Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-11

Governments, was taken up and passed.
On motion OF WIGFALLi the Senate resolved
into secret session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at the usual hour-the SPEAKER in
the chair.
Prayer by the Rev Dr.. Duncan, of the Broad
street Church.
MESS iGEs or THE PRESIDENT
The SPEAKER laid cSIo-e the House message
Of the President, enclosing communication III re-
spoDse to resolution OF the House calling for m
formation as TO the number Of commissioned officers
attached TO and employed in the different Depart
ments and BureauX at Richmond. Laid ON the ia
bic aud ordered to be prlnteC.
Also a message covering estimate for additional
appropriations the Engineer Bureau. referred
TO the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered
10 be printed.
Other Executive messages were read and Hppro-
priatey referred.
ON IaotiOn OF Mr. GOODE, of Va, leave OF alb
sence was granted Mr.. MONTAGUE OF W., detained
from his seat by indispostlOn.
Under a suspension vi the rules, Mr. LYON, Chair
man OF the Committee OIL Ways aud Means, reported
u bill provide Tor the support OF Abe Government
Tor the halt year ending June 3Oth, 1865. Post
poned aud made the special order after existing
special orders.
scrlptIon reported bill regulating CONSUMPTION,
which ordered 10 be printed aud made the special
order after existing special orders.
The House resumed the consideration Of the
CONSOLIDATION BILL.
Mr. ATKINS, Of Tenn, advocated the bill as
meIded.
Alessrs SEXTON of Texas and FOSTER Of Ala,
earnestly opposed its passage.
Mr. +. al the conclusion Oh his remarks. moved 10
reCOmmit the bill TO the Military Committee, and
called for the ayes aud noes.
The motion vas lost by the following vote-ayes
S2 noes Al.
The NATION recurring on the passage Of the bill
Mr. ORR, OF Miss, called the question.
Mr. MILES asked for the ayes and noes.
TIE call being sustained the bill passed by the
following vote
AYEs-Messrs. Akin, Anderson, Adkins, Banks
dale, Batsop Baylor, Baniord, Boyce, H. W.
Bruce Chambers Chiffon, Clopton, Colyar, Con-
rad, Conrow, DeJarnette, Dickinson, Ewing, Far
row, Funston, Garland, Gholson, Goode, Gray,
Hatcher, Hilton, holiday, Johnston, LampkiR,
Lyon, McMuiien, Menees, Miles, Miller, Moore,
rugh Riyes Russell Shewmake, Simpson, j. NJ.
smith, W +. Smith and Wickhamv43.
NoEs-Messrs. Aver, Baldwin, Bell, Bradleyj
Branch, Burnett, Chrismau, Clarke, Cruikshauk,
Darlen, Echols, Fuller, Gilmer Hanley, Herbert,
keebe, Leach Lester, Logan Machen, Mccall
lum, Norton, Orr, Perkins Read, Sexton, Smith, Of
Ala, Snead, Staples, Trpet Turner, Vest, Where,
Wilkes and WitLerspoon-S5. So the bill! passed.
On motion of Mr.. LYON, the House went into
secret session.
The doors being opened Mr. BALDWIN moved
that the Committee ON Public Buildings inquire
whether or not the Hall of the House OF Represen-
tatiyes cannot be better ventilated, and whether bet,
ter accommodations cannot be procured for the va
rious committees, Adopted.
The CHAIR announced Jhe pending question to
be the substitute OF Mr.. MCALLUN, OF Tenn, to
the bill reported BY AIR. ORR, Miss. from the Com
mttee on QusTtermaStersa and { emmlsSareS, entitled
~ ACT TO PROTECT ma CUNFEDERATr STATES AGAINST
FRAUDS, ETC.
Mr.. McCALLUM addressed the House in favor Of
his amendment He said that he objected especial
" To the bill because it framed apparently up
ON the presumption that all Quartermasters and
Commissaries dishonest, and II it passed, hon
orable men they would be compelled to resign. No
greater evil in his opinion, could possibly beall the
country al this luncturc our affairs than that these
experienced and tried officers should yacate their
posts lie had been with the army and could frank
" say that he knew no more high minded and hon
orabe men than the QuartcrmaSteyS and Comms-
saries whom lie had met with there. He had known
but three officers OF either class who had been
charged with dereliction of duty and the specifca-
tion in their cases was for unlawful speculation, lie
regretted very much that spirit prevailed in Com
gross 10 deal with officers as a class Taken as a
class, the Coniederacy ought and must conide in
them taking care, however, 10 hold each individual
officer to a strict accountability for the performance
of the duties imposed upon him,
Mr.. ORR, of Mississippi, thought the substitute
of Mr.. MCCAILUM would fall short of accomplishing
the purpoSe-to expose frauds and prevent their
commission. Inspectors had frequently been charged
to investigate these Departments, and no practical
results Of value had been gained, Another objes-
ton to the substitute was that il did not provide for
a sufficient number of officers to db the labor re-
quired and another was Ihat III the appointment Cf
SO few persons, the danger OF temptation and cor
rupton would be very great when We remember
the immense money power with which they would
be brought IN contact
The objection 10 the original bill, that it
raigning a class, and would drive from The service
the best men, he thought not well taken On the
contrary he argued that, inasmuch as these officers
had frequently been arraigned here and through
out the country, all honest officers would be grateful
To this Congress for measure which would enable
them in an official and enduring FORM to vndicate
their integrity. lie explained the details ofthe bill,
showing that they we're well gnarded-gving Search
ing remedies on the one side and ample guarantees
OF. the other.
Mr.. GARLAND, of Ark, moved TO postpone the
bill and substitute in order to take mp the Exemp.
ton bill.
Mr.. SEXTON moved to lay it on the table.
Mr.. CONROW, of Mo, called the ayes and noes
The call being sustained the vote resulted as fol
lows-ayes Al, noes 20
Mr.. LESTER ot Ga, moved to make the Kemp
hill the continued Spccia order until