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

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“ [51] composed exclusively of persons of African descent;” and the amendment was agreed to — yeas, nineteen; nays, seventeen. Mr. Wilson said he was satisfied that the bill would not go through Congress with the section in it, and he moved to strike it out, and the motion was agreed to. Mr. Richardson demanded the yeas and nays on the passage of the bill, and they were ordered, and resulted — yeas, twenty-six; nays, ten. On motion of Mr. Wilson, the title was amended so as to read: “An act to promote the efficiency of the corps of engineers and of the ordnance department, and for other purposes.” The House concurred in the amendments of the Senate; so the bill was passed, and approved by the President on the third of March, 1863.

No. Li.--The Bill to increase the Number of Major-Generals and Brigadier-Generals.

In the Senate, on the tenth of February, 1863, Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, reported from the Committee on Military Affairs a bill to authorize an increase in the number of major-generals and brigadier generals, which was read and passed to a second reading. On the eleventh, the Senate, on motion of Mr. Wilson, proceeded to the consideration of the bill. It authorized in addition to the four major-generals and nine brigadier-generals for the regular army, and the forty major-generals and two hundred brigadier-generals for the volunteer service, the appointment of thirty major-generals and seventy brigadier-generals of volunteers. On motion of Mr. Grimes, the yeas and nays were ordered on the passage of the bill. Mr. Grimes and Mr. Carlisle opposed its passage.

On the twelfth, the Senate resumed the consideration of the bill. Mr. Fessenden moved to strike out the word “thirty” and insert “twenty,” as the number of major-generals, and to strike out the word “seventy” and insert “fifty,” as the number of brigadier-generals. The amendment was supported by Mr. Fessenden, Mr. Trumbull, Mr. Rice, and Mr. Carlisle, and opposed by Mr. King, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Lane, of Kansas, and agreed to — yeas, twenty-four; nays, thirteen.

Mr. Trumbull moved to amend by adding at the end of the bill the words, “beyond which number as authorized by this act and the laws herein referred to, no general shall be appointed in any branch of the public service;” and the amendment was agreed to. Mr. Powell moved to recommit it to the Military Committee; but the motion was rejected. The bill was then passed — yeas, twenty-two; nays, fourteen.

In the House, on the twenty-first, the bill, on motion of Mr. Olin, was referred to the Military Committee. On the twenty-sixth, Mr. McPherson, from that Committee, reported it back with amendments. The first amendment reported by the Military Committee was to strike out the word “twenty” and insert “forty,” so as to increase the number of major-generals forty instead of twenty; and it was agreed to — yeas, eighty-eight; nays, fifty-three. The second amendment was to increase the number of brigadier-generals one hundred instead of fifty, as proposed by the Senate; and it was agreed to — yeas, ninety-one; nays, forty-eight. The third amendment proposed to strike out the amendment moved by Mr. Trumbull, forbidding the appointment of any generals not provided for by law; and it was agreed to — yeas, seventy; nays, sixty-seven. Mr. Cox moved to amend it by adding that the President should appoint no one except for gallant and meritorious service in the field; and the amendment was agreed to — yeas, ninety-two; nays, forty-one. The bill was then passed — yeas, one hundred and two; nays, thirty-five.

In the Senate, on the twenty-seventh, Mr. Wilson moved that the Senate disagree to the House amendment, and ask a committee of conference. The motion was agreed to, and Mr. Wilson, Mr. Cowan, and Mr. Latham were appointed managers on the part of the Senate. On motion of Mr. McPherson, of Pennsylvania, the House insisted on its amendments, agreed to the committee of conference, and appointed Mr. McPherson, Mr. Dunn, of Indiana, and Mr. Mallory, of Kentucky, managers on its part.

In the Senate, Mr. Wilson from the committee of conference reported that the Senate concur in the first amendment of the House, to increase the number of major-generals “forty” instead of “twenty,” with an amendment making the number “thirty;” that the Senate concur in the amendment of the House to increase the number of brigadier-generals “one hundred” instead of “fifty,” with an amendment making the number “seventy-five;” that the Senate concur in the third amendment of the House, striking out the words, “forbidding the appointment of any generals not provided for by law;” and that the Senate concur in the fourth amendment of the House with an amendment so as to make it read: “That the officers to be appointed under this act shall be selected from those who have been conspicuous for gallant or meritorious conduct in the line of duty.” The Senate concurred in the report.

In the House, on the twenty-eighth, Mr. McPherson, from the committee of conference, made a report. Mr. Cox moved that it be laid upon the table — yeas, thirty; nays, eighty-five; so the House refused to lay the report on the table. The report was then agreed to, and the bill was approved by the President on the second day of March, 1863.

No. Lii.--The Joint Resolution of Thanks to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, and the Officers and Soldiers who have fought under his Command during the Rebellion; and providing that the President of the United States should cause a Medal to be struck, to be presented to Major-General Grant in the name of the People of the United States of America.

In the House, on the eighth of December, 1863, Mr. Washburne, of Illinois, by unanimous consent introduced a joint resolution of thanks to