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

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[81] two years service. That the assistant and deputy paymaster-generals should give bonds. That whenever a pay district should be established, for the charge of which no assistant or deputy paymaster-general should be available as chief, he Secretary of War might detail any paymaster or additional paymaster to do the duties of such chief; and during the continuance of such detail, the officer so detailed should have the rank, pay, and emoluments of a deputy paymaster-general. That the Secretary of War should have authority to detail officers of the pay department for duty as inspectors of such department, not exceeding four at any one time.

On the twenty-fourth, Mr. Sprague, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom the bill had been recommitted, reported it back without amendment, and on his motion, the Senate proceeded to consider it. Mr. Sprague moved to amend the third section, so that two thirds of the appointments should be from the volunteer paymasters, and the amendment was agreed to. On Mr. Sprague's motion, it was further amended, so that the provisions of the act should continue to the end of the war and one year thereafter. On the first of March, the Senate proceeded further to consider the bill, and after debate it was passed over and not again taken up. It was twice moved by Mr. Sprague as an amendment, but failed.

No. Lxxxvii.--The Bill to incorporate the National Military and Naval Asylum.

In the Senate, on the twenty-eighth of February, 1865, Mr. Wilson, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to incorporate a national, military, and naval asylum for the relief of the totally disabled officers and men of the volunteer forces of the United States, which was read twice. The bill provided: That General Grant, Admiral Farragut, Vice-President Hamlin, Andrew Johnson, Vice-President elect, Chief-Justice Chase, Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War, and Mr. Welles, Secretary of the Navy, and ninety-three other eminent citizens of the country should be a body corporate for the purposes of the act. That the corporation should consist of one hundred members, and have power to fill all vacancies created by death, resignation, or otherwise, and to make by-laws, rules, and regulations. That the business of the corporation should be managed by a board of twelve directors, a president, two vice-presidents, and a secretary. That the board of directors should have authority to procure a site for a military asylum for officers and men of the volunteer forces of the United States, who had been or might thereafter be totally disabled by wounds received or sickness contracted while in the line of their duty during the rebellion. That for the establishment and support of this asylum, there should be appropriated all stoppages or fines adjudged against volunteer, officers, soldiers, or seamen, by sentence of courts-martial or military commission, all forfeitures on account of desertion from the volunteer service, and all moneys due deceased volunteer officers, soldiers, or seamen which then were or should be unclaimed for three years after the death of such officers, soldiers, or seamen, and all donations of money or property by any person or persons. for the benefit of the asylum. That the selection of the site for the asylum, and the plan of the buildings, and the rules for the general and internal direction of the asylum should be made by the directors; but no selection of a site for the asylum, on adoption of any plan of buildings, should be agreed upon until after the sum of half a. million of dollars should have been first subscribed or donated, and paid into the treasury of said corporation. That the officers of the asylum should consist of a governor, a deputy governor, a secretary, and a treasurer; and such officers should be appointed from the pensioned officers of the volunteer force. That all volunteer officers, soldiers, and seamen, who had served during the rebellion, who had been totally disabled by wounds received or sickness contracted in the line of their duty, should be entitled to the benefits of the asylum. That the directors should make an annual report of the condition of the asylum to the War Department, which should be communicated to Congress. That all inmates of the asylum should be made subject to the rules and articles of war, and be governed thereby as if they were in the army or navy.

On the first of March, in the Senate, on motion of Mr. Wilson, the bill was taken up, and on motion of Mr. Hale amended, so that Congress might thereafter alter, amend, or repeal the act; and further amended, on motion of Mr. Hendricks, so as to make it a corporate body in the District of Columbia. It was then passed as amended. In the House, on the second of March, the bill was taken from the Speaker's table and passed. It was approved by the President on the third of March, 1865.

No. Lxxxviii.--The Bill to amend the several Acts heretofore passed to provide for the Enrolling and Calling out the National Forces.

In the Senate, on the twenty-fourth of January, 1865, Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, introduced a bill in addition to the several acts for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes, which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. On the thirtieth, Mr. Wilson reported it back with an amendment as a substitute. This substitute declared: That any person enrolled and liable to be drafted, might be accepted as a substitute for a drafted person. That no person owing military service should be exempted from liability on account of furnishing a substitute for the navy, unless the substitute was presented in person to the board of enrolment, and was accepted by the board.

That any recruiting agent, substitute broker, or other person, who should enlist as a volunteer or substitute any insane person, or a person in a condition of intoxication, or a deserter from the military or naval service, knowing him to be