Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-31

milht be introduced The bin provides that the stb
section Of the original bill be Amended by the addi
ton Of the following paragraph viz: "Aud that in
cases where State battalion shall consist Of more
companies than five or less than ten the President
may appoint such additional officer officers as he
may deem necessary and proper to its organiza
ton"
AIr. Wright said the amendment provided for
difficulty the original bill failed to meet. 1t often
happened there were companies left over after the
organization of regiment, sufficient to make bat
talon. These supernumeFary companies having no
officers to command them, are kept inactive in the
neld until enough additions can be obtained to form
q regiment Inc amendment provided for reEder-
ing such battalions Immediately servicable by the
appointment OF proper officers to take charge Of
them.
AIr. Smith moved reference of the bill to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Chestnut said he had some amendments TO Of
fer at the proper time, and moved that the bill be
printed. Both motions prevailed.
AIr. Perkins presented the claim Of DR.. B. NJ End
ers late surgeon In the U. S. Army. Referred to
Committee on Claims.
Dir. BOcoek presented the memorial of DR.. A. Y.
Garrett asking the amendment of act passed last
session in relation to the commissioning Of naval
officers. In presenting the memorial Mr.. Bocoek
said
l wish to say that the Doctor some years ago was
assistant surgeon in the United States Navy. On
the commencement of our difficulties, the Doctor
being an ontspoken friend of the independence OF
the South took every occasion TO express his OppOsi
ton to the unwaFrantabe acts of the Northern Adj
nliIistration. Ia consequences OF this the lawlass
creatures of that administration surrounded his
house thre a,ened the safety Of himself and family
and made 1t necessary for him to to Virginia.
1t IS known to all who have been for years past
members of the Congress of the United States that
he had attained a position ard acquired practice
in Washington second to no man in that city. When
he came here the Governor of Virginia appointed
him surgeon in the navy of this State. An act
passed by Congress at It's last session authorized the
Executive authority of the Confederate States to
commission in the navy Of the G. S. 4. all those
who had been officers in the navy of the United
States, and Who had resigned their positions in
sequence Of the secession of their respective States
By that act various gentlemen who had resigned
have been received as surgeons. But Or. Garrett
did resign his commission il consequence Of the
secession of his State, the act does not embrace his
case. He asks that the act be amended to
embrace his case. believe, however he stands
alone in this category. 1t will be but act Of
justice to thus recognize the merits and services Of
this gentleman. | move the memorial be referred
to the committee on naval affairs. So ordered.
Mr.. Seldom, of Virginia, offered the following:
heSOlUed By Congress, That the Committee on the
Judiciary be instructed to inquire into and report
on the expediency Of prescribing by law, while the
facts are fresh and susceptible Of proof. some uni
form mode of taking, authenticatng and preserving
the evidence Of the abduction reception, by the
enemy, Of slaves owned by any of the Confederate
States, as also Of the age. sex and value of such
slaves, TO the end that indemnity may be hereafter
exacted from the enemy.
Referred as directed.
Dir. Russell, of Virginia, offered the following,
Resolrei That the Committee on Postal Affairs
inquire intO the sxpedieney of comforting the frank
ing privilege John Tyler, late President of the
United States.
Mr.. Staples offered the following, which was
agreed to-
RssOlUed That the Committee on Military Affairs
inquire into the expedency of 50 amending the law
as 10 authorize officers of the Medical Department
to exercise command over al enlisted men, like
ether commissioned officers.
Mr. Staples also offered the following, which was
agreed to:
Rssolred, That the Committee on Military Affairs
inquire into the expediency of amending the law
az TO authorize the Secretary of War to employ a
messenger in the Office of the Surgeon General.
Mr.. Avery offered the following, which was re.
ferred to the Committee on Naval Affairs:
An Ae to farther amend an act to ovis for the rorganu
ten Of the Navy, approved March ls, 1851
The Congress of the Confederate States Of Amer
lea do enact, That the President be, and is hereby
authorized to nominate, and by and with the con
sent of Congress- to appoint all officers of the naves
of any of the States of this Coniederaey. who have
been officers of the United States Navy, and wha
may be nc for active service, to the same rsnk and
position in the Navy of the Onfederate States which
they would have held in the Navy of the United
in, if they had remained in the said United States
Navy until the date of their said appointment in the
Confederate Navy; Provided, however that no such
officer shall be appointed to z higher rank or posi-
ton than be has held in the State Navy TO which he
has been attached and, provided further, That 4
no such officer shall be appointed a captain COM
man1er, lieutenant or sailing master in the line /
of promotion, who did not hold at the time 1
of leaving the Unite1 States Navy, one Of the I
said ranks, the rank of passed milship- |
man therein; or in default thereof shall have |
seen at least six years of service in the navy
and merchant service combined and shall. before /
receiving his commission, successfully passed an ex-
animation before naval examining Board, COM
posed Of captains or commanders to be designed by 4
the Secretary Of the Navy, touching bis fitness for
said appointment, in which the officer so pass
ed may be nominated and commissioned to rsr l
not higher than that of LIeUte Rlnt. And pi divided
further, that no officer shall be appointed, by au-
thority of this act who may at any time have COM
mtted any act Of hostility against the Confederate
Stats or any one thereof.
SE0. ?. And be 1t further enacted, That in case
any such Oilcers of any State navy or navies, as
comprised in the first section of this act should
receive appointments in the navy of the COnieder-
lite States the President is authorized to afix to
heir commissions such dates as may be necessary
10 secure TO them the same relative position that
hey held, at the date Of their said appointment
would have held aforesaid, in the navy of the
United States.
Congress then went into secret session.