Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-30

something beyond the control of Congress The Legis
ature Of Virginia had placed the gallery there and this
Capitol being the property Of the State II vas nct ~
our power 20 make any alterations In the building
Alter considerable debate the House agreed to,E,
amendment offered By Mr.. LyoSs nstructing the Com
mittee on Public. Buildings to inquire whether aay 81
raneeuent can be made BY which the Hall can be rem
dered more comfortable 10 the members. The resola
ton, as amended, was adopted. O.,
cv THE EXEMPTION BILL. 80 ~
Mr.. RoYsToN called up The order of the day-the
Exemption Bll-and the House resolved Itself mp
Committee of the Whole, Mr. CURRY, Of Ala, In me
Chat. q ...... d. as, 3, ~
The question being upon the amendment offered ty
NJ GARTEELL of Ga, providing that person shall
be enrolled Who has substitute In the army, furnished
in accordance with orders heretofore issued by the See
Rotary of WaF--Mr SINGLETON, OF Miss; addressed
the Committee, after which the Committee rose report
ed progress, and went into secret session. le-sl
Alter the doors were Foopened, the House again re-
solved itself Committee Of tho Whole aud resumed
| the consideration Of tie Exemption Bill
| Mr.. STAPLES Of Va, took the ground that, under
the contract with the Government FOR the employment
Of substitutes, any consctpt so employing was entitled
TO exemption frsm military service for the term Tor
which the substitute Nas employed, He was howevsr,
opposed all laws authorizing substitutes, and thought
il Would have been bet had they been enacted
| Mr. YoUTE, of Tenn, said that il experience had
demon strated that the effect of former legislation
bad it was indispensable TO modify il; and to aat the
contrary would be to that Congress might tie lie
own hands 1t thought necessary at the present
tine to call much larger number Of troops into ne
field So large the number of stHgglers from u,
army that all constitutional power must be exercised
strengthen our forces fhua il might be eIpedient y
cA out some Of those heretofore exempted from ini
tAry service While he had no doubt OF the o!
our gallant troops 10 future contests he unwilling
expose them to unnecessary slaughter In consequence
of the superior numbers of the foe. As measure Of
necessity he willing that principal as well IS subs
Itute should be called into service
lr. Chiffon, of Ala, contended, that Congress hat
the power under the Constitution, to call out every able
boced in the ConedsrAcy, TO drive back the mer
ceasry horde coming down upon u.s. He illustrated h
remarks By supPodng that there million able
boced men nlhe Confederacy and that Eve hundred
thousand are called into the field that they all enplo
substitutes thus leaving out the remaining i've hundIe
thousand, while the first return TO their homes. HI
would regard as monstrous doctrine that Congress
had not the power when extraordinary occasion de
handed To reinforce the army by calling out any o
those who had employed substitutes He denied tina
there was any contract between the Government and h
/ parties but only between individuals
Mr.. SMITH, Of n. c. argued that If the Cover mem
had accepted substitute for any man liable TO mltar,
duty the party liable excused from serving ant
the obligation originally res ing upon the principal WA
ertngushed To this transaction the Government VA
| a party and bound to fulfil it.
Mr.. RUSSELL, of Va, moved To amend the amend
ment as follows Unless the substitute has deserted
/ shall desert or become liable TO military duty"
| The Committee rose and the House adjourned.