Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-05-06

]jovesnEnehts. like our enem!ee, have mis-
taken our desire for peace. unreservedlyie1-
pressed, for evidence Of exhaustion, and
| have thence inferred the probability OF SUD
tcess in the effort to subjugate or extermi
nate the millions Of human beings who. in
these States, prefer any fate to submission
TO their savage assailants. / see no pros
pect Of an early change in the course here
tofore pursued BY these Governments but
.hsn this delusion shall have ,bsep dis
PEELED, and when our independence, BY she
valor and fortitude ofsour people, shall
have bssn won against all tho hos
tile influences combined against US, and
can no longer b ignored BY open foes or
professed neutrals, this war will have left
With its proud memories 4 record Of many
wrongs, which it may not mis- become US to
/ forgive-some for which We may not prop.
,erIy forbear from demanding redress. In
1.-THE. mesntime II il enough for 10 to know
that every avenue Of negotiation is closed
agsinst rs; that our enemy is making re-
newed aud strsnuous efforts for our des.
truction, and that the sole resource for W,
as people secure ID the Justice Of our cause
and holding our liberties to be more prsc-
ious then all other earthly possessions, is to
combine and apply every available elelnen.
Of power for their defeucs and preservation.
On the subject Of the exchange Of priso-
ners greatly regret to be unable to give
|you satisfactory information. Nbe governs
ment Of the United States, while pcrris.ing
in failure to execute the fsrms Of the cartel.
make occasional deliveries q prisoners, and
then suspend action without apparent cause
/ I confess my inability to comprehend their
policy or purpose. The prisoners held by
Us, 10 spite Of humane care, are perishine
from the inevitable effects Of imprisonment
and the Inconsistencies produced by the
| bopelessness Of release from confinement
The spectacle Of their suffering augments
our longing desire to relieve from similar
trials our own ,brave men, who have spent
so many weary months in cruel aud use
less Imprisonment, endured with heroic
constansy. The delivery. after 9 suspen
sion Of some weeks, has just bscn resumed
, the enemy; but as they give no assn
rance of intent to carry out the cartel, ~
interruption Of the exchange may recur at
any moment.
The reports of the Departments. Esrs.
with submitted, are referred to for full in
| formation in relation to the matters apper-
| tanning to each. There are two of them
on which I deem it unnecessary to make
special remark.
! The report Of the Secretary of tho Treas
ury states facts justifying the conclusion
that the law passed at the last session for
the purpose Of withdrawing from circula-
ton the large excess Of Treasury notes
heretofore issued. has the desired effect
and that by the Est July the amount in cir
culation will have been reduced to sum
not exceeding 1870, 0o0,oe0 It is be.
lisved to be Of primary Importance that no
further issue Of notes should take place. aud
that the use Of the credit Of the Government
should be restricted to the two other modes
! provided by Congress, viz the sale Of bonds
, and the Issue oeeertifcat.s bearing interest,
for the price Of supplies purchased within
our limits. The law. as it row stands, au.
thorizes the issue, by the Treasury, Of new
| notes to the extent Of two-thrds Of TIE
amountrecsived under ito provisions. The
estimate Of thesamount funded under the
Law, is shown 70 be $500, 000. 900, and II
two-thirds OF this sum be re issued. We shall
have an addition Of 5000. 000. 900 Is our
circulation, believed 70 te already ample for
) the business Of the country. The addition
, Of this large sum to the volume Of the eur
reDcy would de attended by disastrous effects,
/, and would produce the speedy recurrence
of the evils from which the funding law has
escued the country. If our arms are crowned
With the success which We have 80 much
reason to hope, we may we'll expect that
this war cannot be prolonged beyond the
current year, and nothing would so much
rssard the benefceut influence Of peace on
! oil the interests of our country, as the exis-
tence Of a great mass of currency not re-
deemsble IN colo. With our vast resour-
ces the circulation, if restricted to it, pres
ent volume. would be easily Manageable.
and by gradual absorption in payment Of
public dues, would give place to the pre-
cious metals, The only basis Of currency
adapted to commerce with foreign countries
In our present circumstances know of no
mode Of providing for the public wants
which would entail sacrifices so greatas q
freshsissue Of treasury notes. and I trust
that you will concur in the propriety Of alb
solutely forbidding any increase Of those
now in circulation.
Officers have baen appointed and de-
spatched to the Trans Mississippi States,
and the necessary measures taken for the
|execntiou Of tue laws, eneacted to oby:ats
delays IN administering tic Treasury and
other Executive Departments in those
States; but sufficient Tins has not elasped
to ascertain the re .ults.
! In relation to the most important OF all
subjects at the PRESENT time, the efficiency
Of our arrtnisses in the field, it is gratifying te
assure you that the discipline and instruc-
ton Of the troops have kept pace with the
improvement in material and eduiprfiest -
We have reason to congratulate ourselves
on the results Of the legislation on this sub
|ject. and on the increased administrative
energy in the different bureaux Of the Wa,
Department. and may not unreasonably in.
dulge anticipatiens Of commensurate ste
cess in the ensuing cam,paign.
The organization Of reserves Is in progress,
aud it is hoped they will be valuable in az
fording local protection, without requiring
4 details and detachments from active force.
Among the recommendations contained
in the. report Of the Secretary of War, yonl