Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-23

amendment, although lie MAYER on yesterday :hsd
Voted against exempting mechanics enough 10 sus.
tain the country. He had listened TO the de-
bate on this bill with much seriousness and inter
est He agreed with gentlemen who insisted that
there might be. something wrong in the execution
OF the exemption laws heretofore. There certainly
were too many able bodied men Ia places other
than places where lighting TO be done i
very large namber of sHch men were daily u he
found on our railroads and in our towns and VII
lages-the whole Of whom on any one day properly
collected, would add greatly TO our army and tend
TO relieve the country greatly. III all the proper
men were in their proper places, there would lie far
less necessity tor stripping the country all its az
rcultural and mechanical aborers If all the proper
were in their proper places in the army many
poor woman la the country, whose tendeus are daily
stretched, and who, each night, lies down With
aching bones from her labors provide the mean,
of living for her helpless children might have re-
turned to her aid the assistance Of her husband for
truly there many desoate mothers IN the cOun-
try who, after doing all they can, Cannot supply tho
actual wants of their own loved OiispriEg-htle 10
check the knawiRgs of their hunger but sghs or TO
slake their thirst but her tears.
He argued at some length 10 show thai Congress,
should FIX and determine bylaw who should 90 into
the army, and who should do the work q; homc-this
is 10 be determined speedily and fairy. He argued
that muchldepended on the spirit and character VI
an army as on its numbers.
He argued and went on TO insist thst the army
must be maintained aud sustained. But that IT
would not be wise OF prudent TO put all into the ar
my, without reference TO the situation and condition
OF the soldier to be selected and the NECESSITY isr
their services at home, or in the army, fairly aud
honestly canyassed aud decided upon
lie insisted that IL would not do to put all the
whlte la0orers Oh our territory not IN the posses
sion or under the control Of the enem9 into the
my All, however, that can be Sparedi and who can
make soldiers, ought TO be sent to the 'army. Ken
lucky, Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee aud much
of Louisiana and Mississippi cannot furnish much
subsistence TO the army. Ii the lands Of ths other
States are not faithfully and industrously cultivated
the consequeu. disasters 10 the whole country can
be more easily imagined than described.
The amendment was adopted-ayes 81 noes q.
Mr.. GARLAND. OF Ark, moved that the amend
ment, as amended, be laid on TIE table
Mr.. ANDERSON, Of Ca, demanded the ayes aud
noes on the motion, which being ordered, the vote
stood, ayes 81 SHOES 35
Mr.. McMULLEN offered the following amendment
as an independent section, to come in between
tons TWO and three:
There shall be exempted in each county or dis
trlet answering TO county, according to the census
OIL ls6O the following artzans, who shall he perssBs
OF skill and experience in their several calGngs,
whether such persons be in the army not, 10 Wit
one blacksmith for every two thousand inhabitants,
one miller TO every two thousand inhabitants,
one tanner for every four thousand inhabitants,
miliwright for every ten thousand inhabitants. The
said africans to be designated by the Governors Of
daion Of the County Court OF Ordinary or Probate,
who may bear testimony in regard 10 the qualfcq-
tons and proper distribution of such artizans ard
make recommendations accordingly, and such ar
tizans, II in the army, shall be discharged there
trom.
At the suggestion of Mr.. HMToE, OF Florida,
Mr.. McMULLIS added the following, by way, Of
proviso:
provided there is within the limits Of such cc4n-
munity no skilled white mechanics not liable 10 mil
itary duty, negro mechanic, working for the pub
lie Of the classes herein enumerated and provided
further that said artisans shall forfeit such esemp-
tions failure diligently to labor tor the pubcin
the employment for which they are exempted"
The amendment, with the pr6viso added, was pass
ed-ayes 81, noes 20.
Mr DUPRE offered an amendment concerning de-
tails, which was lost.
Mr. BRADLEY, Of Kentucky, moved TO recOnsd-
er the vote by which tue amendment Of MIR McMrI-
LEN was adopted.
Pending the discussion Of which, the House ad-
journed,