The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-01-06
IELEGRAPHIC.
Up to Q O'Clock. A. M.

Up 10 q OOlOch. "A. M.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The following is
the message sent to Congress to-day by the
President:
Bya Joint resolution of your Honorable
bodies, approved Dec. 23d, 1863, the paying
of bounties to veteran volunteers as now
practiced by the War Department, is the
extent of $500 in each case prohibited after
the 5th day of the present month. trans
NIT for your consideration communica-
ton from the Secretary of War accompani-
ed by one from the Provost Marshal ten.
to him, both relating to the subject above
mentioned, earnestly recommend that the
law be 80 modified as to allow bounties to
be paid as they now are, at least until the
ensuing first day of February. l am not
without anxiety lest appear to be impor-
tunate in thus recalling your attention to
subject upon which you have SO recently
voted, and nothing but deep conviction
that the public interest demands could In
duce me to incur the hazard Of being mis-
understood on this poiut. The executive
approval was given by me to the resolution
mentioned, and it's now BY a closer atten-
ton and fuller knowledge of facts that L
feel constrained to recommend reconsld-
Grafton of the subject.
[Signed ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The Secretary OF
War in letter accompanying the message
saws: No one seems to doubt the necessity
of increasing the military for speedy
termination of the rebellion and although
much difference OF opinion exists in res
pect to the system of raising troops by vol
unteers and payment of bounties and the
system of raising an adequate force by draft,
vet two things are certain. First, that
whatever may be the weight Of argument
or the influence of individual opinion a
large portion of people in every State pre-
fer the method of contributing their pro-
portion of the military force by bounty to
volunteers rather than draft Second,
that veteran soldiers who have become in
ured to the service even when paid bounty
constitute cheaper force than raw recruits
or drafted men without bounty. The in
formation received by the War Department
from the armies in the field prior to the
nassage of the resolution of December last
indicated that a very large proportion OF
soldiers in the service would have cheerfully
re enlisted for years under terms as stated
by order of the War Department. Such
enlistments have been checked and will in
great measure be put to an end by the
restoration imposed by the action OF Con-
gress. 1t is believed that if any limitation
should be imposed upon the payment OF
bounties to encourage the enlistment OF
veteran forces now in the field by the first
of February The Provost Marshal Gen
eral in a communication to this Depart
ment says, after great labor the volunteer
recruiting service under the Presidents call
of Oct. 18th fairly in progress and letters
all dated between the Goth and Gath of
Dec. from the superintendent of the re"
cruiting service in l6 States, are in the
main encouraging, as to the prospect of get
ting a large number Of recruits by volun'
teer enlistments. Several Of the States
were in fair way to raise
the quotas assigned to them. The
act approved Dec. 23d, 1868, beginning at
ter Jan .5th the payment to volunteers of
all bounties except the hundred dollars au
thorized by act of 1861, was not known at
the time these favorable reports were made
to me. have no doubt that the effect OF
that act will be to check if it does not
stop enlistment. Of the hundred dollars
bounty provided by act of 1861, but %
dollars can be paid in advance, the Is be
ing after 2 years of service. 1t took some
fine after Oct. II to get the people reused
to the subject of volunteering, they were
most earnestly engaged in it. ! have re
ports for Oct, Nov.Eapd part of Dec. show
ing that AZ. 529 men have been enlisted and
the daily average of en,istments is increas-
ing under these circumstances. | respect
fully suggest the propriety of reconsdera
ton of the act forbidding bounties after the
9Th of Jan. These communications were
referred to the Committee ON Military AT
fairs.
Senator Wilson's new enrolment bill in
troduced to-day exempts those who are
physically disabled, and also makes the fol-
lowing exemptions: The Vice President,
the Judges of Courts, the heads of the Ex-
ecutive Departments and Governors OF
States. 1t receives as substitutes only those
who are not liable to be drafted, and pen.
atty of 100 to 1000 fine and 80 days to six
months Imprisonment, is provided in the
punishment of enrolling officers who are
engaged directly or indirectly in procuring
substitutes.
Gen. Buffers Power Enlarged.