Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-12-13


manders and sent from departments where
their presence was deemed dangerous to
the public safety, have been discharged
upon parole to be os good behavior, and
do no act of hostility against the Govern.
ment Of the Unithd States.
While military arrests of disloyal per.
sons form the subject of complaint in some
States, the discharge of such persons is
complained of in other States.
1t has been the aim Of the Department
to avoid any encroachments upon individ
ual rights as far as might be consistent
with public safety and the preservation of
the Government. But rejecting minds
will perceive that no greater encourage
inert can be given to the enemy, no more
dangerous act of hostility can be perpe-
trated in this war, than efforts to prevent
recruiting and enlistments for the armies,
upon whose strength national existence de,
ponds. The expectations of the rebel
leaders. and their sympathizers in loyal
States, that the call for volunteers could
rot be answered, and that the draft could
not be enforced, have failed, and nothing
is left but to clamor at the means by which
their hopes were frustrated, and to strive
to disarm the Government in future, if. in
the chances OF war, another occasion for
increasing the military force should arise.
DUTIES OF THE PROVOST MARSHAL.
Beside aiding State authorities respect
ing draft and enlistment, another impor-
tant duty is assigned the provost marshals.
The army returns and the report of the
General-in-chief show that large number
OF officers and enlisted soldiers who are
drawing pay and rations are improperly
ab-ent FROM their posts. The pursuit of
such persons, and their compulsory return
to duty, is a necessary function Of pro-
vost marshal, and such number only as
may be required for that purpose will be
retained III the service. The pay and
bounty allowed by act of Congress to re
cruits have offered strong temptations to
practice fraud upon the Government by
false returns upon the muster rolls, and
false charges for subsistence. Diligent eff
forts are being made for the detection of
all such practices, and to bring the guilty
parties-some of whom have held respect
able stations in society-before proper
civil or military tribunal as soon as the
necessary preliminary Investigations by
the Judge Advocate can be completed.
The same course is being pursued in re-
spect to fraudulent contractors and dis
bursting officers.
The Secretary states that the expendi.
lures for enlistments, recruiting, drilling,
and subsistence of volunteers, regulars
and militia, amounts to the sum of $2O,-
692, 292 SO. The patriotic zeal and eff
Gent aid cordially rendered by the loyal
Governors is acknowledged. The issues
by the Ordnance Department include l.
926 field and siege, l,O62 fertilization can
non, 1894 gun carriages, caissons, mortar
beds, travelling FORCES and battery wagons,
l,276,6o6 small arms, 9o7,292 sets of
equipments and accoutrements, and 213,-
991, 1877 rounds Of ammunition for artille-
ry and small arms, still leaving large sup
plies of ordnance stores at the arsenals
and depots.
During the fiscal year ending the Both
of June, 1862, the sum of $5,550,039 81
was paid to the regular troops, that SOL
1860 81 were paid to volunteers, and
that SO, 597. S19 OF have been paid since
the Goth of June, 1862. The Surgeon
Generals report shows an expenditure of
the whole appropriations of that depart
ment, amounting to $2,445, 1894 SO. The
number of general hospitals is one hun
dred and fifty-one. The number of pa
tents in them is ffty-eight thousand one
hundred and seventy.fve. The whole
Il I
to be not short of ninety thousand.
OoNOLUSION-NO LEGITIMATE AID TO BE
DIsDAINED.
With this presentation of the past ope-
rations and the present condition of the
War Department the duty required of me
by the act of Congress to make an annual
report is IL great measure fulfilled. 1t
is seen that a force has been placed by the
people of the United States at the COM
mand Of the Government to maintain its
authority, more mighty in all the elements
of Warlike power than was ever before ar
rayed under one banner. How shall that
force be employed? To smite the enemy
OF every hand, to attack his armies and
strongholds, to occupy his ports, clear the
great rivers Of the West of his obstruc-
tons, and pause not until he is subdued, is
our plain duty. Above all, it is our duty
to disdain no legitimate aid that may save
the lives Of our gallant soldiers, diminish
their labors, provide for their " ants, and
! lessen the burdens of the people.
No aphorism is more universally re-
ceived, than that "the sole object of a
Just war is to make the enemy feel the
evils of bis injustice, and by his su1ferings
amend his ways, he must therefore be at
tackled in his most accessible quarter"-
The power of the rebels rest upon their
peculiar system OF labor, which keeps la
borers on their plantations to support
owners who are devoting their time and
strength to destroy our armies and destroy
our Government. Whenever that system
is in hostility to the Government, it is, in
my opinion, the duty of those conducting
the war to strike down the system, and
turn against the rebels the productive
power that upholds the Instruction.
Rightly organized in the recovered terri.
tory, the laborers of the rebel States will
not only aid in holding fortified positions,
but their labor will, as in India, free the
white soldier from the most unWholesome
exposure of the South. They will culti-
vate the corn and forage, which will feed
our cavalry and artillery horses, and save
the country portion Of the enormous
burden now attending their purchase and
transport from the North. This cultiva-
ton would have been of greater advantage
to Us on the sou .heastern coast than even
that of the great staple of the Sea Islands.
Probably the people who remained upon
these Islands, within protection of our ar
mics, could, under wise control, have
supplied all the forage needed this year