Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-23
THE RAM ALBEMARLE.
THE CONSOLIDATION BnL--EXEAPTIONS
AND DETAILS.

In the Confederate Senate, yesterday, pending
the consideration of the hill provide Tor the
organization OF the army,
Mr. SPARROW, by general consent, moved TO
amend the hrst section by striking cut 'Sha" and
inserting may
MIR. GRAHAM, of North Carolina, was opposed
10 the proposed amendment lie thought the wiz
of Congress aud not Of generals should prevail. II
necessary 10 pass law it should be an imperative
law.
Mr. BURNETT OF Kentucky, then addressed the
Senate at some length. The Senate bill was not
exactly what he wanted, but he would vote for il be-
cauSe il was the best offered. he was IN favor Of
immediate Organization but he desired to see such
Il bill passed a. would reach the large number of of
hcerS appointed as cOmmSsarieS, quaTtermasers,
assistants, &c, when tie OF the country was
not so circumseribed at present He believed
there abundance of provisions in the country
10 feed an army even larger than ours which could
be procured II the proper officers were appointed
for that purpose, lie also believed that there
men enough in tho SoHth TO whip an army superior
TO Grants, if the cOnscript law was properly aud
rigidy enforced. lie held in his hand paper fur
uShed him BY the cOnscrir officer OF this city, IN
which II was shown that l52 900 men had been han
died by the officers OF that bureau aud of tins num-
Der Ut - 600 had been sent TO the front. lie also
alluded TO the large number OF men who held certi
icates OF disability, and said thai according 10 the
findings of the various medical boards, ours the
tie thought the 6mpton law ought 10 be revised,
aud wasin favor OF taking away the discretionary
power given to the President and the Secretary Of
War.
Mr.. WIGFALL was sorry TO see, on the part of
Senators, such teveriSh anxiety 10 put men IN the
army In his opinion thatwas not the way 10 render
an army efficient. The number OF musket-bearing
men IN army did not constitute its effectiveness.
The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr b. alluded TO
tue exemptions granted by Congress and the Sccrc-
g-f,fL .tYn nd no
nc de sired to say few words. Having placed all
the men between the ages OF eighteen aud forty Live
in the field, the question at once presents itself
{" Are YOU going TO feed then-F OF course. On
what On that very wholesome diet known in VIM
giuia as s'big hominy." No-the soldiers could no.
conveniently carry that in their knapsacks Very
we'll then, you must have millers. Then you must
give these mllers something to grind. So you must
faye QgricuitprStS 10 furnish them with wheat and
corn Having placed all your arms-bearing popula-
tion in the field, you must clOhe as well as feed
them That necessitateS the exemption of tanners,
shoemakerS and tailors. You leave the wives
aud children Of your brave soldiers OF home,
and when they fall sick, they must have
the proper medical attendapce. For this rea-
son physicians OF seven years practice and apoth-
ecaries we're exempted. When the woman or child
dies the last religious rites customary in Christian
country, must be performed. Hence the necessity
for ministers of the gospel Thus we get the large
list of exemptions of which the gentleman from Ken
| lucky complains You can't have an army without
these exemptions and he thought we had better let
well enough alone. In regard TO bill for the re-
organization of the army, he did not think this was
the proper time for the passage OF such an act. "
/ are about 10 enter upon campaign, ana, IN ms
opinion the time not propitious Tor its passage
/ II ne commanded the armies Of falkeedom, he
/ would advise the reorganization OF the Southern
/ arlzy, and the day itcommenced lac wouh attack
/ Gen. Lee. Eos this reason Le *as opposed 10 hnal
action on.the bill to-day The bill has been printed
and sent TO the officers Of the army, and be desired
TO ascertain what these officers had say about the
/ bill lie was afraid members were disposed to tin
| keT. in his opinion, when man has a fever, he
had better take cup Of warm tea and go to bed,
| than 10 be SWALLOWING patent pills.
Mr.. BROWNE favored the immediate passage OF
| the bill.
l Mr. HILL thought it important that the army
/ should be reOrganzed bur he doubted the policy of
attempting il AT this time in the face OF the enemy,
With Grant laundering al our gates for admittance
| lie could not agree with the gentleman from Men
i lucky in relation to the exempts. he dln not THINK
the class Of cxempts too large. In his opinion It
would be injurious to diminish the number The
4 Senator alluded to the number Of men who we're
exempt because of physical disability, which at first
seemed startling but when is borne in mind that
| this number includes soldiers who have been dis
aided in the service and discharged it does not APP
pear SO great The exemption law, as It stands, he
considered 4 wise one; but he was in favor OF re-
stricting power OF details. BY any INTERFERENCE
| with the exemption law, we endanger both supply
and transportation In his opinion, it was neither
wise nor appropriate for this Congress TO exhaust
It's energies talking about exemptions and details
There were men eIDugh on the muster rolls to re-
pei any force that the enemy could bring against US
| . Tie vote being taken upon AIR SPARRow's amend
ment Il wa decided in the affirmative.