Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-18

SECOND CoNGREss-sEooND SESSION,
SENATE.

Prsycr by the Rev. Mr.. Lakewood, of the kpis-
copal Church.
NJ. JOHNSON, OF Ga, presented resolutions
passed by the 3D. l5th, 18th aud goth Georgia resi
mcnts, bennings brigade, which were ordered 20 be
Dir. WIGFALL, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported the following bill;
BILL to authorize the Secretary Of War to negotiate
with the Governors OF the several states ioi save
labor "a. :,
The Congress of the Confederate States OF America 10
enact That II shall be competent for the secretary OF
War to negotiate with the Governors or t.e oneI u
thorites OF the different States OF the ConiederacY when
he deems the same TO be eXpedien FOR any NUMBER OF
slaves TO serve with the armies in the held or Tor service
IN any OF the bureaus OF supply IN te neu OF ~ Poss
hospitals fortitcations ana INNING uhaei any
the Of the Confederate states or TO engage ther
assistance 10 execute the laws of the Confedeacy rea
tive the impressment OF slaves and TO make sueh con
tracts or "a may be necessary for procuring
an ADEQUATE supply Of slave labor for all such purposes
The bill was considered and passed.
Mr.. WIGFALL, from the same committee, re-
ported back House bill for the further organization
Of the field artillery of the Confederate States;
which was considered and passed.
Mr. W also reported back House bill to diminish
the number of exemptions and details, with amend
ments The bill and amendments were postponed
until tomorrow, and ordered TO be printed.
Mr.. W. also reported back, with amendments, the
bill TO exempt from military service skilled artiSabs
and mechanics
The bill, as amended, is as follows, the amend
ments being enclosed IN brackets:
That all skilled artizsns and mechanics who are en-.
gagged in the employment OF the Government OF the Con-
eerae States Tor in the public workshops OF soy Of the
States HEREBY exempt from all military service dur
ing the time they employed.
Sec The Secretary OF War is authorized TO detail
such persons as may be required by public necessity
and lie shall make ont and report to each meeting Of
Congress descriptive list Of oil persons exempted OF de-
tailed under existing laws l..
Nj. ORR, of S. c., was opposed to the bill and
thought nothing was 10 be accomplished by its
passage.
Mr.. BURNETT said the Senator from South
Carolina was hard TO please. When twas proposed
to recruit the army from class, the Senator OPP
posed it. When it was wished to diminish the num-
Der of exemptions. aud details, the Senator was
found opposing it. Mr.. Il. proceeded al length to
urge the passage of the bill as it came from the
House, and not TO endanger it by crowdng it down
with amendments.
While the bill was pending,
On motion of Mr.. OLDHAM, the Senate resolved
into secret legislative session.
When the doors were opened, Senate bill to regu-
late, for limited period, the compensation Of the
otficefs, clerks and employees OF the civil depart
mcnts of the government in the city of Richmond
returned from the House with amendments, was con-
sidercd aud passed.
After the transaction of some uumportant bust
ness, the Senate,
On motion of Mr.. BURNETT adjourned.
hOGSE VI NIL hbOENl
The House met at tho usual hour. Prayer by the
Rev. Mr.. Shaver
COMMUNICATIONS FROM TEE President.
The SPEAKER laid before the House message
from the President transmitting copies of further
correspondence between the Secretary OF the Navy
aud the Governor of North Carolina, relative 10 the
seizure Of coal from the steamer Advance. Referred
to the Committee on Naval Affairs and ordered to
be printed
Also, a communication in response TO resolu-
ton transmitting information as to the number of
iron FORCES and furnaces in the employment OF the
Government, their capacity and the price OF the
iron delivered by each. Laid on the table aud or
deTed to be printed.
ASSISTANT PAFMAsrHRs.
The CHAIR laid before the House Senate bill
to Increase the pay OF Assistant Paymasters in the
Navy. Referred TO the Committee on Naval AT
fans.
BILL To REGuL ATE CONsCMPTIoS.
The House then took up the Senate bill to regu-
late the business vi Conscription.
MIR. GOODE, of Va. having the floor, said -
The bill now under consideration substantially
the same which was reported by himself some
weeks since from the special Commtte on Con-
scrptiOu. Its object is 10 empley the machinery of
CONSUMPTION to send directly 90 the army all men
who ought TO be there, and TO permit those TO re-
main generally at home who ought 10 be at home.
We all feel that our armies must be recruited The
brave men who have long breasted the tide OF
battle must be reinforced our liberties will be
lost Why is il that our wasted and depleted
ranks have not been hed up Is it the fault of
Congress The laws now upon your statute -bookS
place into the military service every able bodied
white male resident OF the CoDfederacy between the
ages Of Il and so, except hmItud number OF OK
emptS amounting in the aggregate To about laOOO.
Ii j. proposed at this session to reduce the number
of eNemptS TO Fevoke all details between Is aud 40,
except limited number of skilled artisans and
mechanics lie the employment OF the Government,
and To take from the President aud the Secretary
OF War the power OF detailing between those ages
in the future, Other measures are in progress
which ought TO have been passed long ago. the Oh
iect Of which is TO nil up the depleted ranks. But
no law which we can pass will send tn desired re-
Inducements 70 the field without a thorough and
radical change OF the present agencies Of con-
scrpton. You will never bring back the abSpate
10 the army You.w;il never bring into the service
the men who are liable TO military duty until you
abolish the present system If copScriptiOn. In the
structures which he made he designed no reflection
upon the able aud distinguished gentleman who pre-
sides as Superintendent over the Bureau Of Con-
scripton SO far as he and his subordinates are
concerned il aiorGed him pleasure to bear testimony
to their uniform cOureSy and attention 10 business,
Il is the system with which va now have TO DEAL
What is that system The experience and obserya-
on OF every gentleman here Will sustain me Ia the
assertion that it is the most cumbrous the most
complex, the most dilatory system which could pos
sibly be devised. 1t is rel-tape system ON be-
ginning to end. The Bureau of Conscription loca,e
here in the city Of Richmond-a bureau never au-
thOTized by law, or in any way recognized by W
has undertaken to decide all the Iuutitudinous ap
pications for exemption and detail, besides various
other miscellaneous applications coming up from all
the States on the side of the Mississippi river
II is matter of physical impossibility. In under
taking Investigate and adiudicate all these
the Bureau has undertaken what can only
be accomplished with infinite delay, un-
certainty and confusion. The applications
have been made to the county Enrolling Oil
Ger, who summoned his Advisory Board, in.
vestigated, made entries in his books, endorsed and
forwarded the papers TO the Commaudant OF Con-
scripts who, in his turn, investigates, makes en-.
tries in his books and forwards the papers 10 the
Bureau OF CONSUMPTION. Ii they do not conforInin
every particular TO general orders, they are sent