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

In the Senate, on the twenty-second, Mr. Wilson, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom it had been referred, reported back with amendments the House bill for the better organization of the subsistence department. On the twenty-third, the Senate, on motion of Mr. Wilson, proceeded to consider the bill and the amendments reported by the Military Committee. The House bill excluded all army officers from the promotions provided for by the bill; and the Committee reported an amendment, giving at least two thirds in each grade to commissaries in the volunteer service; and the amendment was agreed to. On motion of Mr. Trumbull, the second section authorizing the appointment of as many commissaries as the exigencies of the service might require was stricken out. The bill as amended was then passed without a division.

On the eighteenth of March, Mr. Schenck moved to take from the Speaker's table the bill for the better organization of the commissary department. The motion was agreed to, and the amendments of the Senate non-concurred in. The Senate on the third, on motion of Mr. Wilson, insisted on its amendments. The House insisted upon its disagreement, and asked a committee of conference. The Senate, on motion of Mr. Wilson, agreed to a committee of conference, and appointed Mr. Morgan, of New-York, Mr. Sprague, of Rhode Island, and Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, managers. Mr. Morgan, from the committee of conference, reported, that the proviso should read: That the officers authorized by the act should be selected for each grade from the commissaries of subsistence who held commissions or rank in the volunteer service, and in the regular subsistence department, in proportion to the number of each of said classes respectively in service at the date of its passage. The report was concurred in. The House adopted the report on motion of Mr. Schenck, and the bill was approved by the President on the third of March, 1865.

No. Lxxxii.--The Bill more effectually to provide for the National Defence by Establishing a Uniform Militia throughout the United States.

In the Senate, on the ninth of February, 1865, Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, introduced a bill to establish a uniform militia throughout the United States, which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On the twenty-second of February, Mr. Wilson reported it back. It consisted of ten sections, and provided:

1st. That every male citizen, or person who had declared his intention to become such, between twenty-one and forty-five years of age, should be enrolled in the militia.

2d. That the following should be enrolled but exempted, namely: The Vice-President, judicial and executive officers, members of Congress and officers, custom-house officers and clerks, inspectors of exports, pilots, mariners in service, officers who had served three years in the army, navy, or militia, soldiers and sailors in the army or navy, artificers or workmen in the armories, postmasters and assistants, post-officers, post-riders and stage-drivers in the service of the United States, ferrymen on post-roads, telegraph operators on duty, Quakers and Shakers, and all persons then or thereafter exempted from militia duty by State law.

3d. Idiots, lunatics, common drunkards, vagabonds, paupers or criminals should not be allowed to serve.

4th. Arranged the militia into divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, companies, and batteries, and enumerates the rank and number of officers to be attached thereto, also the number of privates.

5th. Established a militia bureau in the War Department for the carrying out of all laws pertaining to the militia.

6th. Designated the title of the chief officer of such bureau, and defines his duty.

7th. Secretary of War authorized to appoint clerks, and classify and pay them.

8th. Assistant adjutant-generals were to be appointed in each State, and cooperate with chief of bureau, and defines their duties.

9th. When the militia was called out or accepted by the President, pay and pensions were to be the same as to the regular army.

10th. Repeals certain acts relative to militia then in operation.

No action was taken on this bill during the remainder of the session.

No. Lxxxiii.--The Joint Resolution to encourage the Employment of Disabled and Discharged Soldiers.

In the Senate, on the fourteenth of February, 1865, Mr. Wilson, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of citizens of Boston, praying the enactment of a law preferring the appointment to all inferior offices of persons honorably discharged from the military or naval service, submitted a report and joint resolution to encourage the employment of disabled and discharged soldiers. The report set forth: That it was the imperative duty of the national and State governments to give the preference for appointments in the various civil offices to persons who had been honorably discharged from the military or naval service of the United States, or who had suffered permanent disability while in the service, provided they possessed the qualifications necessary to properly discharge the duties of such offices. The number of civil offices, however, in the various departments of the government, though large at present, bore but a small proportion to the number of persons who had honorably served their country in the field, and who had been disabled by wounds or disease incurred in the line of duty. The great mass of the men who had served the country in the army and navy must,