and as laborers,
teamsters, hoStlers, and in landing and ship
ping of stores. they have been of great service,
and the demand for their labor has exceeded
the supply available.
Some details are given of the provision for
coast and harbor defeuses. The Secretary
calls special attention to necessity of provi-
ding additional meacs for the storage and
preservation of ordance supplies, as recon-
mended in the report of the Chief of Ordauce
The attention OF the department has been
earnestly directed TO the forts aud Notifications
for coast and harbor defences. personal in
spectation OF these impotant warks has been
mabe by Gen. lotion, the distinguished Chief
of Engineers.
The grants made by Congress for fortified
tions at last session amounted to FIVE millions
five hundred and thirty five dollars for perma-
nent works, and seven hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars for temporary works. The Chief
OF Engineers reports that these sums admitted
OF very material progress, being made at the
most important forts now in process OF con-
strnction. This has been realized in mum.
Der of instances, and in all decided advance
ment has been effected. Great difficulties have
been experienced in obtaining supplies of ma
teriais from the quarries, stoneyards, &C., ow-
ing TO the demands made upon the classes usu-
employed in this kind of work by the War De-
parfment Similar trouble has been encoun-
tered in procuring transportation for materi-
ais. Much has been done in advancing the
stale of readiness of our fortifcations in the
principal commercial harbors for service in
preparing for additional guns in providing for
the reception of armament of very large cali
bre in the existing batteries, and in placing
all in effective condition for defense. Like
measures have been observed with referenceto
naval stations and of frontiers generally.
The employment of contraband labor in the