The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-13

have been possible but for the extent Of our sys-
teM- SteS0 ssaaapessI ssilsssa, ases.I
SD hsenee PeeA found eeeessasy bto snAfcissd
Eithtn the loyal States the power conferred, upon /
the President By Law to take actual military pos.
session Of tho railroads. Of the country. Geo Sas y
2 The various eompaniesl ales il convention ID
this city, united in proposing uniform tariff for
Government transportation, which appears to
be just and equitable, and they have performed
al the services required Of them By the depart
ment with . promptness, efficiency and cheeriul-
ness; which do honor to the patriotism of their
managers, .ia.s} ts.,-'.a eass III,
Every means the country afford. has been put !
forth to complete the arnamsntso of our forts and
Notifications for the defense of harbors and
coasts, % IL shown by the report of this bureau;
those details are, for obvious reasons, not now
stated, and the legislation required BY this
osanch OF the service will, by your direction, be
communicated to the appropriate -committee.-1
Ine subject Of aiming the Notifications, partic-
ularly those defending the hatbors Of our princi-
pal Atlantic ports has received special attention,
and Athe means ct the disposal Of the depart
ment have been applied to that end, %, far -
Wa possible and consistent with meeting other
Imperative requirements.
In consequences Of the Introduction into naval
warfare Of iron clad vessels comparatively safe
from the effects Of such batteries - had hitherto
been sufficient TO guard effectually against the
passage OF hostile vessels, It became necessary to
provide heavier and more powerful ordnance
The whole system of such armament was care
fully revised and amended BY board OF the most
experienced and competent officers, and mess-
ures have been taken 70 carry their accommods-
lions into effect '9ai q no Elar9 10 n
The Secretary calls special attention to the
necessity Of providing additional means for the
storage and preservation of ordinary supplies,
IS recommended in the report of the Chief Of
Ordinance. The attention Of the Department
hes been earnestly directed 10 tho forts and for
ti6cations for coat and harbor dsfenseA A
personal inspection Of these Important works
has been made BY Gen. Totten, the distinguished
Chief Of Engineers. The grants made BY Con-
gress for forsi6cations amounted 70 Eve millions
five hundred and thirty.6ve dollars for psrms.
sand dollars for temporary works. The Chief
Of Engineers reports that these sums admitted
Of very material progress being made at most of
the important forts now in process of constitute
zion. This has been realized in q number of in.
stances, and In al I decided advancement had
been effected. Great difficulties have been ex-
perienced in obtaining supplies OF laterials from
the quarries, stone yards, &C., owing to the de-
mands made upon the classes usually employed
In this kind Of works by the War Department
Similar trouble has been encountered in procu-
ring transportation for materials Much has
been done in advancing the state of readiness OF
GU, Notifications in the principal commercial
harbors for service, in preparing for additional
| ment of very large cAlibre in the existing bat
teries, and in placing all in effective condi-
ton of defense. Like measures have been OBJ
| served with reference to naval stations aud our
frontier generally. a
The Secretary says no sphorism is more uni.
versally received than that the cole object of q
just war is to make the enemy feel the evils of
his injustice, and by his sufferings amend his
ways, and he must therefore be attacked in most
accessible quarters The power of the rebels rests
upon their peculiar system Of labor, which keeps
laborers on their plantations, to support owners
who are devoting their time aud strength to de-
stroy our armies and destroy our Government
Whenever that system 10 in hostility to the Gov.
ernment it is, in his opinion. the duty of those
conducting the war to strike down the system,
aud turn against the rebels the production power
that upholds the insurrection. Rightly organ
ICED in the recovered territory, the laborers Of
the rebels will not aid in holding fortified posi-
tons, but their labor will, as in India, free the
white soldiers from the most unwholesome expo.
sure of the South. They will cultivate the corn
and forage which will feed our cavalry and artil.
lery horses, and save the country a portion of
the enormous burden now attending their pur-
chase and transportation from the North
This cultivation would have been of greater ad.
vantage to us on the southeastern coast than
even that Of the great staple of the sea-islands
He says, in conclusion, the greater part
tho -hnlo
duced the sea island cotton is now thoroughly
restored to the Union-the laborers are there,
the soil and climate; it needs only assurance
of protection to revive the cultivation of the
staple, as we'll as to produce vast quantities of
corn and forage for our troops. Since this war
must be conducted by Marches and battles, and
seiges, why neglect the best means to make
them successful, and their results permanent !?
1t is worthy of notice that thus far the portions
of territory which We have received, and must
firmly hold, are precisely those in which the
greatest proportion of colored meu are found.
| By their assistance armies will be permanent to
operate 10 and occupy the country, and in labor
for the army, in raising its and their own sup :
with this there win be neither occasion nor
temptation to them to emgrate to Northern
and less congenisl climate. Judging by expe-
rience, no colored man will leave his home in
The South, if protected in that home. All pos
sibility Of competition from negro labor in the
North is avoided in giving colored men protec.
ton and employment upon the coil which they
have thus far cultivated, the right to which has
been vacated BY the original proprietors, deep
i ly involved in the crimes of treason and rebel
lion. No graf territory has been permanently
reduced without depriving the leaders of the
people of their laUrels and property. It is these
that give power and influence. Few men have
the commanding genius and talent to exercise
i dangerous influence over their fellow men, with.
out the adventurous aid of money and proper
ty. By striking down this system of compuso.
/ ~ labor which enables the leaders of rebellion
to control the resouscee of the people, the re-
bellion would die of ITSELF, Under no circum
stances has any disposition to servile insurrec
ton been exhibited by the colored people in
any Southern State, while strong loyalty to
Il the Federal Government has been displayed on
/ ov>.v oooo s;on and o0sinot avorv diacoureoo