Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-02-25
CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.
SENATE.

TUESDAY, reo z4tu, 1000.
The Senate metal IL o'clock NJ. Prayer by Rev. Dr. T.
V. MOORE, of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr.. BAKER, Of Fla, introduced resolution pro
posing an amendment in the Sequestration Act which
was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. SPARROW, of La, presented petition of w.
W. Palmer of La, in relation TO the prepayment Of
postage on newspapers Referred.
MISSOURI SOLDIERS
Mr.. BURNETT, of Ky from the Committee on Mill.
tary Affairs reported back House bill for the relief Of
c,rtan officers and soldiers from the State of Missouri
The bill was placed on the calendar.
QUARTERMAsTERs.
Mr.. SEMMES, of La, from the Committee of the Ju-
dietary reported bill relative 10 the bonds of Quarter
masters. The bill placed on the calendar
SUBSTITUTES.
The bill repeating all acts heretofore passed allowing
substitutes with the amendment thereto proposed by
the Committee on Military Affairs was taken up for con.
sideration.
Mr. SPARROW, of La, advocated the amendment,
which provide that any person who has heretofore fur
nshed substitute shall be enrolled for service in case
of the desertiou of the substitute.
Mr.. ORR, of s. c., opposed the amendment on the
ground that it was post JdctO, in attaching
condition to contract between the party furnishing
substitute and the Government. IL was retrospective
in its actions not prospective, aud therefore unjust
those who have furnished substitutes.
Mr.. BURNETT, of Ky, took issue with Mr. Ora, aud
remarked that he consideEAd it part OF the original
contract that the person furnishing substitute should
hold himself responsible for the fidelity Of the substi-
tute.
Mr.. PHELAN argued that there was no contract in
the case The Government had the right TO demand
military service from every person Offering substitute,
aud only released him, personal favor when lac fur
nshed substitute who would perform services which
he would otherwise be required to perform himself Mr..
p sustained his view of the question: by referring to
Al. nf tnla
Act who had furnished substitutes, made liable
enrolment by the provisions of that act.
Mr. ORR, in reply, argued that the acceptance of u
substitute in the army, under the regulations of the War
Department, unconditional and in of deserOn
tue remedy was solely against the person who had de-
serted Under the amendment proposed to the pending
BILL only might the substitute bS arrested but the
prime pal required 10 perform military service thereby
bringing two persons in the army There no pro,
vision for the release OF the principal.
Mr. OLDHAM, of Texas, remarked that hc Was OPP
oed to the entire substitute SYSTEM but it clearly
violation Of contract TO require service from any per-
son who had furnished substitute and he would there
FORE vote against the amendment.
Mr. CAPERT0N, of Va, advanced similar views, a :.
guing that the acceptance Of substitute, was as much
contract as the acceptance Of any other proposal for
service required by the Government If there was Il
military necessity" for requiring persons who had fur
nished substitutes enter the army the equitable
mode of dealing with the question would be TO make
tue requlsluOn Senefa anu Inucinuy a VINO nau pdlu
bounties TO substitutes
After further discussion, Mr. SIMMS, Of KY, moved
that the bill be recommitted to the Military Com utee
with instructions to enquire into the expediency of
pealing all laws authorizing substitutes and refunding
all persons who have furnished substitutes the amount
paid by them for the same, etc.
The motion negatived.
The question on the adoption of the am ,ndnent was
then put and determined in the negative, by the follow
ing vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Baker, Brown, Burnett, Dortcb, Henry
PeytOn, Phean, Smms, and Sparrow--9.
NAYs.-MeSsrs. Barnwe, Caperton Clark, Clay, Da-
Wis, Haynes, H Hunter, Johnson OF Ga, johnson, OF
Ark Maxwell, Mitchell, Orr and Yancey-l4.
Mr.. HILL then offered substitute for the BILL pro-
vdng that any person who shall hereafter furnish sub
sute shall be held to service in of desertion The
amendment rejected
The bill was then passed-yeas 10, nays TO- As passed
it repeats all acts parts Of authorizing persons to
furnish substitutes
THE EXEMPTION ACT.
The next business in order the engroSsed Exemp-
ton Act and the bibeng taken up,
q Mr.. SIMMS, of KY, moved that the further consde
ration of the bill be postponed until tomorrow.
On motion, the Senate then went into secret legisla.
tive session.