(h^^JUfjr^.^^ 
 
 \^ [^oL'sfc Bill.] 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Dec: 28, 1863.— Read first 
 and second times, laid on the table and ordered to be printed. 
 
 [By Mr. Oi.apk] 
 
 A. J3ILL 
 
 To be entitled an Act to provide Ur wounded and disabled officers and 
 soldiers an asylum to be called "The Veteran Soldiers Home." 
 
 1 Section 1 . Tht CongTe^s of the Confederate States of Amci ica do 
 
 2 CTMct, That in order to make a just and adequate provision for 
 
 3 the maintenance and comfort of officers and soldiers or seamen, 
 
 4 Avho have been or may be disabled by wounds received, or disease 
 6 contracted in the military or naval service of the Confederate 
 6 States, during the pending war. the sum of 
 
 '* dollars be. and the same is hereby, appropri- 
 
 8 ated to be expended, or s(» much thereof as may be necessary, by 
 
 9 the Secretary of War. under the approval and direction of the 
 
 10 President, in the lease or purchase of some safe and suitable 
 
 1 1 location for an asylum to be called *'The Veteran Soldiers Home, 
 
 12 and for the erection and furnishing of such buildings and fixtures 
 
 13 as the probable number of inmates may render necessary ; and 
 
2 
 
 1-4 in order that the several Confederate States and the citizens, 
 
 15 thereof, may have the opportunity of becoming identified with 
 
 16 this philanthropic and patriotic enterprise, and of participating 
 
 17 in the pleasing and grateful duty of contributing to the relief of 
 
 18 those who have perilled all, and have been disabled in the service 
 
 19 of their country. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of War, 
 
 20 immediately after the passage of this act, to invite the aid and 
 
 21 co-operation of said states, through the respective Governors 
 
 22 thereof, and to request the appointment of one person on behalf 
 
 23 of each State, as a manager of the institution hereby established; 
 
 24 and the several persons so appointed, shall, as soon as practicable, 
 
 25 assemble at seme time and place, to be designated by the Secre- 
 
 26 tary of War, and organize themselves into a board of managers 
 
 27 by the election of a president and other necessary officers, with 
 
 28 such compensation as the board may deem adequate, and a majori- 
 
 29 ty of the persons composing said board shall constitute a quorum 
 
 30 for the transaction of business. They shall continue in office 
 
 31 for the period of two years from the date of their appointment, 
 
 32 and until their successors are in like manner appointed, and sub- 
 
 33 ject to the general approval and direction of the Secretary, of 
 
 34 War, They shall have the management and control of said insti- 
 
 35 tution, and the power to make all requisite rules and regulations 
 
 36 therefor, including the appointment of stewards and nurses, the 
 
 37 organizing a police force and other necessary arrangements- 
 
38 Upon their recconmeDdation and application, the proper authori- 
 
 39 lies i-hail appoint or assign for duty, at said institution, a com- 
 
 40 misfary, ^vho shall provide needful supplies for the same, on 
 <11 Go\eument actount, end such Mugeons and assistatf^urgecnp, 
 
 42 in the pay of iht Gcvernment, as the -wants of the institutiofk may 
 
 43 require, or as ni.iy 1)0 necessary for the' skilful and succegsful 
 
 44 m;ui?gin;tnt of an infiiuiaiy, Avhich the hoard may ettahlish as a 
 
 45 pyitof ihe institution, for the benefit of all those invalids, 
 
 46 solcitis or seamen, uho n.oy need the repose snd treatment furn- 
 
 47 ii-hcd ihertin, logeiher with all other persons of said classes, 
 
 48 -whose Avounds, fum hasty field operations, require further sur- 
 
 49 gical fctttntion ; ar.d the Suigeon General shall be authorized to 
 61) ii] pcint the most skillful surgeons to discharge the duties of said 
 
 51 iiifiin.njy. They shall adopt such measure as they may deem 
 
 52 best fcr obtaining contribution.-^ ficm individuals desiring to aid 
 
 53 the cntirpiise, and shall preserve a registry, -which shall be kept 
 
 54 optn to public inspection, of the names of such contributors and 
 
 55 the amount contributed by each, and, also, all donations received 
 
 56 from the several state governments. 
 
 1 fc^tc. 2. Qhe funds of the institution shall be placed in the 
 
 ,2 ha'nds of a trea#rer, to bo elected by the Ecard, who, before 
 
 3 assuming the duties of his cffice, shall enter into a bond and 
 
 4 sccuiit} for the laithful pufcimance theieof, -which bond shall be 
 
 5 r.ppioAed by the Ecard of ?-.'anagers, and made payable to said 
 
 6 board and their successcvs in tffce, and fcay by them, for any 
 
 7 infiacticn of the same, be put in suit in any Stale or Confederate 
 
 8 Counhavinc juiisdictio'n of the amount. The said funds, subject 
 
 9 to the gtnt)al r>]proval of the Fcciclaiy of "War, as aforesaid, 
 10 shall be cxp(n<\u l.y the Ecard cf Managers in the erection of 
 
 11 such Itilcbr.^s, f.xtuies snd appurtenances as may le necessary, 
 
 12 {ir.d in p)c\idirg fci svch rgiicultuial, hoiticultuial, mechanical 
 
 13 or other enplerment or pirsuit, as the -wants of the institution 
 
14 or the comfort and reci-eation of the inmites may suf^gest. The 
 
 15 said board shall, before the asssembling of each regular sessioa 
 
 16 of Congress, submit a report of the conditioti and state of affairs 
 
 17 of the institution to the Secretary of W<i,r, which it shall be his 
 
 18 duty to communicate to Congress. 
 
 1 Sec. 3. The beneficiaries of said institution, \y\\o shall he en- 
 
 3 titled to become inmates of the same, shall be all commissioned 
 
 3 and non-commissioned odi'er;;. musician-; and private soldiers 
 
 4 and seamen, who have been, or who may hereafter be, retired or dis- 
 
 5 charged, by reason of wounds or injuries received, or disease 
 
 6 contr.ictcd in the militiry or n aval service of the Coufed/ratc 
 
 7 States, in the line of their duty, during the pending war ; and. 
 
 8 any person claiming the benefit of this act shiill present his ap- 
 
 9 plication in the manner proscribed hj the Board, of Managers, 
 II) and shall, if admitted, be subject to all of the rale.-; and regulations 
 
 11 of the institution so long as he remains an inm^^te thereof. lie 
 
 12 shall, iit the time of his admittance, deposit with such person as 
 
 13 maybe designated by the Board of Managers, all certificates and 
 H other papers relating to his discharge from the service, and en- 
 15 titling him to future pay or compensation from tlie (government 
 IG as a retired or discharged officer, soldier or seamen, which said 
 17 pay or compensation shall, during tlie time of his continuance in 
 IS the institution, be paid by the disbursing officer, making such 
 
 19 payments t~' the treasurer of the institution, and shall constitute 
 
 20 a part of the general fund of the sam'j, except so much thereof 
 
 21 as the Board of Managers may direct to be p id, from time- to 
 
 22 time, to the person in whose right it is receiveil. 
 
 1 Sec. 4 Any beneficiary of said institution may discontinue his 
 
 2 connection therewith at his option, and upon withdrav/ing from 
 
 3 the same, shall b^ entitled to withdraw, also, all certificates and 
 
 4 other papers deposited by him at the time of his admittance, and 
 
 5 shall be remitted to all the rights and bcrr Hts seen rod thereby.