The Semi-weekly Shreveport news. [volume] (Shreveport [La.]) 1862-1864, 1862-08-29

numerous suggestions for the legis-
lation deemed desirable, in order to
add to the efficiency of tho service,
invites your favorable consideration,
especially to those recommendations
which are intended to secure the pro-
per execution of the conscript law,
and the consolidation Of companies,
battallions and regiments, when so
! reduced in strength as to impair that
uniformity Of organization which is
necessary in the army, while an un-
due burthen is imposed on the treas
nry. The necessity for some legis-
lation for controlling military trans
portation on the railroads, and i'm
proving their present defective con-
dition, forces itself upon the atten-
! ton of the Government, and / trust
you will be able to devise satisfacto-
ry measures for attaining this pur.
pose.
The Legislation on the subject of
general officers involves the service
III 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 provision for the increase Of the
army in the event of emergencies not
now anticipated. The very larg. in
crease Of forces recently called into
the field by the President Of the Uni
ted States may render it necessary
hereafter to extend the provisions of
the couscript law so as to embrac.
persons between the ages Of thirty
five and forty-fivc years. The vigor
and efficiency Of our present forces,
their condition, and the skill and abil-
ity which distinguish their leaders,
inspire the belief that no further en-.
rollment will be necessary. But a
wise foresight requires that, if ne
cessity should be suddenly develop.
ed during the recess of Congress re-
qniring increased forces for our de-
t,use, .neans should exist for calling
such forces into the field without
awaiting the re-assemblins Of the le-
gislativc department Of the Govern
ulent.
In the election and appointment of
officers for the provisional army, it
was 10 be anticipated that mistakes
would be made, aud incompetent Of.
ticers Of eli grades introduced into
the service. In the absence Of ex-
perience, and with no reliable guide
for selection, Executive appointments
as wei! rs elections, have been some
times unfortunate. The good Of the
service, the interests of our country,
require that some means be devised
for Withdrawing the commissions of
officers who are incompetent, for the
duties required by their sensibility
than the Judgment Of a court martial.
Within a recent period we have
effected the object SO long desired Of
an arrangement for an exchange of
prisoners, which is now being execu
ted by delivery at the points agreed
upou, and which viii, it is hoped,
speedily restore our brave and un-
fortunate countrymen to their places
in the ranks Of the army, from which
by the fortunes Of war, they have
been, 10Y time, separated The de-
tails of the arrangement will be com.
mun:cated to you in especial report,
when further progress has been made
IN their execution.
OF the particulars concerning the
operations OF the War Department
you will be informed by the Secre-
tary in his report and the accompa-
nying documents.
The report of the Secretary of tho
Navy, embraces the operations and
present condition of this branch of
the public service, both ahoat and
ashore, the construction and equip