Washington telegraph., 1865-04-12

We need. tor carrying On the waT Snech6Siul-
", men and supplies for the army. We have both
IN our country sufficient to attain success.
To obtain the supplies it il necessary to pro-
tect productive interests, guard our lines Of
communications BY an increase IL the number
of our forces, and hence il results that with
large augmentatiOns in the number Of men in
the army, the facility of supplying the troops
would BIZ greater than with our educed strength.
Fer the purchase OF supplies now required,
especially fer the armies in Virginia and North
Carolina, the Treasury must be provided with
means, and modification o. the impTessment
law is required 1t has been ascertained by ex-
animation, that VIZ have within cur reach A sut-
fciency Of what Is most needed for the army,
and without having recourse to the ample pre-
visions existing i'm those parts of the Contedera-
ey with which our communication has been par
tally interrupted by hostile operators Bat in
some districts from which supplies are 10 be-
drawn, the inhabitants, being either within the
enemy's lines, OF in very close proximity, are
unable to make use Of Confederate Treasury
notes for the purchase Of articles of prime
sity, and il is necessary that, 10 some extent,
coin be paid in order to obtain supplies. 1t is,
therefore recommended that Congress devise
the means OF making available the coin within
the Contederacy fer the purpose OF supplying
the army. The officers ef the supply depart
ments report that, with two millions Of dollars
in coin the armies iii Virginia and North Caro-
lima can be amply supplied feT the remainder of
the year and the knowle ledge Of this fact should
suffice 70 insure the adoption Of the measures
necessary to obtain this moderate sum.
The impressnIrnt law, ss il now exists pro-
hibits the public officers from impressmg sup
plies without making ~ mant Of the valuation
at The time NJ impTcssmcnt. The limits fixed
for tn issue OF Treasury notes has been nearly
reached and the Treasury cannot always fam ;sh
funds necessary for prompt payment while the
law for raising revenues which would have af-
forded means for diminishing, if not removing
this difficulty was unfortunately delayed tor
several months, and has iusl been signed. IN
this condition Of things il is impossible 10 sup
ply the army, although ample stores may exist
in the country. Whenever the owners refuse 10
give credit to the public officer il IS necessary
that this restriction On the power NJ imprrssment
b. renewed. The power is admitted 10 be Oh
jectionabl-, liable 10 abuse and unequal ia its
operation Oh individuals. yct ALI these objections
must Weld to absolute necessity. IL Is also sug-
geSted that The system OF valuation now estab-
lished ought ~ be radically changed. Title Ie-
gisiatiou requires in suck cases o. impTessmen Mt
thai the maIke. price he paid bul sheTe il really
ma kaI price IH many cases, ana then yalua-
ton is made arbitrarily, and in = deprecated
currency The result j. that the most e1tTaya-
Cant prices are fixed, such IVY Ro unI ever ex-
poets L. be paid in coin. None believe that the
Government can ever redeem, in coin, the obi
CATION 10 pay fitty dcIlaTs bushtI for corn. OF
seven hundred dollars a barlel Tor -four. Il;
would seem ~ RI more just and appropriate to
estimate the supplies impressed at thtiT value IN
coiu-tO give the obligation 81 the Government
for the payment " the price in coin, with rea-
sonablc interest, 0T. q. the option or the credit
OF. to return in kind the wheat OF corn irn-
pressed. with "A reasonable interest. also PAYABLE
In kind, and to make the obligations thus issued
receivable for all pay ments due IL coin TO the
Government. NhatevrT br tle value attacLrd
A te wv. INV. A
that there will be no hesitation in So changing
the law lo render ID possible 10 supply thr
army III case ct necessity, by the inpressnent
oi provisions foT that purpose.
The measure adopted 10 raise revenue though
liberal ia it, provisions, being clearly iuadeauate
10 meet the arrears OF d. BIT and the current e.
ptnditUres- some degree VI cmbarr ssmfnt il
Tie management ct The finances mus. continue
10 D., ielt. Ii il 10 he regretted, ] think, that
Tile rrcommr ndation III the Secretary Of tht
Treasury, ot a tsx on agricultural income equal
to the augmented tax OIL other incomes. payable
n Treasury notes, was rejected bT Congress.
This tax would have contributed materially to
facilitate tn, purchase Of provisions. and dimin-
ish the necessity IGH trlt IuI a supply ot coin
The measures passed BY Congress during thu
session, fuT recruiting the army, and supplying
tlg additional force nerued IuT the pubic dt-
fence, have Leen, il ny Judgment, insufficient,
ard ann iInpelled. ny profound eonN iutlCn OF
which surround cur county, to urge upon you
additional legislation On this subject
The bill employing negroes Us soldiers has
nat vet reached me, though the printed journals
of ynnr pIocet dinEs INFORM Me ot it, passage.
Much benefit il anticipated nom thi. measure
though far less than v ould have resulted a. sn
earlier date, ID A. ~ afford time Tor their organ
ization aud instruction during rhe winter
months.
The bill for diminishing the number Of ex-
cnpis has lust been made the subject " spec
ial message, and its provisions are such
would add no strength the army. The re-
cemsendstions 70 abolish all class exemptions
has not met your favor, although still deemed
by me valuable and important sure; and
the number Of men exempted by new clause
in the act just passed is believed to be quite
equal to that of those whose exemption j. re.
voked A law OF a few lines, repeating all class
exemptions, would not only strengthen the
forces in tile field, but be stil more beneficial
by abating the natural diseontcnt ard jealousy
created in the army by the existence OF classes
privileged BY law to remain in places of safety,
while their ielow-citizens are exposed in the
trenches and in the field.
The measure most needed, however, at the
present time. for affoTding an effective increase