Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-12-17


it would seem but just that the commission should
be thereby vacated. Where it results from capture by
the enemy which, under their barbarous refusal to ex-
charge prisoners OF war, may be regarded absence
for en- dfrite time, there is necessity to supply
thcir places their respective commands This might
b. done by temporary appoin 10 endure ouy IN
i'll the return OF the eff ers regularly commissioned
Whsre il results from permanent disability incurred ln
the line of their 6uy it YOU be proper to retire them
and fill the vacancies according 70 cstab shed mode.
ond aso suggest the orgaGiz 4tion invalid corps
a3d that tie retired officers he transferred to it. Such
corps il is thought. cOud be made useful in various
1y0lOymCnfS tor which tt1ceLt Cnlcer9 and troops are
noH d-tacbed
An Oree1iz4 n OF tbs general staff of the arEy
would be highly conducive to tie efficiency Of that most
important branch OF the service The plan adopted for
e military eatabli hnent Furnishes model for the
IF Ut the provisional army if it be deemed advisable
- retain the distinction, but recommend to your cen
diraon the propiey Of abolishiug it, ard providing
or the og1nz alton OF the several staff corps in ouch
Eurbcr ard with such rank will meet a the Wan ts
n TIC service To the requisite ability for the
raore mpor positions viii be necessary to provide
fer ofceIs OF higher rtak than is authorized for
these corps To give to the o2ers the proper relation
ard intelligence IN their respective corps and to pre-
serve il the chief each the Influence and control
bis subordinates there should be no gradation
On Ii" basis Of the rank Of the general with whom
they might be serving by appointment 10 the
pecsOnal staff CT a general 1t would seem proper
10 give grade corresponding with his rank, and tho
number might be liked correspond with bis COM
m4ld. 10 avoid the consequence Of discharge upon a
change Of duy, the variable portion OF the personal
staff might be taken from the line of the arGy and allowed
20 ratain their line commissions
The dsord2red condition OF the currency TO which
lave already a1ted has imposed on the Government
system q supplying the wants OF the army Wnlch Is 30
uaqgsl in oFeIa.ion, Vexaous to the producer IN
u ios the Industrial interest, and productive OF such
discomfort ijlOUg Tie peOp pie on TO De Justified by
thU existence CT absolute Necessity The report OF
the Secretary this point, establishes conciusivey,
that the necessity which has forced the bureau OF sup
Div, to provide for the army by impressment, has
resulted from The impossbity OF purchase by contract
or in the open market except at such rapidly Increased
rates as would rendered the appropriations made
quate tie OF the army. Indeed, 1t IS believed
that the temptation to hoard supplies for the higher
prices which could be anticipated with certainty, has
ben checked mainly by the fear OF The operation OF the
inprtssn,eut law and that commodities have been Of
ered in the markets principally to escape lmpres5meut,
and obtain higher rates than hose fixed by appra!se-
ment The complaints against this vicious system have
been well founded but the true cause OF the evil has
BEEN misarpgehen1ed- Tie remedy is to be found, not
in change of the impressment law, but IN the restora
tOn the currency to such basis as Will enable the
deDartaent to purchase 1sessay supplies In the open
MARKET aid thus render impressuent rare and eXcep
tOCal process.
The same remedy will effect tie result universally de-
sired Of en- augmentation of tie pay of the army The
proposals made at your previous ses2ns, to Increase
the pay OF The soldier 10y additional amount OF reas
Try notes, would have conferred little benefit on him.
but radical reform OF Inc currency Will FestCFe
pay q value approXlmatng that which 1t originally
had, and materially improve his condition
The reports fcom the ordnance ard mining bureaux
are very gratifying, and the extension Of Of
supply OF arms aud munitions OF war from our home
resources has been such as to ensure ability to
become mainly, not entirely, Independent OF supplies
from foreign countries. TIE establishments for the
casting of guns ard pr0ectles for the manufacture OF
small and of gunpowder for the supply OF nire
from artificial nre BEDS AID mining operations gener
49, Sol
place beyond the reach of partial dsas
teVs
TIE recommendations of the Secretary of War on
other points mnutey detailed in this report, which
submitted to you, and extending, they dc, to al
most every branch Of the service merit careful consd
GRAFTON.
EXCHANGE Of PRISONERS.
regret to INFORM you tbet the enemy have returned
to tie babarous policy with which they inaugurated
this war aud that the exchange of prisoners has been
tor some tine suspended. The correspondence OF the
Commissioners OF Exchange submitted to you by the
Secretary Of War; and it has already been published
ior the information Of all now suffering useless impris
Olme0t The conduct of the authorities OF the United
States has been consistently perfdious on this subject
Al agreement for exchange IN the lnelplency OF the
had just been cODciQded when the fail of Fort
D0nes0n reversed tie previous state of things and gave
them excess Of prisoners. The agreement was in |
sdaely repudated by them, and SO remained till the
orUe OF placed ln possession OF tas larger
number. 4 new cartel then made aud under it, |
lor many months we resto.ed them mahy thousands
IF prls0nGCs in excess Of tEOe whom they held for ex
change, aud encampmens OF the surplus paroled pris
OaCrs delivered up by Us established in the 6lited
States, where the able to receive The comforts
pn4 s3ace OF communication vita their homes
and families. In July last the fortune o! again
a7ort the enemy and they enabled to exchange
duty the previously delivered to them, against
thee cap ured AID paro'ed at Yicksburg and Port
Hudson. !te prisoners taken at Gettysburg, how |
ever remained in their hands, and should have beer
at once returned TO lines parole, to await ex
change. Instead of executing duty imposed by the |
paue5t dictates OF justice aud good tatb pretexts were
sa1tiy sought for holding hem in permanent captvl
y General orders rapidly succeeded each other from
lis bLreauX at W ashingtoD, placing constructions
on an agreement which had given rise to no dispute
while We retained the advantage ia the number of prs
olers. With disregard OF honorable obligations al
most unexamped the enemy did not hesitate in addl-
TO retaining the prisoners captured By them, to de-
clare null the paroles gwen by the prisoners captured
oy "a the same series OF engagements, and liberated
on condition or not again serving until exchanged |
iney have since openly insisted treating the paroles
gwen by their soldiers invalid and those OF our
soldiers given under precisely similar circums tancs, as
binding succession of similar unjust pretensiOns has
been set up q correspondence tediousy prolonged,
and every device employed to the disregard OF
OBLIGATION which, between bellgrent nations is only
10 6e eniore by sense Of honor.
\ 0 farther comment is needed on this subject but it
may DE ptrtted to direct your special attention to the
close OF the correspondence submitted to you, from |
which you Will perceive that the final proposal made by
the tnCmy settlement OF ali disputes under the cartel
is that we should berae al prisoners held by u.s. with
out the offer to release fOm captivity any of those held
by them:
In the meantime systematic and concerted effort |
has been made to quiet the complaints in the U States