Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-07

dence. But shall We therefore despair OF Spring or
peace and independence
|. ConftdoIats Congress
! The matter of greatest Importance on Tuesday vas
the presentation of communication from number of
commanding Officers of the army of Tennessee. Of this
abstract given in elegcaphic columns yes
terday. The following is the document in full which
referred to the Military Committee and ordered to
be printed -
ARMY OF TENNESSEE, Dec. II, 1863
| To the Congress of tie Confederate States:
In the existing condition of affays it is hoped your
honorable bodies will pardon the variance from custom
tot addressing you from the army 1t is done in no
sprtO clctaIon, but under the scien.ious convic
tlon that the necessities of The country demand the
voices and ablrs of e and that delay even for thirty
days, IN enachng proper measures, may make present
disorders iGcurable and The dangers of
| npOtent for our destruction.
In opinion is essential retain, for the term
OF during the without reOrgaoiz the troops
in service place IN Service Immediately Tor the
same term, all other white males between eighteen and
fifty years of age able to perform any military du to
provide Tor placing IL service, s the discretion Of the
President, tor the same term, all white males between
fifteen eighteen and beween fifty and sixty years
of age; to prohibit substitution to prohibit exemp-
tlons except for the necessary civil Offices and employ
mens Of the Confederate States ard the several Sates
TO prohibit details, except for limited times and for
ryng on works essential to the army to prohibit dis
charges except 10 of permanent disability from
all duty to prohibit leaves and nrougts, except under
uniform rues, Of universal application based, far
practicable length Of service aid meritorious
duct to prohibit to the greatest possible extent, th
detail OF abe bodied officers and to post, Eospita
or other duty and TO place service, cooks labor
ers teamSteIs aud hospital attendants with the army
and elsewhere, able bodied groes and mulatoes boud
aid free.
ihese measures, We think, if promptly enacted as
laws so ss 10 give time for organizing aid discplining
tie material, would make armies nvircible al
the opening of the campaign of next year, and enable
rs to win back lost territory, and Conquer peace
before that campaign shall be ended
We beg further to suggest that in opinion, the
dissatisacons apprehendej 9r existing--ir0m short
rations deprecated currency and the ratenn Of ol0
soldiers in service, might be obVated by allowing boun
tics with Determinations in favor Of the retained
troops, Increase OF pay, the Communication to enlisted
OF ratOns not issued, and ratiOnq, the value |
thereof to officers.
We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
Obtdent servants
W. l.. HARDaE. Lieu: General.
& l.. sTEvENSOE, aajar-i@@n.
B. F.. HEsFAAN, Maj r-Gsn.
&c BRsC s1SsIrGa, kajor-Gsn.
Jon G. Brown, Big Gen.
fD4D W. PBTrUs, Brighten.
=. ". REYNOLDS, Bis Gen.
T. G. B1NDMAN sajor Gen.
Jos. H. LRW.s, Rrig.GeU.
JOHN. &. JACKSON, Br g-Gen.
l sign this With the reservation that [ approve the
Presidents proposed system of permanent consoidG
tlons. Z. Il. CLEBURNE Major Gen.
others attached to the paper, some Of them with
reservations and exp lnatoLs.
What Was done yesterday will te found under the
telegEaphic head. The Senate has passed the House
bill to Put in service those who have furnished subs
tutes, by vote OF II to 2, Messrs. OR, Of South
Carolina, and JOHNSON, OF Georgia. alene voting in the
negative. The House Would seem determined to stop
all exemptions, the press included, by which they
will get about fifty printers out Of this State, than
half of whom would have to be detailed for public work
HoTever, if other people stand it, we can. No
exemptions should be granted on merely personal
grounds.
II appears to US that the history of our respected
Congress presents features that The unbelieving
might mistake for weakness OF mind or of purpose, or
both Up to the present hour it has shrunk with the
timidity of conscious feebeness from the
acment OF of financial military character
adequate to eet the rfqurements of the country the
emergencies Ct the crisis until Cur foances in such
co0diti0n that they creating distress Throughout
the country and at the bottom of our military diff
culteefor it is not want of men that is the great evil
1t is deficiency of supplies, and the terrible extent to
which abseDteeism has been carried, twothirds
of Which Is chargeabe to the stale of the
currency and the credit of the country rendering the
soldiers pay vaueess and entailipg distress and ruin
upon his family
Now Congress, ike weak man scared, flies to the
opposite extreme and inclined to plunge in over
head and ears going it blind to salvation or destrucCn
as the case may be. God send the former. There is
little dcu bt hut that Congress will so far enough in
the matter Of The c0nscription law, well in tie
matter of the currency. Whether it Will 60 equally
far enough or indeed any distance in the right drec
ticn does not appear quite evident. One thing it
seems determined upon. 1t is resolved to secure itse
against criticism in the future by virtually putting
stop 70 the newspapeIspestilent institutions and rot
to tc eidured.