Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

ls HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The House convened at IAN. Prayer BY Rev. DR..
Nj. BoYoE asked leave, which was granted, thatth
sions Of the House. -aAH'i '@.s
Mr.. BALDWIN, of Va was excused for absence, on
account Of having 10 return homo 70 take charge OF
his regiment, for the present. -
Toe SPEAKER announced Hessrs. CLARK, Of GA, Sin.
gleton of Miss Miller, of Va, Simpson, Of 8. o., and
Foster, Of Alabama, as the Special Committee under
the resolution of Mr.. Clark Of Ca relation to claims
of deceased soldiers.
Mr.. Chiffon was excused from further service on
the Committee on Quartermasters and Com missares
and Mr.. Foote appointed to ell the vacancy. : 81
Mt. MILES, from the Committee on Military Afairs,
reported back the Senate BILL to prevent the reception
ard enrolment Of substitutes, with amendment TO
do away with supsrAutes and TO express that ts effect
is not retroactive but only to prevent substitution for
the future.
Mr. MILES said there was no difference of opinion as
to the propriety Of ending substitution the tenmen
Of the country and army demanded it. The number oil
substitutes 10 the army is vsriousy estimated at from
for. odd TO sixty odd thousand. The experience Of
Generals shows, with some exceptions that substitutes
are the most unreliable of soldiers, comprising as they
do the floating portion of society, and wiling to sell
themselves to undergo the dangers OF the field they
constitu the great body Of deserters. IL would be
found close scrutiny, that nine tenths ofthe military
executions for desertion were Of substitutes It
time to stop 1t. 50 ~
The committee thought i. best not to embarras the
BILL except to make subitituton illegal for the future.
There might be difference Of opinion az 70 the past
but none to preventing it for the future. ,, -
Mr. CONRAD, of La, fully concurred in the expedien
cy Of the repeal Of the law but did not with the
committee He thought the bill ought to have included
10th csses Those who have furnished sui stutes
more numerous and Efficient than those who would fur
sh them hereafter IL was lot competent for Congress
to exempt anybody from the discharges OF toe first duty
they owed to the country he adhered to his opinion
previously expressed that shou be exempt eIcep
mechanics and artisans and others of public utility. he
did not believe substitution contract with the gov
eminent 1t privilege, as decided by the Presi-
dent and Secretary of War; and had become dangerous
and demanded revocation. The language Of the Law
was not that Of contract. He knew that the creates
importance attached to his amendment 10 put botf
primo pals and substitutes in the service.
Mr KEENAN,, of Ga, thought Mr. CoNRAD's amend.
ment was no. germain Until Congress incIeased the
conscpt agewe had no right to take principal aod sub
stitute. .....-.... ...t-EI ..,
Nc Chiffon, of Ala said It had been decided tina
whenever the eIgences Of the service required every
body could be put in the army. But he did not think
that time had come. BE-
Tee amendment proposed by tie committee was adopt
ed. III
The yeas and nays being called on Mr. C0NRAD'S
amendment which TO put in the army all those who
had heretofore furnished substitutes as well as the sub
situtes themselves lost. Yeas 80, Nays SO. no
The bill as amended was read third time aud unAni-
mously passed. The rule was Suspended and the bill
sent forthwith to the Senate. b-r,f. 90
The resolution of Mr. F00TE in relation 10 the per-
Torrance Of duties in the government departments snt
civil functions by able-boded men Of conscrpt age
and the revocation Of such appointments in favor
disabled soldiers &C., being the special Order were
taken up cL
On notion the resolutions referred, with sigh
amendment of phraseolOgy, to the Committee on Mill