Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-17

was done with those paroed at Vcksburg ard Port Hud
and also To leave the hands the rebels the coOred
soldiers and cicers who not regarded by them az
prisoners of and therefore not entitled to the bene
Of the proposed exchange.
The facts and spondence relating TO this subject
detailed III the accompanying report of Mao General
Hitchcock, commissioner OF exchanges. As the matte
stands have forty thousand prisoners OF
ready at any moment 10 be exchanged for and
officer for officer to the number held by the rebels These
number about thirteen Thousand, who now supplied
with food and raimrn by this Government aud by be-
nevolent and charitable associations and individuals
The rebel prisoners Of in possession have here
toore been treated with the utmost humanity aud tender
consistent with security They have had good quar-
ters full raons clothing hen needed and the same hospital
treatment received by own soldiers Indulgence of
friendly visits and supplies formerly permitted but
they lave been cut of since the babary practsd against
our prisoners became known to the Government. II it
should become sshry Tor the protection OF our
retaliation wall be ed to. But while the ebe
authorities suffer this Government to feed and cohe
troops held prisoners shall be content to
nue to their prisoners hands the humane treatment
they have uniformly enjoyed
THE ENRoLLMENT-THE DRAFT.
The operation Of the act Of Congress for enrolling and
calling out the national forces is exhibited in the accom-
panylng report of the Provost Marshal General At the
time that law enace ed 1t known to be very I'M
perfect msy intelligent persons considering its execution
wholly impraccablr, while few dared 10 hope for any
important benefit The law has been enforced in twelve
States 1t has brought from these States fifty thousand
curing substitutes With al liz imperfections, it is de-
monstrated that the act be efficient means
for rfcfn'lng our armies and calling cut the national
forces Tie principal impe tectious, and the required
amendments, vii! be submitted to Congress through the
appropriate committees. he moet important to be
dered what is called the three hundred dollar
son This feature "f the act has been much discussed
and oppouR opinions nearly balanced to the ope-
ration and effect c thp provision. While claim that
1t oppressive upon poor and avors the rch others
contend that 1t places rich ard poor upon equal foot
ania fha pnhta ntIan
military duty for within the reach OF every
Without undertaking to reconcile decide between these
cor ictng opinions, II ls certain that this clause OF ex
empton, 1t stands, OccasoHs delay in calling out the
military force The drafted man is exempted at the
end of long proceeding, by the payment of of mo-
ney SuPposng that sum to be adequate for procuring
substitute considerable time unavodably eapses before
competent substitute b. procured The question whe
her this clause shall be stricken out requires
the attention Of Congress The fund Of ten millions
raised BY the act ccmmutaton money deposited with
the United States Ass slant Treasurers aud being ap-
Piled to procuring substitutes by tire payment Of unes
aud prem ulns
coLoRED TROOPS AND FUGITIVE SLAVES.
Immediately after the Pre.ident's emancipation procls-
nation, dlgent Efforts were commenced and have
tnued until the present time for raising coored troops
The Adjunnt General sent To the Mississippi Valley
to organize the there hureau to have IN charge
all matters belonging to such troaps organized in the
War Department. The report Of It's chief shows what
progress has been made.
Over htty thc usaud men organized and in the
advance into the rebel StatcG The raising of these troops
has been retarded, first by the military operations in pro-
and second by the removal Of the slaves into the
interior beyond reach our recruiting agents This b.
stscIe Il Is hoped, will coon be entirely
The coor"d tro ps have been allowed bounty, and
under the CONSTRUCTION given by the Department they
only BY ex.hg ~, ceve the pay # ten dollars per
month, white soldiers being paid thirteen dollars per
month, with clothing aud daily ration There to
be inequality aud injustice in this Distinction and
amendment authorizing tn pay aud bounty white
Iad Sal1 1i.rs # Ia ITuinu
fighting under its banner aud exposing their lives in battle
to uphold the Goverutnt cu"rrd troops entitled to
enjoy its 4.tcr and brntfcence.
The fortunes of war have brought Ethin our lines
large number oi crorcd women, ctdren and aged
aud iuhm persons Their care support, and protection
rest solemn trust upon the Government Their nrcess
ties have To some extent been supplied by the order e
tins Department hut neral aud permanent system for
their protection hnf support should be speedily adopted
by Congress Even they to be regarded IN
degree burden upon the Government they greater
l0ss 10 the enemy, Every and child, from nEe
years old to sixty has to the rebel planter high market
value Their labor in The cotton field ia OF pr, fit
H. him. Ia 1t not brtt-r that should feed them than
that they should support the rebel master who s in
against us'
THE ORDNANCE BUREAU
The specific duty Of the Ordnance Department cup
ply and munitions "f tor cosst and frontier
urfcatiots and for the forces in h" field he expen
dturesfor these during the last fiscal year amount
to S423l363O The cannon. snnI arms, sccouirrments
and equipments for men aud horses aud ammunition OBJ
iaCture, ollnWs
l,5'1 field, siege, Al sea coast cannon with carTiag
calesons, add other implements.
lOs2,SlL muykes aud rifles for foot old ers
"S}SS9 carbine and pistols for mOuI tel troops
l25l 80 II bi Ia and she L.
iS1l9s62 pounds of lead AMI lead bullets
llS5Oi6 "a trdges for artillery
25Nu 22lG cartridges tor email arms
3H@13 Ol perCussion caps
39G3,9 friction primers
5,I,I 5nH pounds OF guupowder
9l9G1b ,es II accoutrcments for men
~ ~ sets of equipments for cavalry horses.
1881 srs of aruilery harness. each ret for horses.
An immense amount of material has been prepared at
the different arsenals and n metals wood and lea
ther ia large quantity, advanced towards completion
Tor the manufacture and repair Of all the various machines
ard mpcme ns OF in in the service.
The quantities Of the principal articles Of ordnance
terals the control Of the Department at the beginning
Of the the quantities ot those articles that have
srce been procured and the quantities of those articles
| on hand on June 30, 1863 shown in the following
table, viz:
|