Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-29

| On motion oil Mr.. L1ONO, tue Ie5oubion Anu eneno-
/ ment we're laid upon the table.
PAY or oTrIcERs AND PRIvArEs OF THE ARMY.
Mr.. RAwLs, Of Ala, presented 4 memorial in r.a.
ton to the pay OF officers and prvAtes which was refer
red 10 the Military Committee.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. NILES, by unanimous consent submitted me ioi-
lowing reports from the Committee on Military Alters
The Committee asked to be discharged from the iar
Their consideration Of resolution with reference 10
granting pecuniary relief the prisoners captured a.
Forts Henry and DOnelson, that subject being already
acted upon.
The House agreed to discharge the Committee.
The Committee reported back the memorial OF Don
Greene In relation 10 the extension Of the Dauvile and
North Carolina Railroad and nsked to be discharged
from the fur considera ion thereof and recommended
| thAt it be referred to the Committee on Claims.
The Committee was discharged, and the memorial re-
| ferred as recommended.
The Committee asked aso, to be discharged from the
further consideration Of the memorial Of g. O. Taylor,
asking appropriation to enable him to construct
repeating gun.
Mr. MILES said that this was matter entirely within
| the control OF the Secretary of Var.
Mr. " reported back bill to amend an act approved
Nav lOh 1861 entitled an act to amend an act TO pIo-
vide for the public defence approved March 9th, 1861
and asked that il be put upon its passage.
The bill taken up ordered TO be epgrossed read
& third time and passed.
He also reported back bill to promote the efficiency
OF the AeQlCal VI tWO hooo
aut Surgeon Generals and two Medical Inspectors du
ring the var and moved that It DO taken up and put up
| on its passage.
The question under the rule being, shall the bill be
placed upon the cIlandar II was so put and decided IN
the negative whereupon the bill was taken up for coz
deraon and after being discussed at some length and
amended to the erten. Of limiting the tenure Of the as
Surgeon Generals to the period Of the war; which
Was done on motion of Mr.. HKIsKELL, OF Tenn 1t was
ordered to be epgrossed read third time and passed
Mr.. MILES from the Military Committee, further re-
ported a bill providing for payment for the officers
OF the Va. militia for services rendered by them.
This bill plssed
MESSAGE TRoM PRESIDENT.
The following message received from the President
| read
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
ExIcUnvE DEPARTMENT.
March ash, 1859
To N, Senate and House of Representatives. Of the
| Confederate States:
Tho operation OF the various laws in force for
raising armies has exhibited the necessity for reform
The changes and amendments which have been
made have rendered the system 80 complicated a. to
make il often quite dflcu TO determine what the law
really is and 10 what extent prior amendments are modi'
| fed by more recent legislation.
There is alec embarrassment from cont;c: between
State aud Confederate legislation am happy to AS
you OF the entire harmony OF purpose and cordially
Of ieeog which have Continued to exist between my
II aud the Executives Of the several States and Is
10 to this cause that success In keeping adequate
| forces in the field IS 10 be attributed.
These reasons would suffice for inviting your earnest
attention to the necessity OF some simple aud general
system for exercising tie power oil rasGg armies Whch
il vested in the Congress by the Constitution But there
| Ia another and more important consideration. Toe
| vast Preparations made by the enemy Tor con :.
biued assault at points on our frontier 81
eaboArd have produced the resul. that might have be
expected They have animated the people With spIt
OF resistance general resoute and so self sacrn
ug that 1t requires rather TO be regulated tCan 10 ne
stimulated TIE right OF the State TO demand and the
duty Of each citizen military service need only TO be sta
ted 10 be admitted II s not however wise or udcious
policy place in active service that portion OF the force
OF people which experience has shown TO be necessary
reserve. Youths under the age OF eighteen years
require further nsruction-men OF matured experience
needed for maintaining order and good government
at home and in supervising preparations for rendering
Efficient the armies in the field
These two casses cousttlle the proper reserve for
home Defence ready to be called out in case OF emer
gency aud be KEEP. in tho hsd only while the emer-
gency exists Bat 10 order TO maintain this reserve in
ct |. Ia necessary that in great like that in which
we are now engaged, ell persons OF intermediate age
not legally exempt for good cause should pay their debt
OF military service to the country, that the burthen'
should fall exclusively on the most ardent and patr
otto
therefore recommend the passage CT law declaring
that all persons residing within the Confederate States
between the ages OF Is aud 35 years. and rshtfuy sub
ect military duty, shall be held to be in the military
service Of the Confederate States and that some plain
and simple method be adopted for their prompt enrol
ment and organic Ion repeating all Of the legislation
heretofore enacted which would conflict with the system
proposed.
The message was referred to the committee Military
Afiirs.
Mr.. MILES, from the Military Committee reported a
f.. tba nth of
army equal to i.s legal number which was placed upon
the calendar.
Also bill to provide for keeping tho arms Of the
Confederate States In tho hands OF efficient men, which
wss similarly dspoeed Of.
Also act to amend act entitled act TO provide
for the public defence which placed upon the caen.
dr.
He also reported back bill providing for the employ.
ment Of nsgroeS on the public works, with recommen
daiol that il pass.
Mr.. MILES moved that It be pu: upon It's passage.
The question upon placing it upon the calendar was
put aud decided in the negative whereupon the bill was
| taken up for consideration.
1t being upon It's engrossment NJ. HrLroS moved TO
amend il by inserting that the Government shall pay a.
hire for slaves 70. than half the usual hire pad
| in the neighborhood from which they come.
Mr.. SMlTH, Of N O., moved also to amend by requir.
irg that the negro, instead OF the negro in "kind
II value" provided by the original BILL or Its value
b. returned TO its owner.
Mr.. MCLEAN moved to lay the bill and amendment
upoa the table, ard that they be printed.
The motion IVES Sgreed to.
Mr. GARNETT Obtained leave TO submit and have
printed With the bill and amendments, amendment
embodying his views.
NJ. Chiffon, OF Ala, offered an amendment that all
received into the service Of the Confederate
SAFES shall not be received until they examined by
= competent surgeon other persons appointed by the
Surgeon General for that purpose.
This amendment received and ordered 10 print
ed with the bill and other amendments
Mr. BARKSDALE from the Commute on Public Print
ing submitted report in response to resolution offer
ed by Mr. RAwLs a few days age as to how the printing
for the Departments done, whether by contract or
bid or whether the price paid was higher than that
paid for private printing.
The report was lsid upon the table.
NJ RUSSELL moved 10 reconsider the vote referring
L. lnra.rittaa MitarI