The New York herald., 1863-12-12
NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER lsv 1868

~
sons no, liable for duty may be substitutes
tor those who are under such regulations a. may W. pro
scribed BY the secretary Of War" The policy Of grant
Ing this privilege has not been sustained BY sxperence
Not only has the numerical strength OF the army bcen
seriously impaired by the frequent desertons for which
substitutes have become notorious but dssatisiacton
has been excited among those who been unable
unwilling To ava themselves OF tho opportunity thus
afforded OF avoiding tho military Of ther country
folly concur In the opinion Expressed by the Seoro
tary that there ground for the obecton thai
provision 70 include those who furnished substitutes
under the former call would be breach OF contract To
into contract and whsnevor the substitute is
liable TO conscripton. II would seem to follow that tho
prncipa whose place be had taken should respond for
for his exemption whore, however the new provision
/ OF law would fail 10 embrace substitute nov the
ranks, there appears, the principal should again be
conscrbed TO be equitable ground for compensation
to the conscrpt, who then would have added TO the
service soldier not otherwise liable 10 enrolment
On the subject OF exemptions, ID Is believed that
abuses cannot be checked the system is placed
on basis entirely different from that now provided
by law. The object OF your legislation has boen not
to confer privileges classes but exonerate from
military duty such number OF persons skilled in tho
various trades professions ana mechanical pursuits
could render moro valuable services their country by
aboring in their present ocupation than by going into
but the result ,ooad, IL thought be beer osdined BY
rolling ou sfeh persons. and oooIg deaii TO Be nsode Of
Considerable numbers e believed 10 bs nov exempted
from tne military service who are NOT neodui 10 tho pub
Certain duties are now performed throughout the couu
try by deiaIs from the army which could bs as well
executed by above the present eoos0rps age
An erfeasfcW OF le hmit, to embrace perssns
forv fire years and phrncdy ff for ssrce. aaard
ING poss railroads and bridges IN spprehendng desest
younger men detailed for duty with the nitrc ordnance
commissary and gaartermasters' bureaus OF tho War
Department. would, IL is hoped, add largely to the
effective force 10 tho heid without undue burtneu
the population.
II TO the above measures DO added law TO euiwgu the
policy OF tho act Of tie 2lst Apr 1862 to onabe
tue department to replace not only enlisted cooks bur
wagooers and other employees ,hs army by negroes.
hoped that me rarks OF Il, aTr wiii bt 50 srenosened
Io ee snsua cdmpd'gr' az TO pd at defiance he n'fo1
In order to maintau uniapa,rea the existing orgsu,
zaon Of tho army until tho close OF tho war ogS
atlon contemplated frequent supply Of recruits. and
years for which the men were enrolled under Of 10th
April 1852, tho majority OF mon each company would
quent TO tho original oomrsny sorvice
aud that the discharge Of those VINO compoted their
term would at no time be sufficient 10 leave the company
with less number than require0 10 euaoas 4, retain
its organix tion. The difficulty OF obtaining recruits from
military service granted by different laws hive prevent
oil sufficient access s0Ds IN many Of tho companies to
pressve their organizations after tho dcusye Of ths
original members The odro0td0e OF re'ofrug tr,ed 0ud
rt approved c6cers dnA OF 'ain0in0 recruits oih erpe
rcnced soldiers, orot and Me poIfyy OF eA
20 clearly iHdcoed that "a NOT deemed esssdyy 10
point ont the ,s consequences ,cch soo3 from the
destruction Of the od organizations. deh rpon The
bfts 10 b secured from filing up tle vcron Companies
long before the discharge OF ne carly members as may t
possible ln the cases whore IL may be ornt isprsct
cable regiments in sufficient strength 10 in.
tiy the rotenten Of the present organza,nj ocooomy
and efficiency would be promoted by consolidation and
banding part Of he ocers and msving reguetsus for
securing tho most judcious selection Of those
retained while !oast wouudng the feelings OF taooe who
Experiences necessity for further legis
latson in relation TO the lorses of tho cavalry Many
lose their horses casualties of seryce which
not included In tho made to compensate tho
owner for the oss and il may thus not unfrequeatiy
shnt gha Nc Af
their own, indeed, may b because Of thor zes and
activity, are lost TO the cavalry service.
would also seeru proper that tho should
have complete control ovcr every horse mustered into
tho service with tho Limitation that ths owner should
lion being made therefor. Otherwise, mounted
Keep horses IL for the service tho question
pend not upon tho qualifications OF the men, but
the fact OF their having horses.
some provision deemed requisite TO correct tho evils
arising from the long continued absence Of commissioned
officers. Where is without sufficient 1t would
eem but just thst the commission should DO thereby
vacated.
