Confederate Congress.
First session.
Senate.
Tuesday, April 15, 1862.
Mr. Sparrow, of
La., presented certain reports of
Colonels engaged in the
battle of Leesburg which were laid upon the table.
Mr. Oer, of
S. C., presented a bill to increase in number of
Captains and Commanders in the Navy, and to designate by suitable decorations those who perform gallant and meritorious service.
The bill authorizes the
President to nominate 20
additional Captains and 34
additional Commanders of the
Confederate States Navy, to take rank from the 24th December, 1861, the same to be nominated from the
Commanders and
Lieutenants now in commission in the Navy; and that hereafter all nominations for promotion that may be necessary
shall be taken from the present list of officiant Commanders and
Lieutenants; also, that the
President be authorized to bestow complimentary decorations to such officers and subordinates of the navy as shall distinguish themselves.
The bill was referred to the
Committee of Naval Affairs.
Mr. Barnwell, of
S. C., introduced a bill to regulate the collection of the war tax is certain states invaded by the enemy, and authorizing the
President to suspend payment of these is the cases of those States which have assumed the payment of that tax.
Mr. Preston, of
Virginia, from the Military Committee reported adversely to the resolution of
Mr. Burnett of
Kentucky, authorizing the
President to receive into service dutched companies of volunteers, for guerrilla warfare, and asked to be discharged from further consideration of the same.
Mr. Burnett said he did not design to give authority to unlicensed roving bands — what he wanted was the employment of bold, men, who should be received regularly in the service, bus would be detached for guerrilla warfare.
He wanted them to be placed under all necessary restraints and necessary restrictions — And in, order to meet that view he offered the following:
Resolved, That the resolution directing the Military Committee to inquire into the property of authorizing the
President to receive troops for irregular or detached service, be recommitted, with instructions to said committee to report a joint resolution authorizing the
President to receive such troops, under such regulations and restrictions as may be prescribed by the War Department.
Mr. Sparrow read the law for receiving troops and for the regulation of the army, showing that the
President had already the power to accomplish all that the gentleman from
Kentucky desired.
The resolution was agreed to, but reconsidered and the original resolution recommitted.
Mr. Sparrow, of
Louisiana, from the Military Committee submitted a report adverse to the bill authorizing the employment of a regiment for detached service on the frontier of
Texas.
The report was agreed to, and the Senate went into secret session.
House of Representatives.
Tuesday, April 15, 1862.
The
House convened at 11 o'clock.
A motion was made to remove the injunction of secrecy from the bill passed by the
House in secret session yesterday, being the bill entitled "an act to provide further for the public defence." The motion was agreed to, and the secret injunction removed.
The
House then took up the consideration of the Senate amendment to the
House resolution, fixing the time of adjournment.
This amendment provides that Congress shall adjourn on Monday, the 22d day of April, to meet again on the third Monday in August, 1862. After some discussion, the amendment was agreed to by and may vote — ayes 44, nays 9.
Mr. Johns, of
Tenn., moved to suspend the rule requiring the call of the States, and the motion was agreed to.
Mr. Harris, of
Mo., from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported back the bill "entitled an act for the relief of the families of soldiers in the
Confederate service" It provides for an appropriation of $5,000,000 for the use of needy families of soldiers in the army.
The bill was placed upon the calendar and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Miles, of
S. C., from the same committee, reported back Senate bill for the nay of claim and arrearages of deceased soldiers, with a substitute, differing from the Senate bill as to the manner in which said payments shall be made.
After considerable discussion, in which
Messrs. Dupre,
Dargan,
Weight, and others participated, the substitute was adopted.
Mr. Miles also reported back the bill to provide for calling forth the militia during the present war, with a recommendation that the committee the discharged from its further consideration, which recommendation was concurred in.
Also, reported from the same committee, a bill entitled an act to organize battalions of sharp- shooters.
This bill was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Also, from the same committee, a bill entitled an act to increase the clerical force in the
Quartermaster Gameral's Bureau.
The bill provides for the specialment of eight
additional clerks in this Bureau--two at salaries of $1,500 per annum, two at $1,200, and four at $1,000.
Mr. Ewing, of
Ky., moved to by inserting that no one shall be appointed under the provisions of this bill who in new subject to military duty.
This amendment was agreed to, and, as thus amended, the bill was passed.
Mr. Conrad, of
La., from the
Committee on Naval Affairs, reported back the bill entitled "an act to encourage the manufacture of sales and small arms. " The bill was concurred in.
Mr. Chambliss, from the same committee, reported back a bill to provide for the appointment of chaplains to the naval hospitals, with a recommendation that it pass — This recommendation was concurred in.
Mr. Miles, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to recognize the organization of certain military companies.
The bill was passed to its engrossment, read a third time and agreed to.
Mr. Gartrell, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back Senate bill declaring what officer shall act as
President in case of vacancies in the offices of
President and
Vice-President.
This bill elicited some discussion, but was passed substantially as it came from the
Committee.
