The
Senate was called to order at 12 o'clock M. by
Mr. Hunter,
President pro tem. The proceedings were opened with prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Duncan, of the Methodist Church.
Mr. Caperton, of
Va., presented joint resolutions of the General Assembly of
Virginia recommending the increase of pay to cavalrymen for the use of their horses; the compensation for horses lost in the service, but not in actual battle, and the giving of rations to officers, non-commissioned officers and privates in the army.
The resolutions were ordered to be printed.
Mr. Caperton, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back the bill to protect
Senators and Representatives in Congress from annoyance while travelling in the
Confederate States, with a verbal amendment, which was agreed to. The bill was then passed, as follows:
The Congress, etc., do enact, That it shall be the duty of the
Secretary of State of the
Confederate States to furnish, without application, each
Senator and Representative in Congress with a certificate, under seal, setting forth the official character of such
Senator or Representative; and such certificate, when exhibited, shall entitle the person to whom it is issued to travel without other evidence of any kind in all parts of the
Confederate States, except that it shall not entitle him to visit an army or vessels of war against the orders of the commanding officer thereof.
There being no further business, on motion of
Mr. Sparrow, the Senate adjourned.
The
House met at 12 o'clock, and was opened with prayer.
The
House took up for consideration the unfinished business of Saturday, being the bill introduced by
Mr. Clark, of
Ga., to so amend the 2d section of the tax law as requires one tenth of the sweet potatoes raised in the year 1863 to be delivered to the
Government of the
Confederate States.
Mr. Hilton, of Fla, offered an amendment that the tythe of sweet potatoes be commuted, and that the amount be paid in money, instead of potatoes.
On this amendment the ayes and noes were had, and resulted — ayes 53 noes 7.
The bill was then taken up as amended and agreed to.
Mr. Bruce, of
Ky., offered a resolution, which was adopted, tendering the courtesies of the
House to
Major Gen. S. B
Buckner, and
Brig.-Gens. Preston and
Williams.
The same gentleman offered a joint resolution to correct the records of the War Department concerning the 9th Kentucky regiment, which was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Miles introduced a bill to continue in service all troops now in the
Confederate service, providing that all musicians, privates and non-commissioned officers now in the armies of the
Confederate States, by virtue of voluntary enlistment or conscription into the military service of the
Confederate States, be retained in said service for and during the existing war with the
United States, and no longer.
Mr. Gartrell, of
Ga., offered an amendment to the bill:--That companies, battalions, and regiments, shall have the right to reorganize by the election of their company and field officers, at such time and under such regulations as may be prescribed by the
Secretary of War.
Mr. Read, of
Ky., offered an amendment--"that the troops of the
State of Ky., shall be permitted to mount themselves, and become a part of the cavalry service."
After some discussion, the bill and amendments were referred to the
Committee of Military Affairs.
Mr. Foote, of
Tenn., offered a resolution, that whenever any portion of the forces now in the field shall be re-conscripted, the companies, battalions, and regiments, shall be allowed to select their own officers.
The resolution was referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Gray, of
Texas, introduced a bill amendatory of the several confiscation and sequestrations acts, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Sexton, of
Texas, offered a resolution, which was adopted, to instruct the
Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency of allowing officers in the field nations and clothing, made up at Government prices.
A bill was introduced by
Mr. Chambliss, of
Va., to authorize soldiers to purchase subsistence for their families at cost prices, from Quartermaster's department.
Referred to the
Committee on Quartermaster and Commissary Departments.
Mr. Russell, of
Va., offered a resolution as follows: 1st.
That the notes of all banks in the
Confederate States held by alien enemies be confiscated.
2d.
That all such notes which shall not be deposited in the banks respectively which have issued the same within ninety days after the passage of this act, shall be presumed to be held as alien enemies.
3d.
That any bank which may incur a debt to the
Government by reason of such confiscation, may discharge the same, or any part of the same, within a certain time, by paying a tenth thereof in specie and the residue in bonds of the
Confederate States. 4th.
To apply similar principles to coupons and other papers negotiable by delivery.
Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The same gentleman also introduced a bill to place in the military service certain persons who have employed substitutes.
Mr. Miles, of
S. C., from the
Committee on Military Affairs, stated that that committee had already matured a bill of this character, which would soon be presented to the
House, and he therefore moved that the bill now presented be laid upon the table, which motion was agreed to.
Mr. Goode, of Va, offered a joint resolution, looking to the compensation of soldiers in the cavalry service for the loss of their horses, unless by negligence, which was appropriately referred.
The
House then took up for consideration the special order — the bill to provide for disabled soldiers of the
Confederate States.
The bill, after some discussion, was, on motion of
Mr. Funsten, of
Va., placed upon the calendar, to be called up in its regular order.
The bill on the subject of impressments, reported from the
Committee on the Judiciary, was taken up, considered, and, after several amendments, was adopted.
The bill repeals the act of the 27th of April, 1863.
On motion, the
House adjourned.
