The Portland daily press., 1864-01-06
FROM WASHINGTON.

Message of the President Ia Relation TO Boun-
tes-Itcscs Of The Secretary OF Iyal. and
ProcOst Marshal Geaerost-Senato,. Nilsson IS
Hetc Embodiment BIZ.
WASHINGTON, Jan. s.
The following is the message sent to Con-
gress to day by the the President of the United
States:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Rep
resentdtires:
BY joint resolution of your honorable
bodies, approved Dec. %, 1863, the paying of
bounties TO veteran volunteers as now practic-
ed by the War Department is to the extent of
$500 in each case prohibited after the 9Th day
of the present month. | transmit for your
consideration communication fSpm the Sec
rotary OF War, accompanied by one from the
Provost Marshal General to him, both relative
to the subject above mentioned. | earnestly
recommend that the law be so modified as
to allow bounties to be paid as they now are,
at least until the ensuing LIST day of February.
L am not without anxiety lest | appear to be
mportunate in thus recalling your attention
TO subject on which you have so recently
acted, and nothing but deep conviction that
the public interest demands it could induce
me to incur the hazard of being misunderstood
on this point The Executive approval was
given by me TO the resolutions mentioned. and
it is now by closer attention and fuller
knowledge of facts that feel constrained to
recommend a reconsideration of The subject.
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Jan. 5th 1868.
The Secretary of War, in letter accompa-
nying the message, says: No one seems to
doubt the necessity of increasing the military
for speedy termination of the rebellion, and
although much difference Of opinion exists in
respect to the merits of the system of raising
troops by volunteering and the payment Of
bounties, and the system of raising an adequate
force by draft, yet two things are certain LIST.
That whatever may be the weight of argument
or the influence of individual opinion, a large
proportion of the people in every State prefer
the method Of contributing their proportion
of the military force by bounty to volunteers
rather than draft. I'd. That veteran sol
diers who have become Injured to service, even
when paid the bounty, constitute a cheaper
force than raw recruits or drafted men without
bounty. The information received by the War
Department from the armies in field prior to
the passage of the resolution of December
last, indicated that very large proportion OF
the forces now in the service would have cheer
fully re-enlisted for three years under the
terms authorized by the order of this Depart
ment, and that re-enlistments have been check
ed, and will, In a great measure, be put to an
end by the restriction imposed by the act of
Congress. 1t is believed that if any limitation
should be imposed upon the payment OF boun-
ties to encourage the enlistment of veteran
forces now in the felfit ought not to be soon
err than the LIST of February.
The Provost Marshal General, in a commu-
nicatiou, says :-"ARer great labor the volun-
teer recruiting service under the Presidents
call of Oct 18th is fairly in progress Letters
all dated between the 10th aud oath of Dec.
from the superintendent of recruiting SER
vice in sixteen States are in the main eneour-
aging as to the prospect of getting a large
number Of recruits by volunteer enstments.
Several OF the States were in fair way to
raise the quotas assigned them. The act APP
proved Dec. 23d, 1868, forbidding after Jan.
9Th the payment to volunteers OF all bounties
except the 500 authorized by the act of 1861.
was not known at the time these favorable re-
ports were made to me. have no doubt the
effect of that act will be to check, if it does
not stop, enstments. OF the 500 bounty
provided by the act of 1861, but SIS can be
paid in advance, the s75 being due only after
two years of service.
1t took some time after October 18th to get
the people reused to the subject of volunteer
ing. They are now in most States earnestly
engaged in it, and l have the reports for De-
tober and November, and part of December,
showing that AZ, 529 men have been enlisted
and the tie daily average of enlistments is in
ereasing. Under these circumstances res
pectfully suggest the proprety of a reconsd-
Grafton OF the act providing bounties after
January 9Th.
The communications were referred to the
committee on Military Affairs.
Senator Wilson's new enrolment bill intro
dueed to-day, exempts those who are physical
ly disabled, and also makes the following ex-
emptions, viz: President, Judges of Courts,
Heads OF Departments, Heads Of Executive
Departments, and Governors of States. It
receives as substitutes only those who are not
liable to the draft, and penalty of from 500
TO $1,000 fine, and from thirty days to six
months imprisonment is provided as a pun
ishment of enrolling officers who are engaged
directly or indirectly in procuring substitutes.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Wilson introduced
a bill restoring the s4o0 bounty to veterans
and $500 to volunteers until the 18th of Feb
ruary, and bounty not exceeding 500 TO
persons of African descent residing in States
now in rebellion, during such time as the Pres
ident may determine.