Confederate States Congress,
Friday, January 16, 1863.
Senate.--The Senate met at 12 o'clock--Hon. R. M. T. Hunter in the chair.
Prayer by Rev. Dr. Burrows, of the Baptist Church.
The President announced that he had received a telegram from Hon. Jas. L. Orr, of South Carolina, stating that he was detained at Charlotte by sickness, but expected to be in Richmond in a few days.
Mr. Sparrow, of Louisiana, introduced a resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency of amending an act entitled "Act to exempt certain persons from military duty, and to report an act to exempt certain persons in the service of the Confederate States."
- 1st. By confining the exemption of persons allowed for the police of slaves to those cases only where the sole owner of the farm or plantation is a femme sole a minor, or person of unsound mind, or a person in the public service, absent from home in the discharge of his duty.
- 2d. By still further restricting the exemption of persons engaged in the merchant marine service and in the employment of railroad and canal companies and also in river navigation.
- 3d. By repeating so much of said act as exempts shoemakers, tenders, blacksmiths and wheel- wrights, or modifying the same act as to make their exemption depend upon the discretion of the military authorities in view of the public necessities, upon their giving their labor or its products for a fair consideration.
- 4th. By repealing so much of said act as exempts artisans, mechanics and employees in the Government establishments engaged in manufacturing arms, ordnance and ordnance stores, and other munitions or war, or who may be employed by persons having contract with the Government for the manufacture of these articles, and providing that persons skilled in such work may be detailed therefore.
- 5th. That no person engaged in the production or manufacture of salt shall for that reason be exempt when the price for which said salt is sold shall exceed six cents per pound.
--We notice in the newspapers of this morning, that the subject of our contract with the Government was introduced in Congress on yesterday. We beg you to say for the as now, as we have already stated in a published card, that we court the fullest, most thorough and searching inquiry and investigation of the whole subject — that we are ready and willing to appear before a committee of Congress, with our books and papers, and that we have only been deterred from publishing the contract itself because it was believed by a high official of the Government — to wit, the Commissary General--that such a course would be prejudicial to the public interests.
Mr. Haldwin, of Va., called up a resolution offered by him yesterday, requesting the Secretary of War to inform the House whether the Board of Officers appointed by General Orders, No. 63 dated Sept, 17, 1862. have reported "a roll of merit based upon examination and testimonials," as required by said orders; and whether those who continuing on the 16th of September, 1862, were "arranged for appointments as Captain's and First and Second Lieutenants according to merit," as was directed by General Orders, No. 71, of Sept. 26, 1862; and whether the appointments of Ordnance officers since made, have been made "from the head of the list," as promised in said last mentioned order — and if not, why not. And also, that the Secretary of War be requested to furnish to this House a list of the applicants examined by the said, Board, showing the States from which they came, and also the "roll of merit" and report of standing made by the Board. The vote on this resolution was taken by ayes and noes, and resulted — ayes 30, noes 29. Mr. Baldwin offered a resolution, which was agreed to, that the Committee of Ways and Means inquire into the expediency of reporting a tax bill, to raise during the present year the sum of one hundred and twelve millions of dollars; he tax to be apportioned among the several States in the ratio of one million of dollars for every Representative in this House, and to be assessed for each State according to the system of taxation practiced in such. Also, a resolution, which was adopted, that the Committee of Ways and Means into the expediency of calling upon the several States of the Confederacy to unite in a joint guarantee of the debt of the Confederate States now existing, or hereafter to be incurred, excepting from such guarantee all Treasury notes, stock, and bons heretofore issued. Mr. Baldwin, of Virginia, introduced a bill proposing to compel the funding the outstanding debt of the Confederate States by the 1st day of June 1863, by making Treasury notes fund able in bonds at the following rates of interest: Until the 1st day of July, 1863. at six per cent a year; until 1st day of August, 1863, at five per cent, per annum; until the 1st day of September, 1863. at four per cent; until the 1st day of October, 1863., at three per cent; until the 1st day of November, 1863, at two per cent; and until the first day of December, 1863. at one per cent. Mr. Baldwin addressed the House at some length in support of this proposition, and at the conclusion of his remarks the House, on motion of Mr. Dargan, adjourned till 12 o'clock to morrow.