Wilmington journal., 1864-11-10
CONGREss-THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

| RICHMOND Nov. 7th 1884.
Congress met day pursuant to adjournment, tho
message from the President received and
gins with a review of the military operations since tho ad
ournnen of Congress In june and recognizes the proec
tiou Of Providence in enabling successfully to with
stand the utmost efforts Of the enemy for subjugan.
We have recovered Texas from the enemy and Arkansas
with the exception OF few fortified posts nearly the
whole of Northern aud Western Mississippi Northern
bama and Western Tennessee again in possession
All attempts to penetrate from the have been
In Sou hwestern Virginia successive armies have been
routed. portion of Eastern Tennesseehas re con-
quered by our troops.
The eDemy's army after series of defeats arc
constant repulse of repeated assaults, Is still engaged
effort capture Petersburg. The army of Sherman
having aucceoded in obtaining possession OF Atlaua
unable to secure any ultimate advantage from this success
Had been compelled to evacuate Richmond as we'll as
Atlanta the Confederacy would have remained defiant as
ever. No military of the enemy accomplish
tructon of the Confedeacy, save the enemy
from constant drain of blood and treasure which
time until he shall discover peace sttanabie unesa
based the recognition of iudefeasble rights
No change in the condCt of foreign affairs an be an
nounced The recognition of independence withheld
from the assumption that recognition would be val
ueess without intervention We wish Intervention
We know ourselves fully competent to maintain rights
and independence.
Peace impossible without independence and rot
be expected that the enemy will anticipate neutras In
the recognition Of that independence.
The total amount of the public debt the first OF Oc
tober eleven hundred and twenysjx millions Of dol
lars No additional appropriations required for meet
ing the needs of the public service up to the first of july
the unexpended appropriations exceed the estimates
for that time.
The Secretary the Treasury recommends that the faith
of the Government pledged that shall ever remain
EXEMPT from taxation that issue be beyond that
already authorised and that portion of the receipts
taxation and the tax in kind be pledged the gradual
demption of the entire circulation.
Referring to the report of the Secretary Of War; tho
President says the exemption from military duty Of per-
in certain specified pursuits professions unwse
and ndefsnsibe in theory Discretion should be vested in
the military authorities that sufficient nuaber Of these
essential to the public service might be detailed to CON
tnue exercise their pursuits professions but exemp
ton from service of entire classes should be wholly aban
doned
Various recommendations of the Secretary OF War are re-
ferred and approved, among which the reorganzl
tion consolidation of reduced regiments In regard to
prisoners Of war; the President says, Each government
will hereafter be allowed provide necessary comforts 10
citizens held captive by the other The subject oil en-
ploying negroes the army discussed at some length
The President dssen:s from those who advise general
levy and armDg Of slaves for the duty Of soldiers but re-