Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-09-10
necessary in the army, while an undue burthen is imposed on the treasury The necessity for


 necessary in the army, while an undue burthen is imposed on the treasury. The necessity for some legislation for controlling military trans portation on the railroads and improving their present defective condition forces itself upon the attention ot the government, and trust that you will be able to devise satisfactory meas- ures for attaining this purpose. The legislation on the subject of general officers involves the service in some difficulties which are pointed out by the secretary, and for which the remedy suggested by him seems appropriate.
 In eonQecton with this subject am of opin- ion that% prudence dictates some provision for the increase of the army, in the event of emer- gences not now anticipated. The very large increase of forces recently called into the field bv the President ofthe United States may render it necessary hereafter to extend the provisions of the conscript law. so as to embrace persons between the age of thirty-five and forty. five years. The vigor and efficiency of our present forces their condition, and the skill and ability which distinguish their leaders inspire the be> lief that no further enrolment will be necessary, but wise foresight requires that if a necessity should be suddenly developed during the recess of Congress requiring increased forces for our defence, means should exist for calling such forces in the field, without awaiting the re~as- sembing of the legislative department of the government.
 In the election and appointment of officers for the provisional army, it was to be ahtici- pated that mistakes would be made and ineom- potent officers of all grades introduced into the service In the absence of experience and with no reliable guide for selection, executive ap- | pointments, as well as elections, have been sometimes unfortunate. The good ofthe service, the interest of our country, require that some means be devised for withdrawing the commis | sions of officers who are incompetent for the duties required by the position, and 1 trust you will find means for relieving the army of such officers by some mode more prompt and less wounding to their sensibility than judgment of court martial.
 Within recent period we have affected the object so long desired, of an arrangement for the exchange of prisoners, which IS now being executed by the delivery at the points agreed upon, and which wl 1t is hoped, speedily re- store our brave and unfortunate countrymen to their places in the ranks of the army, from which, by the fortune of war, they have for a time been separated. The details of this ar rangement will be communicated to you in Q special report when further progress has been made in their execution.
 Of other particulars concerning the opera tions of the war department, you will be in formed by the secretary, in his report, and the accompanying documents.
 The report ofthe secretary of the navy ems braces a statement of the operations and pres> ent condition of this branch of the public ser vice, both aAoat and ashore; the construction and equipment of armed vessels at home and abroad, the manufacture of ordnance and ord nance stores the establishment of workshops and the development of our resources of coal and iron. Some legislation seems essential for securing crews for vessels. The difficulties now experienced on this point are fully stated in the secretary report, and 1 invite your attention ! to providing remedy.
 The report of the postmaster general dis closes the embarrassments which resulted in the postal service from the occupation by the enemy of the Mississippi river and portions of the territory of the different States. The meas ureses taken by the department for relieving these endorsements, as far as practicable, are detailed in the report. It is subject of con graduation, that during the ten months which ended on the 3lst of March last, the expenses of the department were largely decreased, whilst its revenue was augmented, as compared with 8 corresponding period ending on the }0th June, 1860, when the postal service for these States was conducted under the authority dele gated to the Uaited States. Sufficient time has not yet elapsed 10 determine whether the meas ures, heretofore devised by Congress, will ac- complish the end of bringing the expenditures of the department within the limit of its own revenues by the first of March next, as required by the constitution.
 l am happy to inform you that, in spite both of blandishments and threats, used in profusion by the agents of the government of the United States, the Indian nations within the Confeder acy have remained firm in their loyalty and steadtast in the observance of their treaty en- agreements with this government. Nor has their fidelity been shaken hy the fact that, owing to the vacancies in some of the offices of agents and superintendents, delay has occurred in the payments of the annuities and allowances to which they are entitled. l would advise some provision authorizing payments to be made by other officers, in the absence of those especially charged by law with this duty.
 We have never~ceasing cause to be grateful for the favor with which God has protected our infant Confectionery. And it becomes us rever. ently to return our thanks and humbly to ask of his bounteousness that wisdom which is needtul for the performance of the high trusts with which we are charged.
 JEFFERSON DAVIS.
 RICHMOND, August l5, 1862.