[13] from its amendments to the Senate bill, and agree to it, with amendments; and the report was concurred in — yeas, twenty-seven; nays, nine. In the House, Mr. Blair made the report of the committee of conference, which was concurred in. This bill, containing twenty-five sections, was approved by the President on the third of August, 1861. No. Iv.--The Act in addition to the Act to authorize the Employment of Volunteers to aid in enforcing the Laws and protecting Public Property. In the Senate, on the twenty-second of July, 1861, Mr. Wilson, on leave, introduced a bill in addition to the act for the employment of volunteers. The bill authorized the President to accept the services of volunteers, either as cavalry, infantry, or artillery, in such numbers as the exigencies of the public service might, in his opinion, demand, to be organized by the act of the twenty-second July, 1861. These volunteers were to be armed as the President might direct, to be subject to the rules and articles of war, and to be upon the footing in all respects with similar corps of the army, and to be mustered into the service for and during the war. Mr. Wilson desired to put the bill on its passage, but Mr. Pearce, of Maryland, objecting, it was passed over. On the twenty-third, the Senate, on motion of Mr. Wilson, proceeded to the consideration of the bill. On motion of Mr. Wilson the bill was amended by adding to the first section a proviso, “That the number of troops hereby authorized, shall not exceed five hundred thouand.” Mr. Wilson moved to amend the bill by adding as a new section, “That the President shall be authorized to appoint, by and with the consent of the Senate, for the command of the volunteer forces, such number of major-generals and of brigadier-generals as may in his judgment be required for their organization;” and the amendment was agreed to, and the bill as amended passed without a division. In the House, on the twenty-fourth, Mr. Blair called up for consideration the Senate bill and passed it without a division, only fifteen members voting, on motion of Mr. Burnett, of Kentucky, for the yeas and nays. The President approved the bill on the twenty-fifth of July, 1861. No. V.--The Joint Resolution to approve and confirm certain Acts of the President of the United States, for suppressing Insurrection and Rebellion. In the Senate, on the sixth of July, 1861, agreeably to notice given on the fourth, Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, introduced a joint resolution to approve and confirm certain acts of the President. The resolution was read twice and referred to the Military Committee. On the eighth, Mr. Wilson reported it back without amendment. The resolution set forth that,
Whereas, since the adjournment of Congress, on the fourth day of March last, a formidable insurrection in certain States of this Union has arrayed itself in armed hostility to the Government of the United States, constitutionally administered; and whereas the President of the United States did, under the extraordinary exigencies thus presented, exercise certain powers and adopt certain measures for the preservation of this Government — that is to say: First. He did, on the fifteenth day of April last, issue his proclamation calling upon the several States for seventy-five thousand men to suppress such insurrectionary combinations, and to cause the laws to be faithfully executed. Secondly. He did, on the nineteenth day of April last, issue a proclamation setting on foot a blockade of the ports within the States of South-Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Thirdly. He did, on the twenty-seventh day of April last, issue a proclamation establishing a blockade of the ports within the States of Virginia and North-Carolina. Fourthly. He did, by order of the twenty-seventh day of April last, addressed to the Commanding General of the army of the United States, authorize that officer to suspend the writ of habeas corpus at any point on or in the vicinity of any military line between the city of Philadelphia and the city of Washington. Fifthly. He did, on the third day of May last, issue a proclamation calling into the service of the United States, forty-two thousand and thirty-four volunteers, increasing the regular army by the addition of twenty-two thousand seven hundred and fourteen men, and the navy by an addition of eighteen thousand seamen. Sixthly. He did, on the tenth day of May last, issue a proclamation authorizing the commander of the forces of the United States on the coast of Florida, to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, if necessary. All of which proclamations and orders have been submitted to this Congress. Now, therefore, Be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all of the extraordinary acts, proclamations, and orders hereinbefore mentioned, be, and the same are hereby, approved and declared to be in all respects legal and valid, to the same intent, and with the same effect, as if they had been issued and done under the previous express authority and direction of the Congress of the United States.On the tenth, the Senate proceeded to the consideration of the resolution. Mr. Clark, of New-Hampshire, moved to strike out the words, “increasing the regular army by the addition of twenty-two thousand seven hundred and fourteen men, and the navy by an addition of eighteen thousand seamen.” He said he did not know that any thing had been done toward increasing the army or navy, which must necessarily be made by law retroactive. Mr. Wilson said that “A plan has been arranged for the organization of eleven regiments for the army. Officers have been appointed, commissioned ”
