Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-03-18


credit tothe pnblie ofIieor. II is Unnecessary
that this reoiriclion on the power of I'M
prersment be removed. Tho power 10 cd
mitted 70 Be objeclionable, liable 70 abuse,
and uuequal ID ite operation ON individualsj
ye, al these ebjsctions must yieid 70 abso-
Lutte necessity. Il IL also suggasted that
the system Of valuation now established
ought TO be radically changed. The legls-
latlon requires In such cases Of impresa-
msnt that the market price be paid, but
there 10 really no market prico In many
cases, and then valuation fs made srbitrsI
riiy and In q depreciatcd currency. The
result 10 that the most oxtrayagant prices
are fired, such % no one expects 10 be paid
In coin. None believe that The government
can ever redeem In coin the obligation 70
pay dity dollars bushel for corn, or seven
hundred dollars barrel for nour. Itwould
seem 10 be more Just and appropriate to
estimate the supplies Impressed at their
value In coipj 10 give the obligation Of the
government for the payment ofthe price In
coin with reasonable interest, or, at the
option OF the creditor, 10 return In kind
the wheat or corn impressed, with res
sonAbie interest, also payable In kind; and
to make the obligations thus issued rccely-
able for all payments due In coin to the
government. Nhatever be the value at
Lachsd by Congress 10 these suggestions, II
10 hoped that there viii be no hesitation In
90 changing the Law ~ 10 rcuder it possible
70 supply the army In case Of necessity for
the impressment Of provisions for that pur-
pose. I D. " ,..i o..
The measure adopted 10 rsiss revenue,
though liberal in is provisions, being
ciearll inadequats 70 meet the aroar OF
Il AakA and thu 'GwranAlNaaR0a
degree OF embarrassment In themanAge-
ment Of the finances must continue 70 be
felt. II 10 70 be regretted, thisk, that
tho recommendations OF the Secretary OF
tho Treasury, OF tar on agricultural In
come, equal 70 the augmented tAx on
Other incomes, payable In Treasury notes,
was rejected BY Congress. This tar would
have contributed materially 70 fAcilltate
the purchase Of provisions, and diminish
the necessity that 10 now felt for ssupply
Of coin. - -
The measures passed BY Congress during
the session for recruiting the army and
supplying tho additional force needed for
tho public defence have becn, in my jude-
ment, insufficient, and ] an impelled by q
profound conviction Of duty, and stimu.
lated By sense Of the pcrils which sur
round our country, 70 urge upon you i'd
The bill for employing negroes Is sol-
diers has not yet reaohed me, though the
printed journals OF your proceedings in.
form mo Of It's psssago. Much benefit 10
anticipated from this measure, though far
lees than would have resulted from It's
adoption OF an earlier date, so as 10 afford
time for their organization and instruction
during the winter months.
The bill for diminishing the number OF
eIempts has Just been made the subject OF
q special message, and its provisions are
such a. would add no strength to the army.
The recommendation To abolish all clasa
exemptions has not yet met your favor,
although still deemed by me valuable
and important measure; and the number
OF men exempted by new clause In the
act Just passed is believed 10 be quite equal
10 that OF those whose exemption is re-
voked. A Law Of . few lines repeaiihg sll
class exemptions would not only strengthen
the forces In the field, but be still moro
beneficial by abating the natural dlscoutent
and Jealousy created In the army by the
existence OF classes privileged BY law 10
remain In places OF safety, while their fel.
low-cltizens are exposed In the trenches
aud the field. .i1f. IT.
Tho measure most needed, however, al
tho present time, for sffording an effective
increase 10 our military strength Ia gen.
ersl militia law, such As tho Constitution
authoriEes Congress 70 pass by granting tC
Il power TO provide for organizing, armlnp
aud dlsciplining the militia, and for gov
erning such part OF them - may be en-
, ployed In the service OF the Confederat,
ststeS"--Anc the further power 80 pro
vide for calling forth the militia 20 eKecut,
the laws OF tho Con federate States, sup
. press insurrections and repel invaslons. ,
, The necessity for the exercise OF this poWe
. can never exist, II not In the circumstance 20
which now surround US. The security o
the States agaiRbt any eneroachment by tn
Confederate Government IL amply provide,
by the Consultation, by "reserviug 10 th,
SIsteA, respectively, the appointment Of th,
, officers, aud the authority Of training th,
militia, according 10 the discipline pre-
. scribed by Congress !" ,..
, And Of what persons the militia are to be OF
. lAni Eed, but 10 provide the mode OF oAIlinI
them Out, II instances BE- required TO show
' the neeeaSity for such general law, II IL lufi
I | Client 10 mention that IN one saso have besI
: inioTmed BY ne Gov yernor Of state that th,
Law does not permit him 10 call the millti'
. from enc county for service IN smother, .,
sIse the sIats and dsvastats each county Il
turn, without Anypower on the pert Of u,
Executive 70 use the militia iOE effective dc
| tenoei Whlte IN announcer btAto the ENeoutiv
I refused 10 allow the militia "to be employs,
! In this service OF Ihs Confederate States, !" Il
r the absence Of alAw for that purpose.
] have heretofore, In . eonddentiAl meAsag
70 the two Houhes, stated the fAetl which 10
l dueed me 70 consider 10 neoeafATy that thl
privilege OF the writ OF h6beds corpus should b,
suspended. The conviction Of the neoessit,
OF this measure has become deeper a. th
d. Congress has not o5neurrol with me In opiu
! lon, II H. my duty say that the time hA
arrived when the Suspension OF the writ 1
= | not simply advisable and eIpedient, but a
: most ind hpehsAble to the successful eondua
: OF the war. Ga CongreGn must rest the n
u sponAibility OF declining 10 exercise . powS
r conferred by the constitution ~ means O
Q public safety TO be used In periods OF RatiOnl
4 peril resulting from foreign invasion. Il Ou
r present eiEeumItanees are not such a. wer
Contemplated when this power was conferred
confess myaef a. . loss TO imagine an
= contingency 10 which this clause OF the con
: StitutiOn will not romAin q dead letter.
, With the prompt adoption OF the measure
above recommended, aud the united and Tear
W cooperation OF CungrsAG snd the people Il
. the execution OF the lsws and defence of IN
l e'untry, We may enter upon the present cam
: pGign with oheeT ul sonhdeuee In the result
And who can doubt the continued existence o
that APiTtt and fOrtitude In the people, and o
that oonhtAnoY under revsrses which AlOne ar
needed 10 render our triumph seeuFst Wis
/ other resource remains available but the un
. dying, uneonquerAble resolve 70 be free.
, has become certain, beyond all doubt or queI
tlon, thA, We must o.ntinue this struggle to
successful issua, or must make abjeoI and un
, conditional submission 70 such terms An I
} shall please the eonqueror TO lmpose on u
a after our surrender. II . possible doubt oSul
exist after the conferences between our ooul