Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-27

may got deem Il proper expsdisnt upon oonsdera
ton Of this to report any bill, and they should
be left free in his opinion TO report bin or not they
might see it.
Il would to him to be peculiarly subject for
State law. Il
Mr. LYONS said that would be perceived that in re-
spec to that while the State authorities had the power
to exempt persons from military duty for that
they may assign, yet Of necessity, the Government OF
the Confederate States have the power 10 protect
itself by preventing officers from being called into the
army who may be necesary for the operation of the
government Therefore Ii that the Congress OF the
United States exercised the power Of declaring that GER
tain persons nhe services Of the United States should
not be subject to military duty. The power OF that law
is paramount in this matter Il has for instance the
power say that the Secretary Of War shall not be liable
military duty that the Secretary Of The Navy shall
rot be liable military duty that the Speaker of this
House shall not be subject to military duty, and so on
with regard to other off ers Of the government whose
services INDISPENSABLE to the operation Of the gov
eminent. The cid United States Law which We adopted
goes on to deputy Postmasers, as he Mr.. was in
formed by the Chairman OF the Military Committee oil
| the House of Delegates.
That gentleman represented that this q Of
great embarrassment to the Legislature, and that some
action should be taken upon the sct at once by Con-
gress. He (Mr. did not suppose that any contin-
gency would arise which would suggest to the Commit
tee on Military AfArs the improperly or neIpediency
of reporting bill making change 10 this la~ relating
TO exemptions. He (Mr. LII that the gentle
from South Carolina himself would upon reflection,
prefer to have law of upon this inject rather
than that these mptions should exist merely by ref
erencs the Of the old Congress. That sort Of
reference very proper and indeed necessary ia
the incipeIcy Of this government There was not time
TO arrange all these laws We could not permit an in
tenegnum to in military operations by under
taking 70 pass the necessary laws These laws being
adopted we're made laws, but that our petma-
nent Government has been inaugurated is proper for
Us 10 pas own laws declaring who shall be exempted
| from military duty and who shall not. He (hr.
was satisfied that the Committee whether they shall
think the present Law proper one not would make
a report defining and declaring exemptions.
Mr. MILES regretted to cay that he failed to be con-
WINGED by the argument of the gentleman to tho pro-
priety of the phraseOlogy Of the resolution.
This a subject which be confessed he had not
amined and which he willing the committee should
examine carefully which they do If it is presented
TO them without such restriction the resolution i'm
posed.
He thought it was matter proper fer the STATE, to
decide which should and should not be exempt from mil
! itAry duty.
he moved to amend the resolution by way of testing
the Of the House, by making it of inquiry in
| stead Of one of instruction.
Mr.. LYONS said he had no Election TO the amend.
ment if the House thought it was not subject which
demanded prompt actor. According to this amend
ment, there will be obligation upon the Committee
TO report at once and they may If they choose delay
| the sui ject for an indefinite period.
The amendment agreed TO, and the resolution as
amended then adopted
Exports from Standing Committees then called
| for.
Mr. PRYOR, from the Committee on Military Lffirs,
reported back BILL with accommodation that It pas,
t. continue in oCe the Major aud Bdgadier Generals OF
| the Provisions army.
After some debate, which space does not permit
US to give, the BILL motion Of Mr.. F00TE, laid
upon the table, ordered to be printed and made the spe
/ cial order for o'clock to morrow.
| Mr. MILES from the Commttee On Military AT.irs
presented a resolution authorizing that committee to
procure maps OF the several States Of the Coniederacy
assist them in the discharge Of their duty.
| Mr.. SWAN, OF Tenn, said he desired to amend the
resolution, 10 enlarge the authority OF the commit
far enable them to procure maps Of the ad
acent States of the United States He would to
amend by adding, and such other map1 the commit
| tee in their judgment may deem necessary"
| Mr. MILES accepted the amendment, Whersupon the
| resolution adopted.
At this stage, message received from the &c.
nate announcing the passage by that body OF BILL
titsd IAN act supplementary TO act entitled act
10 establish War Department. pissed Feb 2lst 1851"
Mr. GARrRELL, oil Ga from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported back with an amendment, "A bill
to carry effect the latter part of the "a clause OF the
| 9th section of the lst article OF the Constitution"
This bill provides that the principal officer Of each of
the Executive Departments 81 al BE- entitled to a at on
the floor OF either House. for the purpose Of Discussing
qges ions apper.aning to bis particular department.
Toe amendment reported, reserved to the House the
power prescribe the rules according TO which this
| privilege to be exercised
On motion Of Mr.. WRIGHT, Of Ga, the bill was post.
ponsd until Saturday, placed upon the calendar and
| made the special order for that day.
| IL was ordered to be printt d in the meantime
| Mr.. CONRAD, Of La rise TO question OF privi-
lege.
desire to call the attention Of the House to what
conceive TO be, II no. an erroneous statement in the
Presidents Communication this body yesterday
last statement that il calculated to produce
neous impression upon the public, who do not under
| stand the facts Of The case.
will read the clause from the Presidents message to
which REFER and explain what conceive TO be er-
ror in that statement:
1.-THE people of the Confederate States, being prime
paly engaged in agricultural pursuits were unprosided
at the commencement Of hoalitie' ~ ships shi. =
Yards materials for ship bulldog skilled Taohan CO
| and seamen IN sufficient numbers &c make thu ron
creation of a navy practicable tax, even II the
CURED appropriations bad been made TO- the purpoI En-
Mr.. C0NRAD.-NoW, so far as reg lrds the c fHcu ss
which attended the creation OF naval esabs-.,It
this Confederacy entirely In the statement Of
the Pres den, sad Chairman Of Committee on Ma
Aff,irs ha bad some oppouu lily Of unders,a du g
this diff ulty and of beng able to ar testimony to the
enlire correctness OF this statement But IL is TO the
last clluse that desire particularly to III the attention
Of the House-"even If the required APPROPRIATIONS had
been made for the purposf."
| Now do not affirm that tho President intended to
convey by this expression the idea that the required
Pppropratons had not been made for the purpos Idi
Dated do not say tina. this the int ntion. af
frm most positively that the statement is
All the required appropriations for navy, oil appropi
atoms demanded, all sppropi stions suggested for
navy and certainly every appropriation estimated for
navy either by the President Secretary of the Navy
were made so far my memory enables me to say,
without single exception and without tjsction.
have never known during the ale Congress, single
estimate for navy sent TO that bo'y either by the Pre-
sdent or by the Secretary Of the Navy that not
promptly and unhesitstngIy granted by the Congress-
| As Chairman Of the Committee of Ways and Aeans,
was generally the organ through which these esi.
mates were presented or explained TO that body.
Mr.. WRIGHT, of Georgia. l rise to question Of
| order.
! desire to know whether the gentlemsn's question
of privilege is properly question Of that charaetorS
| TIE SPEAKER The Chair did not wish to interrupt
the gentleman but intended to remind him. at the close
of his remarks that IL Has not question of p-iyege