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DAI LY TIMES,
J. W. n UIKI V - - - Editor.
OOLUMBUS:
Vonday Morning, November 14, 1864.
Important Amendment of the Confederate
Tax Law.
An act was passed by the Confederate Con
gress, on the 14th of June, 1864, amending,
in several particulars, the general Tax law
passed the 17th of February previous. One
.ol the atner.dincnts we deem of especial im
portance and copy it below, for the informa,
tion of oar readers :
Sue. 3. That this act shaft not be ao con
strued as to subject to tax.*.ion. corn, bacon
and other agricultural products, which were
produced ia the-year eighteen hundred and
sixty-' h-'c, :nd in toe possession of the pro -
Julius Oil the seventeen™ of February, eigh
teen hundred and sixty-four, and necessary
for thesupportof himself and family during the
pruger t year, and from or on which taxes in
kind ha• • been deducted and delivered or
paid.
The Confederate Tax Assessors in Georgia,
epi't, we presume, in other states, in obedience .
to instructions iron headquarters, have asses-j
sed $ tax for 1864 upou ail agricuiturai pro
duftions of last, year over and above a supply
for the T,nx payer's white family, house ser
vants, carriage horses, Ac. They construe the
fil'd -‘family” in the above act to embrace
oniy the above named persons and things. j
We do not believe that it was the intention of j
Congress to restrict the meaning of that term
to any such limit. The negroes who work in
the field and the mules that plow are as much
a part of a planter's family as the servants who
wat upon his table and the horses or mules
that draw :.is cartiage. Indeed the feeding
of the former is much more for the
suoport” of a man’s family, proper, than the
feeding of the latter-, for the latter might be
dispensed with,- but the former could uot—
■L'/lhnut t/reaf difficult}). It must be remember
ed. too, that the tax iu kind for 1863 has al
ready been collected on this identical corn,
bacon, <s-c., and it is thus brought within the
purview of the exemption declared in the
act above recited'. This exposition of the law
is ' illy concurred in by a distinguished mem
ber of the Confederate Congress whom we
have recently met, and we have no doubt that
it is correct. If so, then should be tax im
posed upon that portion of the agricultural
productions of last year which may be neces
sary to support a man’s white family, his ne
groes. mules, hogs cattle, Ac., for the year
1864.
(Special Correspondence of the Daily Times.)
Georgia Legislature.
Milledgeville, Ga., November 11.
HOUSE.
The following bills were disposed of.
To relieve warehousemen from taxes on cotton,
where the same was destroyed before the taxes
were paid. Passed.
To provide for disabled soldiers in State ser
vice. Passed.
To prevent and punish robbery and plunder by
straggling bands of soldiers and deserters. Dis
cussed for some time and lost.
To render all militia officers under 45 years of
age subject to conscription. Lost.
T'> amend numerous sections of the Code.—
Passed.—A prolific source of legislation. 1 trust
that some able and influential member will yet
otter one general biil as a substitute for all these
bills to repeal tiie whole code.
Saturday, Nov. 12, 1864.
In tiie House to-day, a motion was made to re
consider the bill allowing each head of a family
to distil five gallons of liquor, was discussed by
several members and lost.
The motion to reconsider the bill to prevent and
puaish depredation and plunder was lost.
A resolution was adopted to bring on the elec
tion of State Printer on Thursday next.
A resolution was also adopted asking the diver
sum of the tax iu kind for the beuefit of soldiers
families —the Inferior Courts paying schedule’
prices therefor.
To extend tne time allowed tax collectors
until the first of March next to make their final
settlements with the Comptroller. Passed.
To repeal section 2461 ol‘ the Code in relation to
the appointment of administrators in certain cases.
Passed.
A' bill to furnish corn to citizens in oertaiu
counties was taken up and ‘lteeussed at considera
ble leugtli. occupying the remainder of the morn
ing session, and was indefinitely postponed,
lam gla ito see such a general* opposition to
granting these imanSiso appropriations. Our
people now labor under heavy burdens suflieent
ta generate it feeliug of dislike to its further in
crease.
SENATE.
In the Senate to-day, a resolution providing
that this General Assembly adjourn on Friday
next to meet the 2nd Thursday in January next,
was taken up and discussed for some time. A
substitute was offered, and on motion the whole
subject was indefinitely postponed.
A bill was introduced to amend the act to re
strict tae planting of cotton, so as to allow five
acres to the hand to ha plauted.
A message from the Govern r enclosing the
report u. the Quartermaster General in relation
to provision made for exiles was ordered to be
printed.
House bill to incorporate an Insurance company
in the city of Columbus. Fussed.
Yh*. sll tp change the line betwoeu Warren
and Glasscock counties, so as to include the resi
dence of one iuuu in the county of Warren
took up much firm- in profitless and unnecssary
debate, and finally passed; the same bill was pass
ed in this body one year ago, but lost in the other,
and if it fails there again, will probably be renew
ed from time to time, and cost the State money
enough to buy the applicants whole estate.
Qen. Cone offered a resolution tendering the
thanks of the people of Georgia to the honored
President of the Confederate States for the fearless
impartial and able management of the affairs of
oiT? common country, and expressing oru unaba
ted confidence in his integrity, purity and patriot
ism whicn was unanimously adopte\ and or
dered to be transmitted to the House.
