New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-11-25
The Rebel Csugress-zn portnus Debate
Proceedings in the House, Saturday
Noy. 10.
EXIMrI1Ov OF sTATH OrFICEhs

Mr.. Staples of Virginia, from the Committee
g. whom referred resolution directing an nquir.
into the o1pcdency OF applying 10 the several state Tor
such modification OF the laws OF the states ~ shall
have the effect 10 decrease the number VI exemptions
FROM TIE military service Of State officers reported that
they considered II highly eIfedlent thas al appeal Do
made 10 the several State Legislature, TO modify
their exemption laws as "a leave subject 10 miitory ser
Woo state officers between the ages Of eighteen aid
iogty. i've years whose presence AZ HON" MAY moi be
essentially necessary 10 cohinct anu cary On tho
operltiol,, OF their respective Governments.
The Committee further recommend the appointment
of Joint committee to consist Of one member from
each State on the part OF the House, md euch numtcr
a. may 10 appointed BY the Senate whose duty IL shall
be- 10 ASCERTAIN the number NJ oCes sach one of tie
several States exempted by existing laws from military
service In tho armies OF the Confederate STAIRS for tic
purpose carrying the Government OF said States
and " the number exempted DO larger than the pubic
necessity shall require, that chs Commiits pre-
pare and report o the House an eAllrss appearing 90
each one OF said States 10 go modify their respective
exemption laws as render Eabo 10 military scryio.
all able bodied men between eighteen and hrfy hge
years of age whose services IA their several offices may
he temporarily dispensed with without detaent " the
Government III SAID States.
Mr.. Staples in submitting the report OF the Commit
toe said that IL was OBJ ious that action oDght 10
Dc taken either b. Congress the State Legisl
bring into the military service the large class Of men
who now exempt under tho State laws The stats
ties OF the Conscription Bureau show that therO ara
more thar thirty thousand men who are out OF the army
on the plea OF state exemption. virginia retains az
home OF this class. lf90; North Carolina aeoat i.oO'
Georgia II ~ supposed. between i..Uo and laNp. IL
was clear that all these u,en were not needed III home,
aud that toe lumber might be reduced without deti.
ment the public service. The Governors OF the
Grad Southern States had recently met at Augusta
hold upon the state OF the country they Lad pat
forth sefics oi resolutions when seie sAceitst a. lar
AZ they v ent but they did not 20 far enough. They
were silent upon the subject OF State exemptions sab
lect over which they had authority above all ohers
Mr. Stapes said no as In favor II making an appeal
10 the States. earnest and respectful appeal Heb
Iey. thai the State Legislatures conprehcnded tie
crisis OF tue country He believed they would that
IL would he better 10 suspend the operations OF their re-
spcotye Governments. aye. 10 oberate the lines OF
State sovereignty than for to be forced
to accept terms OF peace which had been proposed
10 There was man dev oted ~ State Rights
thin he but there was danger that the point might DO
pressed too far. state sovereignty could not save nE
IL the army that stood the banks OF tho james
River that could alone save m. ntiaf sank. state
sovereignty sank. The North had proclaimed nothing
but war bloody ard terrible war Mo- ono can look for
peace Why talk OF a Convention Of he SthteSf When
where did the North ever propose such