Confederate States Congress.
The Senate met at 12 o'clock yesterday.--Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Doggett, of the Methodist Church. House bill to authorize the appointment of commissaries for regiments of cavalry was considered and passed. A bill was reported from the Military Committee, to provide for the impressment of the railroad iron, equipments, and rolling stock of railroads, when the same shall become necessary for the public defence, and to make further provisions for the efficient transportation of troops and military supplies. Ordered to be printed. Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported back the memorials of the editors of the Age and Southern Literary Messenger, with the following joint resolution: Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, that so much of the 10th section of the act entitled "an act to organize forces to serve during the war," approved February 17, 1864, as exempts from military service one editor for each newspaper published at the time of the passage of the act and such employees as said editor may certify on oath to be indispensable to the publication thereof, shall be understood to include magazines and other periodicals published before and at the time of the passage of the said act. The bill to extend to the Navy and Marine corps, the provisions of the third section of the act to organize forces to serve during the war, approved February 17, 1864, was considered and passed. Consideration of the bill to authorize the payment of the actual and necessary expenses of naval officers while travelling under orders, was postponed till Monday. The Committee on Claims reported adversely to the memorial of Goddin & Apperson, asking increased rent for the building occupied by the Post-Office Department. A bill for the relief of Green T. Hill, reported from the same committee, was considered and passed. The bill to authorize the appointment of General officers with temporary rank and command, and to define and limit the power of assigning officers to commands was passed in the following from:- Section 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the President be and is hereby authorized, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint a commanding officer to any brigade, division, army corps, or army, or to the command of any military department or district, whenever in his judgment it may be proper to do so.
- Sec. 2. That the officers appointed under the provisions of this act shall belong to the provisional army, and shall hold their respective offices whilst they are in actual command, and no longer, unless sooner removed by the President, but they shall immediately thereafter resume their former rank in the service.
- Sec. 3. That said officers, whilst holding said temporary rank, shall receive the same pay and allowances as other officers of the same grade in the provisional army.
- Sec. 4. That hereafter officers belonging to the general staff shall not be assigned to command in the line, or to the performance of duties, except in their own departments; nor shall officers of the line be given command by assignment, except as provided in this act; and all laws allowing such assignment of officers are hereby repealed Provided, that in cases of emergency and necessity such assignments may be made for a limited period, and until appoitments can be made as provided by this act; Provided further, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect the right of assignment of the five Generals appointed by law.
The Senate then went into secret session. The House of Representatives met at 11 A. M. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Minnigerode, of St. Paul's Church. A communication was received from the President, covering a report from General Bragg of the battle of Chickamauga, which was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. The subject of the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus was taken up in order, and Mr. W. C. Rives, of Va., resumed his speech in favor of the continued suspension of the writ, and occupied the attention of the House for two hours. After Mr. Rives had concluded his remarks a motion was made by Mr. Pugh, of Ala., to lay Mr. Foote's resolution for the repeal of the act suspending the writ of habeas corpus on the table, which was carried by years 55, and nays 25. The following message from the President was announced and read: To the House of Representatives of the Confederate States of America: The following resolution passed by the House on the 14th inst., has been received: "Resolved That the President be requested to inform the House, if not incompatible with the public interest, whether the reasons given in his special message for suspending the writ of habeas corpus still exist, and what additional reason now exist to such extent that the public safety requires the continuance of the suspension thereof." In my opinion, the reasons given in the special message transmitted to Congress at its last session recommending the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, still exist in undiminished force, and the present juncture especially requires the continuance of the suspension. The effects of the law for that purpose have been most salutary, and to that law in no inconsiderable degree are we indebted for the increased efficiency of the military preparations which have enabled our gallant armies under the providence of God, to beat back the vast invading forces which still threaten us. In my opinion it would be perilous, if not calamitous, to the discontinue the suspension while the armies of the enemy are pressing on our brave defenders with persistent effort for their destruction, and for the subjugation of our country. It is a source of gratification to be able to inform you that the mere passage of the law suspending the writ was so efficient in restraining those who were engaged in treasonable practices, and in dangerous complicity with our enemies, that the instances are extremely few in which arrests were found necessary. The effect of the law in preventing the abuse of the writ, for the purpose of evading military service, by men whose plain duty it is to defend their country, can hardly be overestimated. The sensitiveness exhibited in different parts of the country to the legislation on this subject, is indicative of the love of freedom which is innate among the people, and which should ever he cherished as the sole guarantee for the preservation of their constitutional liberties. It is not doubted, however, that if those who have expressed dissatisfaction with the law had been in possession of the information which it was my duty to communicate to you, and which may not yet be revealed without injury to the public interests, they would fully have approved the exercise of the power of suspending the writ, which was entrusted to Congress by the Constitution. All trusts impose duties. The power was entrusted expressly with the intent that it should be used when necessary to the public safety in case of invasion Congress, concurring with me that the exigency had arisen which required the exercise of the power, performed but a plain duty in passing the law, and such will, I doubt not, be the judgement of the people when the facts can be made known without detriment to their interests.
May 20, 1864. On motion to refer the message to the Committee on Judiciary, and to have it printed, Mr. Baldwin, of Va., secured the floor under the rules, and addressed the House at some length in favor of the repeal of the act suspending the writ of habeas corpus; after which a few memorials, &c., of no public importance, were presented and referred, when, on motion, the House adjourned.
