Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-01-16
XXXyIIlth CONGRESS--1st
SESSION.
A. c. CURTIN.
WASHINGTON, jan. 8, 1903.
s EN- "A I E. t

| enllStments, as IOllOWs :
That all enlistments hereafter made in the
regular army, during the rebellion, shall be
for three years.
That persons of African descent, mustered
into the service, shall receive the same cloth
ing, arms, equipments, camp eQuipage,
rations. and pay as whites, and each shall
have ten months advance pay
The wives and children of such recruits
shall forever thereafter be free.
Chaplains absent from duty by reason of
wounds, shall have full pay without rations,
and half pay with rations when absent on
| other leave.
A battalion of engineers is allowed an
| adjutan., quartermaster, and commlssary, to
be selected from the lieutenants Of the bat
talon. Other minor officers are allowed in
addition.
The bill was referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs.
The Senate, on the motion of Mr.. Wilson,
proceeded to the consideration of the enroll
ment bill.
Mr.. Sumner, of Massachusetts,, moved to
strike out the whole of the last section and
insert new section.
Mr.. Sumner said that the object of this
substitute was to popularize the bill.
First That no person shall be allowed to
furnish a substitute, but the whole shall be
done by the Government
Second That the compensation shall be
fixed by law at $500. In the third place,
that every drafted dperson seeking exemption
shall pay $500, and if his income be over
$500, ratably according to the rates. On
all incomes over 5000, and not over So, 900,
ten per centum; over two, and not over five
thousand, 20 per centum and on all income
over So 900, thirty per ccntum.
Mr.. Sumner said that some persons sup
posed that he proposed to require too large
a sum. He asked the Senators if any sum
can be too large to a man who is worth
$4,000 what the additional 1.-THE of 10, 20,
or so per cent Nothing.
Mr. Clark. of New Hampshire, thought
that the gentleman had a wrong theory
The Government asks for men. The idea
was that the Government should obtain the
man or his substitute. The Senator puts the
whole matter into the hands of the Govern
ment. When the old bill was passed, it was
assailed. and it was said you take the rich
mans money, and the poor mans blood
lie had never failed to satisfy the people
that the present bill was for their benefit.
If you strike out the $500 Communication
clause, at what price is a substitute to be
obtained by the poor man There, indeed,
, ! IL WONl(l bc tdhlug tuc pDO| NJbiA S'lNi
and the rich mans money.
Mr.. Clark said, if you repeal this draft.
the people will say you did not believe it
. just when you passed it. The draft was and
!, is hard measure; but | submit whether ii
/. is not better to refuse to repeal the the com
mutation. ] am not certain if the twelve
million had been as well applied as it might
: have been, we would have obtained more
men. The service should fall on all. We
: should all serve the Government, and
want the draft 10 fall where if we can't get
men we get money. We should retain this
. clause. l oppose the provision of the gen.
tleman from Massachusetts.
Mr.. Pomeroy, of Kansas, said that he ap.
, proved of some OF the features of Mr. Sum.
ner's proposition, but he thought it was
was against the spirit of patriotism that q
man should not be allowed to furnish sub
stitute, as this act forbids; but let every
man either furnish substitute or pay
, This would indeed popularize the bin.
, Mr.. Sumner modified his proposition, al
lowing a drafted man to furnish the sub
stitute
; Mr.. Collamcr, of Vermont, said he thought
the object of placing in the three hundred
, dollar commutation was that the price
would not be higher than if the Govern
infrmity looked to me as if the surgeon wa.
endeavoring to show his learning. No one
| would escape unless, perhaps, the man who
! said he had never been sick except once
when he had the measles. Laughter) y
, Various reasons besides physical intirmity
had prevented the full success of the draft
a Again, II was given out that the payment %
. the money did not have the effect of furnish
ing substitutes. The Government took thu
money and hired a substitute. That sub
f, stitute was for the man who paid the com
= mutation. The effect of this misunderstood
ing Of the intention of the commutatior
> clause was that the price of substitutes rails
. ed, defeating one of the objects of the bill
. The mode of administering the law haG
. tendency also TO defeat the draft Thel
h obtained about 4,500 men, and twelve mil
. lions of money Why not make another
g and another draft, even the whole FIVE be
q fore calling the draft a failure. think tn
experiment OF the first draft fully yindicate
, the wisdom of its trainers.
: Mr.. Collamcr said he opposed the propo
: sition to repeal the $500 Communication claus
@ at some length.
n Mr.. Lane said, that under the provision
e Of the bill, $4,000 men paid their money
Y and were exempt. The report of the pro
: Nost lllhiSntl SHOWS llldl we nave Dlt AbnO
/ 100000 men. If you continue these eXemp
n tions, how long will you have men to day
C from. II the war is TO be prolonged, ] tel
d you that you will have to repeal the exemp
|. tioa, Or have no army at all. We tried III
o draft, and exempted $4,000 men. As Ion,
|. rs you retain the $500 clause, you will hav
II less and less basis to draw from, and yo
IS will have 10 make a general conscriptiou
without substituting, of every able-bodie'
c man. 1t discouraged volunteering also 70
n while a citizen knows he could escape til
Il draft, he will not volunteer The draft hai
N no fears for him. think the clause ha
o resulted in evil and nothing but evil. NJ
Il State will ill her quota without drafting,
Y prefer volunteering, with high bounties, bu
y II we do make draft, let it not be mock
: cry.
i. Mr.. Wilson said that, though instructed
4 10y his committee to report the amendmen
r repeating the Communication clause, he pre-
!. ceeded 10 speak In favor OF its retention. =
Il lie believed that the Secretary OF War VA
e against striking IL out. We have enfolle
" large numbers of men who will not be d'atl
cd We shall not need all these men, and
s- large portion of the States will furnish vol
l, unteeTs, think We have In the army 600
4. 600 men, of which 100000 are efscliy
d soldiers, do not think the rebels have owe