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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.