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

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[73] by the Government to release any drafted person from the performance of military duty, and that no substitute should be accepted for a drafted person, unless he be the father, brother, or son of the drafted man. The question, after debate, was taken on the motion striking out the first section; and it was agreed to — yeas, one hundred; nays, fifty. The second section was then stricken out without a division. Mr. Broomall, of Pennsylvania, moved a substitute for the bill. Mr. Fenton, of New-York, moved to amend it by adding that the President should accompany any order for a draft of men for military service with a notice that he would accept volunteers or substitutes in lieu of such drafted men prior to the day appointed for the draft, to fill up the quota or any part thereof, of any town, township, ward, precinct, or election district, or of any county not so sub-divided; and every person so volunteering, in lieu of a man to be drafted, should be credited to such town, township, ward, precinct, or election district, or county not so sub-divided; and if he volunteered, or was offered as a substitute for a drafted man, and was accepted and mustered into the service for a term of one year, unless sooner discharged, should receive and be paid by the United States a bounty of one hundred dollars; and if for a term of two years, unless sooner discharged, a bounty of two hundred dollars; and if for a term of three years, unless sooner discharged, a bounty of three hundred dollars; one half of which said bounty should be paid to the soldier at the time of his being mustered into the service, one fourth at the expiration of one half his term of service, and one fourth at the end of his term of service.

Mr. Ashley, of Ohio, moved to strike out of the amendment, “be credited to such town, township, precinct, or election district,” and insert in lieu the words, “if subject to enrolment, be credited to the town, township, precinct, or election district in which he may be liable to enrolment; if not so subject, to the town, township, precinct, or election district in which he may have volunteered ;” and it was agreed to — yeas, sixty-four; nays, forty-one. On motion of Mr. Boutwell, it was further amended by adding: That no volunteer or substitute who should be honorably discharged previous to the expiration of the term of his enlistment, should be entitled to his full bounty for the term of his enlistment. Mr. Ingersoll moved to amend, by adding after the word “service” the words, “But in case of his death when in said service, the residue of his bounty shall be paid to his legal representatives ; and in case of his honorable discharge from wounds or sickness incurred in the service, he shall receive the full bounty ;” and it was agreed to. Mr. Farnsworth then moved that the bill be laid upon the table, but the motion was lost. Mr. Fenton's amendment as amended was then agreed to.

On the twenty-fifth, the House resumed the consideration of the bill, and Mr. Schenck offered a substitute for the substitute moved by Mr. Broomall. The substitute, in eight sections, provided: For the repeal of the three hundred dollar commutation. For drafting for a period not less than one year. For a bounty of one hundred dollars for one year, two hundred dollars for two years, and three hundred dollars for three years. For allowing drafted men to select their organizations, when not filled. For discharging minors under eighteen years of age, and forbidding officers to muster into the service minors under sixteen years of age. For allowing provost-marshals to make a draft of fifty per cent in addition to the number required to fill the quota. For allowing to drafted persons transportation. For the enlistment of volunteers in the rebel States.

The bill was debated by Mr. Schenck, Mr. Odell, of New-York, Mr. Garfield, of Ohio, Mr. Mallory, of Kentucky, Mr. Blair, of Missouri, Mr. Dawes and Mr. Boutwell, of Massachusetts, and Mr. Kernan and Mr. Fernando Wood, of New-York. Mr. Cox moved to lay it on the table; but the motion was lost — yeas, fifty-seven; nays, seventy-eight. The main question was then ordered, and the House adjourned.

On the twenty-seventh the House resumed the consideration of the bill. Mr. Schenck demanded the yeas and nays on his amendment, and they were ordered. The amendment was lost — yeas, sixty-two; nays, ninety-one. The vote was then taken on Mr. Broomall's substitute, and it was rejected. Mr. Stevens moved an amendment as a substitute, in ten sections. Mr. Eliot, of Massachusetts, proposed ten additional sections, giving credit for naval enlistments, and allowing additional time for persons drafted who should be absent in pursuit of their business; and Mr. Stevens accepted them as part of his amendment. Mr. Blair moved to amend the original bill by adding, That thereafter no person should be received or accepted to serve in the army as a substitute for any other person liable to military duty, and who might have been enrolled or drafted for that purpose; but the amendment was rejected--twenty-five voting for it, and ninety-three against it.

Mr. Schenck moved to amend the bill by adopting a substitute for the substitute of Mr. Stevens. The substitute, he said, was the Senate bill on the table of the House. The substitute was lost — yeas, fifty-eight; nays, ninety-two. The vote was then taken on Mr. Stevens's substitute, and it was lost — yeas, twenty-three; nays, one hundred and twenty.

Mr. Smithers, of Delaware, offered a substitute for the original bill. It provided: That the President might call for any number of men as volunteers, for the respective terms of one, two, and three years, and any person mustered into the service for the term of one year, unless sooner discharged, should receive and be paid by the United States a bounty of two hundred dollars; and if for a term of two years, unless sooner discharged, a bounty of three hundred dollars; and if for a term of three years, unless sooner discharged, a bounty of four hundred dollars. That in case the quota or any part thereof of any town,