Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-06
CONFEDERATE STATES CONGRESS.
THIRD SESSION OF FIRST CONGRESS-

SENATE,
FRIDAY, Feb. 5, 1854.
Prayer by Rev. DR.. Lsyburn, Of the Presbyterian
Church.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
Mr.. SPARROW, from the Committee OF Military Al
fairs reported back the House bill TO increi.e the EN-
cheney of the army by the employment OF free negroes
in certain capacities, With TIE recommendation snttt
do pass.
The b Ii was placed upon the calendar.
He also reported bill to amend the several scis IN
regard to military courts for divisions Of cavalry; which
MAS also placed upon the calendar.
He also reported bi to amend the act to provide
and organise engineer troops 70 auto ize Two IN.
eteAd Of one qusrtermIs.er sergeants.
The bill was forthwith considered and pssssd
TIE APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
The House appropriation Bill" was taken up and
further considered Several amendments proposed By
the COMMITTEES of Finance wore agreed to.
Mr. ORR offs. c., called the ATTENTION OF tho Senste
to the fact that the Senate had decided that all ooers
appointed undSr the Provisional Government. should be
renomnsted TO the Senate. Unless that deciEion usa
mere brrena fasn, the only way In which the Senate
can ssEeG Is, constitutional right il to withhold the AL
aries OF officers who have not been nominated to and
confirmed BY tho Senate. He submitted the following
amendment:
provided that no appropriation herein contained
shall be expended in piyrg the salary Of any officer fer
services hereafter rendered Wno appointed under
the Provisions. Government and who has not been
nomi9 lated 10 and confirmed by the Senste since the
adoption of the Permanent Government"
Mr.. SENAES of La, Stated she ressoas why he would
vote against this amendment. The difficulty Is sast We
do moi know how many officers Of the army and OF tee
navy are in hs category Ia true tina. the Pfeedsn
did ask fer toe advice of She Senate the question OF
rsnominAting officers appointed under the ProvHonAi
Government and that advice va, given. We are aware
that tas advice has been acted from time 10 time
Il ha~ h-an oiust Al
ard confirmed. Many of tn, officers of tho army and
navy have beel confirmed bat is also rue tina. large
number OF resmeniAl and company Ofic RI in the Pro-
yisional army have not been confirmed There are,
doubtless many officers unknown TO the President him.
self who still hold Office Toe effect Of this poEiso will
be TO drive or sarve them out Of the army. In time OF
peace Mr. SlNXAs said, he might be induced 10 resort
10 this mode Of coercion but il it ia resorted to now IL
NAV be attended With initiate mischief to the public in
terests l. could not be said that the Executive bas
acted in contumAoy Of the advice OF the Senate
Whether his action has been as prompt az could be ex-
psc;ed WAS another matter Are all the civil onices 70
be permanently filed noWi 5oustors should recOllso.
that these Offices are filed for liie Therefore, Is may
b. prooerhst aoe Of these officers sh uld be retained
With vez Of filing their places hereafter with those
Who by service in the army are debsrred from appoint
ment to them this time. Mr. g. ddnE know ttsI heso
were the views Of the Executive tu. they would irfu
ence him in voting against tho proviso.
NJ Ohh INC u
ment was very important, uness the trainers Of the
Constitution At Montgomery were egregousy mistaken
Under the old Government il competent for the
Pree1ent TO remove any officer Of WILL Every ONCE r,
therefore was teoAnt at will OF the President Of ite
United States This va, considsreda great evil a. no
person e1cep. partisan could be appointed 20 say
Office To guard sgsns. thia great rbuse, the Convsn
on at Montgomery inserted in the Constitution clause
prohibiting the removal by the President Of an officer
without cause. WHAT ia the condition Of Affairs now'
The Provisional Constitution contained no such CLAUSE
and therefore, every officer who bods office under that
Constitution is the t,nsnt as will OF the Pr.sdent-
He mr. Os.) didns mean to say that the President has
these officers under his thumb bu the discharge Of sher
functions Is impaired II nominated ts The Senate and
confirmed they could moi be removed "Eiihcu' csusc.
