Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-20
The Pending llilitary Bill.

The Pending Military Bill. -
In the House Of Representatives, on Friday last,
Mr. Staples, of Virginia, submitted the following,
striking and manly remarks on Mr.. Miles military
bill, now pending in the House: -, -.e--.
"Mr. Staples of Virgins, who was entitled to
the floor, moved to re commit the bill and amend
ments to the military committee and said that that
committee at the last session Of Congress- reported
bill similar to the one now under consideratlon.-
1t was rejected in the House BY decisive vote--
Let us earnestly hope that this bill may share the
same fate. He had voted against the proposition
then, and there was nothing in the condition Of the
tleman from South Carolina (Mr. Miles) that would
induce him to change the opinion then entertained.
He (Mr. Staples argued st considerable length to
show that the Secretary Of War could not perform
the duties this bill would impose upon him that
he the Secretary wohld be compelled to delegates
the power to innumerable boards and agents, dis.
persed throughout the country; that these boards
would open now sources of patronage and power
that they would be exposed to all the temptations
Of personal, political and family influence, to fraud,
corruption and bribery-creating, by their decis'
ions, dissatisfaction among the people and discon.
tent in the army. He insisted that the expense OF
an universal conscription would be enormous; that
no man could estimate the injury inflicted upon oil
the industrial interests of the country by the sud-
den stoppage of so many calings and pursuits un.
til the Secretary of War shall determine who shall
be detailed, and for what purpose. The honorable
gentleman from South. Carolina says that Congress
cannot agree upon bill The gentleman is mis-.
taken. 1t may require time, but an actual vote will
always test the sense of the House upon any propo-
sition for exemption. The same process Of reason
ing would lead US to commit to the President the
whole subject of taxation and currency. Upon that
question there wider differences Of opinion than
any other in the whole range of political economy
differences as to principle and differences as to de-
tail. But sir, these difficulties do not relieve Con-
gress from the obligation Of maturing such meas
ures Of finance the necessities Of the country de-
mand. The whole subject of conscription and ex-
empton belongs to Congress- and to Congress alone
1t is legislative power legislative discretion and
alegislative obligation. Congress must declare war;
Congress must raise armies, Congress must deter.
mine who are to compose the armies, and who are
to be exempt from military service. For the prop
er exercise of this trust the members responsible
to their constituents, to the country and to pos
terity. Who SO capable of discharging this trust
as the men upon this floor, fresh from the peo-
pie and familiar with all their wants, their necessi
ties and the Diversified interests of al extensive
conntrys Why, air, We are sent here for this pur-
pose and when We Acknowledge ourselves inesps-
ble Of performing ths legislative duty saenld re-
sign onr seats and 90 back and tell our constsu-
ents. This bill clothes the President With The
powers of an autocrat It invests him with prerog.
atives before which those of Napoleon sink into in
significance. Pass this bill, and no man can pur-
sue mechanical occupation, no man practice med
icine, publish newspaper, or ascend the pulpit and
proclaim the tidngs of the Gospel without crawling
to the footstool of power, and humbly asking per-
mission from an omnipotent executive Pass this
bill. aud then commences the scramble for s.ecu-
live favor and patronage. We shall have the War
department and the Executive mansion beleaguered
oy an innumerable throng of suppliants and beg
gars for 4" the thrift that follows fawniug" Mem
bers of Congress will be 'ected to swell the host
of applicants Weshall be seen hat in hand, crowd
ing the ante-rooms Of the War department and the
avenues that lead to the executive Office, humbly
asking for the detail of shoemaker or tanner, or
minister of the Gospel, for our constituents He
would not vote to expose his constituents to infu.
ences so demoralizing. He would not subject him.
self to the loss of that manly independence SO nec-
essary to representative Of the people in bis whole
Intercourse with the executive departments of the
government"