, 1863-12-16

t1e GoEeH Mcn1, n contracting debt, is bnt tht
y he1d e1eluEirey b oursc1res it obvious that
ifeech person held Treasury notes In exact pro
rorticn to the value Of his whole meaos, eacl
Ha M9ld II faet eve anSel the amount Of The note:
currency among the people in this exact proper
tion. a lax levied on the currency alone. to ar
amount sna3clen. TO- reduce It to . propel
Under such circumstances the notes rsnainine
in the hands Of each holder, after the payment
o. h,s tax would be worth quite as much ae The
sum Prsg9usy held for It would purchase
result cannot be perfectly attaine b any Device d
ieg1shtion, but 1t c1n be app1oxmated BY taxation
~ On a. values has fol its effect not only to
er but 10 force those who have few or none Of the
Eotes to part vvithV share Of their possessions
to those who hold the notes in excess. in order to
tax gntherer This is the only mode by TThich III Il
Is practicable to make all contribute as eauaiiT az
Eossanlo N the burden which oil are bound to
qua1e TO the public ezigencles, under our present
circumstances. must be the basis Of any funding
system orosheT remedy for restoring stability to
our finances. ~
-. THE ARMY.
He believes tho army to be "in ill rcsnects
in better condition than at any previous
period OF the war" To fill It up he suggests
In REV Of the large conscsiptlon recently or.
dered by the enemy. and thelr subseuuenf csIi
t3T' te be followed II ipetesua By
iort must be spared to add largely to our eectIye
force as promptly as possible The sources Of SUP
ply arc to be found BY restoring to the army Ill
ho nFs absent putting az end to sub
Ing details and placing in the ranks such Of The
ab!e-bodied men now employed as wagoners,
nurses, cooks. and other employees as are doing
service for which the negroes may be found COM.
petent.
EXEMPTIONS %.
On The subject Of exemptions It Is believed that
placed on basis entirely different from that now
provided By law. The object Of your legislation
has been, not to confer privileges on Glasses, but
per- ons eki!ed in the various trades, professions
and mechanical pursuits, as could render more
valuable services to their country by laborins in
9esepaqse pisy af1 sS1n Rs Rs
but The result would, It IS thought. be better ~
tanned by enlisttng all such persons, and allowing
"details to be made Of the number necessary to
meet the wants Of the country. Considerable
numbers are believed to be now exempted from
the military serrice who are rot needful to the
rph!ie IL iie1F eiyia gosatlo4s
country by details ttom the army which could be
as well executed by persons above the present con
acr5pt age. An extension Of the limit, so as to
emErace persons over forty-fyc years, and physi-
and tridScs, in apprehendlng descrtcrs, AMI.
where practicable, asaunling the place Of younger
eom1nissafy and quarter1nasters' bureaus OF the
War Department. would, it is hoped. add largely
to the elective forte In the field without IN m.
1ne burthen on the population.
IT to the aHoye measures be added law to en-
large The policy Of the cct Of the 21st Of April 1862
60 as TO enable the department to replace not on1y
enlisted Cooks. but wngoners and other employees
in the army, BY negroes, 1t fs hoped that the ranks
ofthe army will be 60 strengthened for the ensu-
Ing campaign as to put at dcfnncc the utmost
Efforts OF the enemy.
He further recommends the retaining of
tried and well approved officers, mtngling
recruits with experienced soldiers, better
legislation In relation to cavnlry horses, the
organization Of an invalid corps, and the
general staff Of the army. The remedy. for
the miserable system Of supplying the wants
OF the army can only be found 'sin the rcsto-
ration Of the currency to such basis as will
enable the department to purchase necessary
supplies III the open market, and thus rcu-
der impressmcnt rare and cxceptiouable
process" This part Of the Message con-
cludcs:
The reports from the ordnance and mining bu-
rcau1 arc very gratifying, and tue extension Of
our means OF supply Of arms and munitions of war
from our home resources has been euch as to en-
suse our ability soon to become mainly, II not Gu
tirc!y, independent Of support from from foreign
countries. The establishments for the casting of
guns and proJcctiies, for.the manufacture OF Bmal
ftom artificial nitro beds, and mining operations
generally, have been Eo distributed through the
country as to race our resources beyond the reach
OF partial disasters.
In reference to the exchange Of prisoners,
Davis rehashes the rebel allegations in the
correspondence between the Commissioners
already published in our columns, and con-
cludcs as follows:
In the meantime systematic and concerted eI-
lon has been made TO quiet the complaints In the
United States, Of those relatives and friends Of the
prisoners in our hands who arc unable to under
stnrd why the cartel Is not executed in their favor,
by tie c1ouEdcss assertion that we arc the parties
to shield themselves from the eIecsation c1cl:ed
by their own odious treatment Of our officers and
folders now captive in their hands, by misstate-
deprived Of food. To ibis last accusation ihe e. cor
elusive answer has bean made that, In accordance
WITH our law and the GENERAL orders OF the depart
!nent the rations Of the prisoners are precisely
he ed Sa to and opF vbeh sTe n esa se uda y
We e9ppH uo e p!c|e, e sss M 9ens Inc
that they trent prisoners by the same generous
ru1c. By an Indulgence. perhaps upreeelentcl,
Te haye sysn sllowed M ths IN snas
[orts not enjoyed by the men who captared them
IN battle. II contract 70 this Treatment, the most
:csolttng inhumanity has characterized the con:
1uct Of The Omitted States towards prisoners held
hr them. One prominent fact, which admits no
lenlal or palliatiou, mnst. suffice as test.
The officers 81 our army, natives Of Southern and
u Northern winter, have been conveyed, for
Imprisonment, during the rlso7s OF the present
season, 70 the most northern AID exposed situation
f1Nf nS11H kA cAtn fyf H.
vond the reach Of fcomforts and often even Of news
rGm hume aid family, exposed to the piercing cold
If the Northern lakes, they are held By men who
me probable result. How mnny Of our unfortunate
friends and comradcR. who have. e.plasel unse1thcd
hrorgh numerous battles, will perish on Johns0n's
nnaeT the a to Waeh .hs Pe
hey will endure this baEba1oue treatment with the
aEle etcrn fortitnde that they have ever evineed
n their countrt's service, we cannot doubt but
Who can bc found to believe the assertion that II IL
ut refusal to execute the cartel and not the ma
fguity Of the foe, which has cau5ed the lnfiction
Il such intolerablc cruelty on our own loved and
The report Of the Secretary Of the Navy glvea in
ietafl the operations OF t1at department eInce |
January last. embracing information Of the dlspo-
tfon and employment Of the vessels, officers and
nen. and the construction OF vessels ut Rich !
nond, Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, No. !
,ile, Selma, md on the rivers Roanoke, Neuse,
eGee, 1ha!1aa9oeage anu IamDigneci me acsn-
nussaon .1s, " sn1p LmDes aha snppaes, anu tne
A's1iaee 1ni.,,atr =. ~ oface. o.nnaaee s!oIes ana
1ns !ounanes ana WofSanops nAse
% 'een GreauJ improved. and tncir capacity to sup;
~ ~ aelaanas LOT ne1Sy nlGn4nce iof Goaat and
ateor Cc!enecs e 3niE nted ny our detctency
abor ard ali seamcu seriously anccte the opera. |
lons u 'ae oeP"1tnen1' !
-, rosF OFFICE.
Tie Postmaster General reports the receipts
II that dcDaTtUcut Tor the fiscal .f1t3tne
9th Of june last to have been $3.E}3. and
he expenditures for the came period Ss f4s Sli III