Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-01-08
To raise d largo army and to maintain it in

the field are two different thiogs-the one Is
very easy, the other very difficult; the army is
certain to disbaud whenever its subsistence
fails. To be successful in raising and main
tanning the army, it is necessary that the
numbers in the AMY should be regulated oy
those ehat have to feed and clothe the coun-
try. To depend any longer upon running the
blockade through one port; to make the Cloth
ing of the army contingent upon such pre-
carious supply, is to involve the country very
s1an in aluicss certain ruin and destruction
The enemy can, and certainly will, close the
part Of Wilmington before this war is termi-
na;ed. rs long as We depead upon importa-
;ions wc actually ofer Inducements to the
euemy to close up the last port now open
The best and easiest way to open the ports ID
. make the coat of blockading them greater
:, the enemy than the evils of the blockade
sra to us; and to accomplish this we must
produce and manufacture all commodities no
csssar7 to the people and to the army, and
ssernly resolve to do without everything not
absolutely necessary to the feeding and cloth
:ns y: the country. BY industry and self
GepM the people Of the Confsderacy may open
their ports But as long as running the
blockade is necessary to the support OF the
army and people, in e0sn the least particular,
the indacenent to continue the blockade>and
,,spriqe us Of the necessarie Of life are too
ar,at to be abandoned by the enemy. What,
ahen, should BE- the war policy Of the Confede-
racY?
The first great object should be to provide
:,r tho maintenance Of the industry of the
country as well as for the strength of the
army. They are dependent upon each other
to such g degree that, however perfect and 80
3ure may be the protection afforded by the
army, all mast be lost without the blessings
only - Be obtained through the agency Of tile
industry Of the country. Any policy which
d9es no. secure beyond hazard the industry OF
tbs country ia defective, and if carried TO the
extent proposed By the pending bill of exemp'
tons. must become ruinous to the country an!
20 tho army. Instead, therefore, Of depicting
the Industry of the country to strengthen the
rmy, tho wiser and only true policy is the
adoption Of measures which, by preventing
deyeylions, shall maintain the strength of the
army at it's highest point, according to IL
muster rolls. Why put moro men in the
army wien its organization and discipline is
60 defective that those already in the army
are rarnitted 10 desert in such numbers rs to
dangerously diminish its strength? Already,
in many parts of tho country, the lawless vio
lencs Of deserters had made property inse-
cure, ard put life in jeopardy. The House
Corop,tee on Military Affairs may succeed in
Increasing the nalnos upon the muster rolls,
and the expenses Of the war, and that without
materially improving the strength Of the
army: but it will be ut the expense Of the
Qaar,ermas.er, Commisssry and Ordnane:
. DEPARTMENTS, iniuriousiy affecting the presen!
productions of the country, and prohibiting
tie creation of those articles which are cons
sumci, but not produced, in the Confede-
-acy.
Exemptions should depend not upon the
favor Of officials and the process of details
bat upon the necessities of the country, and
should be extended by law, not as favors to
Individuals, but ~ Wise concessions to the
industry of the country. A good and sound
prnciple is worth thousand favorsof detail ::
i. is liable to no corraptions, and cannot be
bought or bribcd. The exempt is then a
citizen. but, when detailed, he is the subscr-
Went creature of bureau. Industry cannot
be suppastcd by details commerce cannot be
carried on By details; it is wrong in principle
and will be found impracticable. The pres
sns exemption law recognizes the necessity Of
supporting and sustaining industry it ex-
empts, because certain trades are absolutely
necessary. 1t is upon the only proper and
wise principle. But it is said that the army
ia dissatisfied that SO many men ore exempt
from duty-and, 70 crafty the army, 1t ispro-
pascd to jeopardizc the material industry o.:
tbs country, upon which alike depends the
:.rcnv ard the people. The bill putting in the
neutrality-suspicious. was a concession to the
army: Just and proper concession, not to the
army. but to the principle that wealth, in q
nation at war, shall enjoy no immunities OF
privileges which poverty cannot obtain. But
exemptions stand upon different principle
iron, substitution, and arc granted to subserve
the necessities Of commerce and the require
ments of industry. Make the individuals who
take thu exemptions pay 4 tax, and let that
tax 90 to increase the pay Of the soldiers.
II il necessary not only to protect the in>
dnst-y Of The country from tho demands OF
the army, but TO organize that industry in or
1sr that il may ful6l its duties to the coun..
frv, This organization Of industry should be
made by the Stataa--i. is useless to expect
trade lett free to itself to enter into manu-
features which are precarious and uncertain
from the existence Of the war, which is their
Oh; . support. The manufacture of cloths,
leather, blankets, shoes, &C., should be under
taken by each State; machinery and imple-
ments imported immediately, while the port
Of Wilmington is still left to us. If the Legis-
laturen e Virginia will undertake the estah-
lishment Of a State manurau1ury vr uivsi.",
shoes or blankets for the army, it will have
taken stcp,s tho Importance Of which can
not be estimated. If the Legislature will, BY
law, compel the railroads of the State to COM
hine for the importation of railroad iron, and
for tho establishment of machine shops for
the building Of engines, snd.rolling mills for
the manufacture Of rails, the transportation
Of the State will be so improved that scsrci-
ty will vanish, and want be felt no more.
Statistical information of the resources Of
all the States is greatly wanted. Without
.uch ;nfnrnatinn it il almost impossible to