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

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[27] sixth of the monthly pay of such officer, non-commissioned officer, musician, or private, should be punished at the discretion of a court-martial; that the Senate recede from its disagreement to the eighth amendment of the House with an amendment providing that the sutler dismissed for violation of the laws should, in addition, be ineligible to a reappointment as sutler in the service of the United States. The report was concurred in. The House, on the seventeenth, adopted the report of the conference committee made by Mr. Blair, and the President approved the bill on the nineteenth of March, 1862.

No. Xxiv.--Joint Resolution authorizing the Secretary of War to accept Moneys appropriated by any State for the Payment of its Volunteers.

In the Senate, on the eleventh of March, 1862, Mr. Wilson, from the Military Committee, reported a joint resolution to authorize the Secretary of War to accept moneys appropriated by any State for the payment of its volunteers, and to apply the same as directed by such State.

It authorized the Secretary of War, if any State during the present rebellion should make any appropriation to pay the volunteers of that State, to accept the same, and cause it to be applied by the Paymaster-General to the payments designed by the legislative act making the appropriation, in the same manner as if appropriated by act of Congress; and also to make any regulations that might be necessary for the disbursement and proper application of such funds to the specific purpose for which they might be appropriated by the several States. On the twelfth, it was considered and passed.

The House, on the thirteenth, on motion of Mr. Blair, referred it to the Military Committee, and on the nineteenth Mr. Olin, of New-York, reported it back without amendment. After debate, in which Mr. Olin, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Edwards took part, the joint resolution was passed. It was approved by the President on the nineteenth of March, 1862.

No. Xxv.--The Joint Resolution authorizing the President to assign the Command of Troops in the same Field or Department to Officers of the same Grade, without regard to Seniority.

In the Senate, on the fourteenth of March, 1862, Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a joint resolution to authorize the President to assign the command of troops in the same field or department, to officers of the same grade, without regard to seniority. It provided that whenever military operations might require the presence of two or more officers of the same grade in the same field or department, the President might assign the command without regard to seniority of rank; and also that he might dismiss from the service, at his discretion, without the sentence of a court-martial, any officer of the army, when, in his judgment, the efficiency of the service would be promoted.

Mr. Sherman thought it a very great power to authorize the President, at his discretion, to dismiss an officer. Mr. McDougall desired that the resolution should lie over for consideration. On motion of Mr. Wilson, the Senate, on the seventeenth, resumed the consideration of the resolution. After remarks by Mr. Hale and Mr. Nesmith, it was recommitted to the Military Committee. On the eighteenth, Mr. Wilson, from the Committee, reported it back with an amendment to strike out the words authorizing the President to dismiss from the service, at his discretion, without the sentence of a court-martial, any officer of the army, when in his judgment the efficiency of the service would be promoted thereby; the amendment was agreed to. The joint resolution providing that, whenever military operations might require the presence of two or more officers of the same grade in the same field or department, the President might assign the command of the forces in such field or department without regard to seniority of rank, was passed without opposition. In the House,, on the second of April, on motion of Mr. Fenton, of New-York, the resolution was referred to the Military Committee. Mr. Olin moved to reconsider the vote of reference, and it was agreed to — yeas, sixty-seven; nays, twenty-five. Mr. Stevens moved that the resolution lie on the table-yeas, forty-four; nays, sixty-one. Mr. Vallandigham demanded the yeas and nays on its passage, and they were ordered — yeas, eighty-one; nays, forty. So the resolution was passed, and approved by the President on the fourth of April, 1862.

No. Xxvi.--Bill to increase the Efficiency of the Medical Department of the Army.

In the Senate, on the seventh of February, 1862, Mr. Wilson introduced a bill to increase the efficiency of the medical department of the army, which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. On the twenty-second, Mr. Wilson reported it back with an amendment. The Senate, on the twenty-seventh, proceeded to consider it, the pending question being on the amendment reported by the Military Committee. The amendment proposed to strike out all after the enacting clause, and insert an amendment of seven sections, in the nature of a substitute. It provided that there should be added to the present medical corps of the army ten surgeons and ten assistant-surgeons, to be promoted and appointed under existing laws; twenty medical cadets, and as many hospital stewards as the Surgeon-General might consider necessary for the public service. That the Surgeon-General should have the rank, pay, and emoluments of a brigadier-general. There should be one assistant surgeon-general and one medical inspector-general of hospitals, each with the rank, pay, and emoluments of a colonel of cavalry; and the medical inspector-general should have, under the direction of the Surgeon-General, the supervision of all that relates to the sanitary condition of the army, whether in transports, quarters, or camps and of the hygiene, police, discipline, and