Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

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“ [12] any place in the army before his class shall have left the Academy and received their commissions, unless upon the recommendation of the academic board of the Academy.” Mr. Fessenden moved to strike out the words, “by members of the House of Representatives,” and insert, “by the Governors of the respective States” --rejected, yeas, sixteen; nays, twenty-two. The question recurring on the amendment of the Committee, it was rejected. On motion of Mr. Wade, so much of the section as refers to the appointment of cadets to the Military Academy, was stricken out. Mr. Wilson moved to insert in lieu of the words stricken out by Mr. Wade, “That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to fill any existing vacancies at the United States Military Academy, from congressional districts for which no nominations are made by Representatives in Congress, by appointments from those districts or from the respective States at large” --yeas, seventeen; nays, twenty-three; so the amendment to the amendment was rejected. Mr. Carlisle, of Virginia, moved to insert in the blank made by Mr. Wade's amendment, “That existing vacancies at the Military Academy, from congressional districts where there have been failures to make nominations, according to the provisions of existing laws, shall be supplied by the President, upon the nomination of Senators from such States as are represented in the Senate;” the amendment was rejected.

The Secretary then read the amendments reported by the Military Committee, as sections nine to twenty-nine inclusive, and they were severally agreed to.

Mr. Wilson moved to amend the second section, by providing for the appointment of five assistant inspectors-general, with the rank and pay of a major of cavalry, and the amendment was agreed to. Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, moved as an additional section, “That no part of the army or navy of the United States shall be employed or used in subjecting or holding as a conquered province any sovereign State now or lately one of the United States, or in abolishing or interfering with African slavery in any of the States.” Mr. Lane, of Kansas, moved to amend the amendment by adding to it, “Unless a military necessity shall exist for enforcing the laws or maintaining the Constitution of the Union.” These amendments were discussed by Messrs. Powell, Browning, Carlisle, Fessenden, Howe, Sumner, Polk, and Saulsbury. Mr. Lane's amendment to Mr. Powell's amendment was rejected, eleven Senators voting for, and twenty-four against it. Mr. Sherman moved to strike out all of Mr. Powell's amendment, and insert, “That the purposes of the military establishment provided for in this act are to preserve the Union, to defend the property, and to maintain the constitutional authority of the Government.” The amendment was agreed to — yeas, thirty-three; nays, four. Mr. Breckenridge moved to add to Mr. Sherman's amendment, the words, “but the army and navy shall not be employed for the purpose of subjugating any State, of reducing it to the condition of a territory or province, or to abolish slavery therein.” The amendment was rejected — yeas, nine; nays, thirty. The question recurring on the original amendment as amended, it was rejected. The bill was then passed as amended.

In the House of Representatives, on the fifteenth, Mr. Blair, from the Military Committee, reported a bill for the better organization of the military establishment, and, on the nineteenth, the bill was taken up, amended, and passed. On the twenty-third, Mr. Blair from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom had been referred the Senate bill for the better organization of the military establishment, reported it back with an amendment as a substitute. The substitute was adopted, and the bill as amended passed.

In the Senate, on the twenty-fourth, the bill with the House amendment was taken up for consideration. Mr. Hale moved that the bill and amendment be referred to the Military Committee, but the motion was not agreed to. Mr. Wilson hoped the Senate would disagree to the amendment, and send the bill back to the House at once. Mr. Grimes said this bill as it went from the Senate, “was more thoroughly discussed and better understood by the members of this body, than any bill that has been passed at this session; and he should vote to non-concur in the House amendment which struck out some of the most material provisions of the Senate bill.” The amendment was non-concurred in. The House insisted on its amendment, asked a committee of conference, and appointed Mr. Blair, of Missouri, Mr. Crittenden, of Kentucky, and Mr. Olin, of New-York, conferees. The Senate, on motion of Mr. Wilson, insisted on its disagreements, agreed to a conference committee, and the chair appointed Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, Mr. Grimes, of Iowa, and Mr. Rice, of Minnesota, conferees.

In the House, on the twenty-seventh, Mr. Blair, from the committee of conference, made a report that the House recede from its amendment to the Senate bill, and agree to it with several amendments; and the report was accepted. In the Senate, on the twenty-ninth, Mr. Wilson, from the committee of conference, made a report, which was opposed by Mr. Hale, Mr. Baker, and Mr. Sherman, and rejected. On motion of Mr. Wilson, the Senate insisted on its disagreement to the House amendment, and asked for another committee of conference. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. McDougall were appointed conferees. The House agreed to a further conference, and appointed Mr. Blair, of Missouri, Mr. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Jackson, of Kentucky, conferees on its part.

In the Senate, on the first of August, Mr. Wilson from the second committee of conference, reported that the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the bill providing for the better organization of the military establishment, had agreed to recommend to their respective Houses, That the House recede