New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-11-15
ruR REBEL WAR REPORT.

Z
which had not been more authoritstvely han
died by Mr.. Jefferson Davis in his Message
Indeed this. like the other documents submitted
TO the Rebel Congress is not so much an oiilciai
statement of information as proclamation OF
wha, the Rebel leaders desire to have believed
on various subjects affecting tho continuance OF
the Rebellion. The art Of putting things Is as
siduously cultivated in Richmond II we may
borrow phrase which has lately had some cur
rencv among the Northern sympathzers Win
Rebellion. Mr.. Davis aud Mr.. Seldom, and Mr.
Trenholm, have exhausted the resources OF
diplomatic writing in order to perplex what 1t Is
inconyenient should be left plain, and to set IN
the clearest sunlight such facts or such iancieS
as tell for their side of the house.
Notwithstanding which, there are items OF
information in Mr.. Scddon's report. There Is
military review of the last six months, when
afirms of course, that the success OF the Rebel
cause has been unfaiiing, and that the few re-
verses il NAV have sustained were triiling IN
themselves and are unimportant in their results
In response to all which, we put but single
question: Would Mr.. Seldom or any other
partisan of the Rebellion prefer that matters
should stand with il as they now are, or as they
were six months ago, before Grant had crossed
the Rapidan, before Sherman had left Chatta-
nooga, before Farragu; had entered tho Bay oil
Mobile. and before Sheridan had taken charge
of the Shenandoah, With its enormous losses
in territory, in men, and in material OF war, IS
the Conicdeacy to-day weaker or stronger
whether you look at It absolutely or relatively
10 the power it exertS-than when this cam
paicn opened II weaker by half, and if every
sane man knows il is why argue about details
This report is 10 be credited with the distinct
admission that The pressure on the ConicdeTacy
has compelled it to put its entire resources III
the field "The act of Congress OF l-b?, says
Mr.. Seldom. "containcd the principle that in q
struggle involving The being of nation, every
citizen may be assigned to that position, aud to
perform that duty in which he can best render
service" The Exemption acts, so called, OF
I-62 and 1868 were not an inlraction upon this
principle. but were designed TO organize the III
dustrial resources of the South upon the same
COMPULSORY basis as the military. so many
men as are needed to carry Oh agriculture, man
ufactures, and the public civil service, were
spared from the army. II is now proposed to
20 far beyond this, and Alr. Seldom says:
1T has been. in Wow OF the force being mustered
against u.s. deemed necessary 70 revoke all such details
and 70 enforce rgidy the laws of CONSUMPTION limited
10 men capable only OF light duty and 10 reserves en-
povment in the departments ~ tho public service and
thus TO bcraie for tie field all liable to snch duty
except skilled ssisans experts and men OF science ana
Tow others actually indispensable for the mantenance
and supply Of the armies by snhecing s Others rsdy
and promptly to the obligations Of active service which
the law impose
And still more explicitly, II Is added:
"ui my deliberate conviction more than once eX-
,rossed in former reports that the policy Of exemptions
10 those capable ofmly service lsunwise and that all
men between the ages eighteen and forty five capableof
bearing arms. should without distinction Of occupation
or profession BE- subjected To service and called TO tie
field The rev Indispensable exceptions for tho needs
Il society aud the supply of the army might be readily
and more conveniently pro,id by details Excmp
ous by CLASSES necessarily many not actually de
mnndcI by society for the needs that ~ tie average
may have given p.aushiiy 10 the exceptions and such
e,certous bo-des inducing .Hyidous feelings and dis
satisfaction compel discrimination in the call for ser
vice which both delays and mensurahly defeats It's full
accomplishment. IL in therefore urgently recommended
that all exemptions except OF officers actually essential
20 the conduct OF the Confederate and state Govern
ineuts be abolished and nil of the military age. physi-
cally capable without distinction liberalization. be
ri once devoted Tie sacred duiy OF defending their
country in the field"
Yet even with these final wholesale conscrip-
tons, at is not to be disguised that they must
still leave those armies relatively weak 10 en-
counter the hosts being summoned by the
enemy for subiugaton;" aud hence the discus
sion about armng the slaves. Mr.. Seldom and
Mr.. Davis have naturally rchear-ed their parts
together before appearing in public OF. thf stage,
and agree that there is no present necessity for
this measure Forgetting the dolctul admission
he has just made, Mr.. seldom would spare the
negroes because "we have within the military
age as large portion Of our whole population
as will be required or ran b, adcantdg,onsiy em-
p,oyed in active military operations" Then
why strip your fields OF white laborcrs, why
revoke all exemptions, Why imputc every dis.
aster TO insufficient numbers, why plead for
the return OF the deserterS, which JEDI. DAVIS
says comprise two.thirds oitbe whole army, and
which neither coaXingnor compplson can bring
bach The simple truth is, the Rebels do not
arm their negro slaves because they dare not
trust them with arms. They cannot be inter-
mingled with white Observation-Disclosures sand
killers and other white trash would not stand