Confederate States Congress.
[Adjourned Session.]
Senate. Tuesday, August 26, 1862.
The Senate met at 12 o'clock. Prayer by Rt. Rev. Bishop Early.
Mr. Simms, of Kentucky, offered the following resolution; which; after some discussion, was adopted: ‘
Resolved, That in the opinion of the Senate the general complaint made by the sick and wounded in the army of the Confederate States of intention and neglect on the part of the medical officers, whose duty it is to provide for their comfort and necessities, justify the apprehension that such complaints may be well founded, and therefore require at the hands of Congress an earnest and speedy investigation, with such reform in the whole system as will in future prevent these abuses and secure to the sick and wounded such prompt attention as their condition may require; and to this end a select committee of three be appointed by the President of this body to investigate other complaints; to have proof, if deemed necessary, and to confer with the Secretary of War and the heads of the Medical Department, in order that such reforms may be adopted as the exigencies of the case may require.
The President appointed Messrs. Simms, Hill, and Clay to constitute the Special Committee. ’
Mr. Simms, also presented the following resolution; which, on motion of Mr. Brown, of Miss., was transferred to the secret calendar: ‘
Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate to the Senate (if not deemed prejudicial to the public interest) the number of commissioned officers of every grade now in the naval service of the Confederate States, and also the number appointed from civil life, and those who were heretofore in the naval service of the United States; and also the number of such officers now on leave of absence or furlough, and the number now actually engaged in the naval service of the Confederate States.
Mr. Sparrow, of La., offered a resolution, which was adopted, instituting an inquiry into the expediency of building a railway between Vicksburg, Miss., and Shreveport, La. ’
Mr. Mitchell, of Ark, offered the following resolution: ‘
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to inform the Senate what amount of money has been sent West of the Mississippi river, and to whom sent.
Mr. Mitchell, was, he said, informed that the sum of $32,000,000 had been sent West of the Mississippi, and he knew that the larger portion of provisions there purchased was paid for in Quartermaster's certificates, instead of money, which had caused provisions to rise to three times their value.
At the suggestion of Mr. Semmes, of La., the resolution was modified so that the information would be reported to the Senate in secret session.
Mr. Dortch, of N. C., presented a memorial from the Society of Friends in North Carolina, asking a modification of the Conscript law in their behalf.
Received and laid on the table.
Mr. Semmes, of La., presented a bill authorizing the seizure and appropriation of salines, under military necessity; which, on motion of Mr. Preston, of Va., was postponed until Friday.
Mr. Phelan, of Miss., offered a resolution that the Military Committee inquire into the expediency of repealing the present law of commutation for clothing to soldiers, and adopting another better to secure the provision for the necessities of the army in this particular.
Adopted.
The Senate then went into Executive session. ’ 