The Daily Dispatch: March 12, 1863., [Electronic resource]

Confederate States Congress.

Mr. Clay Introduced a bill to prevent the absence of officers and privates without leave. Referred to the Military Committee.

Mr. Hill reported, with an amendment, the bill to repeal the naturalization laws. Printed.

Mr. Mitchell reported a bill for the benefit of certain claimants for postal service; which was read the requisite number of times and passed.

Mr. Davis reported a bill for the relief of Mrs. Laura Harper, wife of Col. B. W. Harper, commanding 1st regiment of Arkansas cavalry.

A message was received from the President transmitting reports of engagements with the Abolition forces as follows:

‘ 1st. Report of the attack by the enemy's fleet on Fort McAllister, February 1, 1863. 2d. Report of the engagements at Fayette O. H, Cotton Hill Gauley, Charleston, and pursuit of the enemy to the Ohio. 3d Report of the operations of Brigadier Gen. Re brigade at Seven Pines. 4th. Report of the capture of the gunboat I. P. Smith on Stono river. Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

The senate took up and passed the bill entitled an act relative to the bonds of Quartermasters and Commissaries of the Confederate States.

’ Mr. Clay of Ala, offered the following resolution, which was agreed to:

‘ Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of abolishing the office of Regimental Commissary.

’ Mr. Simms, of Ky., submitted a resolution as following, which was agreed to:

‘ Resolved That the President be requested, if not prejudicial to the public interest to communicate to the Senate a copy of the official report of the battle of Baton Rouge, made by Major-General John C. Breckinbridge.

’ The Senate resumed, in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill to grant to the principal officer of each of the Executive departments a seat upon the floor of the Senate.

Mr. Haynes, of Tenn, moved to amend the bill by striking out, in the 4th and 5th lines, the words "with the privilege of discussing any measures appertaining to his department. " The amendment was agreed to as follows:

‘ Yeas--Messrs Brown, Caperton, Clark, Davis, Dortch, Haynes, Henry, Johnston of Ark, Mitchell, Oldnam, Peyton, Simms, Sparrow, and Yancey--14.

Nays--Messrs. Barnwell, Burnett, Clay, Hill, Hunter, Maxwell, Orr, Phelan, Semmes, and Wigfad--10.

On motion of Mr. Sparrow, the bill was postponed indefinitely.

’ Mr. Wigfad, from the special committee appointed to investigate the duties and privileges of reporters upon the floor of the Senate, submitted a report defining the duties of reporters for the press, and the relations which exist between them and the Senate, which was accompanied by the following resolutions which were considered and debated at some length:

‘ Resolved, That the privilege of the floor of the Senate is hereby withdrawn from the present reporter of the Richmond Enquirer.

Resolved, further, That the presiding officer of the Senate is hereby empowered and enjoined to administer this privilege; granting it to such number of papers only as shall to him seem proper and convenient; and withdrawing it from any and all such reporters or papers, as in his judgment the public interest, or the peace and dignity of the Senate may require; and for such withdrawal he shall not be required to assign reasons.

Pending the consideration of a motion by Mr. Brown, of Miss., to lay the resolutions on the table, the Senate went into secret session.

’ House of Representatives--The House met at 12 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Jeter.

The Chair laid before the House a communication from the President, transmitting from the Secretary of War "a supplemental estimate of the funds required for subsistence of the army from 1st of January to 30th of June, 1863." Referred to Committee of Ways and Means.

Also, a communication from the President transmitting response of the Secretary of the Navy--a response to House resolution of the 5th of February, in regard to the number and amount of claims for vessels seized for public use. Referred to Committee on Naval Affairs.

Also, a communication from the President transmitting from the Secretary of War an estimate of the amount required for the fulfillment of contracts made by the Medical Purveyors. Referred to Committee of Ways and Means.

The Senate bill, entitled an act to regulate the extra pay allowed to soldiers detailed for duty as clerks in the city of Richmond, was taken up, read a first and second times and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Senate bill entitled "An act to repeal section 2d of an act entitled an act relating to the prepayment of postage in certain cases," approved July 19, 1862 was also taken up and referred to the Post Office Committee.

Senate bill entitled "An act to provide and organize engineer troops, to serve during the war." was, on motion of Mr. Miles of S. C., taken up, and the rules suspended, to allow it to be considered at once.

Mr. Garnett, of Va., submitted the following amendment:

‘ "No officer shall be appointed or promoted, under authority of this law, until his qualifications have been tested by examination under rules to be prescribed by the War Department, and appointments shall be made from those passing such examination in the order of merit."

’ Upon this amendment the ayes and noes were ordered, and the vote being taken, resulted — ayes 24, noes 45.

Mr. Chambless of Va., offered a similar amendment, which was also rejected and the bill, as it came from the Senate, was agreed to.

Mr. Conrad, of La moved to suspend the rules to allow him to offer resolutions relation to a restoration of peace.

The motion prevailed, the rules were suspended, and Mr. Conrad offered the following; which were referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed:

Whereas, the present Administration of the United States, by its reckless disregard of all constitutional restraints, by its persistent efforts to subvert the social institutions of these States, and the ferocious war which it is waging for that purpose, has more than realized the worst apprehensions of our people and fully justified their wisdom and foresight in averting, by a timely separation from the Union, the calamities which a longer continuance in it would have rendered inevitable; and whereas a portion of the people of the United States have recently manifested their disapproval of the war; of the objects for which and the manner in which, it is conducted, and their desire for its speedy termination; and several foreign Powers, notably the Government of France, have expressed a similar desire: Now, therefore, the Congress of the Confederate States, deeply impressed with the conviction that it is their duty to leave no means untried to put an end to a contest it jurious to the civilized world, and disastrous to the parties engaged, believing that its prolongation can only tend to embitter and perpetuate feelings of hostility between States which, however politically disunited, must ever be intimately connected by identity of race, of language, and of religion, and by the unalterable laws of geographical nity, and of mutual demand and supply, deem the present time when there is a momentary pause in the conflict, a suitable one to utter the words of peace. The Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States do therefore.

Resolve; That they will cordially co-operate with the Executive in any measures it may adopt consistent with the honor, the dignity, and independence of these States, tending to a speedy restoration of peace with all, or with any of the states of the Federal Union.

On motion of Mr. Royston, of Ark, the House went into secret session for the consideration of the Tax bill.