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

---

[41] to amend the first section, by striking out the word “auditors,” and inserting “assistant quartermasters-general;” but after debate, withdrew it. Mr. Hale would strike out the first section, authorizing the appointment of three auditors and one solicitor. On the twenty-fourth, the Senate resumed the consideration of the bill; and on motion of Mr. Wilson, the first section was stricken out, and the second section so modified as to read: “That there should be added to the clerical and other force in the office of the Quartermaster-General four clerks of class four, ninety clerks of class one, and thirty copyists and six laborers, at an annual compensation of six hundred dollars each, to be appointed by the Secretary of War.” Mr. Fessenden moved to amend, by adding as a new section: “That in settling the accounts of officers for clothing and other military supplies, the affidavit of any officer may be received, to show the loss of vouchers, or company books, or any matter or circumstance tending to prove that any apparent deficiency was occasioned by unavoidable accident or loss in actual service, without any fault on his part; or that the whole or any part of such clothing and supplies had been properly,and legally used and appropriated; and such affidavits may be considered as evidence to establish the facts set forth, with or without other evidence, as may seem to the Secretary of War just and proper under the circumstances of the case.” Mr. Trumbull moved to amend the amendment, by inserting after the word “officer” the words, “stating that he knows of no witness by whom he can prove the same facts.” Mr. Fessenden objected to Mr. Trumbull's amendment, and after debate withdrew his own amendment. Mr. Rice renewed it, and Mr. Trumbull renewed his amendment to the amendment, and it was lost — yeas, seventeen; nays, eighteen. Mr. Sherman moved to amend, by striking out of the original amendment the word “officers,” and inserting “commanding officer of a company,” and it was agreed to. The amendment as amended was then agreed to — yeas, twenty-one; nays, sixteen. The bill as amended was then passed, and the title so amended as to read: “A bill to authorize the increase of the clerical and other force of the quartermaster's department, and for other purposes.”

In the House, on the twenty-sixth, Mr. Olin, of New-York, moved the reference of the bill to the Military Committee, and it was so referred. Mr. McPherson, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported it back without amendment. It was passed without a division, and approved by the President on the seventh day of February, 1863.

No. Xlii.--The Bill to authorize the Raising of a Volunteer Force for the Defence of Kentucky.

In the House, on the twelfth of December, 1861, Mr. Blair, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to authorize the raising of a volunteer force for the better defence of Kentucky. On motion of Mr. Bingham, of Ohio, it was so amended as to subject the force so raised to “the rules and regulations of war.” On motion of Mr. Wickliffe, its further consideration was postponed to the sixteenth, and on that day it was taken up, debated, amended, and passed.

The Senate, on the seventeenth, referred the bill to the Committee on Military Affairs. On the sixteenth of July, 1862, Mr. Wilson reported it back with an amendment. The Senate, on motion of Mr. Davis, proceeded to its consideration. It proposed to empower the Military Board of Kentucky to raise, and organize into regiments, a volunteer force not exceeding twenty thousand rank and file, to serve for one year within the limits of Kentucky in repelling invasion, suppressing insurrection, and guarding and protecting the public property; but at any time that it might be necessary, these troops might be employed out of the limits of Kentucky against the enemies of the State or of the United States.. The officers and soldiers enrolled and mustered into the service of the United States were to be subject to the rules and articles of war, and to be placed on the same footing with other volunteers of the United States as to pay, subsistence, clothing, and other emoluments, for and during the time they might be in service. The Military Committee reported, as an amendment, a new section, providing that by and with the advice and consent of the commanding general of the department of which Kentucky might be a part, the volunteers authorized to be raised by this act, or any portion of them, might attach themselves to, and become part of the body of the three years Kentucky volunteers. The amendment was agreed to. On motion of Mr. Collamer, the bill was further amended, so that the officers and men should only be paid while in “actual service.” After debate, in which Mr. Davis, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Lane, of Indiana, Mr. King, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Collamer, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Cowan participated, Mr. Trumbull moved the indefinite postponement of the bill. Mr. Howe took the floor, and the bill went over, and was not again called up during that session.

On the fifth of January, 1863, Mr. Davis moved to take up the bill for consideration, and the motion was agreed to. Mr. Trumbull, after debate, withdrew his motion for indefinite postponement, and the bill was amended, on motion of Mr. Davis, so as to authorize the troops to be raised by the “Governor” instead of the “Military board;” further amended, on motion of Mr. Collamer, so as to allow the troops to be raised with “the consent of the President,” and then on motion of Mr. Clark, recommitted to the Military Committee.

On the eighth, Mr. Wilson reported the bill back, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The Senate, on the ninth, proceeded to the consideration of the bill and the amendment. The amendment reported by the Military Committee was to strike out all after the enacting