Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-28

! triumph Of the sacred cause for which 80 much
sacrifice has been made, so much suffering endur-
ed, so many precious lives been lost The result
is to be obtained by lorttude, by courage, by con-
stancy in enduring and sacrifices still needed /;
in word, by the prompt and resolute devotion
of the whole resources Of men and money in the
Confederacy to the achievement of cur liberties
and independence
The measures now required, to be suceessfull,
should be prompt. Long dellberation and pro-
traeted debate over important measures are not
only natural but laudable IN representative as
sembes under ordinary circumstances, but in
moments Of danger, VIXEN action becomes urgent,
the delay thus caused is itself new source OF
peril. Thus it has unfortunately happened that
some OF the measures passed by you in pursuance
OF the recommendations contained in my message
Of November last have been so retarded as to lose
much of their value, cr have,flr the same reason,
been abandoned after being matured, because
no longer applicable to our altered condition, and
others have not been brought under examination.
In making these remarks, It is far from my in
tentton 10 attribute the lose Of time to any other
cause than those inherent in deliberative assem-
bles, but only urgent to recommend prompt action
upon the measures now submitted.
We need for Carrying on the war successfully
men and supplies for the army. We have both
within our country sufficient to attain success.
10 obtain the supplies, it is necessary to pro.
tect productive districts, guard our lines OF COM
munlcstons by an increase in the number Of our
forcesj and hence ii results that with large aug
mentatlon in the number Of men in the army the
facility OF supplying the troops would be greater,
than with our recent reduced strength.
For the purchase Of supplies now required, es-
pscally for the armies in Virginia and North Car
ollna, the treasury must be provided with means
and modification in the impressment law is re-
CURED. 1t has been asceTslned by examination
that we have within our reach sufiioieny OF what
IS most needed for the army, and without having
recourse to The ample provisions existing in those
parts oil the Coniederacy with which our commun-
IcaIlon has been partially Interrupted by hostile
operations. But in some districts from which
supplies are TO be drawn, the inhabiants bsnE
either within the enemy's lines, or in very close
proximity, are unable to make use Of Confederate
treasury notes for the purchase of articles Of
prime necessity, and it is necessary that, to some
extent, coin be paid in order to obtain supplies.
1t istherefore recommended that Congress devise
the means for making available the coin within
the Confederacy for the purpose of supplying the
army; The officers Of the supply department re-
port that with two million. Of dollars 10 coin the
armies in Virginia and North Carolina can be am
ply supplied for the remainder OF the year, and
the knowledge Of this fact should .ufiace to in
sure the adoption Of the measures necessary to
obtain this moderate sum,
The impressmeut law, as it now exists prohib-
its the public officers from impressine supplies
wsithou. making payment Of the valuation at the
time OF impressment. The limit fixed for the
issue OF the Treasury notes has been nearly reach.
ed, and the Treasury canno. Away. furnished the
funds necessary for prompt payment, while the
law for raising revenue supplies which would
have afforded means for diminishing, If not re-.
moving this difficulty, wa, unfortunately DELAYED
for several months, and ha, Just been signed
In this condition of things it is impossible to sup
ply the army, although auple stores may exist
IN the country, whenever the owners refuse to
give credit TO public officers. II Is necessary
that this restriction on the power Of mpre sment
be removed. The power is admitted to be oh.
lectionabe, liable to abuse, and unequal in its on
Grafton on individuals yet all these objection,
must yield TO absolute necessity. 1t is also sug.
gesied that the system OF valuation now est.b-
ed ought to be radically changed. The lesi,la.
Iion requires in such cases of impresnent, that
'hs market pnce be paid, but there 10 really no
market price IN many cases, and then valuation
Is made arbitrarily and in deprecated currency
Inc result Is that the most extrvaagent prices
ire hxed, such as no one expects ever to be paid
coin. None believe that the Government can
ever redeem in coin the obligation to pay $50 a
bnshsl for corn or 500 a barrel for -four. IA
would seem to be more just and appropriate to
estmaie the supplies impressed at their value in
coin; to give the obligation Of the Government,
Tor the payment OF the price in coin With rea,on-
aoe interest," or at the option Of the creditor to re-
turn IN KIND the wheat or corn impressed with
reasonable interest also payable in kind; and to
make the obligation thus issued receivable for all
payments due in coin 10 the Government. Whit
ever be the value attached by Congress to these
suggestions, III hoped that there will be no hes.
itallon in so changing the law as to render il
possible TO supply the army in case OF necessity
for the lmpressmsnt Of provisions for that pur.
pose.
Tbs MEASURE adopted to raise revenue, though
liberal in its provisions, being clearly inadequate
10 meet the aTear Of debt and current e1pendi-
lures, some degree Of emparnsment in the man
agement OF the finances must continue TO be felt.
Il is to be regretted think, that the recommends
tlon OF the Sscrstary Of the Treasury, Of a tax
on agricultural income, equal to the aueumented
tax on other incomes, payable in Treasury notes,
was rejected by Congress. This tax would have
contributed materially to facilitate the purchase of
provisions, and diminish the necessity that is now
ielt for supply Of corn.
The measures passed by Consres during the
session t'r recruiting the army aud supplying the
ADDITIONAL force needed for the public defense have
been, in my judgment, insufficient, and am i'm.
PEELED by profound conviction of duty, and stin.
uated by a sense Of the periIs which surround
our country to urge upon you additional lsgi,A-
ton on this subject.
The bill for emplying negroes as soldiers ha,
not yet reached me, though the printed journals
OF Your proceeding informed me OF its passage.
Mucl teaejt Is anticipated from the measure,
though far .essthan would have resulted from is
adoption at an earlier dite so as n afford time for
their organization and instruction during the win
ter months.
The Dill Tor diminishing hs number OF exempt,
has just been msde the sut lssI Of special message,
aud its provisions such as Nouldadd no strength
to the army The recommendation to abolish all
class exemptions has not met your favor, although
still deemed by me valuable and important
measure and The uunber Of men exempted by
a new clause in the act just passed, is believe to
be quite equ,l to that Of those whose exemption
is revoked. law oia few lines repeating oil
class exemption, would not only strengthen the
forces in lhs Geld, but be .ull nipre beneficial by
ablting the natural discomfort and j,alou,y Great.
el Ia the army by tn. existence Of classes privt-
legged law to remain in places Of safety while
then elloN.oiiiiens are exposed 10 the trenches
and ia the field
The measures most needed, however, a. the
pie,ent time, for aiIordng an effective increase