The Senate then listened to the reading of
House bills second time and referring to appropri
ate Committees, and adjourned. Troup.
Forrest in a Good Business. — The versa
lile Forrest has branched out in anew busi
ness. lie has Undertaken to supply the army
ot the West, with boots, shoes and blankets,
and has made a good beginning. Sixty wag
on loads have gone forward as ihe first instal
ment of his contract—to shoe and cover the
ntedv soldiers of Hoou’s artuy. And the best
of it is, the enemy has to foot, the bill—For
rest nor Jeff Davis pays never a cent for the
whole cargo. That is an excellent piacb al
way of joking Forrest has— very amusing io
the barefooted and barcehouldered Concede
rates. He is a very funny man, atnl has curi
ous ways oi demonstrating his humor, tie
keeps the Yankees in a continual roar of
laughter by bis comical ways—the sly fellow.
[Lynchburg Virginian.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.
?• the benate and House of Represenlaitves
of the Confederate States of America:
It it with satisfaction that I welcome your
presence at an earlier day than that usual for
your session, and with confidence that I in
voke the aid of your counsels at a time of such
public exigency. The campaign which was
commenced almost simultaneously with your
session, early in May last, and which was still
in progress at your adjourn rhea t in the middle
of June, has not yet reached its close. It has
been prosecuted on a scale and with an ener
gy heretofore unequalled. When we revert to
the condition of our country at the inception
of the operations of the present year, to the
magnitude of the preparations made by the
enemy, the number of his forces, tbe accumu
lation of his warlike supplies, and the prodi
gality with which his vast resources have been
lavished in the attempt to render success as
sured ; when we contrast the numbers and
means at your disposal for resistance, and
when we contemplate the results of a strug
gle apparently so unequal. we cannot fail,
while rendering the full meed of deserved
praise to our generais and soldiers, to perceive
that a Power higher than man has willed our
deliverance, and gratefully to recognise the
protection of a kind Providence in enabling
us successfully to withstand the utmost efforts
of the enemy for our subjugation.
At the beginning of the year the State of
Texas was partially in possession of the ene
my, and large portions of Louisiana .md Ar
kansas lay apparently defenceless. Os the
Federal soldiers who invaded Texas, none are
known to remain except as prisoners/)!' war.
In northwestern Louisiana, a large and well ,
appointed army, aided by a powerful fleet,
was repeatedly defeated and deemed it
self fortunate in finally escaping with a loss
of one-third of its numbers, a iarge pan of
its military trains and many transports and i
gunboats. The. enemy’s occupation of that :
State is reduced to the narrow district com- j
taanded by the gun3 of his fleet. Arkansas '
has been recovered with the exception of a
few fortified posts, white our forces have pene- j
trated into central Missouri, affording to our j
oppressed brethren in that State an opportu
nity, of which many have availed themselves, j
of striking for liberation from the tyranny to
which they have been subjected.
Un the east of the Mississippi, in spite of i
some reverses, we have much cause for gratu- j
lation. The enemy hoped to effect during the (
present year, by concentration of forces, the ;
conquest which he had previously failed to ac
complished by more extended operations, i
Compelled, therefore, to withdraw or seriously j
to weaken the strength of the armies of occu
pation at different points, he has afforded us
the opportunity of recovering possession of
extensive districts of our territory. Nearly
the whole of northern and western Mississippi,
of northern Alabama, and of western Tennes
see are again in our possession; and all at
tempts to penetrate from the coast line into
the interior of the Atlantic and Gulf States
have been baffled. On the entire oceaii and
gulf coast of the Confederacy, the whole suc
cess of the enemy, with the enormous naval
resources at his command, has been limited to
the capture of the outer defences of Mobile
Bay.
If we now turn to the results ac mruJished
by the two great armies, so confidently relied
on by the invaders as sufficient to secure the
subversion of our Government and the sub
jection of our people to foreign domination,
we have still greater cause tbr devout grati
tude to Divine Power. In southwestern Vir
ginia, successive armies which threatened the
capture of Lynchburg and Saltville have been
routed and driven out of the country, and a
portion of •eastern Tennessee reconquered by
our troops. In Northern Virginia extensive
districts formerly occupied by the enemy are
now free from their presence. In the lower
Valley, their general, rendered desperate by
bis inability to maintain a hostile occupation,
has resorted to the infamous expedient of con
verting a fruitful land i*to a desert by burning
its mills, granaries, and homesteads, and de
stroyiugtbe food, standing crops,live stock, and
agricultural implements of peaceful non-com
batants. The main army, after a series of de
feats hi which its losses have been enormous:
after attempts by raiding parties to break up !
our railroad communications, which have re- j
suited in the destruction of a large part of the !
cavalry engaged in the work; after constant j
repulse of repeated assaults on our defensive i
lines, is, with the aid of heavy reinforcements,
but with, it is hoped, waning prospect of fur
ther progress in the design, still engaged in an
effort, commenced more than four months ago,
to capture the town of Petersburg,
The army of Gen. Sherman, although suc
ceeding at theeiid of the summer iu obtaining
possession of Atlanta, has been unable to se
cure any ultimate advantage from this success.
