Dear Sir It is a construction of the law warranted I apprehend that the President Shall appoint the requisite number of Lieutenants & leave three of them to be designated, for Quarter Master & Pay Master on the manner [undecipherable] practised in the late army — But of this is supposed not to be a good construction the and may as producive, by making it a rule that recommendations [undecipherable] come through the [undecipherable] Channels to the President & that unless for some extraordinary reason he will as of course nominate as appointed. But whatever is the mode pray let it be adopted at once, & put us in a way of execution that their affairs [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] officers may be appointed. / Truly / [undecipherable] 2. since noting the above, it has occured to me as worthy of consideration whether it will not be expedient to reject [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] mill [undecipherable] for all the corps and to insist on alternative on the oath as to the term of service thus — "for and during the continuance [undecipherable] or for the term of five years at the option of the Inlist" As there are Soldiers of both descriptions to be[undecipherable] enlisted I writhe to think the former will wear out the alternative in point of execution propriety — & the option would be infinitely valuable The principal question is whether Soldiers would not more readily enlist for the casual [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] differences than for the [undecipherable] known term of five years — I am M^r Att[orney] Gen[era]l &