S, long, therefore, thsy hold Office that provision Of
tbs permanent Constitution ID defeated.
IL sIr,sen mon hs il not time enough fQr the PEST
dent to prepare and send in bis nomination. h1W muc1
tine is 7, GU red. How lorg would i: take TO make
out the roster Of the armyi Would it bs taJing too
mucI to the President, "You have had nearly tu9
yeas to make your nominations an is it possible tbs.
you haven't yet had time to make out Jour listf
ferring TO the ConmissarJ General, kr. OH said
it was due 10 the Senate aud to the soldiers who
srrng from the uaat OF fooj that the noninst on OF
tina. officer ehould before the Senate. Complaints
against him constantly coming from cur Nn,es, sad
the country believes that the deficiency Oh comm"ary
supulies ID caused by his nefoencJ aud incompsLslcJ
IL nc 70 20 on ! DuS SSlapSsoAs VI
.snt he and all cthe . should hold ihes Offices in sc
COZ nee with the Constitution or not at ell.
Rr OLDHAM Of Texas, said that he could not vote
for The proYiso rs ont want any s,tsmpt made TO
orcs the President, the President to force US The
rroooston was calculated 10 keep up excitement and
do harm at o tins when &C should ali be united. He
had voted for the resolutions relative to he arsr-
master General because hey contained corr~cs psn-
cjpp bus be would not Voio Tor Any coercye propoA
ton.
ar HILL, Of Ga, Qso,ed from tie Consh uion TO
show tba. ali officers appointed under the Provisional
Governments shalt remain in Office Until thai: success
sors are appointed" The provso submitted BY ihs
Senator from South Carolna Mr. OaR) vas nothing
more than = proyiso 10 the Constitution. II adopted,
the clause quoted would read, they shall remain in
Office, etc provided they shall not receive any pay
Il Vas not the fault Of the officers that they not
resppoined. They couldn't appoint themselves. Why
punish themf
Mr. WIGFALL, o; Texas, said he did not wiih to
quote, Quosgus tandem Gbutsrs etc., but he could not
hap asking How long will this Senate exhibit patience,
and allow itself TO be ignoredf Thyrs are various
general officers Of the line who ara Ting troops
without the consent of the Senate. Tbe lives Of
brave men hare been put It stake and the liberty OF the
country jeop2rds.d, because th.so icsrs have lot
besu appointed As the Constitution provides, he would
not mention Names bu. iome OF these officers had been
transferred from one department to another, AMI bad
failed wherever they had been scot. How long -
slaLd ttl6g NJ. W. tk!u Nc WAS hs muCl OpPOOS ~
auy man 10 irregular proceed ngs He would not 70
for resolution expressing want Of confidence in any
officer, because the President might reply: You attend
10 your br snes and will atteId 20 mine. He would
not interfere with q matter OF Executive judgment
But men holding tie offices in question are nos hodiog
them in the prescribed b. the Consti:uiion.-
Tie clau Of the Consttus on qioed BY ths Senator
from Georgia Mr. HILL VAS merely inserted to PIE
vent m inetregnum The repor; OF the Judiciary Com
mittee, Adopted SIX cen months ago. declares that il ia
the Guy Of the President to renomrss the officers. IL
they can be kept In for two years. they can for three
fvs or Elk years.
Mr. w. was as much opposed a. bis colleague (hr
OLDHAM TO sntagonism between the seTsral depart.
mens Of the Government, and had earnestly wished
fJr harmony and free aud open Constitution As any
MAJ bu. when ne believed the conference rio.ssd
when our men are Starving and kept under the com
mand OF officers utterly incompetent, be was unwilling
tina: such officers should be allowed to draw their pay
May his right band forget its cunning, or his tongue
cleave to the roof of his mouth If he vas ever silent
when srca grievances demanded attention. Tnare il