The same General who, in February last,
marched a large army from Vicksburg to Meri
dian with no other result than being forced
to march back again, was able, by the aid of
greatly increased numbers, and after much
delay, to force a passage from Chattanooga to
Atlanta, only to be for the second time com
pelled to withdraw on the line of iiis advance,
without obtaining control of a single mile of
territory beyond the narrow track of his
march, and without gaining aught beyond the
precarious possession of a few fortified points
in which he is compelled to maintain heavy !
garrisons, and which are menaced with recap
ture.
The lessons aftoyded by the history of this
war are fraught with instruction and. encour
agement. Repeatedly during the war have
formidable expeditions been directed by the
enemy against points ignorantly supposed to
be of vital importance to the Confederacy.—
Some.of these expeditions have, at immense
cost, been successful; but in no instance have j
the promised fruits been reaped. Again, in j
the present campaign, was the delusion fondly !
cherished that the capture of Atlanta and j
Richmond would, if effected, end the war by j
the overthrow of our government and the
submission of our people. We can now judge
by experience how unimportant is the influ- j
enceof the former event upon our capacity for i
defense, upon the courage and spirit of the
people and the stability of the Government.
We may, in like manner, judge that if the
campaign against Richmond had resulted in
success instead of failure: if the valor of the
army under the leadership of its accomplished j
commander had resisted in vain the-over- :
whelming masses which were, on the contrary, j
decisively repulsed ; if we had been compelled I
to evacuate Richmond as well as Atlanta, the !
Confederacy would have remained as erect j
and defiant as ever. Nothing could have been ;
changed in the purpose of its Government, in i
the indomitable valor of its troops, or in the j
unquenchable spirit of its people. The has- |
fled and disappointed foe would in vain have ;
scanned the reports of your proceedings, at '
some new legislative seat, for any indication
that progress had been made in his gigantic i
task of conquering a free people. The truth, !
so patent to'us, must ere long be forced upon j
the reluctant Northern mind.—There are no !
vital points, on the preservation of which the ;
continued existence of the Confederacy de
pends. There is no military success of the-!
enemy which can accomplish its' destruction. \
Not the fail of Richmond, nor Wilmington, nor
Charleston, nor Savannah, nor Mobile, nor of
all combined, can save the enemy from the con- !
slant and exhaustive drain of blood and treas
ure which must continue, until he shall dis
cover that no peace is attainable, unless based
upon tiie recognition of our indefeasible
! rights.
Before leaving this subject it is gratifying
to assur. you that the mb i,try supplies essen
tially requisite lor publicdeiense will be found,
j as lieretfore, adequate to oar needs : and that
; abundant crops have rewarded the labor of
the farmer, and rendered abortive tlie inhu
man attempt of the enemy to produce, by de
vastation,. famine among the .people.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
h is : >■>' in mi newer :•;» announce any change
in R e conduct o> foreign powers. - No such ac
tin ii.l3-;. ...... :nk»;i % v she tffmslian nations
ox E impt -a tnigln justly have been expected
I from their history, from ihe duties imposed
by international law. and irom the claims of
1 humanity. Tt is charitable to attribute their
conduct to no worse tnot : ve than indifference
to the consequences of» struggle which suaxes
only the Republican portion of the American
continent; ana not to ascribe to design a
course calculated to ensure tbe prolongation
of hostilities.
No instance in history is remembered by
ma ip which a nation protending to exercise
donjinion over another, asserting its indepen
dence, has been the first to concede the exist
ence of such independence. No ca.-e can be
re-called to my mind in which neutral powers
have failed to setrthe example of recognising
the independence of a nation, when satisfied
of the inability of its enemy to subvert its
Government; and this, too, in cases where
the previous relation between the contending
parties had been confessedly that of mother
country and dependent colony ; not as in our
case, that of co-equal States united by Feder
al compact It has ever beeu considered thß
pioper function and duty of neutral powers
to perform the office ot judging whether in
point of tact the nation asserting dominion is
able to make goo 1 its pretensions by force of
arms, and, if not, by recognition of the resist
ing party, to discountenance the further con
tinuance of the contest And the reason why
this duty is incumbent on neutral powers is
plainly apparent, when we reflect that the
pride and passion *hieh blind the judgment
of trie parties to he conflict cause the contin
uance of active irfare, and consequent use
less slaughter, long after the inevitable result
nas become apparent to all not, engaged in the
struggle. So long, therefore, as neutral na
tions fail by recognition of our independence
to announce taut, in their judgment, the Uni
ted States are u ible to reduce the Confeder-<
acyto submission, their conduct will be ac
cepted by isur enemies as a tacit encourage
ment to continue their efforts, and « an im
plied assurance that belief is entertained by
neutral nations in the success of their designs.
A direct giiinuiaS, whether intentional or
not, is thus implied to securing a continuance
of the carnage and devastation which desolate
this continent, and which they profess deeply
to deplore.
The disregard of this just, humane and
Christian public duty by the nations of Eu
rope is the more remarkable, from the fact
that authentic expression bad long since been
given by the Governments of both France and
England io the conviction that the United
Spates are unable to conquer the Confederacy.
