Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-12-15
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
WAN.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
WAR.
Not being able to presontthe report of the
Secretary of War, in full, owing to its great
length, we give below synopsis of Its con.
tents, from the Washington Chronicle
The very first paragraph in this report
may be quoted as matchless specimen of
condensed thought and candid statement.
In the four of the following FIVE sentences
we find summed up, with graphic and cleo
trio force, the entire story of the inexhausti-
bility of our national resources, and the
elasticity of our political institutions:
MR.. PRESIDENT: The military appropria.
tions by the last Congress amounted to the
sum OF five hundred and sixteen millions
two hundred and forty thousand one hun
dred and thirty one dollars and seventy cents
($516, ,240, 131 70.) The military estimates
for the next fiscal year, after careful revision,
amount to thirty-three millions eight hun
dred and fourteen thousand four hundred
and sixty-one dollars and eighty-three cents,
1888, ,S14 ,461 e3.) The national military force
on the first of May, 1865 numbered one
million five hundred and sixteen men. 1t is
proposed to reduce the military establish
ment to fifty thousand troops, and over eight
hundred thousand have already been mus
tered out of service. What has occasioned
this reduction of force and expenditure in
tho War Department, 1t is the purpose of
this re port to explain
1t will be perceived that the Secretary
takes up the military history where 1t closed
at the commencement of the last session of
Congress, exactly two years ago. Noperiod
of human effort has witnessed achievements
so stupendous and realized consequences so
potential. Within that space were uncon-
sciously crowded the hopes and destinies of
all tribes of civilized men-alike the millions
who painted for national freedom and the few
who longed to control the destinies of their
fellow creatures. There are two kinds of
military writers who do little to enlighten
the general mind-one composed of the com
pliers of the official reports, and the other
the commentators upon events they could
only specifically understand. The dry and
technical details of the first and the verbose
details of the second discourage all but the
student, who reads everything with the pa
tience and the labor that are enjoyed too
rarely by himself alone. But here is an
historian who writes of great and fresh
events for living and progressive age.
Mr. Stanton has been War Minister alone.
From the goth of January, 1862, when he
accepted the seal of office, he had but one
I
the same m nth by the writer Of these lines,
"Those who expect that Mr.. Stanton will
not enter upon his position as War Minister
with the most earnest purpose Of crushing
out the rebellion, will be wofully disappoint-
ed. Rest assured, he will make some new
points in the management of the campaign,
and may startle some of the old slave pro-
prietors, who are SO Mortified because the
liberated slaves are clothed and fed and per-
I miffqd fiuht apainat thair lat 10 raeaOra -
This estimate OF the man was prophetic. In
the weary four years that have passed since
that period, Mr.. Stanton has never faltered
in the high purpose with which he set out.
He indicated at an early day that although
passionatelv devoted TO the principles in
volyed in the issue, and ready to aid in the
selection Of the agents TO give effect to civil
administration, he would not be partisan
politician. This policy, hard to enforce,
never knew pause or variation. Impair
tial in the discharge of his high trust, he
unhesiatingly denied to his intimate friend
what he refused to his most reckless enemy.
Above everything, save only his country,
was his scorn of corruption and of corrup-
tionists. The knowledge of this was an
enormous benefit to the Government
Among the thousands of millions given Ia
push on the war, it was q precious comfort
to the people to feel that their contributions
MGIt WISELY uOhIueQ anu uOutblll
ed A doubt on such subject would have
been more fatal poison than treason itself.
Without these two elements, both growing
from and grounded in the conscience thai
believed in and was ready to suffer for the
Republic, Mr. Stanton had not been thai
terror to evil doers which has made him the
target OF the unworthy and the object of al
good men s praise. With characteristic self
reliance he has never halted TO defend him
, | coli
cial assaults Not that he was Indifferent Il
slander-as, indeed, what high spirited mar
ever can beY-but that he believed individua
J auarrels and complaints too small to be OBJ
truded in such crisis, and that he was the
best patriot who would most freely forge
himself and remember the country alone
When, therefore, such statesman does Sc
himself to writing, his reflections will bt
7 worth at least the respect which Is alwayl
paid 10 the rare illusions Of strong anC
original thinkers. His report is something
= more than an official statement. 1t is thu
best of history-including in its scope al
. unconscious vindication of himself q mas
= terly exhibit of the whole military, naval ant
e financial situation, full and forcible state
ment of the progress and victory OF the un
derlying objects OF the war, and such sum
I mary OF what has been saved and gained, a
could, we think, have proceeded from NJ
II.
5 armies in their active campaigns pass betor
s us, in this powerful paper, like procession
Q of gigantic figures We sec where the chang
d OF and policy of plan commenced, and W
n trace the successful idea in all the variation
of battle, by flood and field, till it culminate
II in the tinal rebel surrender. But if the delir
c cation of active effort is graphically wrought
}. it is, if possible, surpassed by the close an
/; careful catalogue of economy enforced an
Ii expenses cut down. The terse and nervou
e paragraph at the head of this article may
i insructively re-read in this connection
o The master mind is everywhere apparen
- In the smallest fibre of the monster machin
T. We can see it. He had applied himself al
p sorbingly to his colossal mission, and ha
D, filed himselfwitht the instruction thatenable
IN him to discharge it. The statesman ca
- take the report of the American War Mini
ID ter as a storehouse for reference, if not as
at model for imitation. The soldier will rea
I'd il as an index to the records of the war
ct The general reader will find in IL the mo
Is perfect condensation OF facts and figures thi
it all the yoluminous literature OF these prin
Is ing days cannot approach or parallel. tt
n patriot can ponder upon it as q monumel
as of the prowess and perpetuity of his coul
k try. The stranger will peruse it with a gu
lis prise only less than that which overlook hi
~ when he saw his prophecies of defeat 10 ol
al arms fail before the surrender of Lee, ar
rs fade away in the smoke that rose above d
le burning streets Of Richmond.
"a REPORT OF THE SECRETARY o
! THE NAVY.
er Secretary Wclles rshearses in his repo
-, tho immensitv of the task of organizing h