Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-09-18
CONFEDERATE STATES CUNGEfSn
THcRsD.Y, Sept. 18th, 1867.
SENATE.

cDNa
The Senate met pursuant to adjournment
Mr., SPARROW, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, reported back n House bill IN
relation to the transfer of troops re-
commenting its passage. The bill provides
for the transfer of privates and non-conimiS-
stoned officers on their applications. to regl-
ment from their own States, when it can be
made without injury TO the public service
but not to apply to substitutes. Passed.
Also, a House bill to regulate the rank OF
officers n the provisional corps Of Engineers.
Passed.
Also House hill 10 provide i,r raising
and organizing additional forces in the States
OF kentucky and Missouri. Laid upon the
table and ordered to he printed.
Mr.. BURNETT offered resolution instruct
ing the Military Committee to inquire into
the propriety of so amending existing laws as
to require nil disbursing officers in the Gov,
eminent to execute covenant instead
Of bond. Agreed to.
/. THE EXEMPTION BILL
Was taken up for further consideration.
Mr. Hill moved to amend the section ex-
! enpting ministers 80 as to read all minis
tiers Of religion IN charge OF churches.
Mr.. BURNETT suggested the fact that some
ministers might have charge Of congregations,
but not of churches.
Mr.. CLARK said this was the case with
ministers Of the Methodist denomination,
who. by the provision, would be excluded
from exemption.
Mr.. HILL said there were great many
preachers who devoted the most OF their time
to secular pursuits; and though Methodist
himself, and many ministers Of that church
came under the category, he opposed their
exemption. These were the very men ne
desired to catch.
Mr.. SPARROW moved to amend SO as to
| make il read ministers OF religion instead
Of the gospel" Adopted.
Mr.. s. moved an additional amendment, to
make it read, "Every Minister Of Religion
authorized to preach, according to the rules
of his sect, and in the regular discharge OF
his ministerial duties" instead Of licensed
and authors ed" &c.
Mr. CL.Rr moved to add, "eSery minister
over the age Of thirty-fve years.
Mr.. SpAkRow said that so far rs lie was nble
to determine there was no class that had
shown more devotion to the cause OF our in
dependence than the Ministers of Religi"n.---
A great many had volunteered at the com
mencement of the war, and were now calamity
sged in the field; and it WINS the general
sentiment Of the people that the remainder
should not DO called away.
The amendment was negatired.
Mr.. SPARROW moved to add to the exemptlng
clause, "All members who have been or are
now members Of the Society Of Friends, and
association Of Dunkards, in regular member
ship with their respective denominations
Agreed to.
Mr.. CLARK, moved IL reconsideration Of the
vote Just had. lie was opposed to the Unjust
discrimination when the amendment contenl-
plated. Why should these people be exempt
| Because the government had no right to in
terfere with the religious convictions Of any
man. Whatever guaranteed to them: this
right, and every civil right and religious right
they poasess, but the blood and treasure OF
those who were not deferred from arrning and
maintaining their liberties by such scrup es
"a they entertain. lie knew but little Of the
Dunkards, but Of the Quakers and their ten
denotes he was not wholly ignorant. Did
thew not in the old Union exert their utmost
influence to bring about the state Of affairs
now existing? Have they not, perhaps, done
more towards the inception und consumma-
nation OF thil revolution than any other
class nr society: AS citizens Of the Gonfpde-
racr IL was their duty to take part in the war
for the T civil independence, and any rule that
would exempt them was radically wrong and
suhsversive of the law upon which Society Is
| founded md indebted for it's existence. name -.
ly. that every citizen is under obligation to
exert ull his power for the public defence if
he expects to share the public protection.
Mr.. SPARROW stated that like provisions for
the exemption of persons whose religious scru-
pies forbade them engaging in warfare. had
been made in several States His own State,
Louisiana, had provided for them in this res
pctt. Not only on the ground OF right Of
conscience, hut on one Of policy he favored
the amendment. uf what service would a
man he in the field whose conscience prevent
cd him using the arms placed in his unwilling
hands. Why, they would never fire charge
or thrust huynnet when they felt that their
eternal condemnation followed the act
Again, their number was comparatively
small, not exceeding Rro THOUSAND IN the
Confrderacy; i'll the United States they ex-
ceeded two hundred thousand.
Mr.. CLARK conteRaed that the only ques-
ton to be considered was whether they were
|
were bound to assist in the public defense.
MIR. Passion said the question was whether
they could be made soldiers Of and not be n
useless expense and annoyance to the Gov
eminent.
Mr.. CL.RE.--Let them employ substitutes.
Mr.. PREsToN said they had, large number
Of the1n employed substitutes, and the supply
was nearly exhausted. His Dunkard denoni-
nation had already paid thnLy-seren thousand
dollars for substitutes! They were good citi-
zens, humble in their demeanor and industr-
Gus aud frugal IN their habits. They were
servicenble in their present productive rnpa-
city, but would be useless in the army
The motion tn reconsider was negatived-
ayes &, noes II.
The clause exemptinY 'lll physicians
in the actual practice OF their profession"
was next considered.
Mr.. BAKER moved to insert "all licenced
practitioners.
Mr.. PAgL.N said it, was matter ofc1treue
difficulty to determine what constituted
4 ssactual practice y doctor with only one
patient with headache nr sore toe was in
"actual practice" Actual practice would be
under the operations Of the exempting clanse,
| tantamnunt to offering TO practice.
MIR. DuRsET doubted whether the clause
ought 10 he Incorporated at all-whether
physicians ought to be exempted at all. If
we took all Of the profession between the
ages Of IL and s. there would be enough left
to attend TO all the practice demanded in the
country Under this clause every man who
pretended to physic people would escape duty.
Already we have allopathists, homoe pathista,
hydropnthists, Elcctics, Botanics, ice water
| physicians and red pepper physicians, and
among others the "tetotums.' Under the
operatioFs of the clause he supposed multi
tude ofnew and unpronouncahle names would
be added to the category. Every man who
invcnts quack medicine might call himself
a practicing physician, itor certainly many of