The
Senate met at 12 o'clock M on yesterday,
Mr. Hunter, of Va, in the chair.
Mr. Caperton, of Va, submitted a resolution, which was agreed to that the Committee of Finance inquire into the expediency of exempting from import duty machinery and materials imported during the present war and blockade by railroad companies for the purpose of repairing their roads.
Also, a resolution, which was agreed to, that the Committee of Finance inquire into the expediency of amending the tax law of Feb, 17, 1864, in relation to the taxes upon the property of and stock of railroad companies.
Mr. Caperton, of Va, presented the memorial of the potation of
Eliza Maury, asking the restoration of a pension to which she was entitled under the
Government of the
United States.
Referred to the
Committee on Claims.
Mr. Hill, of Ga, presented the memorial of the Banks of
Savannah, Ga, asking a modification of the tax law.
Mr. Burnett, from the Committee of Claims, reported a joint resolution for the relief of John D
Sutherland, which was passed.
Mr Henry, of Tenn, submitted joint resolutions of thanks to
Gen Forrest and the officers and men under his command, for the victories of
Okolona,
Paducah,
Union City, and
Fort Pillow.
Mr. Johnson, of Ark, offered a resolution, that all joint resolutions giving the thanks of Congress to officers and soldiers of the army or navy of the
Confederate States shall, upon the second reading be referred to some one of the standing committees of the Senate, unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the Senate.
Agreed to.
Mr Wigfall submitted the following, which were made the special order for 1 o'clock Monday, and ordered to be printed:
- 1. Resolved, That the Congress of the Confederate States of America has the undoubted right, during invasion or rebellion, and when, the public safety requires it, to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus; and that while so suspended, it is not competent for any Confederate Judge to discharge from custody any person held under or by virtue of the authority of the Confederate States.
- 2.
That the State Courts, being established by State authority, can in no manner be affected by Confederate leg station, and that, therefore, an act of the Confederate Congress suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus does not apply to them, and in no wise prevents their issuing such writs as by the laws of their States they are allowed to exercise or issue.
- 3. That the State and Confederate Governments are separate, distinct, and co-ordinate Governments; that each has its Legislative, Executive and Judicial Departments, and is a perfect Government in itself, and therefore neither can interfere in any manner with the legislative executive, or judicial action of the other; and that the laws of neither can require into the legality or illegality of the arrests of persons in custody under or by the authority of the other, or afford such persons any relief.
- 4. That the Constitution of the Confederate States is, as to the States, and between them, a compact between sovereigns, a perfect right to declare its true intent and meaning; and that the citizens of each State are bound by such decisions.
- 5. That as to the citizens of each State, the Constitution of the Confederate States, having been ordained and established by the same authority as their State Constitution, is equally supreme and binding over them as their State Constitution; and that the Government established by it, to the extent of its delegated powers, of which the State only is the judge, is as fully empowered to act for them as their State Government; and that when it does so act their State Government, having no supremacy over the Confederate Government, cannot release them from their obligation to obey.
On motion of
Mr. Semmes, it was ordered that when the Senate adjourn it be to Monday at 12 o'clock M.
House joint resolutions of thanks to the 34th and 35th regiments of
North Carolina troops, and to the
Texas brigade in the army of Virginia, were referred to the Military Committee.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.
House of Representatives.--Met at 12 M. Prayer was offered by
the Rev. Dr. Duncan.
Prayer was offered by
the Rev. Dr. Danean.
A communication from the
President was received, and referred.
A report of the
Secretary of the Treasury was made, submitting certain estimates for the support of the
Government.
Referred.
Also, a communication from the
Secretary of the Navy, in relation to the sum of thirty thousand dollars, which was raised by the ladies of
South Carolina, to be expended in building a gunboat, but still remained unexpended.
Referred.
Mr. Gilmer, of
N. C., submitted a bill, to so amend the law as to impose a fine of five hundred dollars on such persons as may fall to deliver their tithes.
Referred.
A memorial was presented from the Virginia Volunteer Navy Company, asking exemption from taxation.
Referred.
Also, another memorial requesting permission to select sailors and marines from the conscripts.
Referred.
Mr. Hanly, of
Ark., submitted a bill for the consolidation of regiments reduced below the legal standard.
Referred.
Also, a bill to establish a Court of Claims for the
Confederate States.
Referred.
Mr. Perkins, of
La., introduced a resolution to appoint a committee of inquiry to ascertain if the services of competent stenographers could be secured to take down the proceedings of the
House, in order to have them printed.
Adopted.
On motion, a committee was appointed to wait on
Gov. Smith for the purpose of securing exemption from militia duty of the printers employed to do necessary public printing.
Mr Funston, of
Va., introduced a bill to allow commissioned officers to purchase clothing for individual use, and to limit the provisions of the law in relation to the Quartermaster's Department, so as to allow no officer under the rank of a
Brigadier General to draw forage for but one horse.
The committee appointed to wait on
Gov. Smith to secure the exemption of printers on necessary public printing returned and reported that the
Governor had not as yet interrupted the printers.
On motion, the
House adjourned.
