House of Representatives.
Friday, August 29, 1862.
The
House met at 12 o'clock. Prayer by
Rev. Dr. Seeley.
Mr. Chambliss, of
Va., moved a suspension of the rule requiring a call of the States, with a view to take up the following bill: ‘"An act authorizing the discharge of private soldiers under 18 years of age, and prohibiting the enlistment of such persons.
This bill provides that any private soldier of the Provisional army, who is under the age of eighteen years, shall be entitled to a discharge from all military service while he is under such age, on the application of himself, his parents, guardian, or next of kin, to the
Colonel of the regiment to which such private soldier belongs, sustained by proof satisfactory to said
Colonel of the age of said private soldier, and that hereafter no person under said age shall be allowed to enlist in the military service of the
Confederate States."’
Mr. Miles, of
S. C., moved to amend by striking out the word ‘"
Colonel,"’ and inserting the words ‘"
Commander of a regiment, battalion, legion, or independent company."’ This amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Singleton, of
Miss, submitted the following as a proviso to the first section of the bill: ‘"Provided, however, that the provisions of this act shall not apply to persons under eighteen years who have been accepted as substitutes."’
Mr. Chilton, of
Ala., submitted a substitute for
Mr. Singleton's proviso.
Mr. Bruce, of
Ky., moved to lay the bill and amendments upon the table, and on this motion the ayes and noes were called; and the vote being taken, the motion was rejected by the following vote: Ayes 31, noes 51.
Mr. Curry, of
Ala., called the previous question, but the call was not sustained.
Mr. Garnett then called the question on the substitute of
Mr. Chilton; which call being sustained, the ayes and noes were had, with the following result: Ayes 33, noes 49.
So the substitute was not agreed to.
The question then recurred upon the proviso offered by
Mr. Singleton, and it was adopted.
Mr. Kenan, of
Ga., moved to reconsider the vote, but the motion was not agreed to.
Mr. Heiskell of
Tenn., offered the following amendment to the 1st section of the bill, to come in before the proviso of
Mr. Singleton: ‘"But no minor shall be so discharged except with his own free will and consent."’ This amendment was agreed to by ayes 36, noes 32.
Mr. Crockett, of
Ky., moved to amend by an addition to the proviso of
Mr. Singleton the following:
‘
"And provided, further, that nothing in this act shall prevent volunteers from the
State of Kentucky, between the ages of 16 and 18, from entering the service, if in the opinion of the proper authorities they are capable of performing military service."
’
Mr. Gartrell. after addressing the
House, moved to lay the bill and amendments upon the table Motion lost.
Mr. E. M.
Bruce, of
Ky., moved to recommit the bill and amendments to the Military Committee, but accepted a motion to postpone the whole subject indefinitely.
This motion was defeated by a vote of 32 to 46.
The question then came up on the amendment of
Mr. Crockett, when.
Mr. Harris, of
Mo., called the previous question, which being sustained, and the vote being taken, the amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Cliff, of
Miss., moved to amend the second section of the bill by adding ‘"unless the parents of such persons are living, and shall give their written"’ ‘"absent to his enlistment, before be is received."’ This amendment was adopted.
The bill, as amended, was then read and passed to its engrossment, when
Mr. Swann, of
Tenn., moved a reconsideration; but the motion did not prevail.
The bill was then put upon its passage, as amended and adopted.
The Chair announced the following committee, under the resolution of
Mr. Barksdale, to examines into the condition of the Navy Department.
Messrs,
Foote, of Tenn;
Lyons of Va.;
Barksdale, of
Miss.
Dupre, of
La., and
Boyce, of S. C.
On motion of
Mr. Dargan, the
House adjourned.
