Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-08-26


ury will exhibit in detail the operations of
that department. II will be seen with sat-
isfaction that the credit of the government
securities remains unimpaired, and that
this credit is fully justified by Tue conpar-
atiYely small amount OF accumulated debt,
the magnitude of our mil
itary operations. The legislation of the
last session provided for the purchase of
supplies with the bonds of the government,
but the preference of the people for Treas
ury notes has been so marked that the leg
isAture is recommended TO authorize an m
crease in The issue OF I'rsIsuTy notes, which
the public service seems TO require. No
grave Inconvenience need be appreheaded
from the increased issue, as the provision of
the law by which these notes are convertible
into eight per cent bonds, forms an efficient
aud permanent safeguard against any seri-
GUS depreciation of the currency. Your
attention is also invited TO the means pro-
posed by the Secretary for facilitating, the
preparation of these notes, and for guard
ing them against forgery. 1t is due TO our
people to state that no manufacture Of
notes exists within our limits,
and that they are imported all from the
Northern States.
The report of the Secretary of War
which is submitted, contains numerous
suggestions for the legislation deemed de-
sirAble in order 10 add to the efficiency of
the service. invite your favorable cou-
sideration especially to those recommen-
dations which are intended to secure the
proper execution of the Conscript law, and
the consolidation of companies, battallfous
and regiments, when so reduced in strength
as to impair that uniformity of organiza-
ton which Is necessary in'the army, while
an undue burthen is imposed on the Trea-
sury. The necessity for some legislation
for controlling military transportation on
tile railroads, aud improving their present
defective condition forces itself upon the
attention of the government, and | trust
TINT you Willie able to devise satisfactory
measures TO- attaining this purpose. The
legislation on the subject of general OH
GERS involves the service in some difficulties
which are pointed out by the Secretary,
and for which the remedy suggested by him
seems appropriate.
In connection with this subject, L am OF
opinion that prudence dictates some pro-
vision for the increase of the army, in the
event OF emergencies not now anticipated.
The UsrY large increase of forces recently
called into the field by The President Of the
United States may render il MecesSy 10 e1teAd
the provisions Of The coRscript i1lO so as to
embrace persons beteeen The ages Of thirty
yf0e and torL.y .Rue years. The yigor and eff
hciency Ofour present forces, their condition,
and the skill aud ability which distinguishes
their leaders, inspire the belief that no
further enrolment will be necessary, but
wise foresight requires tina. if necessity
should be suddenly developed during the
recess of Congress, requiring Increased
foi ces for our defence, means should exist
for calling such forces into the field, with
out awaiting the reasSembling of the Leg
islative department of the COVE rnmeut.
In the election and appointment of Off
GERS for the provisional army, it was to be
anticipated that mistakes would be made,
and incompetent officers of all grades intro
duced into the service. In the absence of
experience, aud with no reliable guide for
selection, executive appointments, as we'll
as elections. have been sometimes unfor-
tunate. The good ofthe service, tue iu-
terests of our country, require that some
means be devised for withdrawing the COM
missions of officers who are incompetent
for the duties required by the position. and
trust that you will lind means for reliev-
ing the nrmy of such officers by some mode
more prompt and less wounding 10 their
sensihility than Judgment OF - court. mar
tial.
within - AGiOut pCIluu VIC uuhG GutGNGu
the object so long desired, OF an arrange
ment Tor the exchange of prisoners, which
is now being executed by delivery ut the
points agreed upon, and which will, it is
hoped, speedily restore our brave and I'M
fortunate countrynen to their plnces in the
ranks of the army, from which, by the for
tunes of war, they have for Il lime been sep
arated. The details of this arrangement
will be communicated to you in special
report when furlherprogress has been made
in their execution.
OF other particulars concerning the ope-
rations of the War Department you will be
informed by the Secretary in his report and
the accompanying documents.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
embraces n statement of The operations and
present condition of this branch of the pub
lie service, both atloat and ashore; the con-
struetOn aud equipment OF armed pesscls at
home and abroad, the manufacture of ord
nance and ordnance stores, the establish
ment of workshops and the development of
our resources of coal aud of iron. Some
legislation seems essential for securing
crews for vessels. The difficulties now ex-
perienced on this point are fully stated in
the Secretary's report, and | invite your
attention to providing remedy.
The report of the Postmaster General
disoloses the embarrassments which result
ed in the postal service from the occupation
by the enemy of the Mississippi River aud
portions OF the territory of the different
States. The measures taken by the de-
partment tor relieving those embarrass-
ments, as far as practicable, are detailed
in the report. 1t is u subject of congratu-
lation, that, during the ten months which
ended on the 3lst of March last, the ex-
penses of the department were largely de-
creased, whilst its revenue was augmented,
as compared with a corresponding period
ending on the goth June, 1860, when the
United States. Sufficient time has not yet
elapsed to determine whether the measures,
heretofore devised by Congress. will nc.