Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-29

not exceeding the number hereinafter
specified for each State. namely: Maine,
Eve thousand; New Hampshire, three
thousand; Vermont, three thousand
Massachusetts,, ten thousand; Rhode
Island, two thousand; Connecticut,
four thousand; New York, thiriy-one
thousand; New Jersey, FIVE thousand;
Pennsylvania, twenty four thousand;
Delaware, one thousand; Maryland, five
thousand; WestVirginia, three thousand;
Ohio, nineteen thousand Indiana, eleven
thousand; Illinois, fifteen thousand;
Michigan, six thousand Wisconsin, six
thousand; Iowa, six thousand; Mime
sofa, two thousand; Kansas, one thou
sand; Nebraska, one thousand; Nevada,
one thousand; California, three thou
sand Oregon, one thousand; Kentucky,
nine thousand; Tennessee, eight thou
sand North Carolina, seven thousand; ;
South Carolina, four thousand; Georgia,
eight thousand; Florida, one thousand !;
Alabama, six thousand; Arkansas, three
thousand, and Louisiana, five thousand;
and the same shall be delivered only upon
the certificate OF the Governor Of such
State, showing to the satisfaction of the
Secretary of War that the regiments and
companies for which the same are re-
quired are duly organized Of loyal citi.
zens of such State under the laws there
of; and said muskets, accoutrements, and
equipments shall remain the property of
the United States, subject to the control
Of Congress.
Mr.. Davis-Ihad prepared two amend
ments to the original bill, and / was
watching it and waiting for it, expecting
the honorable Senator to call it up at
some convenient hour, intending to pro-
pose my amendments. The amendment
that has been offered by the committee
was just being acted upon as | came into
the Chamber. do not know whether it
was offered as additional sections or a
substitute for the original bill. | will
thank the Chair to inform me.
Mr.. Wilson-This was an amendment
to the original bill--au entire amend
ment.
Mr.. Davis-Mr. President, the provi-
sion of this was a separate measure
passed by the House Of Representatives
eight or ten days since. 1t passed on q
Friday or Saturday evening, as was in
| formed, when there was not quorum OF
the members of the House present, when
there were very few of the members
present, without any debate, without any
examination whatever. The objects and
purposes Of that measure from the House
/ think are transparent, and / suppose
that the same objects and purposes exist
now in making it substitute for the
original bill of the committee of the
Senate which it has superseded.
Mr.. President, we are to have during
the coming fall general election in the
United States, Presidential election
The Presiding Officer (Mr. Pomeroy in
the Chair )ADoes the Senator move an
amendment to the bill2
Mr.. Davis-I am debating the bill.
desire, aud / ask earnestly, not only OF
the courtesy, but of the justice of the
honorable Chairman of the COMMITTEES
on Military Affairs, that he will allow
this important mearure to 20 over until
morning, that / and other members who
desire to examine it may have an opPor-
tunity of looking into it deliberately. |
had no supposition, when the honorable
Senator moved to make his original bill
a special order for this evening, that the
bill would be attempted TO be superseded
by the measure that had passed the
House. / have not had an opportunity
of examining, much less to be able to
proceed to the consideration of the mea-
sure that passed the House, and which
has been made to supercede as an amend
ment the original bill of the honorable
Senator. | would, therefore, respectfully
but urgently appeal to his courtesy to
allow me until morning to have an op-
portunity to examine tie bill will be
ready at any hour he may designate to.
morrow to enter upon such discussion OF
it as / choose to subject it to. L will
move, with the permission of the honor.
able Senator, to make it the special
order for one o'clock tomorrow.
Mr.. Wilson, will say to the Senator
from Kentucky that in the ordinary
course of proceedings here | would most
cheerfully comply with. his request, L
think he knows that. am as much dis.
posed as any Senator to give time and
accommodate Senators. But at this
time of the session, aud with the pressure
of other matters, and with the difficulty |
have had to get up this bill at all for
some days, | cannot see how can con-
sent to do so. In regard to the section to
which he refers, and which seems to be
the only objection he has to the bill as
far as I can hear, / will state that the
House of Representatives passed a bill
the other day providing, for the purpose
of arming the militia, for the distribution
to>the States represented in Congress OF
two thousand stands ofarms and muskets
for each Congressional district, and two
pieces of artillery, with all the equip
ments in relation to them. / have IN
cluded in this amendment all the artillery
and one half of the muskets, believing
that the equal distribution made in this
bill will be fully sufficient to accommo.
date the organization of the militia In all
the States, and will furnish all the mill
| tia in all the States, or most OF the militia
in all the States, a good first-class arm.
There is no danger in it, no difficulty IN
it, and no wrong intended in 1t IN any
way, | am positive; nothing that can
work any harm to any others in the com.
munity. We have O large abundance oil
arms on hand, and it will arm any num-
ber of the militia of the country with
good arms. 1t applies to all the States
represented in Congress OF course, 1t
will not apply to three or four States that
are not represented, and may not be at
present
Mr.. Davis-I have general compre-
hension of the ninth section, which l
have asked to have read to the Senate.
am exceedingly suspicious Of that sec
ton. i know of no urgent reason that
is a proper one in itself for the distFibu-
iinn Of these snrplus arms Of the United