Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-07
TnE WHIT OF HABEAs CoBPUs.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..

SENATE beceOn'
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Tie HOUSE met at IL o'clock A: M
TIE EXEMPTION BILL.
The bill reported from the Military Comm ttee TO regu-
late future exemptions and repeating those at present
existing, vas taken up.
Ne. NILES of s. o., explained at length the Object
Of the committee in reporting the bill He oisclaimed
The mpuaton of being influenced by the idea Of put
tirg everybody into the army. He would not putin
those wto by of their mechanical or agricultu7
ral usefulness indispensable both 10 the army aud
he country He entertained no such wild notioDas
that In the ptOtracted struggle in which We are/en
gagged il is necessary TO consider before swell ng the
army 10 q great exent whether We have powder &nd
ball TO put ia the hands Of the recruits months
sup2y of DIVISIONS in advance. Toe overwhelming
sentiment Of thu army aud the country had called a.
eniion to tho goes abuses OF the exemption law. No
one can doubt the stenco OF these abuses There
are thousands of drones and idlers who have crept
through some loop-hols of tho exemption law, and the
effect lad been produce and incTeae The classes tina;
are xempt There milers tanners shoemaksrs
and tie like than ever known to exist before
Every man who can dig hole and pui In a couple OF
hides calls himself tanner. The army is bare ooted
and tie country is flooded with aho.makert; the
try ia tuf ring for breId and have mlers than
enough 10 grind what bread we have. The abuses
had been as great in other occupations. The ex-
empion law, 80 IA, had teen an utter failure.
Mr. DUPhE-AlmOst every law as inc lmpreesment
law for instance, Ia been q failure.
Tee suit sct had been examined every year, aud been
Little improved by tnkeing. he would come next to
the Objectionable feature of tho bill. He was not in
favor vesng in the President the present Erecu-
tive large discretion. He thought our President was
90 fond of power. Whatever might be the disposition
Of he President ID grasp power, be (Mr. Miles / ad
abdi faith in the patriotism o. the ope. COLL i.
be supposed that the Prs dent and Secretary OF War
would exert 10 for any other purpose than the keeping
up of the armyg Was it feared that this great power
wouli be atu ed by them TO establish themselves the
ruin of ate rgttsg He did not believe the rights o!
the people would be oyerLhroWn and least of all by
such I'll as the enc under consideration ADy up
right Intelligent could survey the whole nec and
frame better exemption bill than the whole Congress.
II mus. be admitted that Congress couli not make
good exemption law, and j! was no reflection on the
wisdom OF Congress to say go. The difficulty was,
eVsry man WAS influenced by some local pre- sure, and
when all we're thus broughtn and enumers there
was a host OF them BY leayi the question to The
Executive and Head OF the War Department, who are
supposed be better aeq iainted with the wants OF the
army and better able u ige OF fpec; cases. it uld
be beat determined. They would no; sti nulate every
occupation and ncrolse the number of those engaged
in il He did lot apprehend that the President and
Secretary Of War; merely TO crafty lust OF power,
woud.desroy ths productive capacity Of the country
They could best keep az hcma those VINO would be more
use u there thal in the army aud detailed man hav
business which not the case when he il absolutely
exempt.
Mr. DARGAN--If man detailed to attend 10
his farm, there nothing to prevent bis BE- ig
detailed 10 attend to the farm Of the Secretary OF War;
Mr. MILES did not fear such an abuse More eli
cency could be attained by details as in the of
Government'foundries II absolutely exempt the en-
poJees neglected their business but if detailed and
under military supe vision check would constantly be
held up to hem. II the war lasted ten years, the sub
ject of exemptions would be brought up at every
sion Of Congress with the same result. he did not
wish to be understood desiring sweep everybody
into the iapks by advocating this bill.
Mr. F0OrE said the position of the gentleman
from S. o. proceeds the wroI basis and the sup
position that Congress, incompetent 10 perform lis
duties, should yield up the power with which il vas
clothed 70 tho President Was il that represen
taves OF the people from every section OF the untry
we're grossly incompetent ask the Executive TO
perform the functions they were eIpec ed TO perform
fnat was his practical obi o.on to the gsntleman's
proposition. II the proposition true, members had
better vacat, their at once and depu the Pres
dent to Detail persons 10 perform their duties for teem
He would not be 60 nngenerouI as to CAL in on elon
the patriotism OF the Executive as the gentleman had
done. Had he been in the habit Of reading the oc al
and semi-oihoial organs, The FIRST supposed to be
under the of he iss Jew gentleman at the Head
of the ate Department. be wouli not have sed
that temerity If he cared to oppose the stream of
official corruption be wou1 be charged with favorng
Lincoln ana recOnerucdO0. lie nad always oe(n thus
assaied. II the present state of fairs inued the
Of bod in the reign OF terror" during the
French revolution would be re.enscted He was OPP
posed to The bill because Congress competent 10
perform its It's own dutes. He would not trust the |
Executive with power th IN tbs Constitution au-
tho ICES. In his judgment the Executive Department
had been SO mismanaged we'll other departments
of the Governmentha it COZ II no. be presumed that
the President would be able 10 attend TO tbis |
mater more wisely than Oongnesa A; any rate, he |
would not strengthen the Executive am unduy. The
subject Of details had been ievousy rpismanaged in
the past, and he had reason to believe with some
appearance Of personal partia ity Rather than adopt
the bill presented he would prefer local tribunals
through the country to determine the question of
exemption and details. he had voted for an ex
emp ion bill that bad paaed the House. He did no. |
know that Guild be framed go perfectly to re-
ceivs his approval. Blu. he hoped that the Efforts of
Congress in the future would be fortunate than
they had been in the past In event would he be
willing that Congress should biicste ito power a.d
right to frame one and give IL to the Execu i've.
Unless we can feed the army there Is no prcprely
in creasng it. Several months ago be urged the
moval of the present Commssary General aud If he ia
not our army will be- starved. Our gallant army all
Vcksburg was starved into surrender through his gross
He had no unkind feelings 10 wards that
functionary. He only th psht he was an obstruction
Ia the way Of supplies TO the army. Any means 10 be
adopted in connection with any exemption scheme must
embrace petition for his removal. He favored some
plan of exemption, and one more jadcious than the
plan proposed by the BILL because he not think the
system OF details would be properly managed In con.
necti1n with the whole subject, he would csr the fol-
loving amendment.
Resolved That the present Commissary General,
whatever may be the honesty Of his intentions his
,aims to kindly regard patriotic citzs1 has by his
general course Of proceeding whilst in the occupancy
IF his present official position by his overhasah and