, of both political parties, to give a handsome dinner to those Democratic Congressmen who shall vote in favor of the proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting slavery.
So far, the list of such members embraces the names of George H. Yeaman, of Kentucky; Austin A. King and James S. Rollins, of Missouri; Moses F. Odell and John A. Griswold, of New York; Myer Strouse, Josiah Bailey and Archibald McAllister, of Pennsylvania; and Ezra Wheeler, of Wisconsin.
General Sherman has written a letter, denying the report that he was opposed to changing the status of slavery in the South, and saying that he is in favor of putting all the able bodied negroes obtainable in the army.
Mayor Gunther, of New York, having refused to sign warrants for the pay of the street scrapers, they threatened his residence to such an extent that it had to be protected by the police.
It is announced that Semmes got across the Mississippi at Tunica Bend, though the gunboats were watching for him.
d agents in said departments, was ordered to be printed.
Senate bill to authorize the appointment of a commissary-general, with the rank, pay, etc., of a brigadier-general, was considered and passed.
A message was received from the President vetoing the Senate bill authorizing the mailing of newspapers free of postage.
The President objected to the bill as violative of the provisions of the Constitution: that the Post-office Department shall be self-sustaining.
On motion, by Mr. Semmes, the consideration of the message was postponed till Saturday, and the message was ordered to be printed.
On motion, the Senate resolved into secret session.
House of Representatives.
The House met at the usual hour.--Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Burrows.
The Speaker laid before the House the report of the Commissioner of Patents, which was ordered to be printed.
The Senate substitute for the House finance bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Several
tponed.
Rather antagonistic to peace and the peace resolutions, then under discussion, was the appearance at the right hand of the Speaker's chair of Captain Raphael Semmes, commander of the lost Alabama, the "Terror of the Seas."
On motion of Mr. Magruder, the Chair was vacated for ten minutes, and the members, officers of the House, and visitors present, were personally introduced to Captain Semmes by the Speaker of the House.
Business was then resumed, and Captain Semmes remained a witness of the proceedings for a few minutes and retired.
Mr. Staples, of Patrick, submitted the following resolution, and was heard in its advocacy:
Captain Semmes remained a witness of the proceedings for a few minutes and retired.
Mr. Staples, of Patrick, submitted the following resolution, and was heard in its advocacy:
"Resolved, That the Committee of Courts of Justice inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill to provide for the calling of a convention of the people of Virginia."
Mr. Haymond, of Marion, opposed the reference of the resolution, and the House refused to refer.
The preamble and resolutions adopted by the Fourteenth
was passed, tendering the thanks of Congress, and of the people of the Confederate States, to Mr. John Lancaster, of Lancastershire, England, for his friendly and humane conduct in rescuing, in his yacht Deerhound, from risk of drowning, Captain Raphael Semmes, the commander, and a portion of the officers and crew of the late Confederate steamer Alabama, on the occasion of the combat between that vessel and the United States steamer Kearsarge, in the British channel, on the 19th of June, 1864. to.
The second amendment, striking out the words of the bill limiting the number of negroes to be taken to thirty thousand east of the Mississippi, and ten thousand west of the Mississippi, gave rise to a lengthy discussion--Messrs. Graham, Semmes, Wigfall and Hill opposing it; Mr. Brown advocating it.
Without coming to a vote, the Senate resolved into secret executive session, and soon after adjourned.
House of Representatives.
The House met at 11 A. M. No minister present.
Captain Semmes.
Since the days of John Paul Jones, no of a single ship has achieved such a reputation; none, even including Jones accomplished such results as Captain Raphael Semmes.
Of all the rebels to whom this war has given rise, his ha.
A yet stronger passion was wounded by the career of Captain Semmes.
Far more powerful even than Jonathan's love of glory is her fondness for pelf.
Semmes, with a ruthless hand, stripped the ass of the lion's skin, and cleaned out the crib thate an animated thunderbolt.
The lightning-like rapidity of Semmes upon the seas rivalled that of Napoleon upon the land.
Ofnd effects as you may be able"? Perhaps the offence of Captain Semmes consists in his violation of the Yankee patent?
Certain it is, Jones had no such field of operations as Semmes.
No sea was safe from him. From the coast of the United States tomorning.
We hope the time is not far distant when Captain Semmes will be once more on the waters, in a ship worthy to b
Confederate Congress.
Senate.
Saturday, February 4, 1865.
Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Minnegerode, of the Episcopal Church.
Mr. Brown, of Mississippi, introduced a joint resolution of thanks to Captain Raphael Semmes, of the Confederate States war steamer Alabama, and the officers and men under his command. --Referred to the Naval Committee.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported a bill, which was placed on the calendar and ordered to be printed, to exempt from all military service all skilled artisans and mechanics who are engaged in the employment of the Confederate States during the time they are so employed.
Mr. Burnett, from the Committee on Claims, reported back, with the recommendation that it pass, House joint resolution for the relief of the Virginia Mechanics' Institute.
The resolution was considered and passed.
Bill for the relief of Power, Lowe & Co., of Wilmington, North Carolina, was postponed till to-day.
Senate resumed consi
ranch of the service, to the army, for such length of time as the condition of the public defences may require."
Senate joint resolution of thanks to Captain Raphael Semmes, of the Confederate States steamer Alabama, and the officers and crew under his command, was considered and passed.
The Senate resumed consideration of his remarks, gave his views upon the last campaign in the Southwest.
He favored General Johnston's restoration to the command of the Army of Tennessee.
Mr. Semmes spoke at length in opposition to the restoration of General Johnston to the Army of Tennessee.
Mr. Wigfall spoke in favor of General Johnston's restoration placing the salaries of Government officers employed in Petersburg on the same footing as those in Richmond.
Adopted.
A joint resolution of thanks to Captain Raphael Semmes, and the officers and men of the steamer Alabama, offered by Mr. Dickinson, of Alabama, was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Clopton,
t was rejected — yeas, 3; nays, 13.
Those who voted in the affirmative were: Messrs. Brown, Henry and Vest.
Those who voted in the negative were: Messrs Baker, Caperton, Graham, Haynes, Hunter, Johnson of Missouri, Maxwell, Oldham, Orr, Semmes, Walker, Watson and Wigfall.
House of representatives.
The House met at the usual hour.--Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Duncan.
The Speaker laid before the House communications from the heads of appropriate departments relative to certain ahe correspondence between the Governor of North Carolina and the Navy Department relative to the seizure of coal belonging to the steamer Advance; all of which were appropriately referred.
The Senate joint resolution of the thanks to Captain Raphael Semmes, and the officers and crew of the Alabama, for important services in the destruction of the United States war steamer Hatteras and of the commerce of the enemy, was unanimously adopted.
The action of the Senate on the House amendment
ired new confidence and life among the army and people; and he really believes that, such is the devotion of the people to Lee, every man, woman and child in the Confederacy would follow him into the, Gulf of Mexico as a religious duty, if he required it of them.
A New Confederate Cruiser.
A letter from Montevideo says:
The English papers have stated that a little steamer, called the Ranger, had gone out with provisions of various kinds for the armament of a new vessel for Captain Semmes, and that another was soon to follow, with other conveniences for a new privateer, and that the place of rendezvous was at some group of the Atlantic islands, perhaps the Madeira.
The Ranger is now at Montevideo.
She is not adapted to freight or passengers — wholly useless for any remunerative employment in these waters.
She is ninety tons burthen, and is a complete steam pleasure yacht.
Under sail, she is a marvel of rapidity, and, with only two feet draught, she can hide away
