Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-17

the departments of supply lor efficiency and vigor too
of these operations The reduction in their service to the
standard required by the act Of Congress however,
progressing regularly in such mode to against any
arrest to essential operations ut the urgency
of the field the thinning of ranks under
the casualties and suerings of the campaign and above
ALL the call Of the enemy for five hundred thousand
cruits and the extraordinary efforts they making to
assemble oyerpowerng every field but especially
before and for the capture OF capital demanded that
all available should be promptly employed to In
the number and efficiency OF our army IL became
necessary only expedite tho removal TO the aroy Of
those whom the act referred to had proposed 70 withdraw
from the employment the administrative branches OF the
service but also extend the Call TO all others liable to
conception for active service
The late legislation Of Congress- while subectDg classes
before exempt to sefvce had large discretion OF
detail, aud had manifested desire fJr the liberal allow
of such with view to maintain the agriculture,
manufactures and industrial operations Of the country
This discretion been used far seemed at the time
compatible with demand of the active service and had
withheld for these important ends considerable numbers
exempts from armies 1T has been 10 view of the
force being mustered ag4l0st deemed necessary
woke all such details aud to enforce rigidly the laws Of
CONSUMPTION limited to men capable only Ut light duty and
to employment in the department OF tho public
service aud thus to berate for tho field all liable to such
duty except skilled artisans experts and Of science,
and few others actually ndspens be for the maintenance
and supply Of the armie by sab scDg all others rgidy
pr mpty to the obligations of active service which the
law imposes 1t 10 be sved very considerable reinforce
Of the most effective material being afforded
in addition TO the law allowing the acquisition
by mpressment If necessary OF twenty thousand able.
bodied male slaves for employment with the armies a.
teasers cooks and the like is being enforced and the
subst uion OF will allow the recall to the ranks Of
many valuable who have Heretofore been detailed for
such incidental service The reserves, too, consisting Of
those between and eighteen and those between
forty and fifty years of have been organized under
command for each State aud where tho State Invaded
have been called into active service heY been found
efficient force to supply guards to cities and public
works, and for The large numbers of prisoners In
hands, and also deendeTso bridges roads, aud mpor
fspt haUn ted far mi
ders who otherwise have been withdrawn from thu
active aries On several occasions portions of them
have been thrown with the armies in the fsd active
auxaries so far, wherever tried they have exhibited
the charact ersc vaor and aptitude OF our people for
military life and have compared well with their veteran
comrades in constancy and conduct
These measures, sanctioned by existing legsla=
ton, must materially increase and renVgorae depict
cd armies but it is not TO b disguised that they still
leave those armies relatively weak to the hosts
being summoned by the enemy for subugaon. Sgas Of
exhaustion and despair OF success were uut late
happy to plainly manifested by
gnant and this probably the last grand effort their
resolution will allow for their of aggre ssion
and conquest 1t should be met and overcome by the
early and full command of all and means and for
this additional legislation is required.
1t ia my deliberate conviction, than express.
ed in former reports that the policy of exemptions to those
capable of military service is uuwss, and that all be.
tween the ages eight and ortyve capable of bear.
ing should without distinction of occupation or pro.
ieson be subjected 10 service and called to the field The
few Indispensable exceptions for the needs of society and
cOQVe@
neny provided By de sils Exemptions by classes
sary many not actually demanded by society the
needs that the average may have given plausibty
the exceptions and such exceptions beside inducing in
vdious feelings and dissatisfaction compels discrimination
to the call for service which both delays aud measuraby
defeats its full Accomplishment.
1t s therefore, urgently recommended that all eXemp-
tons except of officers actually essential to the conduct
of the Confederate and State Governments be abolished
and all of the military age, physically capable without dis
ncton discrimination be at devoted the sacred
defending their
probably constitute large draft for continuous service
the field the interests OF society would allow but it
not doubted that with the aid Of slaves those beyond
and below the ages prescribed for active service with the
large number those fit only for light duty aud the par
TALLY disabled by service would suffice adequately main.
tain necessary production and supply both for the armies
and the people.
With view to the of armies in the field the
policy has been suggested and has attracted public
attention, Of enlstng negro slaves soldiers No
compuncton could be felt in using them for deeply as
the whites of the South interested in repeng the in
vasion and forever beratng themselves from the ascot
alton or thraldom OF our enemies the negroes of the
South vitality concerned With the whites
is question Of nationality, Of honor and propery with
the negroes in its dread issues in distant future it s
the question Of their existence The friendship
of people selfish, cruel and remorseless as our foes
would be TO the unhappy negro fatal than to
enmy In contact with them under their pretended free
dom before the law, which in operation inferior
but license to greed and oppression; exposed to
all the vices without the providence If the clvT ID man
they must soon, IN the language Of leader among their
professed friends be tramped sickly exotic" or
wither away amid the bghng influence of debauchery
pauperism, crllne aud disease Tney have besides the
homes they value, the ml they love- the masters
they pct aud depend defend prot ct against
the savagery and devastation of enemy. No fear Ia
entertained OF their fidelity for the feelings the interests
Of the great Of tho negroes have been concusveJ
msnies ed to be with their masters Neither
it doubted that under the Leadership of whites 10
whom they have buated aud la whom they have
conhdeOce they would exhibit steadfasuess aud
uuli
any added required FROM the supposed
love Il freedom natural TO man. might DO readily afforded
by the OF emancipation all who conducted
Themselves with fidelity aud courage during the war For
any action would OF course require the concurrUs
legislation Of each State from the slave populaton Of
which the negro soldiers had been because to the
States belongs exclusively the determination Of the relations
which their coored population or any part Of them, sha
Loj,
empoy aud reward slaves enlisted as soi,ers
that the Necessary Legislature would be accorded for there
- no sacr hce II property MOOR interests wach would
not be INSIDE by either tsts people fua
separation from hateful foes aud schievemr Of
liberty and ince yendence Wnie is encouraging te
know this for further and future eff rs our
command my judgment does yet either perceive
the necessity or approve the policy of employing slaves
the hgber duties soldiers they concssody inferior
ali respects white citizens the Quali cations If
the soldier, aud have thought have the military
age large proportion Of our whole population will be
required DO omp eyed in active mi
taiy operations H. then, the be employed Ia the
war; neror preferred to tho superior agent for the
work. Ia such this, wag ID agsnss foes bent with
malignant persistence destruction and for all that
holes pricele.stbe most vital work is that of the