Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-08-19
pRRa1nESr,s pE,sAaE.

Necessary to the public welfare while, country s u-
volved 10 desolsting The stfsriugs endured BY
some portions Of the people excite the deep socude Of
the Government; and the sympathy thus evoked has
been heightened BY the patriotic devotion With which
these spnsrirgs have been borne. u ...s. |
Toe CALAMITY and good conduc: OF our troops, always
claiming the gratitude Of tbs country, have been far
Their illustrated on hsrdought fields, marked BY eIhi
b ions OF individual proves which can hnd bat ies
parallels 10 ancient or modern times.
OIr army has ltered In any OF the various trials
TO which h has been subjected and the great body OF
the people has continued manifest zsl and unann'
iy which only cheer the battle Stained soldier, but
r assurance the friends Of constitutional liberty OF
fas triumph in the pending struggle against despot
ic usurpaton.
TIE vast army which threatened the capital Of the
Oonederacy has been defeated and driv from the nes
OF investment and the enemy, repeatedly fooled in hs
eJrts r its capture nov seeking to rase ne" armies
scale such modern history does not record, TO
eject that sutugaton Of the South often proclaimed
the eve Of Accomplishment:
The pe6dy which dsregs rded rigats secured BY COM
pact the madness which tramplsd oblg cations made
sacred by every consideration Of honor have been In
fled BY the maignty engendered by defeat. These
passions have changed the character Of the hoetes
uaged by our enemies, who becoming daily less re-
gsrdul Of the usages Of cviz ID and the dictates
OF humanity Rapine and wanton destruction of private
property, upon combatsnta murder Of capives
bloody threats 10 avenge the death Of invading SCI
diery by the slaughter Of unsrmed cz ms, orders Of
Punishment against peaceful families engaged in the cul
Vson OF the soi, are some OF the means used by our
ruthless invaders to enforce the submission Of free
people to foreign sway. OoLhscaon bils Of chsrse-
1:rociouI ensure, if executed the ruin
OF the entire paaion Of these States passed by
their Congress aud approved by their Executive.
The monsyed obligations Of the Confederate Govern
forged by citizens of the United Safes and
publicly advertised for sale in their ctes, with
rsty which sufficiently sttests the knowledge of their
government AID It's completely in the crime is further
ced by the fact that the soldiers Of the invading
armies fouud supplied With large quantities OF these
forged notes. means of despoing the country people
by fraud out Of uoh portous OF the: properly armed
violence may fail reach. Two at least Of the Gen.
erals of the United States engaged unchecked by
.aeir government in exciting serye rsurection, and IL
erming AID training slaves Tor warfare against their
tiers, citz OF the ConfederacJ. Another has been
ound instincts brutal TO invite the violence OF
his soiiery against the women of a captured city.
Yet, the rebuke Of civilized mas failed to evoke
from the authorities OF the United States mark of
disapprobstion OF his acts is there any reason TO
suppose tina; the conduct of Ber amin y. Butler has
filled to secure from his Government the sanction aud
pause With which IL is known to have been greeted by
public meetings aud portions Of the press oil the United
ates. To inquiries made OF the. COMMANDMENT C1ief
of he armies OF the United Staos, whether the afro
cious conduct of of their military commsndanta
the sanction OF that Government answer has bet
evaded on the preteIs that the Inquiry was insulting
and no method remains for the expression Of these
ornes but such retriDuye asics as It may be found
yossibe to execute.
Retaliation in kind, for many of them Is impractca
ble for have bad occasion TO remark in former NEE
sage that under of proyocaion could 10
Die hearted defenders be driven 10 vresk vengeance
uusrmed men, on women, or on children. But sttrn
and exemplary punishment can and must be melted
cut the murderers and felons Who disgracing the
profession OF arms seek to make Of public the
aon for the commission of the mors:rous crimes
Deeply We regret the character OF tho contest iato
which about 10 be forced, We must accept 1t
alternative which recent manifestations give little
hope csn be avoided.
The exssyeraton Of failure has aroused the worst pas
sous Of enemies; large portion Of their people,
even OF their ciergymep, now engage in urging
cited popuace 10 the extreme Of erocity and nohir
remains bat to vindicate cur rights aud 10 mailman
,Gsteuce by employing against our foe every energy
and every resource at cur disposal.
Iappend for your information copy OF the papers
exhibiting the action OF the Government mp to the pres.
ent time for the repression OF The our9gts committed
on our people 0,her measures In progress will be
submitted hereafter.
In inviting your attention TO the legislation which the
necessities Of condition require those couuec,ed
with The prosecution OF the command sost updi
yidcd attention
The acts passed Ct your last session intended 10 &C.
cure the public defence By general curo!!n,nt and 70
rru6or uEorn the rules governing troops in the service
have led 70 Sons unexpected criticism that much to
be regretted.
TIE ei.ancy Of the Law has been thus somewhat i'm
paired thong. l. Ia believed that in any Of the
States the popular mipd has withheld ia sanction from
eaer tie Cecaspity pFoprety CT Your legislation l.
is only By harmonious well as JEALOUS a,on that
government az new as ours ushered into existence On
The very eva OF great war, ard unprovided with the
material necessary fer conducting hos,ites on so vac;
, scAle, can iuifi i:s duties Upon you, vho are in
oTmed Ct he acs aud purposes Of tho government and
borough! itc' usd Wh TIA feelings arr sentiments Of
be people, must reliance be placed 20 this great
Of ac: Icu beet devils, The for establishing
tlat entire cooperation Of he and Confederate Gov
el which essential 10 The well being of both at I'll
time IN ~tch is Indispensable to their very exist
snce Aud # any legislation ANAL seem 10 YOU spPropr-
ate foT adjusting differences ofopnon will be my plea
well duty,O cooperate in any measure that
may be devised Tor reconcng just for the pub
lie defence with proper Difference for the most sCrupu
ious susceptibiities Of the State authorities,
The report Of the Secretary Q! the Treasury viii
exhibit IN detail the operations Of that department II
wall be seen with satisfaction that the credit OF the
Government securities remains unimpsired, and that
this credit i uly justified by the comparatively smai
amount Of accumulated debt, notwithstanding the mag
ultUde Of our military operations.
The legislation Of the last session provided for the
purchase Of supplies with the bonds OF the Govern
ment; but the preference of the people for Treasury
note, has been marked that legislation Is recon-
mended to authorize an increase in the issue Of Trea
Sury notes. which the public service seems TO require
No grave inconvenience need be lpPrehended from
this increased ISSUE the provision Of law By which
those notes are convertible into eight per cent bonds
form, efficient and permanent safeguard against any
serious depreciation of the currency.
Your attention Is also invited 10 the means proposed
b, the Secretary for facilitating the preparation OF
these notes. and Tor guarding them against forgery II
due to our people 10 state, that the manufacture Of
counterfeit notes exists within limits. and that they
are all imported from the NQrthern States.
The report of the Secretary of War, which Is cub
stlOns Tor the leglSla-
ton deemed desirable order to add TO the efficiency
of the service invites your favorable consideration
pecialy 10 those recommendations which intended
to secure the proper execution vi the conscrpt law,
and the consolidation of companies, battalons and
gments when SO reduced in strength to impair thai
uniformity Of organization which is necessary in the
army while an undue burthen is imposed the trea
sury The necessity for some legislation for controlling
military transportation the rail roads, and improving
their present defective condition, itself upon the
attention Of the Government and ! l.L YOU will b.