, 1864-01-18
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.


Mr.. MORGAN, Of New York, preaented
petition from the citizens Of New York re-
monstratlng against the relief of unnaturaliz-
ed citizens from the draft.
The enrolment bill being under considers
tion Nj. FEssENDEN, said that his opin-
mutation money did not release State from
the draft, Was erroneous, and that the con-
strnction putupon 1t by the Secretary OF War
WIS correct. He thought 1t impossible to
construe the commutation clause In any 9TH
er way than that the procuration Of substt-
tutes or the payment Of Communication money
exempted the States from draft
Mr.: CLARK, Of N. H., offered m amend
ment providing that the commutatfon money
shall be applied by the War Department for
obtaining substitutes from the district from
which the drafted person halls, to fill the quo
: Mr.. GRIMES, of Iowa, did not desire that
colorcd men should be enlisted to fill up the
quota Of the State. He would like the word
7men'' to be construed "white men" The
colorcd men were enlisted by the General
Government, and colored men, unless the ci..
Nj. HARLAN, Of Iowa, thought TINT this
was tax upon the money Of the conntry,
not upon the intellect. The people Of Lou
isiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky owe. alle-
glance to the country as well ns those from
Maine. He never had believed that colored
soldiers could be employed with tho same
rule as white men. The co1ored man shou17
not be accepted as substitute for Ills supc-
Mr. DAVIS, of Ky., said that large pro-
portion Of the labor Of Kentucky was per
formed by slayes, and yet the Secretary Of
War Wonld sooner enlist slave than white
man in the border States, thus stripping those
States of their 1aboring classes to serve Us
substitutes for Northern laboring men who
were Kept at home.
Mr. WILSON, of Mass., was glad the Gov
ernment was about establishing tho policy in
regard to slaves which he had urged upon
them for, four months past
Mr. GRIMES thought negroes should bc
put under the protection Of the National
Government His amendment was intended
to stimulate the enlistment Of negroes so
that there would be no occasion for another
cal1 On the States.
Mr. GRIMES amendment Was rejected
" Mr.. If DooL1rTLE offered an amendment
providing that return troops re-enlisting
shall be credited to tie quota Of districts in
which they orig ina1ly enlisted.
Amendment adopted-e7 to H.
Another amendment was adopted providing
that communication money paid by persons
drafted, shall be applied to procurement of
substitutes for congressional districts where
draft takes place, md credited to the State
from which they hare enlisted.
Mr. TRUMBULL offered IN amendment re-
questing the President to call out and equip
hundred Thousand mon for Il hundred days
With the single object Of driving ont the rel>-
c1 army from Virginia and releasing Union
prisoners at and around Richmond
MIR. WILSON wanted to know what a hun.
d1ed thousand raw militia would be against
Lees yeteran army. They would be ofno ac~
count whatever.
Mr. TRUMBULL said that If we would say
to the people that there would be vigorous
campaign for this single object, We could
faIsc the hundred Thousand men. or the in
creased number proposed by the Senator
from Massachusetts,. ;,
Mr. FOSTER said the feeling among his
constituents was intensely strong In favor Of
the objects contemplated by the amendment
OF the Senator from Illinois. There would
also be wild enthusiasm in many sections Of
tie country, If the amendment was adopted.
He did not think, however, It was proper to
incorporate this into the present bill.
Mr. EESMITH moved to insert three years
instead Of one hundred days.
The motion was adopted.
The amendment rs amended was then re-
tected, Whercupon, at p. m., tho Senate ad-
fournef.