Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-12-11

remedy is to be found not in change Of the mpressment
law but in the of the such G sap
plies in the open market and thus render imPressment
rare aud exceptional process.
sired of augmentation of the pay of the army. The
proposals made at your previous sessions to increase the
pay Of the soldier by additional of Treasury
notes. would have conferred little benefit him, but
radical reform Of the currency will restore the to value
experimenting that which originally had and materially
improve his condition:
The reports from the ordnance and mining bureaux
very gratifying and the extension Of our means OF supply
of and munitions of from home resources mas
been such to insure ability soon to become manly
if not entirely independent of supplies from foreign coun-
tries The establishments for the casting OF guns and pro-
ectiles for the manufacture small and of
powder, for the supply of nre from artificial n!tre BEDS
and mining operations generally, have been distributed
through COUNTRY place resources beyond the
reach of partial disasters.
The recommendations of the Secretary of War other
points are infinitely detailed in his report which is SUBJ
mted you, and extending they do to almost every
branch of the service, merit careful copsderatou.
EXCHANGE PRISONERS.
t. inform that the enemy have returned to
the barbarous policy with which they inauguaed the
and that exchange prisoners has been far time
suspended The correspondence of the of
Exchange IS submitted To You by the Secretary of War;
and has ar ady been published for the information of all
suffering useless Imprisonment The conduct of the
authorities of the United States has been consistently per-
ddous this subject An agreement for exchange in the
incpeucy of war; had just been concluded when the
fall of Fort DOneson reversed the previous OF hngs
and gave them of prisoners The agreement
Immediately Tepudiaed by them, and remained till the
fortune of again placed possession the larger
number cartel then made, aud, under it, tor
many months restored them many thousands of prs
of those whom they held exchange and
encanpmens OF the surplus paroed prisoners delivered up
by established in the United StateS where the
able the comforts and soace of con.
slant communication with their homes and families. In
July last the fortune of war again favored the enemy and
they enabled exchange for duty the previously
delivered to them against those captured and paroed at
Vicksbnrg and Port Hudson. The prisoners taken at Get
tyburg however remained in their hands, and shoad have
been returned to lines parole to await exchange
Instead of executing duty imposed by the planes die
tates of justice and good iath preexs were instantly
sought for holding them permanent captivity. General
orders rapidly succeeded each other from the bureaux 1t
Washington placing constructions agreement
which had given rise to dispute while retained the
advantage IN the number OF prisoners With disregard
Of honorable obligations almost >he enemy
did not hesitate addition to retaining the prisoners cap
tured by he declare null the paroles gwen by the prls
ones captured by US in the same series Of engagements
and liberated condition of not again serving until
PAROLES given by their soldiers INVALID and thOe of
soldiers given under precisely similar circumstances
binding succession Of similar unjust pretenslOns has
been set up IN tedousy prolonged and
every device employed the disregard OF an obga
ton which, between begerent nations, only 10 be
| forced by sense Of honor.
No farther comment needed on this subject but may
be permitted 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 enemy
settlement of all disputes under the cartel, that we
should berate all prisoners held BY u.s. without the offer
to release from cIptlVy any of those held by them
In the meantime systematic and concocted effort has
been made TO quiet the complaints the United States Of
prisoners
who unable understand why the cartel is not
ted in their favor by the grJundess assertion that
the parties who refuse compliance Attempts also made
TO shield themselves from the execraon excited by their
oduus treatment of officers aad spiders cap
tive in hands, by missatementS, such as that the
held by deprived of food To this last
cusatiou the conclusive has been made that
cO.dance with law and the general orders Of the depart
meu the of the prisoners precisely the same
in quantity and quality those served out to own gal
liant soldiers field and which have been found Sut
support them their arduUus campaigns while 1t
pretended by the enemy that they prisoners by
the generous rule BY indulgence perhaps uEpre
cedented have allowed the prisoners IN our hands
to be supplied by their friends at home with comforts not
enjoyed by the who captured them in battle. In con-
this treatment the most revolving nhumaniEy has
characterized the conduct of the United States towards
prisoners he'd by hen One prominent lct which admits
no denial nOripal iaOn suffice test The officers
of army natives of Southern and semi tropical climates
aud unprepared Tor the cold of Northern winter have
been conveyed for mp sOumen during the rigOrs of the
present the most northern aud exposed situation
that could be selected by the enemy There beyond the
family exposed the piercing cold of the northern lakes
they held by who be ignorant Of if
they do design the probable result How many of our
unfortunate friends comrades who have passed
scaihed through numerous battles will perish ON john
sons Island under the cruel trial to which they are sub
jeced but the OmnScient tUreell. That they
will endure this barbIrOus treatment with the stern
forude that they have eVinced in their country
service doubt But who be found to believe
the assertion that it Is refusal the cartel and
the magny of the foe which has caused the infection
Of sucn noiebe cruelty on our loved and honored de-
! Tenders?
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT.
Regular and punctuai municatOn with the Transmits
sisspp obSructed to render difficult complain
with of the legislation vestng authority in Exc
branch of the Government To supply VACANCIES in
office discretion certain matters connected
with The military orgInizltons control the disr button
of the funds collected from taxation or RENTED from the
treasury carry the operations of the Post Office
Department, other like duIeS require under the Con-
stiIuton and existing laws OF the Pre- sIdent and
heads of Departments The necessities of the military
service frequently Orod delay and legislation
quired providing for the exercise of temporary authority
until regular action be had ut the of government
wou suggest especially in the Post Office Department
be provided for the beyond the
ssspp with authority the head Of that department TO
vest this assistant all such powers exercised By the
Postmaster General, may be requisite for provisional
control of the funds of the department those States and
their application to the payment of mail contractors; for
ot the local past office and the contracts
fr carrying Inc mail Tor the temporary employment OF
proper persons to fulfill The duties of postum and
tractors 10 urgent cases UNI: appointments can De made
provision on the there is serious risk OF the de
strucon Of the mail service by of the delays and
harhp suffered BY under the present SYSTEM
which requires constant reference chmond of their
accounts well of the returns If the local posmasters
before they can receive payment for services ndered
Like provision also necessary the Treasury Depart
ment while for military affairs, it would TO be sui
the President Secretary of War to
delegate the commanding general much of the dis
creonary powers vested in them by law the exgences
Of the service shall require.
The report of the Secretary the Navy gives in detail
the operations of that Dep tment January last
the vessels officers and men and the construction of vessels
at Richmond Wilmington Charleston, Savannah Mobile
Selma, and the rivers Roanoke, Neuse Pedee Chata-
hOochee aud Tombgbee the accumulation of ship tmb
and supplies and the manufacture of ordnance ordnance
stores and equipments The fOundres and workshops
been greatly improved and their capacity to supply all
demands for heavy ordnance for and harbor dences
is only limited by deficiency in the requisite skilled
labor The want of such labor and of serious
affects the operations of the Department.
The skill, courage and activity Of our cruisers at
heavy losses Oh the enemy, without suffering single
aser, and have seriously damaged the shipping
OF the United States BY compelling their foreign
to seek the protection Of. neutral flags
Your attention is invited to the suggest tons Of the re-
port the subjects of supplying for the service
and of the provisions Of the law relation to the voun
teer navy.
OFFICE.
The Postmaster General reports the receipts of that D..