The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-12-25
VOL. =, Nc. 81.

rights against the utmost efforts of an infuriate
foe, we had thought it not extravagant TO ex
pect that assistance would be withheld from
our enemies, and that the conduct of foreign
nations would be marked by a genuine Impair
tiality between the belligerents. 1t was moi
supposed that professed neutrality would be
so conducted as to justify the Foreign Secretary
bof the British nation in explaining, in cores
pondence with our enemies, how the impartial
| observance of neutral obligations by her Males
| ty's Government has thus been exceedingly ad.
vantageous to the cause Of the more powerfu
of the two contending parties The British
Government may deem this war favorable
occasion for establishing, by the temporary sac
rifce of their neztral rights, precedent which
shall justify the future exercise of those extreme
bellgerent pretensions that their naval power
renders so formidable"
| The rebel army, according to the message, is
! in better condition than ever before, but men
are still greatly needed: ae -i
SIN view of the large conscrpiion recently
ordered by the enemy, and their subsequent call
for volunteers, to be followed, if Intellectual, by
a still further draft We are admonished that no
effort tnust be spared to add largely to our eff
fective force as promptly as possible, The
sources of supply are to be found by restoring
to the army all who are improperly absent, put
ting an end to substitution, modifying the ex-
emption law, restricting details, and placing in
thsranks such OF the able bodied men now em-
ployed as wagoners, nurses, cooks and other
employees who are doing service for which the
negroes may be found competent"
| The Message recommends the organization
of an Invalid Corps, and urges that all new re-
cruits be assigned to veteran. organization, in
| stead of being formed into distinct companies
and regiments. As to the ordnance depart
lnent, it is said; 81 "-e4 'ar7s..: w.
.',i'he reports from the ordnance and mining
! bureaus are very gratifying, and the extension
of our means Of supply Of arms and munitions
| Of war from our home resources has been such
| as TO ensure our ability soon TO become mainly
| if not entirely. independent of supplies from
| foreign countries. The establishments for the
casting of guns and projectiles, for the manu-
| facture Of small arms and of gunpowder, for
the supply of niire from. artificial nitre beds,
and mining operations generally, have been so
distributed through the country as to place our
resources beyoud the reach Of partial disasters" :"
r. EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. ,
GA systematic and concerted effort has been
made to quiet the complaints in the United States
of those relatives and friends of the prisoners
in our hands who are unable to understand why
the cartel is not executed in their favor by the
groupdless assertion that we are the parties who
refuse compliance Attempts are also made to
shield themselves from the execration excited
by their own odious treatment of our officers
and soldiers now captive in their hands, by mis-
statements, such as that the prisoners held by
us are deprived of food. 10 this last accusa-
tion the conclusive answer has been made that,
i'll accordance with our law and the general or
ders Of the department, the rations of the pris-
oners are precisely the same, in quantity and
quality, as those served out to our own gallant
soldiers in the field, and which have been found
sufficient to support them in their arduous cam
paigns, while it is not pretended by the enemy
that they treat prisoners by the same generous
rule. BY an indulgence. perhaps unprecedented,
we have even allowed the prisoners in our hands
to be supplied by their friends at home with
comforts not enjoyed by the men who captured
them.in battle. In contrast to this treatment,
the most revolving inhumanty has character
lied the conduct of the United States towards
prisoners held by them. One prominent fact,
which admits no denial or palhation, must suf.
flee as a test. The officers of our army, ma
tives OF Southern and semi-tropical climates,
and unprepared for the cold of II Nothern win
ter, have been conveyed, for Imprisonment, DUR
ing the rgors of the present season, to the
most Northern and exposed situations thatcould
ha anfncfoI h,r In
the reach of. comforts, and often even of news
from home and family, and exposed to the pierre
ing cold of the Northern lakes, they are held
by men who cannot be ignorant of, even If
they do not design, the probable result. How
many of our unfortunate friends and comrades
who have passed unscathed through numerous
battles. will perish on Johnson's Island, under
the cruel trial to which they are subjected,
none bnt the Omniscient can forstcll.'
~ THE REBEL NAVY. tl ti
The Report of the Secretary of the Navy
gives in detail the operations of that Depart
ment since January last embracing information
of the disposition and employment of the YES.
sells, officers and men, and the construction of |
vessels at Richmond, Wilmington, Charleston,
Savannah, Mobile, Selma, and on the rivers
Roanoke, Mouse, Pedee, Chattahoocheo and
Tombigbce; the accumulation of ship timber
and supplies, and the manufacture OF ordnance
stores and equipments. The founaries and works
shops have been greatly improved. and theirca-
pacity to supply all demands for heavy ordnance
for coast aud harbor defence is. only limited by
our deficiency in the requisite skilled labor
The want of such labor and of seamen SERIOUS
y affect the operations Of the Department.
The skill, courage and activity of our crpis-
ere at sea cannot be too highly, ,commended. -
They have inflicted heavy losses ON the enemy
without suffering a single disaster, and have Sc
.iously damaged the shipping interests Of the
United States by compelling their foreign COM
nerce to seek the protection Of neutral flags.
.rs CONDUCT OF THE EsEMY. s II
cannot close this Message without again !
.dsesiing to ihcsavage ferocity which still marks