The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-11-15

toat only Tue exact numbers required are Iounu lu
each locality; nor can it be everywhere impossible
to replace those within conserpt age by men Older
and less capable of active field services. A dis
erection should be vested in the military authori
ties, that sufficient number of those essential
to the public service mis- hit be detailed to continue
the exercise of their pursuits professions, blu,
the exemptions from service of the entire classes
should be wholly abandoned. It affords great ia
city for abuses, offers the temptation, we'll as
the ready means of escaping service by fraudulent
Devices and is one of the principal Instructions to
the efficient operation of the conscript laws.
| general militia law is needful in the interest
Of the public defence. The Constitution, by vest
ing the power in Congress, imposes Oh it the duty
of providing 'for organizing, arming and dlscIphn
ing the militia, and for governing such part OF
them may be employed in the service of the
Confederate States" The great diversity in the
Legislation of the several States on this subject,
and the absence of any provision establishing an
exact method for calling the militia into Confede-
ought longer to be suffered to impede defensive
| measures.
The legislation in relation to the cavalry de-
mands change. The policy of requiring men to
furnish their own horses has proven pernicious in
many respects. 1t interieres with discipline, in
pairs efficiency, and is the of frequent and
prolonged absence from appropriate duty. The
|
with suggestions as to the proper measures for re-
forming that branch of the service.
Tie recommendation hitherto often made is
again renewed, that some measure be adopted for
the reorganization and consolidation of companies
and regiments when so far reduced in numbers as
seriously to impair their efficiency. 1t is the more
necessary that this should be DONE the absence of
legislation the subject has forced Generals in the
field to various xpedients for approxima-
! thr l. .lsI,o
mauding officer should be placed 10 position which
forces upon him the choice Of allowing the efcien-
cy of his command to be seriously impaired, or of
attempting to supply by the exercise of doubtful
authority the want of proper legal provision. The
regard for the scnsblity of officers who have here
tofore served with credit and which believed to
be the controlling motive that has hitherto OBJ
structed legislation this subject, however honor
able and proper may be carried to a point which
seriously Injuries the public good; and il this be
the case 1t can scarcely be questioned which of
the two considerations should be deemed para
mount.
The Secretarys recommend aion the subject
of facilitating the acquisition of the iron required
for maintaining the efficiency of railroad commu-
nication on the important military lines COM
mended to your favor. The necessity for the ope-
ration in full! vgor Of such lines is too apparent
need comment.
ernments relative to the exchange of prisoners Of
has been frequently presented in former mes
sages and reports, and is fully treated by the Sec
rotary. The solictude of the Government for the
relief Of our captive fellow citizens has known 30
abatement; but has, on the contrary, been still
more deeply evoked by the additional sufferines
to which they have been wautony subjected, by
deprivation Of adequate food, clothing and fuel,
which they were not even permitted to purchase
from he thatt
attempted to excuse their barbarous treatment by
the unfounded allegation that it retaiatory Ter
like conduct on our part, an offer was made by US
with view of ending all pretext for such recrlmi
nations or pretended retaliation.
The offer has been accepted, and each govern
ment is hereafter to be allowed to provide necess
airy comforts to its citizens held captive by the
other. Active efforts are in progress for the inn
mediate execution OF this agreement, and it is
hoped that but few days will elapse before we
shall be relieved from the distressing thought that
painful physical suffering is endured by many of
our fellow citizens whose fortitude in captivity
illustrates the national character as fully did
their vaIor in actual coGfict.
EMPLOYMENT OF SLAVES.
The employment of slaves for service with the
army, as teamsters cooks, or in the way of WORK
upon Publications, or in the government work
shops, or in hospitals and other similar duties, was
authorized by the act OF 18th February last, and
provision made for their lmpressment to
number not exceeding twenty thousand, ifitshould
be found impracticable to obtain them by contract
with the owners. The law conten plated the hir-
ing only of the labor of these slaves and imposed on
the government the liability to pay for the value
of such as might be lost to the owners from casual.
ties resulting from their employment in the SER
vice.
This act has produced less result than was an
tcipaed, and further provision is required to rem
der 1t eficacious. BUT my present purpose is to
invite your consideration to the propriey of rad
cal modification in the theory of the law.
Viewed merely as property, and therefore as
the subject of imprcssmeIt the service labor of
the slave has been frequently claimed for short Pc
RODS, in the construction Of defensive works The
slave, however, bears another relation to the Statc
that of person. The law of last February con-
templates only the relation of The slave the mas
ter, and limits the impressment to certain tern,
of service. Bat for the purposes enumerated in
the act, instruction in the manner of encamping,
marching and parking trains is needful, so that
in this limited employment length of service
adds greatly to the value Of the negros labor Haz
ard is also encountered in all the positions to
which negroes be assigned for service with
the army, and the duties required Of them demand
loyalty and zeal In this aspect the relation of
person prcdomiOates so far as to render il doubtful
whether the private right of property can cousis-
tently aud benehcially be continued and it would
seem proper to acquire for the public service the
ont in tho labor of he