ZlaitEeitgrapil. - o . e f a".• Forever float that standard sheet t W here breathes the foe but falls before nal With Freedom's soil beneath our feet, And. Freedom's banner streaming o'er us OUR PLATFORM THE UNION -THE CONSTITUTION-AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW. HARRISBURG, PA. Thursday Morning, August 8, 1881. CONDLTION OF THE REGULAR ARMY. The regular army of the United States at this date consists of about twenty-two thousand men. Of the old regular regiments, many have been decimated by various causes. Over two thousand five hundred men were in Texas, of whom hardly one-half have returned or are available for active duty in the loyal States.— Of those in New Mexico and California several compel:des have suffered Severely from desertion, owing to the treachery of their officers. It is estimated that a variety of causes diminished the old army—which consisted of some eight een thousand rank and file to fourteen thou sand; leaving a deficiency of four thousand, which extraordinary recruiting has to supply.— No means hays been left unemployed to' make good the shortcoming, so far, as regards the men, but some inexperienced officers have been appointed in the regular force as well as in the volunteer service. A colonel of the United States army, who served at Stone Bridge, says that the regular soldiers will not fight under in competent officers, but will become dishearten ed. The great exertions made to enlist recruits are supposed to have so far exceeded the current wants of the line so as to make the regulars now number twenty-two thousand—four thou sand in excess of the old figures. WE LUNN MOH WASHINGTON that since the late bats that have resulted in a manner die astrousi our arms, a large number of officers have resigned,while several who have heretofore aspired to command are now willing to enter the ranks to be commanded. The country and the army may be congratulated on this circum stance: It is not likely that many really valua ble officers will leave the service ; and the va cancies occasioned by those who in the late ac tion discovered their incapacity for the duties of their stations, can now be filled by the chief of the army with men who have been properly trained, and in whose ability, as leaders, our soldiers may have ready confidence. If the bat tle of Stone Bridge weeds the army of incompe tent officers, it will do the country and the cause of the Union a service for which we may hold it in grateful remembrance. And that it is having this effect to a greater extent than was suspected, is a fact we learn from the best authority. Let Generals Scott and McClellan now see to it that capable and experienced men are put in the places made vacant by resigna tion, and our soldiers will go into battle here after with that confidence which arises from the possession of able leaders, and which can never exist while men have reason to suspect that their superiors are superiors only in name and not in knowledge, experience or conduct. A CAucus OF TRAZIORB in the Maryland Legis , . lature have resolved to call a Convention to as semble in Baltimore on Tuesday, Sept. 10, "for the purpose of devising means to oppose the war policy of the Federal Adminsstration."— These traitors proclaim that they desire to vin dicate the right of Maryland to exercise all and every authority within her own limits, and her power to prevent "prowling hordes of ruf fian soldiers from passing over their territory to attack the rights and the interests of the people of other Commonwealths." Of course the Convention is called for treasonable purposes. But it is a matter of surprise to many sensible loyal men why such villains are allowed to con coct and advocate their treason under the eye and within the hearing of the authorities at Washington. The traitors of Maryland are doing more damage to the cause of the Union, than the traitors of South Carolina. They fur nish the rebel leaders with information, and supply their followers with food. They are spies on the Government, news-gatherers in our camps, and tale bearers between ourselves and the common enemy. A rebuke to the Mary land traitors cannot be much longer postponed. BRIGADUR GENERAL PIERCE is out in the Bos ton papers with a statement in regard to the Big Bethel fight, in which he asserts that he acted under explicit orders, but that the plan of attack and orders accompanying it betrayed a want of knowledge of the enemy's position and numbers ; that his command was composed of raw recruits with only twenty rounds of ammu nition, his small artillery force having only twelve rounds, hardly sufficient for five minutes fire ; that the cause of going into friendly regi ments was owing to the neglect of General But ler to notify the detachment which joined him from Newport News to wear or recognise the white badge worn on the arm. General P. in conclusion says : "After the battle had taken place, and public inion had fastened on me the opprobrium of defeat, I applied for a court of inquiry, that to might be set aright and the blame, if any, rest on the proper officer. In my application, nay, my demand, I one reply—that a court of inquiry Iker too much that would injure g fox. 