Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-01-14
CONGRESS ONAL.
BoUNTIEs TO SOLDIERS,

n F
Mr. FARNSWORTH. from the Committee Military
Affairs reported joint resolution to continue bounties
heretofore paid which read first aud second time
The resolution provides that the bounties heretofore
paid under the regulations and orders FROM the War De
partment to enstg in the regular volunteer
forces OF the United States for three years during the
shall continue to be paid from the 9th Of January
1864 to the st day Of March next any thing 10 the act
approved December 23 1863 to the contrary notwith
| standing
March fixed Instead of the let Of February is that the
intelligence Of this fact may reach the different departments
Of the army in the extreme portions Of the country En-
stuens, as we all know, ceased yesterday throughout
the country from the payment Of the bountes under
the law which passed on the 23d OF December The
extension of the time for payment Of bounties is
mended BY both the War Department. and the President
hope therefore, that there will be objection the
part Of any member OF the House for certainly it is far
preferable raise by volunteer enlistment by the
pay Of liberal bountes than to raise them by draft
Mr. COX. would inquire OF my friend from Illinois
whether the Committee Military Affairs have consider
I'D the proposition for the total repeal Of the
law, and whether this to be in lieu Of IT. whether the
general policy OF volunteering is to be adopted by the
party in power; whether We are to have nothing but
| volunteering.
Nh. FARNsWoRTH. am not aware that any action
has taken in reference to that subject We did not
regard that important for the action Of the House
/ this resolution. 1
| Mr. cox Let mo ask the gentleman another question
for information. What are the bonnties which
Mr.. FARNswoRTH Under the regulations OF the
War Department.
Mr. FARNSWORTH. To veterans $40O and to new
| men $500. BouDtes are paid by installments. The
amount of bounty paid to veteran enlistment forty
dollars think together with months pay in ADVANCE
and premium of two dollars which has always been paid
The bounty paid to not quite much. Boun-
ties paid by indictments during period OF service
/ Mr., CHAMBER ri wish to ask whether there is any
law for the paymant0 bountes whether they paid
under prociamatous regulations orders of the War
Department Is that all the authority there for the
| pay nent Of these bounes
| Mr.. FARNSWORIH There ia no law for the pay
msnt of bountiss after the 5!h OF January
/ Mr.. CHANLER Then there is no law on the subject.
/ Mr. sTEVFNS. This resolution authorizes the pay
ment Of bounties after the 9Th of January. Does it
authorize the payment Of bounes to coored soldiers
/ Mr.. FARNSWORTH. This simply continues the pay
| Mr. cox. There is good deal of misund erstandng
on this question. do understand that there
| any law authorizing the payment of bounties
| Mr. FARNSWORTH, | am not aware that at the
commencement Of the payment Of these bounes there
was any act Of Congress upon the subject.
Mr.. STEVEAS. will say to the gentleman that when
passed the enlistment law We gave communication Of
$500 those who drafted and did not serve and
expressly authorized that money to DO used for the
procuraton of substitutes and therefore is right to
take the money arising from this $500 communication to
mske the army equal IN number to those who paid the
| Communication.
Mr.. COX 1t seems to unusual legislation to bring
in bill to appropriate money for object, aud basng
that appropriation simply npon the proclsmatons Of the
War Office do not know what those proclamations
do not know whether they include black soldiers
or white soldiers, red soldiers. do not know how
much is to be paid That depends upon proclamations
issued almost every day. and with which members Of Con
not familiar think fhe bill introduced by the
gentleman from Illinois ought To be very specific, showing
exactly how much should be paid Otherwise it will be
subject to hundred different interpretations do not
max any objection to this bill cautiously but wish
encourage this system OF volunteering, aud to wipe out
this transcription law entirely aud hence will vote for
almost any thing to break down the system Of conscrp
ton hope this will do ii and accept this move
the beginning by members upon the other sde to get rid
of that system.
Mr. GARFIELD. IL understand the matter correctly
the public Journals the request of the President and
the War Department to continue the payment Of
bcunes until the let Of February next but tho resolu
lion before the House proposes to extend the payment
until the LIST Of March And while tie President asks
continue the Of bountes to veteran volunteers
only this resolution extends to all volunteers whether
veterans recruits. II the resolution prevails it
seems shall swamp the finances OF the Govern
ment before the LIST of March arrives csnnot
to vote Tor which authorizes the expenditure Of
vast will be- expended under his resolution
il be shown absolutely Indispensable tn the work Of
filing up the army. anxious that veterans should
volunteer and that liberal bontes be paid to them But
f extend the payment to all classes Of volunteers
two months To come fear shal swamp the Govern
ment Before vote for this resolu on desire know
whether the Government is determined to abandon the
draft If il be lis policy to raise army solely by voun
terng and paying bountes bavs line az policy to
pursue If the ption law 10 be any thing better
than dead letter the satute-book line OF policy j.
a very different ask the gentleman from Illinois b.
infoi which SO is 10 be adopted. sorry 10
in this resolution the indication o tmd and vaclla
ing course. Ii is unworthy the dignity ~ Govern
nsent and army tn the CONSUMPTION act
crow aud the bounty syrem bait Ia alternately
and coax into the army et us give liberal bounties
to soldiers who may reenst and for recruits
use the draft
Mr. FARNsWORTH. in reply to my colleague
will say do not understand to be- the policy of the Co
vernnent to abandon the draft but 10 understand 1T 10
be their policy 10 get mento get them rst by enlistment
il they but at all events Ia get to Gil up the army
II the object of this resolution to give the people Of the
country, who seem h. have the spirit Of enlistment
opportunity 10 I'll the quota by eDlistnents under
this liberal bounty If that is not done in reasonable
time the army is to be- filed up at all events do not
understand that the payment Of this bounty will swamp
the country Under thu draft il that system should be
pursued TO the exclusion Of the volunteering system
inclined to think that it would cost much to get
these men, and put them In the field il will under the
system OF these bountes The bounes IL will be remem-
bered not To be paid all at ones The President bis
to Congress- recommends the continuance Of the
payment Of These bnuntes asf until the Let day Of
February know that the War Department IL favorable
to extension Of the bounes beyond that period u
the opinion of the War Department that the quotas o the
several States nearly tho entire quotas under ths last
call for three hundred thousand men, can be made up by
eosnents il the bo1nhes continued b. be paid for
reasonable time and il is the opinion OF the Committee
on Military Affairs that contlnrsncs of these bounes
until the LIT Of February would meet the case Ii 10.
qulres twenty thirty days to communicate with some
81 the departments Of the army IL requires I suppose
twenty days to communicate with Gen. Bankss depart
ment.
Mr. BROOKS Nj Sneaker the rama ~ Ia ga \,