It is now more than two years since the Gov
ernment of France announced officially to the
Cabinets ot London and St. Petersburg its own
conclusion that the United States were unable
to achieve any decisive military success. In
the answers sent by these powers, no intima
tion of a contrary opinion was conveyed ; and
it is notorious that in speeches, both in and
out of Parliament, the members of Her Bri
tannic Majesty’s Government have not hesi
tated to express this conviction iu unqualified
terms. The denial of our right under these
circumstances is so obviously unjust, and dis
criminates so unfairly in favor of the United
States, that neutrals have sought to palliate
the wrong of which they are conscious, by
professing to consider, in opposition to noto
rious truth and to ihe known belief of both
belligerents, that the recognition of our inde
pendence would be valueless without their
further intervention in the struggle ;an in- j
tervention of which we disclaim the desire I
and mistrust the advantage. We seek no fa- j
vor, we wish ao intervention ; we know our
selves fully competent to maintain our ©wn
rights and independence against the invaders
of our country, and we feel justified in asser
ting, that without the aid derived from re
cruiting their armies from foreign countries,
the invaders would, ere this, have been driven
from our soil. When the recognition of the
Confederacy was refused by Great Britain, in
the fall of 1862, the refusal was excused on
the ground that any action by Her Majesty’s
Government would have the effect of inflam
ing the passions of the belligererts and of
preventing the return of peace. It is assumed
that this opinion was sincerely entertained;
but the experience of two years of unequalled
carnage shows that it was erroneous,and that
the result was the reverse of what the British
Ministry humanely desired. A contrary policy, '
a policy just to us, a policy diverging from an |
unvarying course of concession to all the de
mands of our enemies, is still within the pow- :
er of Her Majesty’s Government, and would, i
it is fair to presume, be productive of conse- j
quences the opposite of those which have un
fortunately followed its whole course of con
duct from the commencement ol the war to
the present time. Iu a word, peace is impos- j
sihle without independence, and it is not to be
expected that, the enemy will anticipate neu
trals iu ihe recognition of that independence.
When ihe hisiory of this war shall be fully
disclosed, the calm judgment of the impartial
publicist will, for these reasons, be unable to
absolve the neutral nations of Europe from a
share in the moral responsibility for the my~
rinds of human li' r es that have been unneces
sarily sacrificed during its progress.
The renewed instances in which foreign
powers have given u» just cause of complaint
need not here be detailed. The extracts from
ihe correspondence of the State Department,
which accompany this message, will afford
such further information as can be given with
out detriment to the public interest, and we I
must reserve for the future such action as may
then be deemed advisable to secure redress.
FINANCES.
Your special attention is earnestly invited to
the report of the Secretary of the Treasury,
submitted in conformity with law. The facts
therein disclosed are far from discouraging,
and df moustrate that, with judicious legisla
tion, we shall he enabled in meet all the exi
gencies of the war from our abundant re
sources, and avoid, at the same tune, such an
accumulation of debt as Would render at all
doubtful our capacity to redeem it.
The total receipts into the treasury for the
two quarters ending on the 30th of September,
1864, were $415,191,550, which sura added
to the balance of $380,282,722, that remained
in the treasury on the Ist of April last, forms
"ft total of $723,474,262. Os this total, not
far from half, that is to say, $342,560,327,
have been applied to the extinction of the
the public debt, while the total expenditures
have been $272,378,505, leaving a balance in
the treasury on the Ist October 1864, of SIOB,
435,440.
The total amount of the public debt as ex
hibited on the books of the Register of the
Treasury, on the Ist October, 1864, was sl,-
147,970,208, of which $539 340,090 were fun
ded debt, bearing interest, $283,880,150 were
treasury notes of the new issue, and the re
mainder consisted of the former issue of trea
sury notes which will be converted intoother
forms of debt, and will cease to exist as cur
rency on the 31st of next month.
The report, however, explains, that in con
sequence of the absence of certain returns
from distant officers, -the true ‘amount of the
debt is less, by about twenty-one and a lialf
millions of dollars, than appears on the books
of the Register, and that the total public debt
on the first of last month, may be fairly con
sidered to have been $1,126,881,095
The increase of the public debt during the
six months from the Ist April to the Ist Oc
tober. was $97,650,780. being rathc-r more
than $16,000,000 per month, and it will be
apparent, on a perusal of the report, that this
augmentation would have been avoided, and
a positive reduction ofihe amount would have
been eff'e ted. nut for certain defects in the
legislation on the subject of the tin; : -es. which
are- punted .nt in the report, an' -• nich seem
to admit of e »sv remedy.
In the statements just made the foreign debt
is oraiued. 1’ consists t uly of the unpaid bal
aucc of the loan known s? the cotton loan.—
This balance L Out £,'l 200,»Xl0 and is ade
quately provided tor by about 250,000 bales
ot cotton owned by ihe Government, even if
the cotton bp rated as worth but six pence per
pound.
There is one item of the public debt not in
cluded in the tables presented, to which yonr
attention if, required. The bounty bonds
promis’d to our soldiers by the third section
of the act ot 17th February, 1864. were deliv
erable on the Ist October. The Hecvetavy his
been unable to issue tftem by reaeou of *
ouimiseiougn the law, no tone being therein
fixed for the payment of the bonds.
The aggregate appropriations called for by
the of the Government
according to tne estimates -übniitt and wh-n the
report, for the six months endng on the 30th
Jnne, 1864, amount to $4:48,102,679, while
the Secretary estimates that there will remain
unexpended, out of the former appropriatons,
on the Ist of January, 1865, a balance of $46(,
i 416,504. It would, therefore, seem that for
i foer estimate* have been largely in excess of
a mu *1 erpenditurts, and that no additional ap
propriations are required for meeting the needs
of the public service up to tbe Ist of July next
year. Indeed, if the estimates now presented
should prove to be as much in excess of actual
expenditures as has heretofore beeu the case,
a considerable balance will still remain uncx*
pended at the close of the first half of the ensu
ing year.