'like n b e ,' ZlOt I ) , ; „_` ° te brother-in-law of Mrs. — Sr las • ichmond on the 28rd '..'" : -, but onbeing • . the charge TIM MILITARY CommissioNnits created for the examination of newly appointed officers in the army, have resolved that the following requisi tions should form a basis of the standard of qualification before an officer can be entitled to hold a commission : Of company officers, cap tains and lieutenants, they should be able to answer, orally and correctly, all questions on the manner of instructing recruits, the manual of arms, the school of the soldier, the position of commissioned and non-commissioned officers in line, and possess a knowledge of battalion movements. Tne field officers to ba able to understand all that is required from the com pany officers, and, in addition thereto, evolu tions of the line, the proper conjuncture and the circumstances under which to use field ar tillery, the elements of military engineering, and such other collateral questions as the ex aminers propose. Wirrits PREVIOUS to the battle of Bull Run, we were daily treated by the Washington corres pondents to narratives from a "reliable gentle man," just from Manassas or Richmond, to whom Beauregard and Davis had confided most of their secrets. "The reliable gentleman" has not been heard of for the last few days. But his place is filled by the "escaped prisoner" just from the hospital at Centrffille or Manua as. Every day he 'turns up. Tits Pittsburg Gazette says that when General Garnett was killed by our troops in western Virginia, his body was taken care of, embalm ed and sent home to his friends; but when Colo nel Cameron was killed by the rebels the men that were sent atter his body were imprisoned. "Cast not your pearls before swine, lest they turn again and rend you." THE FIELD AND REGIMENTAL OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED AT BULL RUN. From late southern papers we make up the following list of field and regimental officers killed at the battle of Bull Run, from which it will be understood why Jeff. Davis pronounced it a "dearly bought victory : " CONFEDERATE OITICERS KILLED. General Bernard E Bee, South Carolina. Colonel D. K Mcßae, North Carolina. Colonel Charles F. Fisher, North Carolina. Brigadier-General E. K. Smith, regular army. General Francis A. Bartow, Georgia. Colonel Lamar, Georgia, Colonel Nelson, Second Virginia regiment. Colonel Mason, of General Johnson's staff. Colonel Francis J. Thomas, of Baltimore. Lieut. Col. Renj. J. Johnson, Hampton Legion CONFEDERATE OFFICERS WOUNDED. Colonel P. T. Moore, First Virginia volunteers. Major Robert Wheat, Louisiana Battalion. Colonel Gardiner. Colonel Wade Hampton, Hampton Legion. Colonel L. T. Gartrell, Seventh Vs. regiment. Colonel Jones, Fourth Alabama regiment. Colonel H. C. Stevens, of Gen. Bee's staff. Major Scott, Fourth Alabama regiment. Major Wheat was previously reported dead, but there is now prospects of his recovery en tertained. The federal forces lost no field or staff officers. The following is a complete list of the regiment al officers killed and wounded : FEDIIIII,AI OFFICERS KILLED. Col. Cameron, Seventy-ninth New York. Col. John S. Slocum. Second Rhode Island. Lt. Col. Ed. B. Fowler, Fourteenth New York FIDERAL MIMS WOUNDND. ' Major Sullivan Ballow, Second Rhode Island. Lt. Col. John A. Creiger, Fire Zonaves. Lt. Col. Robert S. McK. Elliott, Seventy-ninth New York militia. Col. Farnham, Fire Zonaves. Col. Heintzelman, Seventeenth U. S. Infantry. Col. Hunter, U. S. Army. Col. W. G. B. Tompkins, Second New York. Col. A. W. Wood, Fourteenth New York. Col. Corcoran, prisoner, slightly hurt. THE TAX FOR WAR PURPOSES. A bill has passed both houses of Congress, has been signed by the President, and is now a law, taxing certain incomes and properties, for the purpose of raising $20,000,000 to aid in de fraying the expenses of suppressing the rebellion at the south which aims at subverting the au thority of the government and destroying the liberty of the people. The bill contains seven ty-six sections, and is necessarily very long. Carriages are to be taxed from one to fifty dol lars each, as they are valued. Spiiituous liquors are to be taxed five, and fermented liquors two cents per gallon, or sixty cents per barrel. When the latter contains over thirty gallons, the tax to be paid by the distiller, who is re quired to keep a sworn record of the number of gallons manufactured. A drawback is allowed in cases where such taxed liquors may subse quently be exported. We give In frill some of the principal sections of the bill. TUX TLX ON CARRIAGES AND WATCHES Sec. 68. And be it farther enacted, That from and after the said first day of April next, there shall be paid the following yearly duties upon every carriage, the body of which rests upon springs of any description, which may be kept for use, and which shall not be exclusively em ployed for the transportation of merchandise, according to the following valuation, including the harness used therewith— Not exceeding fifty dollars If above fifty and not exceding oue hundred dollars If one hundred, and not exceeding two hun dred dollars 8 If above two hundred, and not exceeding four hundred dollars 16 If above four hundred and not exceeding ex hundred dollars 22 If above six hundred, and not exceeding eight hundred dollars 30 If above eight hundred, and not 'exceeding one thousand dollars 40 If one thousand dollars 60 Which