New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-11-11
sheraton, there are some prominent topics which
merit special notice
The exemption from military duty now accorded 70

nor il believed 10 be defensibe in theory Tie de.
Tense OF home amy and country il universally Ieeog-
MED the paramount political duty Of every mcmber
Of society," and in a form OF government lie onrs.
where each citizen enjoys equality Of rghts and
privileges, nothing be more inyidious than M M
equal distribution of duties and obligations. No pnr.
suit nor position Should relieve any one, who is able 70
do active duty from enrolment la the army unless hs
functions OF services useful u the defense Vf
his country in another sphere. Tut is nantes. that
this cannot b. the case with the entire casscs an
telegraph operators, workmen In mines Professors.
teachers engineers editors and employees OF nevspa-
pers ournoymen printers, shoemakors tannors blacks
smiths uil.erS physicians, and the numerous otior
closes meu oned in the laws csnno in the nature 81
things be either equally necessary in their several pros
fessions distributed throughout the country in saeh
proportions that only the exact numbers required aJa
found in each locality nor can IL be everywhere impose
sill 20 replace those within the conscipt age y Iueu
older and less capable Of active field services dlscre
ion should be vested in the military authorities 20
that sufficient number Of those essential 10 the pgtno
service might he detiled to continue the exercise cr
their pursuits professions bit the exemption iom
service OF the entire classes should he wholly ahan-
doned IL affords great facility for abuses. offers tie
temptati0D as well % the ready means Of escaping
service BY fraudulent devices, and IL OF the pneI-
pal distractions 10 the efficient operation Of the ecH-
script laws.
general militia law Is needfn in the interest Il re
puble defence The Constitution by vesting the po~tr
Ia Congress imposes on IL TIE Guiy OF pFgyiiihf er
organizing arung and dScphAn9 Tue Iniilia, abd 'vE
Cover ming such part OF them may be employees IN ZIG
service OF tho Confederate States The great diversity
in the leg station Of the several states On tbs saDleo.
and the absence " any provision establishing er ex'cs
method for calling the militia igiO Confederate s'f''e.
are Of embarrassment winch ought 10 long ~
be suffered 10 impede defensive measures
The legi-ation in relation 10 the cavalry dem6rcS
change The policy Of requiring the men % furnish
their own horses has proven permcons IN many re-
spects. 1t nterferes with discipline mpaifs ecfley.
and t. tie Of frequent and prolonged absence no
appropriate duty The subject - fully treated IN 10
Secretary report with Suggestions to the pIoper
measures for reforming that branch Of the service.
The recommendation hitherto often made Is again rec
be afODtgf FOR the
izitOn and consolidation OF companies and r.gmen,s
when Gr reduced in numbers " to seriously imI e
their efficiency. 1t is the necessary tbot TINS
should De- done the absence OF the legislation on the
subject has forced Generals in rhe field to resort 10
various expedenis for spprOxmctihg the desired end.
IL is surely en- etl that commanding ocer BIG ua 10
placed n position which forces ul0n him the choice
Of ALLOW ing the efficiency OF his command 70 be serious.
~ impaired OK Of attempting r. supply BY tue oAefeSa
Of Doubtful authority the want u p0pe legal provision.
The regard ior the sensiDihly ~ oincets WHO h,.e
heretofore served with credit nd when Is beie"d 20
BE- tie controlling motive that mas hhhet.o oo5ileN
legislation on Ills subject, however honorable hn1
yrOper NAV be carried 10 point when seriolsy m
ures he public good and If tbs be Tie case II esn
,Tcely Dr. questioned which Of the two Considerations
shOud be deemed paramount
The Secretsry's Recommendations on the snnleci ~
facilitating the acquisition of the IRON re4lAeo loE
mantGfing the efficiency of railroad conmnnieatloI
the important military lines are commended 70 you
favor The shy for the operation n iul Yigcf *
sucf line IL to- apparent 10 need coIiaeHt. -,
The question iu dispute between tie two HoVogf-
cuts relative 10 the exchange o. prisoners Of VIZ Las
been frequently presented in ormer messages and 70"
ports and fully treated by the Seer sy Inc soIeI-
Jude for tho relief OF our cep-ye ieloweluhhf nls
known no abatement; bat las. on ihe coni!AiV heen
still more deeply evoked by the additional slieiiIKs Y"
which they have been 1antonly Gu.tcted' by ,i.na-
ton of ADEQUATE food, clothing and fuel, wich KY
we're moi even permitted 20 paToaae from th6 prison.
