Thursday, January 22, 1863.
Senate.--The Senate met at 12 o'clock M.--
Hon. R. M. T. Hunter in the Chair.
Prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Edwards, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Sparrow, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred a bill introduced by
Mr. Wigfell, of
Texas, to place the hospitals under military law, reported the same with an amendment, and asked that it be printed; which was ordered.
Mr. Hill, from the
Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the report of the
Attorney General, reported the same, and asked that it be printed; which was ordered.
On motion of
Mr. Barnwell, the Senate went into secret session.
House of Representatives.--
House met at 12 o'clock. Prayer by
Rev. Dr. Doggett.
The Chair submitted to the
House a communication from the
Governor of
Virginia in relation to allusions to his course in the remarks of
Mr. Davis, of
Miss, in the debate on the resolution to rent the
Exchange Hotel for the use of Congress, in which he showed that so far from throwing obstacles in the way of the efficient discharge of the business of Congress, that he had endeavored to afford every facility in his power.
The communication was accompanied with a correspondence between the
Governor and the chairman of the
Committee on Public Buildings.
Explanations were made by
Messrs. Davis and
Lyons when
Mr. Preston, of
Va., offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the communication of the
Governor, this day made to this body, be spread upon the minutes; and that, in the opinion of this House, the
Governor of
Virginia has done all consistent with a sense of duty to add to the comfort of the members and furnish proper accommodations for the deliberations of Congress.
On motion of
Mr. Currin, of
Tenn., the whole subject was laid upon the table.
Mr. Foster, of
Ala., offered a resolution that the Military-Committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of the present passport system, and if, in their judgment, the necessity should exist, to continue the same; then into the propriety of confining the duties on all railroads to the conductors thereof — agreed to. Also, a resolution that the same committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill providing for the enrollment and placing into the ranks all sutlers between eighteen and forty-five years of age — agreed to.
Mr. Dargan, of
Ala., offered a resolution that the Judiciary Committee be instructed to inquire into and report what measures are necessary to secure representation in this body by the States and parts of States now or at any time in the occupation of the enemy; and that they further report what measures are necessary and proper to preserve the constitutional governments of such States in the hands of those who are loyal to the
Confederate States--agreed to.
Mr. Garland, of
Ark., introduced a bill, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee, to provide for retaliation upon the
Government of the
United States for any attempt to execute the proclamation of
Abraham Lincoln, dated January 1st, 1863, or to excite insurrection among any of the slaves of any of the
Confederate States.
Mr. Royston, of
Ark., presented a bill entitled an act to increase and strengthen the army of the
Confederate States.
Referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Royston also introduced a resolution that the
Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire what legislation, if any, is necessary to prevent commending General and other military officers of the army of the
Confederate States from fixing a tariff of prices upon provisions and other productions of the
Confederate States, and report by bill or otherwise.
Agreed to.
Mr. Hilton, of
Fla., introduced a bill to repeat certain clauses of an act to exempt certain persons from military service, etc., approved Oct. 11, 1862 Referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Gartrell, of
Ga., offered a resolution that the
Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to in quire into the propriety of enacting a law requiring the
Government to furnish transportation for the remains of officers and soldiers who have fallen in the service of their country, and report by bill or otherwise.
Agreed to. Also, a resolution that the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill making the requisite appropriation for the increase of the salaries of the
civil officers of the
Government employed in
Richmond, granted by Congress towards the adjournment of its last session, but for which, from want of time, no appropriation was made.
Agreed to. Also, a resolution that the
President be requested to furnish Congress with copies of the official reports of the battles of
Fredericksburg and
Murfreesboro', and reports of all other battles, at as early a day as practicable.
Agreed to.
Mr. Clarke, of
Ga., offered a resolution that the
Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the authority exercised by the
Secretary of War, under the Conscription acts, by which he has determined that when substitutes become subject to military service the exemption of the principal shall expire.
This resolution was discussed at some length, and pending its consideration the order of the day, the exemption bill reported from the Military Committee, was called up by
Mr. Curry, of Ala.
The Chair explained that the question was upon the motion to recommit the bill, with its amendments and substitutes to the Military Committee; upon which motion the ayes and noes were called, and the vote being taken resulted: Ayes, 39; noes, 35.
Mr. Hilton, of
Florida, moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was recommitted, and spoke in advocacy of his motion.
Objection was urged to the
Committee's bill by
Messrs,
Staples and
Preston of
Va., Foots of
Tennessee, and
Curry of
Ala., upon various grounds.
They opposed it because it forced ministers of the Gospel into the military service; became it violated the contract of the
Government with the various denominations of Christians who had paid their money into the Treasury upon the faith of the exemption bill heretofore passed, because it placed a legislative power in the Executive Department of the
Government.
They maintained that it was the duty of Congress to declare who should go into the army, and who should be exempt.
Mr. Curry desired a repeal of that clause in the present exemption bill which discriminated in favor of slaveholders and their overseers.
Mr. Barksdale, of
Miss., earnestly supported the bill of the
Committee.
At a quarter before 4 o'clock the
House, without disposing of the question, adjourned to meet at 12 o'clock to-morrow.
