Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-11-16

in many cts,ssItainterteies:E
with discipline, impairs efficiency, mud is the
cadse Of frequent and ,prolongcd Absence
from appropriate duty The subject isftuiiy
treated iathe Sccretary,s report with susges-
tious as 70 tile proper measures for reforming.
that brancl'Uf the service. Sr& .d,i
The Recommendation hitherto often mads
.is again renewed thnt some measure be
adopted for tile reorganization and nsoiida'
tion of compani, aud regiments ben o tar
reduced N numbers as seriously TO impair
their efficiency. 1t is tie more IrcessatY
that this should be done as the abiencc pt
legislation on the subject hastoreed aiel,crals
in the field resort to neutrality-suspicious.
for apprcxinlating the desired 'erd! IL is
surely an evil that q commsnding officer
should be -placedin a position which forces
upon him the. choice oil, allowing .lhe eficien
cy Of his command to be seriously impaired,
or Of attempting to supply ,byethesexescise OF
doubtful authority tie want Of proper legal
provision. The regard for the sensiblity nfl
officers who have heretofore served with
credit, aud Which is believed TO be the con-
trolling motive that has hitherto obs,ructed
legislation on This subject, however hohorablei
and proper, may be carried to . point whieis
.seriolsy Injuries -public coed; aud Il this'
be the case it can scarcely be questioned
which of the two considerations sh6nld be-
deemed paramount. .sss
Tue. Secretary's Recommendation ION the:
subject Of facilitating the acquisition otathe
iron required for maintaining the efficiency
of railroad communication Oh the important
military lines is commended. to your favor.
The recessityfor the operation in full yisor Of
such lines is too apparent TO need comtnens
The question in dispute between the two
Governments relative TO the exchange Of
prisoners of war has been frequently present
ed in in,sner messages .and. reports, andeisi
|. fully treated by the Secretary. The snlici.
tudeyof the Government for the relief. Of our
captive fellow,citizens has known no: abate:'
nient: hut .fas on the contrary, BEEN sill
F.nore deeply evoked blythe additional spffer.
ing to wLich. they have been wantanly sub
iectcd. by deprivation Of daequate food, cloth.
! ing and fuel, which they were.not eYen. .pefs
mi,ted to pussLase from the prison suffers.
Finding that the enemy attempted toI excuse
their barbarous treatment by the untOunded
allegation that it was retaliatory for liSeGpns
| duct on our part, an offer was made by us
with view of ending all ,pretextSsfar such
recriminations or pretended retaliation. a 5
The ofler-has been accepted, and each gov
ernmentis hereafter to De.allowed to provide
necessary comforts to its own citizens held
captive by the other. Active efforts are in
progress for The immediate execution of this
. agreement, and it is hoped that but few, days
will eIapse before We shall be relieved, from
the distressing thought that painful physical
suffering is endured by so many ofSohr fellow:
citizens whose fortitude'ii capfivityilipstrates
the national character as fully as did their
vnlur in actual cophice f.,
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. a g.,
The disposition of this, Government. for Q
peaceful solution Of the issues which the
enemy has referred 10 the arbitrament oi
arms, has been too often manifested,, and is
too we'll known 10 need new assurances, BGt
while it's true that individuals and parties
in the United States have indicated o. desire
to substitute reason for force, and, by nego.
tiatoD to stop the further saclifce of human
life, and to arrest the calamities which now
affict both countries, the authorities who
control the government Of our enemies have
too often and TO clearly expressed their
rcsol,l' ion to make no peace, except on terms
of our unconditional submission and degra.
dation to leave Us any hope Of the ceesatit n
Of f>hostiliies until The delusion of then .ahili.
ty TO conquer us is dispelled. Among those
who are already disposed for tscs, many are
actuated by principle aud by disapproval. and
adherence Of the iniqnitons warfare that
their government is wagine, while others
are moved by the conviction that it is no
longer to the interest Of the United States
to continued struggle in which success 10
unattainable. Whenever this fast growing
conviction shall have taken firm root in the
minds of a majority of the Northern people,
there will be produced that willingness to
negotiate for peace which is now confined to
our side. Peace is mapifestly impossible,
unless desired by both parties 10 this war,
and the disposition for it.anOpg our enemies
will be best aud most certainly evoked
by the demonstration on our part OF ability
aid unshakcn determination to defend our
rights, and to hold no earthly price too dear
for their pufcl ase. Whenever, there shall
be on the part of cur enemies desire for
peace, there will Le,no difficulty in finding
means by which negotiation can be opened; !;
but it is obvious that noagency can be called
into action until this desire shall he mutual.
Whensthat contingency shall happen, the
Government, to which is confded the treaty
making power, can beat no loss for means
adapted to accomplish so desirable an end
Ip the hope that the day will soon be
reached, when under Divine favor. these.
States may be allowed to enter on their
former peaceful pursuits, and to deselope
the abundant natural resources with which
they are blessed, let Us then resolutely y>con.
| tinue to, devote onr united and uuimpaired
energies to the defence Of our homes, our
lives and our Liberties. This is the trne path
to peace, Let US tread it with conGdencein
the assured: result. -
3. - JEFFERSON DAVIS.
RlcHMsND, Nov. 7th, 1864. >@s
qll
From up the Road.
gentleman who reached this city Friday