Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-01-14
CONGRESS UkAL.
THE ENROLMENT SUBSTITUTES
In the Senate, on the 7th instant

In the Senate, on the Ith instant
On the motion Of Mr. WILSON, the Senate took up
the Senate bin To amend the enrolment act, approved
March g. 1863 and proceeded consider and dscuss
rous thereto which had been reported by the
COMMITTEES on Military Affairs In this business the body
engaged during the remainder OF ita public sitting
The most interesting portion the debate took place upon
an amendment proposed by one OF The sonators from
Ohio
Mr. SHERMAN moved TO insert in the first section
after the word necessary the words during the pre-
war" confne the operation OF the act to the
present The clause will then read;
'Thst the President Of the United States shall be author
lied whenever he shall deem IL necessary during the pre-
sent war call for such lumbsr Of for the military
service % the United States the public exigsneies may
require, sc = t..E lta
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. SHERMAN then moved to add TO section four the
following clause;
Amy person not physically disqualified now in the mill
ary service OF the Uued States be furnished sub
stute provided his term enment shall expire within
six months from the time Of substituted"
Mr. SHERMAN said that there ambiguity in
the section as it stood He asked whether person now
10 the military service of the United States
ceptabs. substituted" Aud expressed desire to have
the opinion of the chairman Of the Military COMMITTEES
that point,
Mr. WILSON I think so; that is within the lmita
tions of the Department As / understand the War OF
fee have horized who have less than year to
TO enlist; they may enlist any bodys subst
tute who chooses to take them.
Mr.. DOOLIrTLE AS substitutes?
Mr.. WILSON Iu any way.
Mr.. DOOLlTTLE. do not understand it So
Mr. SHERMAN Under the operation of the law it
stands then veteran soldier who receives $402 bounty
to-day, may when this bill takes effect law month
hence be employed substitute and receive y 900
bounty from the person who thus employs him. and be
transferred from one regiment to another
Mr.. WILSON No; he has enlisted think the
Senator will find the position to be this person in the
service the United States is not liable to be drafted and
the Secretary of War has authorized persons in the
vice of the United States who have less than year
serve to reenst and has offered them certain bounty
for doing They may re-enlist and take the bounty
Any who is drafted may reenlst one Of them If he
chooses. who is drafted may get substitute, aud
he has right to 90 to the army and get substitute there
IL is right that it should be so.
Mr.. SHERMAN Then suppose he ia re enlisted To-
day. he is not subject to draft under the operation of this
law and month hence he may be employed MS substi-
tute.
Mr. WILSON. Oh, no; because then he has three
Mr. SHERMAN But whyq Nothing prevents it but
the regulations Of the Secretary Of War which may be
changed modified 1t is not the subject of legal regu-
atiun desire 10 give 10 the veteran soldier the right to
accept the bountes that may be offered for substitutes
provided the term Of his service which is pred does
not exceed months 1t is Of the highest Importance to
the reensment Of veteran soldiers We all admit
that
Mr. WILSON. Why not extend it to those who have
'ess than year to serve putting it on the footing on
which The regulations put it
MIR SHERMAN If that modification is insisted upon
l shall not oppose it,
Mr.. COWAN The effect of It would be to add TO the
Mr.. SHERMAN Yes; if n veteran re-enlists he is
substantially discharged from present service.
Mr.. COWAN. That had better be expressed. Let it
be stated distinctly that in addition to the bounty they
shall be rel ased from the time they have to serve
Mr., FESSENDEN. Does the Senator propose not only
to give them bounty substitutes, but If they have
eleven montbs tn that the eleven months shall be
given up to enable them to become substtute,7
Mr. SHERMAN. They will be tered into service
for three years instead vi having only PRED term
Of eleven months.
Mr. FEsSENDEN But they are mustered in "a s,b
sttutes aud although the Government has claim them
for eleven months the Senator'S proposed amendment
would authorize the veteran Ia clear himself Of that
vice, and receive bis bounty substitute aud take the
place OF somebody else.
Mr. SHERMAN That ia the effect OF the present
order Of the Secretary Of War a.
Mr. FESSENDEN. understand not
Mr.. SHERMAN. The enlistment commences from
the date OF reensfment
Mr.. FEssENDEN That is true; hut the order does
not allow him to become substitute for somebody else
Mr.. WILSON Yes it does
Mr.. FESSENDEN. Surely that cannot be-
Mr.. WILSON. II Senators will allow me a moment
will state how this mattrr stands. The Secretary Of
War has issued an order Of which every soldier in our
army who bas served than years has an oppor
tunity to avail hmse That order allows
into the service OF he United States FIR three years
Mr.. DOOLIT1LE 1.-THE Senator from Massachusetts,
will allow me, wish to ask him question right on that
point Can he enlist for himself aud enlist at the
time for another man. that two longer liable 10
be- drhfted7
Mr. WILSON. He can. A citizen of any State who il
liable o be- drafted my by the existing law get cub
tue any where 10 the broad earth out Of the army
IN the army, ~ the Government will allow the 10 the
army 10 ro-enlist That is to-day A man who is
drafted may ssy, her. is man from my town in the
service OF the United States who has got less than
year to serve; the Government offers him S4o0 to enlist
for threc years, aud gives up the residue II his time
Will get this man for substitute will offer TO him $500
IN addition 10 what the Government offers him to eot
for three years; !" aud he is r. enlisted
Mr. FESSENDEN. He ~ not re.eDlisted for that mHn.
Mr. WILSON. Yes, that man ia discharged because he
has got substitute. Jay that the law aud il will be
pract,sed the moment you commence draft snd IL s
right and just aud the best thing there is about the draft
Mr.. FESSENDEN IL s high time that any such prac-
tce should be stopped u deprives us of two men.
Mr. HOWE. III the law Is ~ the Senator from Massa-
cbsettr insists certainly do not understand the fourth
section 81 ths b The fourth section declares that amy
person enrolled under the provisions Of the act for
rolling aud calling out ths national forces and for other
purposes approved March B. 1863 who may hereafter
be so enrolled may furnish at any time acceptable sub
stitute who not liable TO draft" do undo rstand
that any man in the service now, whether he has year
month 10 serve il liable to draft IL am drafted
do moi see how can 20 and hire him to for me,
and get him accepted as my substitute.
MIR WILSON. i will explain that III is q very plain
question Under the existing law, and 10 that respect il
will be precisely the this smendatory bill shall be
passed, when man is drafted he obtsn substitute
any where lie obtain substitute who is liable to
be drafted and have him accepted put to the service
81 the United States This provision that stands by
self II ~ one Tint made for the frat time IL is,
that airy who finds himself enrolled liable be
drafted, IL be does not elect person who is liable
be drafnd, furnish substitute and the Government
agrees 10 accept that substitute before The man il drafted
possible drai, not from cal draft That IL the whole
"a aiming oil ths sectipn