Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-05-01
GUNEEVE2ATE STATES CONGRESS-

against.
CON FEr E2ATE STATES CONGRESS-
WEDNESDAY,, April %, 1863.
SENATE.
The Senate mot at II o'clock A. H. PRAYER
by Rev. Mr.. L,pghotne, Of the Methodist
Uhusch.
A resolution, submitted some days since,
by Mr.. SlMns, Of Ky, relative to the treat
Iuent OF prisoners of war by the enemy, was
adopted
PAY or DECEASED SOLDIERS.
Mr.. W.GFAI:L, from the Committee of Mill
taty Affairs, reported back the House bill to
continue in force and amend the Sd section
Of an act supplementary of an act con-
corning the pHy and allowances Of deceased
soldiers.
HoRsEs DISABLED on LOST
Mr.. Wiar.Lt, from the same Committee,
reported bnck, adversely, the House bill To
provide for the payment of horses disabled
or lost IN thu Coz federnts service. The bill
Was laid upon tho table.
BURROUGHS AND DISCHARGES.
Mr.. WIGr.LL also reported back, adverse
", tho House bill to regulate tho granting of
furlou hs aud discharges to sick, wounded or
diaao!ed soldiers IN hospitals.
Mr.. OLDHAM advocated the passage of the
bill. He characterized the refusal to grant
furlouehs aod discharged to soldiers in hos
pitsls, in many instances as inhu,nan. Young
ulen who, when this war broke out, left their
homes and friends TO fight for their rights as
citizens. have become TO DO regarded rs mere
machines Ut food Tor powder, to DO placed in
thu front rank to gain military renown for
asL islBg lsaders, aud when disabled by
wounds Or sickasss are kept confined in the
hospita!r, undes military regulations, although
certificate after certificate from the surgeons
may testify that thsy are utterly unfit for
military duty.
Mr.. WIGFliL replied that the passage Of the
bill would confer upon tho surgeons the pow
er cf di,bandng the army. Tho regulation
Of tuslougha and discharges, he argued, should
he left with the Secretary o. War, who, it
was presumed, had ss much Of the milk of
human kindness In his bosom as most other
men.
Mr.. PHElAN, Of Mas edvoca!ed the mes-
sure. TIE lssus presented, he said, is, sball
we grant any fuslough5 To patients in hospi-
tails at all He crnthndcd that common
snss ami humanity demanded th.t disabled
men should not be Kept in the hospitals when
tho aurgetns certify that they are unable to
render military duty.
Mr.. BURNETT, of Ky, said ho would vote
for tho bill ifit went no further than to su-
thorlze the discharge Of sold'ers perman entity
disabled, bat it proposed to authorize the
surgeon Of any hospital to grant farloughs
fJr sixty days to every patient therein--a
power which he (Mr. b. WIS unwilling TO
confer upon the surgeons. MIR. B. expressed
his approval Of tie existing regulation which
reqnli I'd the sanction of the commanding Off
Cor before fu.lough was granted.
M, SIMM5, OF KY, presented illustrations
Of The effect Of the memorable rule which
kept spldi~s IN hospitals until the COM
handing ot6cer asGented 70 the granting Of
fufloughs. lie preferred to vest the power
10 tho surgeons who knew tho condition Of
heir pstieots, and earnestly urged the policy
Of the bll.
Alle- further debate, several amendments
were adopted.
Tho question on the passage Of the bill As
amended was then put, and determined in the
sttirGatise--yeas IL, nays 8.
DEFICIENCIES IN RATInNs
MIR. CLAY. FROM tho Committee of Military
Affairs, reported back a House bill, adversely
to ALLOW communication for Deficiencies in ra-
tions. Tho bill. wAs laid upon the table.
PAY OF SOLDIERS.
Mr.. Gay, from tho sAIue Com mittes, ,epo, ted
bsck adversely, the House till to increase the
pay Of all non comm ssi0Usd officers and nr:
Yates in the army.
Mr.. CLAY read An elaborate written report,
piepaeed by him at the instanc, Of the com.
| uiittee. and presenting thair reasnns for tho
recommendation that the bill do not pxps. The
c,ilel reHsoFs assigned IN shis report for the
Alverse Recommendation are, that tho soldiers
do not onlist for pay or plumber, but FIR their
| families, liberties and honor; that if they
| wero not content with their Jay, they could
not he lnsdo less 30 by tho trif,ng incre .se Of
81 per month; that the expenditures Of the
Government have been largely increased since
tue Commencement Of the war that the con
tii:ion Of tho country, The state Of our faan-
crs, The gtest debt 81; eady iucurTsd, tho de-
probation of our currency, etc, admonish
Congress against adding to thu burthsns of
the people more than is absolutely necessary
10 secure their liberties; that The bill, If il:
become law, will add from twenty 10 thirty
millions Of dollars to the amount Of Govern
nsnt expenditures; tLst in its baisful infu-
ence upon the currency it will cost US, per-
hsps, more than dSubIe that sum in the de-
probation Of our Treasury notee, etc. The
concluding paragraph isss follows:
They (the commi,tee) cannot forbesr aid.
ing another consideration, which thoy would
gladly suppress If justice to thenSelves, to
Their country sod to the soldiers did not re-
quite liz uttersncs. 1t is that, in their opin-
ion, this war will probably last for AeVeral
yasnl, snd we cannot foresee our condition
ere it closes. Pressed on every side by a
powerful, bIrbarous and rapaoious foe, with
out friend among the powers Of the earth,
and compelled 10 work out their own destiny,
through harder o,dssl than ever any peopl-
were subjected to, it seems to US the part Of
wisdon to "let we'll enough alone" Our SOL
disrs must be armed and fed and clothed to
ensure the salvation of our cause, and We ars
hard strained to furnish the indispensable
Articles Of ARMS. food and raiment. Let US
not promise more than we can perform, or
fail to achieve our Independence by destroy
ing our credit.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Ark, advocated the pas
cage of tho bill, and proposed apssmendment
to defer the payment of the increased pay
therein provided until the close of the war,