This was the first step
toward placing the army in a permanent and efficient condition. The term
of service being lengthened, the changes by discharges and by receiving
recruits were diminished, so that, while additions were made to the
forces already in the field, the discipline was greatly improved. At the
same time, on March 13, 1862, General Robert E. Lee was "charged with
the conduct of the military operations of the armies of the Confederacy"
under my direction. Nevertheless, the law upon which our success so
greatly depended was assailed with unexpected criticism in various
quarters. A constitutional question of high importance was raised, which
tended to involve the harmony of cooeperation, so essential in this
crisis, between the General and the State governments. It was advanced
principally by the Governor of Georgia, Hon. Joseph E. Brown, and the
following extracts are taken from my reply to him, dated
Executive Department, Richmond, _May_ 29, 1862.
"I propose, from my high respect for yourself and for other
eminent citizens who entertain opinions similar to yours, to set
forth somewhat at length my own views on the power of the
Confederate Government over its own armies and the militia, and
will endeavor not to leave without answer any of the positions
maintained in your letters.
"The main, if not the only, purpose for which independent states
form unions, or confederations, is to combine the power of the
several members in such manner as to form one united force in
all relations with foreign powers, whether in peace or in war.
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