Senate.--The Senate was called to order at 12 o'clock M,
Mr. Hunter, of
Va., in the chair.
Mr. Wigfall, of
Texas, introduced a bill to organize an Ordnance Department, which was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported a bill to provide for having the laws relating to military affairs digested and published — Placed on the calendar.
Mr. Sparrow, from the same committee, reported a bill to regulate the extra pay allowed soldiers detailed for duty as clerks in the city of
Richmond.--The bill increases their extra pay from 25 cents to $1 per diem.
It passed.
Mr. Oldham, of
Texas, from the
Committee on Post-Offices and Post Roads, introduced a bill to repeal the second section of an act relating to the prepayment of postage, approved July 29, 1863.--The bill provides that hereafter persons writing to soldiers in the army shall prepay their letters.
The soldier is still left the liberty of sending his letters free.
The Impressment bill being under consideration, the Senate yielded to a motion to go into secret session.
House of Representatives.--The
House met at 11 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Jeter.
Mr. Rails of Ala, moved that when the
House adjourn to day it adjourn to meet at 11 o'clock tomorrow.
On this motion
Mr. Dupree, of La, called the ayes and noes, and the call being sustained, the vote resulted — eyes 33, noes 27.
The question then came up upon the
Senate Joint resolutions in relation to the production of grain,
Mr. Baldwin.
of
Virginia heir gentled to the floor.
The following are the resolutions as reported from the Senate:
Whereas a strong impression prove throughout the country that the war now being waged against the people of the
Confederate States may terminate during the present year; and whereas, this impression is leading many patriotic citizens to engage largely in the production of cotton and tobacco, which they would not otherwise do; and whereas, in the opinion of Congress, it is of the utmost importance not only with a view to the proper subsistence of our armies, but for the interest and welfare of all the people, that the agricultural labor of the country should be employed chiefly in the production of a supply of food to meet every contingency; Therefore.
- 1st Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That it is the deliberate judgment of Congress that the people of these States, while hoping for peace, should look to prolonged war as the only condition proffered by the enemy short of subjugation; that every preparation necessary to encounter such a war should be persisted in; and that the amplest supply of previsions for our armies and people should be the first object of all agriculturists.
Wherefore, it is earnestly recommended that the people, instead of planting cotton and tobacco, shall direct their agricultural labor mainly to the production of such crops as will demure a sufficiency of food for all classes and for every emergency, thereby with true patriotism subordinating the hope of gain to the service of the country.
- 2d.
Resolved, That the President is hereby requested to issue a proclamation to the people of these States, urging upon them the necessity of guarding against the great perils of a short crop of provisions, and setting forth such reasons therefore as his judgment may dictate.
After addressing the
House at some length,
Mr. Baldwin offered the following amendment, by way of addition, to come in at the end of the Senate resolutions:
"And that the
President be also requested in such proclamation to give to the producers of food the assurance that if at any time it shall become necessary to impress provisions or forage for public uses full and just compensation will be made to the owner, according to the fair market value at the time and place of leisure."
Mr. Hilton, of Fia., moved to amend the amendment by striking out the words "full and, " so as make it read just compensation, &c.
This amendment was accepted by
Mr Baldwin, and the question coming up upon the amendment as amended,
Mr. Miles of S. C. called the eyes and were had as follows:
--
Messrs Arrington,
Asha,
Baldwin,
Batton, Boyes, Bridges, H. W.
Bruce N. M. Bruce,
Clapp,
Clarke,
Clopton, Colder, Dejarne to,
Dupre,
Foote,
Foster,
Gardenhier,
Garnett, Gartrall, Goods,
Hanley,
Heiskell,
Herbert,
Holcombe, Jeness,
Kenan of
N. C. Lyon,
Marshall, Mensess, Miles
Miller,
Munnerlyn,
Perkins,
Simpson,
Smith of Ala, smith of
M. C. Smith of Va. Vast,
Villers, Weight of Tenn, and
Mr. Speaker--43;
Note--
Messrs. Barksdale,
Burnett. Chambers,
Conrad,
Conrow, Carry,
Elliott,
Ewing,
Farrow,
Freeman,
Garland,
Graham,
Gray,
Harris,
Hartridge,
Hilton,
Hodge,
Kenner,
Lander, Machan,
McDowell MoRas,
McQueen,
Moore Pughkoyston,
Sexton,
Strickland,
Swann,
Trippe,
Welch and
Wilcox--35.
The resolutions an amended were then ordered to a third reading, and being placed upon their passage were agreed to.
Mr. Barksdale of
Miss., introduced a series of joint resolutions on the subject of the war, and in relation to the free navigation of the
Mississippi river, and moved a suspension of the rules with a view to having them referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs and printed.
The rules were suspended and the resolutions referred.
Mr. Jones of Tenn, moved to suspend the rules, so as to allow any gentlemen on the floor who had resolutions on the same subject to introduce then for reference.
This motion was agreed to — ayes 48, noes 10.
Mr. Smith, of
N. C., then introduced a series of resolutions on the same subject, which took the same reference.
On motion, the
House went into secret session on the Tax bill
