The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-01-27


teetive tariffs. =.
T recommend to your earnest attention the
whole report of the Secretary OF the treasury on
this important subject and trust that your legsia-
ton on it vii, De delayed no longer than may be
reouired to enable your wisdom TO devise the prop
er measures for ensurlng the accomplishment OF
the objects proposed
The operations of the War Department have
been in the main satisfactory. Tn the Report OF
the Secretary. herewith submitted, will be found
summary Of many memorable successes 1hey
are with justice ascribed in large measure, to the
reorganization and reinforcement of our armies
under the operation Of the enactments for con-
scription. I he wisdom and efficacy of these acts
have been approved by results, and the like spirit
Of unity endurance and seli-devoti"n in the
people, which has hitherto sustained their action,
must be relied on to assure their enforcement un-
der the continuing necessities OF our situation
The recommendations of the Secretary to this Ell
feet are tempered By suggestions for their ameIo-
ration, and the subject deserves the consideration
of Congress. For the perfection of our military
organization no appropriate means should DC re-
iected and on this subject the opinions OF the
Secretary merit early attention. 1t is gratifying
to perceive that under all the efforts and sacrifices
of war the power, means ard resources of the Con-
ederacy for its successful prosecution lncreas
ing Dependence on foreign supplies is to be de-
plored, aad should, far practicable, be obva-
ted by the development and employment of inter
nal resources The peculiar circumstances of the
country however, render this difficult, and require
extraordinary encouragements and facilities to be
granted by the government. The embarrasmentS
resulting from the limited capacity Of the railroads
TO afford transportation and the lmpOsslblllty OF
otherwise commanding and distributing the necesS
sary supplies for the armies render the control OF
the roads under some general supervision, and re-
sort to the power of impressment, military exlgen
IL r,o1 bo-o fn no cd
they should be guarded by judicious provisions
against pervcrson or abuse, and be, as rccommcn-
dcd by the Secretary, under due regulation Of
law.
specially recommend in this connection some
revision of the exemption law of last session Sc
rious complaints have reached me of the inequall-
ty of its operation from eminent and patriotic cit
zens, whose opinions merit great consideration,
and | trust that some means will be devised for
leaving at home sufficient local police without
making determinations, always to be deprecated,
between different classes Of our citizens
Our relations with the Indians generally
tnue to be friendly. \ portion of the Cherokee
people have assumed attitude hostile to the
Confederate Government; but it is gratifying to be
able to state that the mass of intelligence and
worth in that nation have remained true and loyal
to their treaty engagements With this exccp-
ton, there have been important instances Of
disaffcctinn among any Of the friendly nations and
tribes Dissatisfaction recently manifested itself
among certain portions Of them; but this resulted
from, misrepresentation of the Government in
their behalf This has been removed and no fur
Their difficulty is anticipated.
The Report Of the Secretary Of the Navy here
with transmitted exhibits the progress made in
this branch o! the public service since your ndJ jour
ment, as well as its present condition.. The de-
tails embraced in it of such a nature to
der it, in my opinion incompatible with the pub
T.. Il. Il. 1 I
this message. | therefore conine myself to invi-
ting your atteation to the information therein
contained.
The Report ofthe Postmaster General shows that
during the first postal year under our Government,
terminating on the 30th Of June last our revenues
were in excess ofthose received by the former
Government in its last postal year, while the OK
penses greatly decreased. There is still.
however, considerable deficit in the revenues of
the Department compared with its expenses,
aud although the grants already made from the
general Treasury will suffice cover ali liabilities
to the close of the fiscal year ending on the Seth
June next, recommend some legislation, if any
can be eonstitutonally devised for aiding the re-
venues of that Department during the ensuing
fiscal year, in order to avoid too great reduction
Of postal facilities. \ our attention is also invited
to numerous other improvements in the service re-
commended IN the report, and for which legislation
is required.
recommend to the Congress to devise proper
mode of relief to those Of citizens whose prop
erty has been destroyed by order of the Govern
ment in pursuance Of policy adopted as means
Of national defence. 1t is true that full indemnity
cannot now be made, but some measure of relief
is due to those patriotic citizens who have borne
private loss for the public good whose property in
effect has been taken for public use, though not
directly appropriated.
Our Government, bonn of the spirit of freedom
and of the equality and independence of the States
could not have survived selfish or Jealous dis
position making each only careful of its own iute-
rest or safety. The fate of the Ccnfederacy under
the blessing of Divine Providence depends upon
the harmony, energy and unity of the States. 1t
especially devolves you, their representatives,
rs far as practicable, to reform abuses, correct
errors, to cultivate fraternity and to sustain in the
people n just confidence in the Government of
their choice. To that confidence and to the unity
and set-sacrfcing patriotism hitherto displayed is
due he success which has marked the uueaual
contest and has brought country into conai
ton at the present time such as the most sansuine
would rot have vcnturcd to predict at the com
mencement of our struggle. Our armies are lar
ger, better disciplined and more thoroughly armed
and equipped than at any previous period Of the
war. The energies of a whole ration, devoted To
the single object of success in this war, have
compshsd narvels, and many Of oar trials have,
by bencieent Providence, been convert d into