Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-01-06
THE THREE HUNDRED DOLLAR
BOUNTY.
Message OF the President.

Message OF the President.
In the House yesterday the following mes
sage was received from the President OF the
United States: -r.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and Hou$c Of Repre-
sentdtireS: BY joint resolution of your hon
orable bodies, approved December 3, 1863, the
paying of bounties to veteran volunteers. It's
now practised by the War Department, is, to
the extent Of three hundred dollars in ca ch
case, prohibited after the 5th OF the present
month. 1 transmit, for your consideration,
communication from the Secretary OF War, ac-
companied by one from the Provost Marshal
General, to him, both relating to the subject
above mentioned.
earnestly recommend that the law be 50
modified as to allow bounties 10 be paid as they
now are, at leas: until the ensuing first day OF
February.
am not without anxiety lest appear to be
1mportunate, IN thus calling your attention to
TIE subject upon which you have so recently
acted and nothing but q deep conviction that
the public interest demands it could induce me
to incur the hazard OF being mis- understood on
this point. The executive approval was given
by me 10 the resolution mentioned, and it Is
now, by closer attention aud fuller knowl-
edge of facts, that feel constrained to recon-
mend reconsideration of the subject.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
COMMUNICATIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
The Secretary OF War in a communication
accompanying the message, says no one seems
to doubt the necessity Embarrassing tn military
force for the speedy termination of the rebel
lion, and although much difference of opinion
exists in respect to the merits of the system OF
raising troops by volunteers and the payment
OF bounties, and the system of raising an ade-
quate force by draft, yet two things are GER
tain:
Fret. That whatever may be the weight O,
argument, or the influence of individual opin.
ion, large portion OF the people In every State
prefer the method OF contributing their propor-
ton Of the military force by bounty To yoiun-
tiers. rather than by draft.
Second. That veteran soldiers, who have he
come Injured to the service, wen when paid
bounty, contribute a cheaper force than raw
recruits or drafted men without bounty
The in formatian received by the War Depart.
mept from the armies in the field prior TO the
passage of the resolution OF December last, ia-
dIcated that a large proportion of the forces
now in the service would have cheerfully re-
enlisted for three years, under the terms au-
thoriZed by the order of this Department, and
that such enlistmenIs have been checked, and
will in great meas ure be put an end to, by the
restriction imposed by the action Of Congress
1t Is believed that. IL any Limitation should be
imposed upon the payment of bounties to en-
courage enlistments OF the veteran forces In the
field, 1t ought not to be sooner than the first of
February.
COMMUNICATION OF THE PROVOST MARSHAL
GENERAL.
The Provost Marshal General in q commu
nication says:
After great labor, the volunteer recruiting
service under The Presidents call OF October
18th 10 fairlv In progress. Letters, all dated
between the Goth and oath Of December from
the superinten dents Of the recruiting service in
sixtt en- States, are in the main very eneourag.
ing as to the prospect Of getting 'iargs num-