Year: 1864

Mr. STEVE EMS, being ths st speaker alluded brisdy
IN general terms, 10 The reso sp9ech am glad (ssd
Mr. STtYENs) that he nteman from New York has
taken this ccason 20 get out hs campaign document 1t
VIII sty considerable m other occasion, and
do not kuOw when time be better saved As to the
genl man appealing from the committee and from this
House majority Of il TO auother tribunal we'll and
good, if his appeal be entertained there do not
know whether any of us have standing in that court but
the gentleman try it, did not expect any help from
that side of the Houe-I mean from some Of those gem
tlemen. Let consider calmly these different amend
mens They very large They amount to $50 900 900
and upward When the first estimates before the
committee aud they framed this bill there had been
call for the additional Ave hundred thousand men After
they called for and this bill sent to the Senate
new estimates made they were sent here were
printed Ia pamphlet form, aud the gentleman, presume
had them upon his table II there items that
improper let vote them down. but the idea that
to parayze the of the Government and strike down
the appropriations for the half million Of called
for to meet the rebels in the spring may become that side
of the House. but it would Disgrace patriots Now sir
excuse for taking thus much notice Of afpeech which
was not intended for this BILL but intended for the
time when the gentleman will meet bis colleague on the
stump Let us go Ind consider the amendments Of
the Senate will not ask that they shall all be rejected
the gentleman seems to be afraid of that am will
ing that they shall be considered in detail II will only
take few days and shall certainly reject most OF
them, the matter will to committee Of conference as


proposed IN the first instances but the difficulty which
the gentleman will encounter is that If the House should
adopt Of the amendments it will be against his
theory. / am willing however, that the House shall 20
on and let each amendaent be considered BY itself


The House contnu in till nearly five O'Clock,
discussing the amendments and other questions intro
duced in connection with them. The principal speakers
1nG VEN
BLISS, FARNSWORrH, j. g. ALLEN, BLOW,
BLAIR, and ROLLINS. "tA


Without disposng of the amendments the Committee Of
the Whole rose aud the House adjourned


lH UNEMPLOYED OFFICERS. X kqa.s.f


Mr.. SCliENCK, from the Committee on Military AZ
fairs, reported the following JOINT resolution NJ


Whereas appears many regular volunteer officers
are either entirely unemp Dyed Or not upon duty crreepord
without equivalent service and at the time standing
the OF promotion and ncrea of compensation hoss
Rsag % aa ~ s


who the 18th of March shall be in service correspond


s n Be Ss
Of the army And all pay and emolumsnts sha cease from
a in the s g. @ ass sed ns
Apply to any officer UNEMPLOYED in Of wounds
prisoner of in he hands of the enemy parole.


further provides for returning to the regular army
officers who appointed therefom the position gene
raj officers They to be returned to the rank they
pied before the passage of the act of july 1861.


Mr. SCHENCK said that the provisions of the bill were
distinct in their character aud involved no point which
could not be readily carried ou and he therefore asked
that 1T be put on its passage


Mr. HOLMAN inquired how this bill would affect Gen.
Robert Allen, who is charged with the Quarermasars
Department of the valley Of the Mississippi Would tie
bill put him out Of servcei fat iit& ~


MIR. SCHENCK replied that in framing this bill the
committee had no reference to any particular officer
They believed the public service would be benefited its
without regard to who might be struck one
side the other II the gentleman would look at the Bill
be would that it not directed at those general Off
who happen not to bs in command Of divisions br
gades but ut those not employed capacity suitable to
sher respective rank If the President should place at
the head of the quarternssters department gentleman
holding such rank Gen Alsn, the employment should
be considered appropriate to the grade and therefore ha
bill would not affect him. According to communication
from the War Department there fourteen major gen
erals aud eleven brRader generals unemployed and th
tynne major generals and brgader generals together who
employed in various duties of less import
ance--some on examining boards and others courts
marlial-not having command of corps brgades Hence
it important this bill should be passed The Pres
dent has power to dismiss any Of these officers. NOS


Mr. cox understood this bill gave the President this
arbitrary power. R'Eo


Mr. SCHENCK replied that the bill itself drops the Of
fcers il they within this description.


Mr. cox asked whether this bill had bean printed


Mr. SChENCK replied 1t had not been ordered 10 be
printed by the House. but had been printed in the news
papers OF the country t AaG I'm " @san


Mr. COX said there was something of personal and
partisan character in this bill He hoped his colleague
WAS too gallant strike at brother officer The House
should have opportunity Of seeing whether there wss
any backhapd stroke at any general officer unemployed
Mr. SCHENCK desired his colleague to deal in plain
language, not insinuation There was nothing con-
csaled in this bill be could not lie under suspicion when
he knew nothing wrong was intended and would not re-
ply to any such insnualion. 0r-s 4 "a h sRs4.5
Mr. COX. You need not reply TO any insnuation until
one is made don't know whether the bill strikes at
Fremont or Mcclellan, any other officer. g,rgnD


Mr. SCHENCK. Neither, nor both.


Mr., COX sad he shonld like to know what the bill
meant he did not take things for granted because they
came from the Military Committae. He wanted to under
stand why thirty officers struck He wanted
to who to be hurt by it. Was there to be any
saving to the Government others to be appointed
to the places Of who are struck DOWN. He did not
deal in nsinuatons An opportunity should be afforded
TO discuss the bill He knew that Mcclellan did not ask
avors of gentlemen on the other side OF the House.
had LOST in the public service, every dollar be
had earned as civilian, 1t might be the purpose 10
strike at this pay, t '#t@ ##laW Ft aHhfa


Mr. SCHENCK said when this bill several weeks ago
proposed to be reported and read to the House. his
colleague objected, suppcsing it to be cat in the
meal tub. ..taM Ua.a


Mr. cox replied he did not use expressions OF that
kind. .N .lM ..aUHFvNg


Mr. SCHENCK said at all events his colleague tben
thought somebody struck at and that there some
covert design in the BILL His colleague shreppd and
league bad not hooked into H. He appealed TO him say
whether h provisions not clear to be readily
comprehended. t -


Mr.. COX SAID that the same bill was referred back to
the committee, and for the first time reported


Mr. SCHENCK said that something ought to be done
to correct the evil without reference 10 any officer to be
affected by the bill His colleague wanted to get in
speech about Mcclellan, who would be affected by the bin
unless he should be employed before the 18th of March
so Of Fremont Bnel and others. The country should
not be taxed to support officers who rendering ado
quste service.


Mr. ELDRIDGE inquired whether officers could notse