suffers. Finding that the enemy attempted % e1.rto
thcir barbaFous treatment oy tAe uh.Onaeu ~.
that il was retaliaOry for Ike conduct on oui i' 9
offer was made by u.s. with view 81 ending al p4e'eAs
for such recrminatons or pretended retaliation -,
The offer has been accepted and each GoYcFnD EFT iss
hereafter b be allowed to provide Necessary e mis- Il
70 It's own citizens held coptive by he o.AeE A1tha
efforts a!c IN progress for the immediate exeeaton os
this agreecnt and IL Is hoped tlt bat few days VIE
clause o, lre We shall 10 relieved iro. The ds.FossLa
thought thar psinhl ysca suffering is endured BY -
many OF our Ow-citizens whose iorttde ia O. iN'y
illustrates tie national character IS fry as &c lux
Talor in actual conflict.
EMPLOYMENT or SLAVES.
The employment Of slaves for service WITH ths 9FnY
As toansters cooks o. IN tie way oi Work nlen 90
fcati0us VI ~ the Government vcrkshop- OF ., NC
pal. and other similar duties was auth0rzrd ~ uJ
aot OF 18th February last. and provision was made
their impressnent To namber not exceeding twei.Y
thousand If il should be found mpGcticabe u OBTAIN
them bv cont ract with the OE ner5 lie ia" cnntDs
plated the hiring only Of the labor 81 these s9Fes ava
imposed on the Government the Inability TO pay ~, ~s
value OF sueh as might he lost t. tie owre's nrw
casualties resulting from their employment 10
s'ryiee ,,....-..,
and further provision is required OTender ehsacous.
But my present purpose IL 10 invite your CONSIDER ~
to the propr!ey OF radea modincl'loL IN the ue'y
o1the law. ,,.,,
Viewed merely property snd therefore ~ ire nv
iect Of imprisonment, the service or aDor OF the sa
has been frequently claimed Tor short peIio1s IL ha
constructiOu OF defensive works. Tie slave, however,
bears another relation 10 the stee, that Of ls.'ns
Tie law OF last February conieinplaes the IelVn -
the slave 20 the master, and limits te Impress ni.b' "
certain tasn OF service. Bat for the purposes enbiDs~
rated In the act, instruction in tie manner 81 eb.hap
iuS marching and parking trains Is nc'din. 70 u AZ
even in this limited employ engh OF service aoua
greatly TO the value u the nogTos labor hazard also
encountered ia all the positions ~ when negroes Sa1
assigned for service with The army ald the uAiitt 10
quigSd of them demand loyalty and zeal.
n this aspect tie relation .. person pTedomnafe. 20
property consistently ana ocnenoaly pc continued.
and il would seem proper 10 acquire Tor TIE puue s'
vice the entire property IN the labor oil the sd'. "lu
10 nav therefor due COpens aCE rather tbaD ~ 4nA-
press his labor for short mS; and this the more et-
ciay as tho effect OF the present law WoGd Vcsttb
entire property IN III Whole tie save DlfAs -
recaptured ai.or compensation oi us ioss .ae s.u
paid To the private owner whenever TIE eniT, ll"p-
erty In the service Of Save IL thus acquired by ne
Government the question il presented, by what tcuIS
be should be held. Should lie o. retained IL sefsl1.e
or should his emancipation be held out TO bin Is Ie-
ward for faithful service shonld be granted at oLee
on the promise OF such service; and II emancipatd,
what aoOn should be taken 20 eoure or the ifcea uu
the permission of tie State nom which be was oTd"n
TO reside within its limits afler the close Of his pnbS
service The permission would doubtless he more rtLh-
iy accorded as reward for past aitlnl service ard
double motive for jealous discharge OF dut! NOt" Tvs
be offered 10 those employed by the Government the r
freedom and the qualification Of the local attaehLebf
WI len is so marked characteristic oil the Eefiv tn1
forms powerful en- incentive to ms action IN. fpir
CIV Of engaging IN berate the negro on his discharges
after service faithfully rendered seems 10 me prehISb9
10 that Of granting immediate manumsson Oh that OF
retaining him in scrytado. Ii this policy should 'o'
onmend Itself TO the Judgment OF Congress ~ s SO
gested that in addition % tho duties heretofore pts
formed bv the slave. he might be adsantageontiy ems
ploved rs pioneer and engineer hbortr ara ID ~.