Where II results from capture by tho enomy, which,
under their barbaroas refusal to exchange prisoners OF
be regarded sbseoce for indefinite tiue
there Is necessity 70 supply thor places in their ro
spective commands. This nign be done by temporary
appointments 10 endure only until tho Of tho OH
GERS regularly commissioned. where II results from
permanent disability incurred in the line OF their duty
would proper TO ietre them a the vacancios
cordng 70 established mode uoud aso suoosa The or
ouniscon Of an inrod coTps, and thai ire refired os
be 'rdnsferrSd 70 4 Such corps. Is thought could oe
GERS and troops ar ilo'g deach>d
be highly conducive 70 the efficiency most import
ant branch Of the o. The plan adopted the
tary esssol.hmen fu; model Tor the san o. tho
distiuctoa but recommend 10 your coDsduss60a the
toos OF tho several sa1 corps such number
such rank will meet al tho wants OF tho 10
secure the requisite ability for tho moro important post
iion 1t will be 10 provide for officers a higher
rank than authorized Tor these To give TO
the officers the proper relation aud conteigence in their
et.Ar and IN In Inn chit fnf.a
useful nnreace and control his subord naes there
should be gradaton the basis OF the rank OF the
general with whom they might be serving by appoint
nent. To the personal stan OF general would
proper to grade corresponding with his rank and
the number might he nSed 10 correspoud with hts com
mand To avoid the Consequence OF discharge upon a
change OF duty the variable portion Of the personal STAFF
sht be taken from the line OF the army aud allowed 10
retain their line cOmmissinos
duorderea condition me currency Z, ,ehea hays
frady dindd HAS t,vo'ed on e egrernmeni sy.t, Of
sg7 tyin0 ne ,odns " ne army ~hich Is raeg,ai ,n n
operation, rsrdt,ons b me producer ,ni"v,0u 10 ne IN
dusai tntere ard prodo,te Of such dsor,-nt anong
ne people os ony 10 " 1nstfef ~ N, eS'aeno> of an 40
sou'e necesafy The report Of the Secretary this
point establishes copcusivey, that the necessity which
has forced the bureauK OF supply 10 provide for tho
ny mpressment, has resulted from the mpossbity ot
purchase by contract In the open Market except al
such rapidly rendered tho
appropriations Inadequate wants of tbs army In
Iced, I, u believed that the temptation TO hoard supplies
Tor the higher prices which could ncipated with
lsuiy been checked mainly by Of the opera
ton Of the impressmeni law aud that commodities have
oeen oae,ea .nn shs .n hss aeP hos 70 sscns m q.
apprasemcnt tfhe complaints against this vicious system
have been we'll founded, but the trrs of the evil
has been misapprehsnded. The remedy !, to be found
DOT IN a change OF the imprcssment law. but Ia the
restoration OF the currency 10 such bsss will enable
tho department 10 purchase necessary supplies la the
,pen market, and thus render impreAmsnt rars aud
sxceptionablo process.
The remedy will effect the result universally de-
lred, OF augmentation ot the pay of the army. The
proposas made at your previous
pay Of the soldier by additional amount of Treasury
notes would have conferred little benefit hun but
radical reform the curruocy will restore tho pay
vare approximating that which II originally had. and
materially improve bis condition
The reports fcm he ordnance and MINING bureaus
ury gratifying, and he cx,srh0r Of Of
ruTpty Of and msnniors Of from
home r,sourcG has been suct 70 d5liis,
20 tscons Uafniy, II nat as,iysy, 1dJ<ndsu OF mp
pits from forslQN csue The establishments for the
casting Of guns ana prosces, for tho manufacture o
small arms and Of gunpo~der. for the supply o ntrs
from artificial nitro beds and mining operations gene
rally have been distributed through the country
place resources beyond tho reach Of partial sasts
The recommendatious OF the Secretary " War other
points are minutsy detasd 10 his report, vnch Is sub