The chief difficulty to be apprehended in
conQectiou with our finances resuits from the
depreciation of the treasury notes which seems
justly to be attributed by tbe Secretary to
two causes, redundancy in amount aud want
of confidence iu ultimate redemption: for both
of which remedies are suggested that wiil
commend themselves to your consideration us
being practicable as weii as efficient.
The main features of the plan presented are
substantially these: Ist. That the faith of
the Government be pledged that the notes
shall ever remain exempt from taxation. 2d.
That no issue shall be made beyond that which
is already authorized by law. 3d. That a
certain fixed portion of the annual receipts
from taxaHou during the war shall be set
apart specially for the gradual extinction .of
the outstanding amount until it shall have
been reduced to $150,000,000 ; aud 4th. The
pledge and appropriation of such proportion
ot the tax in kind, and for such number of
years after the return of peace, as shall be suf
ficient for the final redemption of the entire
circulation. The details of the plan, the cal
culations on which it is based, the efficiency
of its operation, and the vast advantages which
would result from its success are fully detailed
in the report and cannot be fairly presented
in a form sufficiently condensed for this mes
sage. I doubt not it will receive from you
that earnest and candid consideration which
is merited by she importance of the subject.
The recommejidations of the report for the
repeal of certain provisions of the tax laws
which produce inequality in the burthen of
taxation ; for exempting all Government loans
from taxation on capital, and from any ad
verse discrimination in taxation on income
derived from them; for placing the taxation
on banks on the same footing as the taxation
of other corporate bodies ; for securing the
payment into the Treasury of that portion of
the bank circulation which is liable to confis
cation because held by alien enemies ; for the
conversion of the interest bearing Treasury
notes now outstanding into coupon bonds, and
for the quarterly collection of taxation; all
present practical questions for legislation,
which, if wisely devised, will greatly im
prove the public credit, and alleviate the bur
thens now imposed by the extreme and un
necessary depreciation in the value of the cur
rency.
The returns of the Produce Loan Bureau
are submitted with the report, and the infor
mation is conveyed, that the Treasury Agency
for the trans-Mississippi Department has been
fully orgauixed, and is now in operation with
promise of efficiency and success.
The provisions heretofore made to some ex
tent for increasing the compensation of public
officers, civil and military, is found to be in
somaplaces inadequate, to their support; per
haps not more so anywhere than in Richmond,
and enquiry, with a view to appropriate rem
edy, is suggested to your consideration. Your
mu ice is also called to the condition of certain
officers of the Treasury, who were omitted in
the laws heretofore palsed for the relfef of
other, public officers, as mentioned in the
report of tile Secretary of the Treasury.
DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
The condition of the various branches of
the military service is stated in the aocompa
ing report of the Secretary of War. Among
the suggestions' made for legislative ac
tion with a view to add to the numbers and
efficiency of the army, all of which will re
ceive your consideration, there are some prom
inent topics which merit special notice.
The exemption from military duty now ac
corded by law to all persons engaged in cer
tain specified pursuits or professions is shown
by experience to be unwise, nor is it believed
to be defensible in theory. The defence of
home, family and country is universally re
cognized as the paramount political duty of
every member of society ; and in a form of
government like ours, where each citizen en
joys an equality of rights and privileges, noth
ing can be more invidious than an unequal
distribution of duties and obligations. No
pursuit nor position should relieve any one
who is able to do active duty, from enrollment
in the army, unless his functions or services
are more useful to the defence of his country
in another sphere. But it is manifest that this
cannot be the case with entire classes. All
telegraph operators, workmen in mines, pro
fessors, teachers, engineers, editors and em
ployees of newspapers, journeyman printers,
shoemakers, tanners, blacksmiths, millers,
physicians, and the numerous other classes
mentioned in the laws, cannot in the nature
of things be either equally necessary in their
several professions, nor distributed throughout
the country in such proportions that only the
exact numbers required are found in each
locality ; nor can it be everywhere impossible
to replace those within the conscript age by
men older and less capable of active field ser
vices. A discretion should be vested in the
military authorities, so that a sufficient ninth
ber of tbo.se essential to the public service
might be detailed to continue the exercise of
their pursuits or professions, but the exemp
tions from service of the eutire classes should
be wholly abandoned. It affords great facility
for abuses, offers the temptation, as well as
the ready means of escaping service by fraud
ulent devices, and is one of the principal ob
structions to the efficient operation of the con- ,
script laws. *
A general militia law is needful in the
interest of the public defence. The Constitu
tion, by vesting the power in Congress, im
poses on it the duty of providing “for organ
izing. arming and disciplining the militia, and
for governing such part of them as may be
employed in the service of the Confederate
States.” The great diversity in the legislation
of the several States on this subject, and the
absence of any provision establishing an exact
method for calling the militia into Confederate
service, are sources of embarrassment which
ought no longer to be suffered to impede de
fensive measures.
The legislation in relation to the cavalry
demands change. 'The policy of requiring the
men to furnish their own horses has proven
pernicious in many respects. It interferes
with discipline, impairs efficiency, and is the
cause of frequent and prolonged absence from
appropriate duty. The subject is fully treated
iu the Secretary's report with suggestions as to
the proper measures for reforming that branch
of the service.
