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

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[18] commissioned officer of the army, navy, or marine corps, who, having tendered his resignation, should, prior to due notice of its acceptance by proper authority, and without leave, quit his post or proper duties, with the intent to remain permanently absent, should be registered as a deserter, and punished as such; and abolishing flogging in the army, as a punishment for desertion. Mr. Hale, of New-Hampshire, moved to strike out of the bill the words, “for desertion,” so that it would read, “that flogging as a punishment in the army is hereby abolished.” Mr. Hale's amendment was agreed to, and the bill as amended passed. In the House, on the third of August, Mr. Stratton, of New Jersey, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported back the bill with several verbal amendments, which were agreed to, and the bill passed by the House. The Senate concurred in these amendments, passed it as amended; and the President approved it on the fifth of August, 1861.

No. Xii.--The Bill to provide for the Purchase of Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Stores.

In the Senate, July twenty-ninth, 1861, Mr. Wilson introduced a bill to provide for the purchase of arms, ordnance and ordnance stores, which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Wilson, from the Military Committee, reported back the bill without amendment, and it was passed without a division. In the House, on the first of August, Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported the Senate bill to provide for the purchase of arms; it was passed by unanimous consent, and approved by the President on the third of August, 1861.

No. Xiii.--The Act to increase the Pay of the Privates of the Army.

In the Senate, on the fifth of August, 1861, Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, from the Committee on Military Affairs, introduced a bill to increase the pay of the non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates of the regular army, volunteers, marines, and seamen in the service of the United States. The Senate, on motion of Mr. Wilson, proceeded to the consideration of the bill. Mr. Collamer, of Vermont, moved to amend by making the increase four dollars per month; and the amendment was agreed to — yeas, eighteen; nays, seventeen. Mr. Wilson then moved to amend by adding as a new section, “That all the acts, proclamations, and orders of the President of the United States, after the fourth of March, 1861, respecting the army and navy of the United States, and calling out or relating to the militia or volunteers from the States, are hereby approved, and in all respects legalized and made 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.” Mr. Breckenridge said that the amendment sounded like the joint resolution to ratify and approve all acts of the President since the fourth of March, but one or two features of it were left out. Mr. Wilson replied that one or two features of the joint resolution were left out, but he intended to call up the joint resolution when this bill should pass. The amendment was agreed to. Mr. Powell demanded the yeas and nays on the passage of the bill, and they were ordered — yeas, thirty-three; nays, five; so the bill was passed. On motion, the title was amended by adding the words, “and for other purposes.”

In the House, Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, called up the bill, and moved to amend it by reducing the increase of pay from four dollars per month to two dollars per month. He declared his willingness to increase the pay, but did not see where the money was to come from; he was alarmed at the expenses of the Government, which were one and a quarter millions per day. The amendment was rejected — yeas, thirty-two; nays, sixty six. Mr. Stevens then moved to amend by adding as a new section, “That the provisions of the act entitled ‘An act for the relief of the Ohio and other volunteers,’ approved July twenty-sixth, 1861, be, and the same are hereby, extended to all volunteers mustered into the service of the United States, whether for two or three years or for and during the war.” Mr. Stevens explained that the amendment was intended to correct the mistake made in using the words “militia,” instead of “volunteers.” The amendment was agreed to. Mr. Vallandigham moved to strike out the second section, “That all the acts, proclamations, and orders of the President of the United States, after the fourth of March, 1861, respecting the army and navy of the United States, and the calling out, or relating to the militia or volunteers from the States, are hereby approved, and in all respects legalized and made valid to the same intent and with the same effect as if they had been issued and done under the previous express authority of the Congress of the United States.” The yeas and nays were taken and resulted — yeas, nineteen; nays, seventy-four. Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, thought the increase would be eighteen million dollars, and he moved that the bill be laid on the table, but the motion was lost. The bill was passed without a division. In the Senate, the House amendment to the bill was agreed to. Mr. Wilson moved to reconsider the vote by which the Senate concurred in the House amendment, “that the provisions of the act entitled ‘An act for the relief of the Ohio and other volunteers,’ approved July twenty-fourth, 1861, be, and the same are hereby, extended to all volunteers, mustered into the service of the United States, whether for one, two, or three years, or for and during the war.” The motion was agreed to, and then on motion of Mr. Wilson, the bill was laid on the table.

Mr. Wilson then by unanimous consent introduced “a bill to increase the pay of the privates in the regular army, and of the volunteers in the service of the United States, and for other purposes.” The bill proposed to increase the pay of the privates to thirteen dollars a month; and also extended the provisions of the