Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-07
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

into secret legislative session, and the re-openins
| OF the doors, adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House met al she usual hour--the SPE4EEF
| in the chair. Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Read OF thi'
City
GEN. JoHNsToN's GEORGIA CAMPAIGN,
| A message of the President was laid before the
House by the SPEiKER, transmitting copy OF the
JIcial report Of General Joseph L. Johnston oil nis
operations IN Georgia during the last Spring aud
olmmer.
ON motion of Mr.. CLARK, of Mo-, the message
| ami accomplishing documents were referred 10 The
Committee on Military AiialS
The House then resuIped the consideration ef the
CONSOLIDATION BILL.
Nh HOLIDAY offered an amendment to the bill
that the board be allowed 10 select officers from the
On-cOmmlssIoneJ officers and priva-eS as well Us
nom cOnInis stoned officers.
Mr. HOLIDAY was OF the opinion that his propo-
sitIon would work we'll. Ii would stimulate che non
commissioned officer and private to a stricter dis
charge OF duty, b5caAse II would hold oaI TO him
prospect OF promotion. q.
Mr. CLARKE, Of Mo-. obtained the floor and
spoke length in favor OF the elective system lie
believed the the racks fully equal ~ the
task OF selecting proper officers. IL was the rank
and lille that INST discovered the merits ot Ceburne,
Forrest Quarlcs, Coekeriil ard others whose deeds
have thrown a halo OF glory over our arms. These
we're elected by the men and afterwards promoted
by the Executive. But whoever elected Pemberton,
Holmes, Frost NOV deseEler IN Europeh Drayton,
d very respectable gentleman from South Carolina
lie did not blame the President for his bad appoint
ments, because, in most cases, he has to rely upon
the judgments Of OtheISi~ Mr., CLARKR thpughl II
strange that the soldiers had sense and Judgment
enough 10 elect members Of Congress IL make laws
to govern the country, and yet not tit To name
the captain with whose capacity, courage and tenn
per theI are perfectly acquainted In the course OF
his remarks, Mr.. T.. said that he behaved the Press
dent to be man OF great intellect stetn will aud u
patriotism as large the Confederacy.
Mr. GRAY, OF La, had ali through the war his
svmpathes enlisted in behalf of the officers who are
to be summary disguised from Their commands. =
The soldiers the other hand have nothing to lose
by the consolidation. lie regretted very much,
however that stern necessity exists requiring a
reorganization Of regiments dfpletod by the various
casualties INCIDENT 10 war. lie opposed the coutnu-
ing principle OF consolidation proposed by the bill
which, II adopted, amounts 10 an entire reOrganZa-
lian 81 the whole army. He hoped il would be
modified Mr.. q. cOmbattcd, with much earnest.
ness, the arguments OF those who favored the cleo
tive system, =
Nj. lioLLIDAYs amendment was adopted by the
following vote Ayes ~, Noes 25-
Leave OF absence was granted TO Messrs. WEIGH
OF Mississippi, and ATKINS, OF Tennessee detained
from their seat, by sickness.
The substitute OF Mr.. SSEAD, of Missouri, was
taken up, when he addressed the House IN oppose
ton 10 the proposition OF the committee and IN ia
OF his substitute. lie objected to the delay in
cident TO the committees plan, US would take
months 10 TeorganiZe under II, amended by the
gcntlcQan from Virginia, Mr.. HOLIDAY. Under
his plan it could be accomplished in single fore
noon.
Mr. CHAMBERS, of Mississippi, stated that the
committee did not design technical examination
nor that ali the officers should appear before the
board III person. but intended that the history of the
officer should govern the examining board in their
decisions.
Mr.. SNEAD explained the difiereGce between the
rival plans stating that by his plan the men would
be permitted to select their company officers and
the newly elected company officers the field officers
OF their respective regiments.
Mr.. AIKEN ohered-an amendment to Mr.. SSEAD's
substitute; which gives 10 the officers and men the
privilege to select field officers.
Mr.. CHAMBERS preferred the bill of the gentle
man of Missouri to the committees billas amended
because IL is more consistent with the original prn-
ciplcs of the bill
The amendment of Mr.. AIKEN vas lost.
On motion of Mr.. MACHEN, the following Was
stricken out Of the I'd section of Mr.. SNEAD's sub
situte
But no one shall be eligible to the captancy or
eutenancy of a company who not an officer in
of the companies consolidated in it, or a field
officer adjutsnt of one of the battaions reg-
mcnts 10 which said companies belonged nor shall
aIfy be eligible to the colonelcy, lieutenant colo
neicy or majority of regiment battalion except
field officers oil the commands consolidated IN it,"
Mr. Clarke. of Mo, moved TO, strike out the fol
lowing in the same section; q subject, however to
the approval of the President, who, if he dsapproye
the election of any officer, may with the consent of
the Senate appoint 10 the vacancy thus created an
one who was originally eligible thereto.n
Mr.. MARSHALL moved to amend by inserting
after President III the above, 3" if not heretofore in
command in the grade to which he is elected
Agreed to.
The question recurring on Mr.. CLARKEs motion
to sstrike out - it lost by the following vote =
ayes 20, noes s..
The second section of~Mr. SNHED's Substitute, Of
ered in lieu of the ID section ofthe committee was
lost By a vote of29 ayes to 40 nays. fr-
Mr.. CLOPT0N, OF Ala offered the following as
substitute for the I'd section of the BILL which was
adopted:
THAT whenever the consolidation of companies
battaions and regiments shall have been determined
upon in accordance with the provisions OF the first
section ofthe act, the general commanding the de-
psrtmcnt, or separate army in which such reduced
organization serving, shall recommend from the
officers and men ofthe several organizations which
is proposed TO sQpsoldate excluding prisoners Of
war; the officers Tor the command on the new Or
ganzation resulting from the consolidation of the
old, which officers shall forthwith assume the respec-
tive commands to which they may bedassigned by
the General commanding the department or separate
army in the field subject to the subsequent appoint
ment of the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. The Genera; commanding
is hereby authorized in his discretion, to appoint