The recommendation hitherto often made is
again renewed, that some measure be adopted
tor the reorganization and consolidation of
‘companies and regiments when so far reduced
iu numbers as seriously to impair their effi
ciency. It is the more necessary that this
should be done, as the absence of legislation
on the subject has forced Generals in the field
to resort to various expedients for approxima
ting the desired end. It is surely an evil
that a commanding officer should be placed in
a position which forces upon him the choice
of allowing the efficiency of his command to
be seriously impaired, or of attempting to
supply by the exercise of doubtful authority
the want of proper legal provision. The re
gard for the sensibility of officers who have
heretofore served with credit, and which is
believed to be the controlling motive that has
hitherto obstructed legislation on this sub
ject, however honorable and proper, may be
carried to a point which seriously injures the
public good ; and if this be the case it can
-carcely be questioned which of the two con
iderations should be deemed paramount.
" p Secretary’s recommendation on the
tt of facilitating the acquisition of the
iron required for maintaining the efficiency of
railroad communication on the important mil *
ua*y lines are commended to your favor. The
necessity for the operation ia full vigor of
such line* is too apparent to need comment.
The question in dispute between the two
Governments relative to the exchange of pris
oners of war had been frequently presented in
former messages and reports, and is fully
treated by the Secretary. The solicitude of
the Government for the relief of our captive
fellow-citizens has known no abatement; but
bus, on the contrary, been still more deeply
evoked by the additional sufferings to which
they have been wantonly subjected, by depri
vation of adequate food, clothing and fuel,
which they were not even permitted to pur
chase from the prison sutlers. Finding that
the enemy attempted to excuse their barbar
ous treatment by the unfounded allegation
that it was retaliatory for like conduct on our
part, an offer was made by as with a view of
euding all pretext tor such recriminations or
pretended retaliation.
The offer has beeu accepted, and each gov
ernment is hereafter to be allowed to provide
necessary < omforts to its own citizens held
captive t>y the other. Active efforts are in
progress for the immediate execution or this
agreement, and it is hoped that but few days
will elapse before we shall be relieved t r om
the distressing thought that painful physical
rufferi ig is endured by so many of our fellow
citizens whose fortitude in captivity illus
trates the national character as fully as did
their valor in actual conflict.
EMPLOYMENT OF SLAVBS.
The employment of slaves for service with the
army as teamsters, or cooks, or in the way of
'toi i*- hdou fortifications, or in the government
workshops, or in hospitals, ami other similar du
ties, was authorized by the act es 17th February
last, and provision was shade for their impress
ment to a number not exceeding twenty thousand,
if it should be found impracticable to obtain them
by eontract with the owners. The law contem
plated the hiring oaly of the labor of these slaves
and imposed on the government the liability to
pay tor tbe value of such as might be lost to* tbe
owners from casualties faulting from their ern
ployment in the service.
This act has produced less result than was an
ticipated. and further provision is required to
render it efiioacious. But my present purpose is
to invite your consideration to the propriety of a
radical modification in the theory of the law.
Viewed merely as property, and therefore as the
subject of impressment the service or labor of tbe
slave has been frequently claimed for short pe
riods, in the construction of defensive works.—
The slave, however, bears another relation to the
Stale, that of a person. The law of last February
contemplates only the relation of the slave to the
master, aud limits the impressment to a certain
term of service. But for the purposes enumerated
in tiie act, instruction in the manner of encamp
ing, marching and parking trains is needful, so
that even in this limited employment, length of
service adds greatly to the value of the negro’s
labor. Hazard is also encountered in all the posi
tions to which negroes cau be assigned for service
with the army, and the duties required of them
demand loyalty and zoal. In tills aspect the rela
tion of person predominates so far as to render it
doubtful whether the private right of property can
consistently and beneficially be continued, aud
it would seem proper to acquire for the public
service the entire property in the labor of the slave,
and to pay therefor due compensation, rather than
to impress his labor for short terms; and this the !
more especially as the effect of the present law ■
would vest thikputire property, in all cases where j
the slave might be recaptured, after compensa- i
tion for his loss had been paid to the private own- j
er. Whenever the entire property in the service !
of a slave is thus acquired by the Government, j
the question is presented, by what tenure he should
be held. Should he be retained in servitude, or
should his emancipation be held out to him as a
reward for faithful service, or should it ba gran j
ted at once on the promise of such service; and, ’
if emancipated, what action should bo taken to se
cure for the freedmau the pormissio nos the State
from which he was drawn to reside within its
limits after the close of his public service. The
permission would doubtless be more readily ac- '
corded as a rewa-rd for past faithful service ; and j
a double motive for zealous discharge of duty ;
would thus bo offered to those employed by the
Government, their freedom, and the gratification '
of the local attachment which is so marked a
characteristic of the negro, and forms so powerful f
an incentive to his action.. The policy of ongao-- j
ing to liberate the negro on his discharge,
service faithfully rendered, seems to me prefera- j
ble to that of granting immediate manumission, 1
or that of Retaining him in servitude. If this pol
icy should recommend itself to tho judgment of
Congress, it is suggested that, in addition to the
duties heretofore performed by the slave, he might
be advantageously employed as pioneer and engi
neer laborer; and, in that event, that the num
ber should be augmented to forty thousand.
