The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-03-15


clsass In the act Just passed Is believed
- b quite equal 70 that Of those whose
exemption ID revoked. A Law Of q few
lines rcpealing all class exemptions
would not only strengthen the forces in
the field, but be still more beneficial bv
abating the natural discomfort and iea-
lousy created in the army by the exist
ence Of classes privileged by law to re-
main in places Of safety while their
fellow citizens are exposed in the
trenches and the field.
1HE MILITIA.
The measure most needed, however.
at the present time,- for affording an ef-
fective increase to our military strength,
is general militia law, such as the Con-
stitution authorizes Congress to pass~by
granting to it power to provide for or
ganizing, arming and disciplining the
militia, and for governing such part of
them as may be employed in the service
Of the Confederate States" and the fur
Their power "to provide for calling forth
the militia to execute the laws of the
Confederate States, suppress insurrec-
tons and repel invasions." The neces-
sity for the exercise Of this power can
never exist if not in the circumstances
which now surround us. The security
of the States against any encroachment
by the Confederate Government is amply
provided by the Constitution, by ere
serving to the States, respectively, the
appointment of the officers, and the au-
thority of training the militia according
to the discipline prescribed by Con-
gress."
A law is needed to prescribe not only
how, and of what persons, the militia
are to be organized, but to provide the
mode of calling them out. If instances
be required to show the necessity of such
general law, it is sufficient to mention
that, in one case, | have been informed
by the Governor of State that the law
does not permit him to call the militia
from one county for service in another,
so that single brigade of the enemy
could traverse the State, and devastate
each county in turn, without any power
on The part Of the Executive to use the
militia for effective defence; while in
another State the Executive refused to
allow the militia "to be employed in the
service of the Confederate States" in the
absence of law for that purpose
SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS.
l have heretofore, in confidential
message to the two Houses, stated the
facts which induced me to consider it
necessary that the privilege of the writ
of haJeas corpus should be suspended.
The conviction Of the necessity of this
measure has become deeper as the events
Of the struggle have been developed
Congress has not concurred with me in
opinion. 1t is my duty to say that the
time has arrived when the suspension of
the writ is not simply advisable and ex-
pedient, but almost indispensable to the
successful conduct Of the war. On
Congress must rest the responsibility of
declining to exercise power conferred
by the Constitution as means of public
safety, to be used in periods of national
peril resulting from foreign invasion. If
our present circumstances are not such
IS were contemplated when this power
was conferred, confess myself at loss
to imagine any contingency in which this
clause OF the Constitution will not re-
main dead letter.
With the prompt adoption OF the mea.
sures above recommended, and the united
and hearty CO operation of Congress and
the people in the execution of the laws
and the defence Of the country, we may
enter upon the present campaign with
cheerful confidence in the result. And
who can doubt the continued existence
of that spirit and fortitude in the peo~
pie, and of that consistency under re-
verses which alone are needed to render
our triumph secure? What other re-
source remains available but the indy
ing, unconquerable resolve to be free
1t has become certain, beyond all doubt
or question, that we must continue this
struggle to successful issue, or must
make abject and unconditional submits
sion to such terms as it shall please the
conquerer to impose on us after our sur
render. If possible doubt could exist
after the conference between our com
missioners and Mr.: Lincoln, as recently
to you, it would be dispeled
by recent occurrence, of which it is
proper that you should be informed.
TIE PEACE CONFERENCE.-THE CON-
VENTION-INTERVIEW BETWEEN GEM
RAILS LONGSTREET AND ORD.
Congress will remember that, in the
conference above referred to, our COM
missioners were informed that the Go
vernment of the United States would
not enter into any agreement or treaty
whatever with the Confederate States,
nor with any single State; and that the
only possible mode Of obtaining peace