, 1862-08-21
A Scorcning Article from tile R1ch-
monl Examiner on Jeff. DAvia,
Administration.

A Scorcning Article from tile R1c1l-
mond Examiner on Jeff. DAvia,
Administration.
The Wheeling Iateuigeneer copies the fol-
lowing article from late number OF the Rich
mond Examiner received in that city:
One Of the most important duties that will
deyQ}ye upon Congress at its approaching ses-
sion will be to recruit the strength Of our ar
mics. The executive branch Of the govern
ment has depleted our armies and jeopardized
our contest BY an easy federation Of desertion
and struggling, which have reduced our milf
tarY force to an alarming extent 1t has
t15ded with the cause Of tie country; 1t has
ignored The death penalty In our armies; It
has neglected its discipline, wiaked at cap1SI
crimes, emasculated the war, preached sickly
eentimentalEm. and taught the country the
ment that takes q monstrous aud unnatural
pride in defying public sentiment, in treating
the counsels Of the people with iusolence,
and in snubblng advice with the sir Of autoc-
Iacy.
II will be for Congress to repair as best It
can the mischief done the public service By g
weak and impracticab1e executive; to look to
the reduction OF our forces in the field; the
decay Of military discipline; the demoraliza-
ton OF our armies, and the jeopardy in which
our cause has been put by long course Of
triflipg conduct, childish pride Of opinion,
unworthy obstinacy, Official obtusenes5, con-
ceit, defsnce Of public opinion, imperious-
ness and despotic adectation on the part Of
those entrusted with the execution Of the war,
: # cur armies had been kept whole, If de-
sertiou had been punished with the exemplary
sentence Of death, and II the great virtue Of
military descipline had not been abused by
The most shameful excesses, there would be
no need now Of e1hortations to Congress to
strengthen our armies and to increase their
numbers By new acts Of legislation. The fact
is, that Congress and the legislatures of the
different States hsTe exhausted themselves in
replenish our armies; the recommendation Of
the executive to raise troops By CONSUMPTION
was responded to Instantly; in Virginia alone
the militia have been called. ont four or five
times, and In other States the army has Heen
swollen beyond the quotas required from
them by troops raised for local service, partf-
san warfare, and special e1ieencies. Not
withstandipg This ready and active disposition
on the part Of the confederate Congress and
the State Legislatures to keep up the strength
| of cur armies, and the recent levies made under
i their authority, the numbers Of our troops In
the field have decreased through the neglect
| Of discipline, the Indifference OF our military
| commapde1s, and the action Of the executive
I branch Of the government, which, 80 tar from
! nnrturIuE our armies and encouraging the
I martial spirit Of the country, has dennoralized
t them. relaxed the ordinary rules Of discipline
I and Gampened the a1doE OF our troops by de-
lay, lnaction, and uncertainty Of purpose.
| It will be for Congress to adopt some new
measure to recruit the numerical strength 0!
our army and to act in the important and Vi
tal eaigspey that Is upon us with decision ani
ysgor. We see no alternstive but to enlarge
the terms Of the consumption 1aw-to extent
its operations to persons between this ages o
eighteen and forty five or fifty, instead Of max
| ing the latter term th1rty~dve, as at first re
commended By the president. This necessit.
will be unweleome'; It maybe that IT will in
volre q serious reduction in the producing
Tain the armies raised for it's defense. But tn