Beyond this limit and these employments it
does not seem to me desirable, under existing cir- j
cumstances, to go. A broad moral distinction ex
ists between the use of slaves as soldiers in the |
defence of their homes, and the incitement of the
same persons to insurrection against their mas- i
ters. The one is justifiable if necessary, the other
is iniquitous and unworthy of a civilized people; j
and such is tho judgment of all writers on public !
law, as well as that expressed and insisted on by
our enemies in all wars prior to that now waged j
against us. By none have the practices, of which
they are now guilty, been denounced with greater
severity than by themselves in the two wars with J
Great Britain in the last and in the present centu
ry ; and in the Declaration of Independence of j
1776, when enumeration was made of the wrongs'
which justified the revolt from Great Britain, the
climax of atrocity was deemed to be reached I
only when the English monarch was denounced as
having '‘excited domestic insurrection amongst
us.”
The subject is to be viewed by .us, therefore,
solely in the light of policy and our social econo
my. When so regarded, I must dissent from
those who advise a general levy and arming of
the slaves for the duty of soldiers. Until our
white population shall prove insufficient tor tbe
armies wo require and can afford so keep in the
field, to employ as a soldier the negro, who has
merely been trained to labor and as a laborer, the
white man, accustomed from his youth to the use
ot fire-arms, would scarcely bo deemed wise or ad
vantageous by any ; and this is the question now
before us. But should the alternative ever be
presented of subjugation or of the employment of
the slave as a soldier, there seems no reason to
doubt what should then be our decision.
Whether our view embrace what would, in so
extreme a case, be the sum of misery entailed by
the dominion of the enouiy, or be restricted solely
to the effect upon the welfare and happiness of
the negro population themselves, the result would
be the same. The appalling demoralization, suf
fering, disease and death which have been caused
by partially substituting the invaders’ system of
police, for the kind relation previously subsisting
between the master and slave, have been a suhi
cient demonstration that external interfere rice
with our institution of domestic slavery is produc
tive of evil only. If the subject involved no other
consideration than the mere right of property, the
sacrifices heretofore made by our people have
been such as to permit no doubt of their readiness
to surrender every possession in order to secure
their independence. But the social and political
question which is exclusively under the control of
the several States, has a far wider and more endu
ring importance than that c os pecuniary interest.
In its manifold phases it embraces the stabhity of
our republican institutions, resting on the actual
political equality of all its citizens, and Includes
the fulfilment of the task which hits been so hap
pily begun—that of Christianizing and improving
the condition es the Africans, who have, by the
will of Providence, been placed in our charge.
Comparing the results of our own experience
with those of the experiments of others who have
borne similar relation to the African race, the
people of the several States of the Confederacy
have abundant reason to be sa. isfied with the past,
and to use the greatest circumspection in determi
ning their course. These considerations, however,
ar erather applicable to the improbable contin
gency of our need of resorting to this element of
resistance than to our present condition. If the
recommendation above made, tor the training of
forty thousand negroes for the service indicated,
shall meet your approval, it is certain that even
this limited number, by their preparatory train
ing in intermediate duties, would form a more
valuable reserve force, in case of urgency, than
three fold their number suddenly called i rom field
labor ; while afresh levy count, to acer ain ex
tent, supply their places in the special service for
which they are now employed.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
The regular annual reports o the Attorney
General, the Secretary of the Navy and the Post
master General are appended, and give ample in
formation relative to the condition of the respect
ive departments. They contain suggestions for
legislative provisions required to remedy such de
fects in tbe existing iaws as have been disclosed
by experience, but none ot so general or impor
tant-a character as to require that I should do
more than recommend them to your favorable eon
sideration.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.
The disposition of this Government fora peace
ful solution of the issues which the enemy has re
ferred to the arbitrament of arms, has lo n too
often manifested, and is too well known to need
new assurances. But while it is true that indi
viduals and parties in the United States have in
dicated a desire to substitute reamn for force, and
by negotiation to stop the farther sacrifice of hu
mmn * K e, K *® errest tbe calamities which now
afflict both countries, the au-.hori ies who control
the government of our enemies have too often
and too clearly expressed the r reso u« n o mak«
no peace, except on terms of our unconditional
submission and degradation, to leave ua any hope
of the cessation of hostilities until the delusion es
their ability to conquer us is dispelled. Among
those who are already disposed for peace, many
are actuated by principle and by disapproval and
abhorrence of the iniquitous warfare their
government is waging, while others are moved by
the con viction that it is no longer to the interest
°f United States to continue a strugg'e ia
which success is unattainable. Whenever this
fa*t-growing conviction shall have taken firm root
in the minds of a majority of the Northern peo
ple there will be produced that willingness to ne
gotiate for peace which is now confined to oar
side. Peace is manifestly impossible, uuless de
sired by both parties to this war, and the disposi
tion for it among our enemies will be best and
most certainly evoked by tbe demonstration on
our part of ability and unshaken determination
to defend our rights, and to hold no earthly price
too dear for their purchase. Whenever there
shall be on the part of our enemies a desire for
peace, there - willno difficulty in finding means
by which negotiations can be opened; but it :s
obvious that no agency can be called into action
until this desire shall be mutual. When thi s con
tingency shall happen, the Government to wh; 'll
is confided the treaty making power, can be at n >
loss for means adapted to accomplish so Jesiraoio
an end. *
In the hope that the day will soon be reached,
when, under Divine favor, these States mar oe al
lowed to enter on their former peaceful pursuits,
and to develope the abundant natural resources
with which they are blessed, lot us then resolutely
continue to devote our united and unimpaired en
ergies to the defence of our homes, nur lives and
our liberties. This is tbe true path to peace.—
Let U3 tread it with confideuee iu the assured re
sult. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Richmond, Nov. 7tb, 1864.
