Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-07

necessity that this bill Should be parsed at The
country Was losing by desy, Thousands OF men who
had urn iG s1 substitutes ru0ping of into the
enemys lines He had no idea the civil courts should
have thing to do With The execution OF this law. II
we passed smother conecrpt Congress would, if the
civil ccuc's had anything 10 do with the qu sion fod
them el yes in conflict States than forth Caro-
lima The whole coun ~ would be 10 ln:usi from
conflicting opinions
Mr.. Clay hoped. the action to post pone would PIE
vail The Chairman aud two of the most active mem
bers of The Military Committee absent. '1hs Of
itsaif aaa a good reason for postponement but there
were others The bill introduced by the Military Com
mittee would ef ct the object this BILL and Of
end All desired II it could be done consistent
ly with good faith, and without difficulty with the
courts, to put the into the army who had furnished
substitutes. But twas necessary to adopt laws that
would conciae whilst they had the desired effect. No
court had decd ed that II tie substitute became liable
to military duty that the principal shall not be subject
Ii the conscrpt law extended beyond forty five the
whole eb:ct would be accomplished that all were aim
ing at.
The bill OF te Military Committee proposed to COZ
scribe all white male reside of the Confederate States
between the ages OF sixteen ami sixty years OF age
This would have the effect Of holding in the service the
troops now in the field. The frst couscpt law gave
dissatisfaction and nothing but the oftiest patriotism
snfced to keep them 10 the service They said it
act of bad faith hold them for three years when
they had enlisted only for twelve months This thing
We should have to do again surrender the liberties OF
the country. No would go Tar to )ncile
the army to this conscript law putting in the
substitute men, The bill ought to be passed yet with
amendments It had evidently passed the Hsus.
hastily.
Mr. Brown, of Mississippi, wss oppos to any delay
The result of delay bad been shown last session. when
both Houses bad severiy passed bills 10 abolish the
substitute laws, but neither bill passed both HOUSES
The bill allowing substitute Dug never to have been
passed but since 1t had it should be repealed soon
possible.
Mr.. Orr said the law authorizing substitutes was
abolished.
Mr. Brown said yes, the door had been shus ate
the horse was gone This law should DOT be allowed
to drop through from respect OF the mere tecbncales
such decision of State courts 1t was agreed upon
all Sides with fare exceptions, that Legislation this
subjsct should be retraced The legislation OF the
House this subject met his views but if it did not
he would agree with it. II we could get what we
wanted we should agree with the House in what they
wanted. Their opinions much entitled to Tee
pect as ours The bill strikes al the root of the evil
The Senate should pass it promptly, and 1t there was
danger of the law not being exc ued there
=dy and let the senate it, Suspend the hGbeds
pus The country should Tot be lost because Of the
opinion OF every petty judge, auhorzed to issue hn
beas corpus giving different decisions IN Virginia, len
pessee, Alabama and Mississippi. 10 get uniformity,
Congress should pass law declaring this law 30 be for
the regulation and discipline Of the army and by that
means to this measure, suspend the writ or hdtea
corpus Congress, there no DOUBT would suspend
the hG6eGS corpus to particular measures having au
thorty to pass it generally Il would be bad to have
it said after we're 10 graves, that our liberty
had oeen lost whilst struggling petty con
stitutional questions
Mr.. Henry, of Tennessee, also opposed to a
postponement of the question. Whilst we were discuss
ing the bill th2usauds running eff 30 the enemy.
Mr.. Johnson, OF Arkansas, could see such great
need OF hurry, He did not believe thai going
to fail. RaIiy the in which gentlemen had
been talking calculated ID alarm II the sub
;titute fellows G. ing to they had better be
kolr with
valuable information He thought Tie subject should
be postponed.
After SOM. further remarks by Mess rs. Hl OIdha
and Semmes the bill and Amendments ordered TO
be printed. Pending the further consideration CT the
ubject the Senate resolved into secret executive
non.