valuations shall be made agreeably to the existing condition of the carriages and har ness at the time of making the entry thereof each year, in conformity with the provisions of this act ; and that there shall be, and hereby is, likewise imposed an annual duty of one dollar on every gold watch kept for use, and of fifty cents on every silver watch kept for use, which duty shall be paid by owners thereof. rusanwrATlON Or OARRIAGED AND WATORES. Sec. 59. Be it further enacted. That every person having or keeping such 'watch or car riage as the owner thereof, or having the charge, custody or possession of the same as the agent of the owner, shall, on said first day of April next, and yearly thereafter, makeand submtibe a true and exact entry thereof, and on carriages describing the same, and stating its denomina tion and the number of its wheels, together with its thane and that of the harness used therewith, as aforesaid ; which entry shall, within one month, be lodged with the collector of internal duties for the district in which -the person liable for the Payment of.stskluty- May reside. Audit 04 he the dun g said \ • \*,... . tor to attend, within said month of April in each year, at three or more of the most public and convenient places in each county, within their respective districts, and to give public no tice, at least ten days previous to such days, of the time and place of such attendance, and to receive such entry, made in the manner before directed, at such place, or at any other places where they may happen to be, within the said mouth of April, within which said month the duties on such watches and carriages shall be paid agreeably thereto, and, on payment there of, to grant a certificate for each watch and car riage mentioned in such entry tuerein specify ing the same of the owner or agent of the owner, the description and denomination of the watch or carriage, and the sum paid, with the time when, and the period for which such dutyshall be so paid. The forms of the certificate to be so granted shall be prescribed by the Treasury Department; and such certificates or the ac knowledgement of the collector aforesaid, by a credit in hie account with the United States, shall be the only evidence allowed to be exhi bited and admitted that any duty imposed on watches and carriages by this act has been dis charged. Provided, nevertheless, that no cer tificate shall be deemed of validity any -Writer than while said watch and carriage respectively, for which said certificate was granted, is owned by the person' mentioned in such certificate, unless such certificate shall be produced to a collector, and an entry shall be thereon made by him, specifying the name of the then owner of such watch or carriage, and the time when he or she became possessed of - the same. Sec. 60. And be it further - Mica" d, That any person who, after the month of April in any year, shall commence the having or keePing of any watch or carriage srublfict to duty, shall and May, at any time during thirty days after he shall so commence the having or keeping such watch or carriage, make like entry and payment in manner before prescribed; and of paymentot such proportion of the duty laid by this act on such carriage and harness used therewith, as the time when he shall commence the keeping of such watch or carriage to the first day of the month of April the next ensuing shall bear to the whole of the year, shall be entitled to and demand like certificates, subject to the condi tions provided in this act. Sec. 61. And be it further enacted, That any persons having such watch or carriage as the owner thereof, or having the charge; custody or pose ssion of the same as the agent of rhe owner, who shall make an untrue or defective entry, to evade the whole or any part of the rate or duty justly and truly payable thereon, according to this act, shall lose the stun paid pursuant to such untrue or defective entry ; and where such untrue or defective entry bath been made, or where no entry has been made, or where there shall be a neglect of payment after entry, such person shalt, in addition to the amount of rate or duty lawfully payable, be liable and shall pay a farther sum of double said amount, on personal application and demand at the houses, dwelling or usual place of abode of such person by the proper collector—one moiety of which last sum shall be to the use of the United States, and the other moiety thereof to the use of the collector—which duty, with said addition of double the amount of the same,shall be collected by distraint and sale of the goo s, chattels and effects of the person by whom the same shall be payable. And in every case where the owner of a watch or carriage shall fail to enter the same, in conformity with the provisions of this act, the collector shall have power, and he is hereby authorized and directed to determine the class to which such watch or carriage be longs, and to fix the duty payable on the same. And be it further enacted, That in all cases where any duty shall be collected pursuant to his act, whether by distraint or otherwise, a certificate shall be granted for each watch and carriage on which the duty shall be paid as hereinbefore prescribed. Sec. 63. And be it further enacted, That if, in the execution of this act, any question shall ad= wheal= may