To the Senate and House of Representatives.
I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Secretary of War, covering a copy of the reports of General Bragg and his subordinate commanders of the battle of Chickamauga.
To the House of Representatives.
In response to your resolution of the 10th inst., I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Postmaster General relative to the steps taken to secure the transmission and delivery of the mails from the post office in this city during the past two weeks.
To the House of Representatives of the Confederate States of America.
The following resolution passed by the House on the 14th instant has been received:
Resolved, That the President be requested to inform the House, if not incompatible with the public interest, whether the reasons given in his special message for suspending the writ of habeas corpus still exist, and what additional reasons now exist to such extent that the public safety requires the continuance of the suspension thereof.
In my opinion the reasons given in the special message transmitted to Congress at its last session, recommending the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, still exist in undiminished force and the present juncture especially requires the continuance of the suspension. The effects of the law for that purpose have been most salutary, and to that law in no inconsiderable degree are we indebted for the increased efficiency of the military preparations which have enabled our gallant armies, under the providence of God, to beat back the vast invading forces which still threaten us.
In my judgment it would be perilous, if not calamitous, to discontinue the suspension while the armies of the enemy are pressing on our brave defenders with persistent effort for their destruction and for the subjugation of our country.