TELEGRAPHIC,
Richmond, Nov. 12. —1 t was reported this
morning on good authority that the authori
ties at Washington have issued orders prohib
iting communications or any intelligence of
the late election, either by tetegraph, railroad,
stage coaches, or otherwise. This news is
confirmed by a note from an officer at the lines
below Richmond, who has heretofore made
the exchange of newspapers for the Richmond
press. He says upon going out for papers this
morning he was informed by a Yankee officer
that orders were received forbidding an ex
change. How long it would last he could not
tell. He said further, that the belief is that
Lincoln is elected, but the returns are very un
reliable.
Richmond, Nov. 12.— New York and Bald
more papers of Wednesday have been re
ceived.
The Herald editorially announces the rs
election of Lincoln.
The Baltimore American, evening ediii a,
contains the latest returns.
A New York telegram says the Tribune
claims for Lincoln all the New England States,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Ohio. In
diana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minneso
ta, lowa and Kansas, making a total of one
hundred and ninety electoral votes.
The New York Congressional delegation
stands twenty-two Union nine Democrats
The Herald says Fernando Wood is defeated.
Brooks’ majority one hundred and twenty-five.
The World concedes Lincoln’3 election,
claiming, however, New York, Kentucky, New
Jersey and Missouri for McClellan.
The Tribune claims only three thousand
majority in New York.
The Florida was captured by surprise, in
the harbor of Bahia, early in the morning,
when a number of her officers and crew were
on shore. The demand for surrender was im
mediately acceeded to, when the hawser was
made hist to her, and she was towed out to
st a.
The Herald says the capture of the Florida
will doubtless be denounced as a violation of
the right of asylum in a neutral port, and may
become a subject for international discussion,
but justifies the capture.
Gold in New York on the 9th 257f.
Petersburg, 13th.—-All quiet along the
lines. Enemy’s pickets yesterday were unable
to exchange papers. They said that papers of
tbe 10th were taken from ihem by their offi
cers alter distributing. They thought it a
strange proceeding, but could not imagine the
cause.
The latest dates here are to the 9tb. Only
three of Hampton's scouts captured 26 Yan
kees two or three nights since near James
River. They brought in 23, three having es
caped
Sanannaii, 13th.—About two thousand of
were received last night and to
day. The men are looking well for most part
and in the finest spirits. Many are ready for
the front without, furloughs.
S IPetersburg, Nov. 13.—The .Herald fthe Ilotii
received. Lincoln is certainly elected. The Vot e
is close in New York and Pennsylvania. Model
lan carries New Jersey, Delaware and Kentucky.
CaptArgelof New Orleans reports a naval en
gagement off the N. C. coast on Tuesday between
three federal and one rebel steamer,.supposed to be
the Tallahassee. The latter had long range gun?,
and w&s apt arently cornered left.
Reports from Sheridan’s army say Early is ac
tively preparing for another offensive'movement
at New Market. Mosby is still annoying the Fede
rate between Washington and Martinsburg. He hal
hung seven Federate in retaliation for a like num
ber of confederates executed.,by Uurtin:
It te reported that Sherman had destroyed theß..
R. between Chattanooga and Atlanta, burnt the
latter place, and at the head of four corps is march
ing on Charleston. These reports are not credited
in military circles at Washington. Nothing fro .1
Forrest.
The Wachusett was pursued out oft' the port > r
Bahia by two Brazilian war steamers, but could no:
overtake her.
Gold soldin New York on the 9th at 260, butel -
sed at 2ol r A.
MARRIED*
On the 10th inst., at St. Paul’s church by Rev.
J. S. Key, Col. S. S.'Scott, of Huntsville, Ala., a. 1
Miss M. L. Hurt, of this city.
Funeral Notice.
The friends and acquaintances of William H.
Mitchell, James G. Choir, and Mrs. B. A. Sorsby, arc
respectfully inviled to attend the funeral of the ’
lamented motner, Mrs. Ann Cook, from her late res
idence this (Mopday) morning, at 10 o’clock.
T> 3EL IT OOOiOSS,
&MOCEIUES, &
AT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. BY
H. Fiscliaclier.
Meat, flour, syrup, soda, spy
«C„ AC.
Copperas, Snuff, Tobacco, Segar.s.
Coffee, Tea. Tumblers, Sleys,
Shakers,. Osnaburgs,
Macon Sheetings,
Yarns, Cotton Cards,
Playing Cards,
Mason’s Blacking,
Overshirts, Dress Goods.^
Linen, Linen Handkerchiefs, Pins,
Powder, Shot, Caps,
Pencils. Whiting, Toiler and uh r
Soaps,
Kni'ting Needles, Flutes.
Hosiery, Dehage,
Writing Paper, Envelopes,
Country Jeaas, &c.
novld Gt H. FISC HAC HER.