Confederate Congress.
Senate
Saturday, January 14, 1865.
Prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Norwood, of the Episcopal Church.
Senate bill to regulate the pay and allowances of certain female employees of the
Government was reported back from the Judiciary Committee with amendments.
The bill and amendments were ordered to be printed.
On motion, by
Mr. Semmes, Senate bill to facilitate the settlement of the claims of deceased soldiers and officers, by the creation of the office of Fourth Auditor, was recommitted to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Walker, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back bill to secure more effectually the preservation and distribution of the effects of deceased soldiers.--Ordered to be printed.
On motion, by
Mr. Semmes, the Senate resolved into secret session.
[Note.--In the Confederate Senate, on the 12th--
Mr. Johnson, of
Missouri, presented the credentials of
the Hon. George G. Vest, appointed a Senator by the
Executive of the
State of Missouri to fill, until the next meeting of the Legislature of that State, the vacancy occasioned by the inability of the Legislature to elect a Senator conformably to the provisions of the
Constitution of the
Confederate States, owing to the occupancy of the said
State of Missouri by the public enemy, which were read.
Mr. Johnson, of
Missouri, having moved that the oath of office prescribed by the
Constitution be administered to
Mr. Vest, it was determined in the affirmative — year , 15; nays, 4 --as follows:
Yeas--
Messrs. Baker,
Barnwell,
Burnett,
Caperton,
Dortch,
Garland,
Haynes,
Hunter,
Oldham,
Semmes,
Sparrow,
Watson and
Wigfall.
Nays--
Messrs. Brown,
Graham,
Hill and
Walker.
Whereupon, the oath prescribed by the
Constitution was administered to
Mr. Vest, and he took his seat in the Senate.]
House of Representatives.
The
House met at 11 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Duncan.
The Speaker announced the following committee on the message of the
President relative to the arrest of
Hon. Henry S. Foote:
Messrs. Clarke, of
Missouri;
Gilmer, of
North Carolina;
Chilton, of
Alabama;
Gholson, of
Virginia, and
McCallum, of
Tennessee.
The
House passed a Senate bill amendatory of the act providing for local defence and local service.
Also, a Senate joint resolution of thanks to
General Stand Watie,
Colonel Gano, and the officers and men under their commands, for gallant military service.
The
House also passed a bill to provide for the payment of provost marshals and military clerks.
Also, a bill to increase the compensation of the
Surgeon-General, so as to give him the pay and allowances of a colonel of cavalry.
The
House then took up for consideration the exemption bill.
Several attempts were made to table the bill and recommit it to the Military Committee, but they failed.
A clause was adopted exempting all ministers of religion engaged in the discharge of their duties on the 17th of February, 1864.
Also, an amendment to exempt all mechanics and agriculturists over forty-five years of age, habitually engaged in the prosecution of their calling, who have eight white persons in their families dependent on them, and all such persons now in the army who would have been so exempted had they been at home.
Pending the consideration of the bill the
House adjourned.