The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-12-15

sert for ourselves. If the Mexican people
prefer monarchy to republic, II Is oar
plain duty cheerfully to acqulesce IN Incl .ne,'
decision. and to evince sincere anu lflehu'
" interest in their prosperity. II, hoWev-
er, the Msxicans prefer maintaining theil
former institutions, we have no reason w
apprehend any obstacle to the Tree e1elc.sI
Of their choice The Emperor OF the frenon
has solemnly disclaimed any purpose 70 IN, IN
pose on Mexico form of Government ~. nU
acceptable to the nation; and the emiaen'
parsonage to whom the throne mas oeel ven
dered declines its acceptance unless nc .ho
fer be sanctioned by the SURFACES Vi NV
people. In either event, therefore, we may
confidently expect the continuance OF luGse
neaceful relations which have been MAN
tsined on the frontier, and even large oe
veIonment of the commerce already e1lsun
to the mutual advantage OF the TWO eoun
tries.
THE FINANCES. r
The massage calls serious attention to the
financial condition of the Confederacy, and
enters into long review Of past legislation
on the subject. The issues OF treasury
notes have been increased to carry on the
war until the currency in clrcuiatloh
amounts to more than six hundred millions
of dollars. or more than three fold the
amount required by the business OF the
country. This policy is condemned, anu
the imposition of uniform direct tax ur-
gently Recommended. Various other sug-
eestions are made with the view OF improv-
ing the finances.
THE PosToFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Receipts for the fiscal year. S3,337 ,o53 !;
expenditures, 1862 8O4-leaving balance
of S675, DAB, instead of deficiency Of more
than million of dollars, as was the case IN
the preceding yea.
THE ARMY.
The message declares that the Conteder-
ate army is believed to be in better condl-
ton than at any previous period of the war.
In view. however of the large CONSUMPTION
ordered by the Fedsrals, and their call for
volunteers. it is recommended that the
Confederate army be largely increased as
promp 'ly as possible. To do this all absen-
tees must be made to report for duty; all
substitution abolished; the exemption law
modified. those employed as wagoners,
nurses, cooks and other employees, If able
bodied, placed in the ranks, and negroes be
placed to act as wagoners, &C., IN their stead.
Numerous other changes are suggested
with view of improving the efficiency OF
the army.
EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.
| regret to inform you that the enemy
have returned to the barbarous policy with
which they inaugurated the war. and that
the exchange of prisoners has been for some
time suspended. The correspondence of the
Commissioners of Exchange is submitted to
YOU by the Secretary of War, and it has al
ready been published for the information OF
all now suffering useless imprisonment
The conduct of the authorities of the United
States has been consistently perhdous on
this subject. An agreement for exchange
in the incipiency of the war had just been
concluded when the fall of Fort Donelson
reversed the previous state Of things, and
gave them an excess of prisoners. The
agreement was Immediately repudiated by
them, and so remained till the fortune OF
war again placed us in possession of the
larger number. A new cartrel was then
made, and under it, for many months, We
restored to them many thousands of pris-
oners in excess of those whom they held
for exchange, and encampments of surplus
paroled prisoners dellve cred up by US were
established in the United States, where the
men were able to receive the comforts and
solace of constant communication with
their homes and families.
In July last the fortunes of war again ia
vored the enemy, and they were enabled to
exchange for duty the men previously de-
livered them, against those captured and
paroled at Vicksburg and Port Hudson
The prisoner. taken at Gettysburg, howev-
err, remained in their hands, and should
have been at once returned to our lines on
parole, to await exchange Instead of exc
cutting duty imposed by the plainest die
tstss Of justice and good faith, pretsxts,
were instantly sought for holding them in
permanent captivity. General orders rap
idly succeed each other from the bureaus
at Washington, placing new constructions
on an agreement which had given Use to
no dispute while we retained the advantage
in the number of prisoners. With dlsre-
gard of honorable obligations almost upex
ampled, the enemy did not hesitate, in ad-
dition to retaining the prisoners captured
By them, to declare null the paroles given
BY the prisoners captured by US in the same
series of engagements, and liberated on
| condition of not again serving until ex-
changed They have since openly insisted
on treating the paroles given by their own
soldiers as invalid, and those ofour soldiers
given under precisely similar circumstances,
as binding. succession of similar unjust
pretepsions has been set up in corrCspon
dence tediously prolonged, and every device
employed to cover the disregard Of an OBJ
legation which between bsligerent nations,
| is only to be enforced by sense of hon
or.
No further comment is needed on this
subject, but it may be permitted to direct
your special attention to the close of the
oorrosnondan "a suhm jtted RI vou from which