(adjourned N.)
New Members.
Hon. Thomas Ruffin, Delegate from North Carolina, was announced to be present, came forward and took the oath of office.
Mr. Garland offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
‘ Resolved, That the Secretary be, and he is here by directed to on as possible, the proceedings of the announcement of the death of the Mon. Fa s S. Barrow, together with the several speeches made on the occasion, printed in pamphlet and that he cause 8,800 of the same to be struck off for the use of Congress.
’ Puritions, Rm & c.
Mr.Smith, of Alabama, introduced the following resolution, which was adopted:
‘ Be it Resolved, by the Congress of the Confederate States, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to report a bill amending an act, approved May 21, 1861. entitled an act to authorize certain debtors to pay the amounts due by them into the Treasury of the Confederate States, so as to provide suitable penalties for the violation of the prohibitions contained in said act.
’ Mr. Hill, of Georgia, presented the proceedings of a meeting held in the city of Marietta, Georgia, in relation to the propriety of free trade during the existence of the blockade; the manufacturing and shipping business of Europe; the building of war steamers, and cognate subjects.
Referred to Committee on Finance.
Confiscation.
Mr. Kunner, of Le offered the following:
Whereas, The Congress of the United States has passed a law providing for ‘"the confiscation of the property of all rebels found in arms against the United States;"’ and, whereas, it is known by the public official declarations of the Executive and Congress of the United States that the intent and meaning of this act is the confiscation, not of the property of rebel citizens of the United States, but of the citizens of this Confederacy, who are enemies of the United States; and, whereas, the confiscation aforesaid is, in effect, a general confliction of the property of all the inhabitants of these Confederate States, in so much as they are all in arms against the United States; and, whereas, this additional resort by the Government of the United States to means of warfare repudiated by the usages of civilized nations can only be repelled and punished by that just retaliation which is the legitimate weapon of defence against such barbarities as the United States have inaugurated in this war, to the disgrace of their Government and people: Therefore,
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire in to the propriety and necessity of adopting measures of retaliation by a general Confiscation Bill, and make report by such bill or other wise as early as possible.
Adopted.
Mr. Parkins, of Louisiana, presented the following communication:
--In pursuance of your suggestion, I have addressed letters to the several railroad companies in the State, calling their attention to the case of persons in the military service on furlough or leave by reason of sickness, and who may wish to travel for the sake of health, and desiring to know whether such persons will be allowed to travel free of charge. All of the companies from which reputes have been received have responded favorably. A list of these is appended, to which my own company is added. To prevent imposition, the party desiring to avail himself of this privilege should present a certificate from the surgeon of his regiment, countersigned by the regental commander, stating the reason of the furlough.
As I explained to you, this class of cases did not occur to any of us in the Convention of the 26th of June.
W. T. Jones.
List of Railroad companies Referred to in the accompanying letter.
Virginia Central, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac, Richmond and York River, Richmond and Petersburg, South-Side, Norfolk and Petersburg, and Petersburg Railroad Companies.On motion of Mr.Perkins, the letter was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Milrs, of South Carolina, presented the memorial and petition of Edgerton and Richards, of South Carolina, praying an amendment of the 49th section of the Patent Law, ratified May 21, 1861. Referred to the Committee on Patents.
Mr. Scott, of Va., presented the memorial of Dr. Hale in relation to surgeons' fees. Referred to Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Russell, of Va., offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Finance inquire into the expediency of providing for auditing and adjusting the claims of the respective States--against the Confederate States for expenditures and advances made and to be made for carrying on the war, so that the amounts may be ascertained while the evidence is accessible; and of providing for a time and mode of satisfying such claims.
A Message from the President
Was received in relation to the appointment of agents to sign Treasury notes.
Mr.Brooks, of Mississippi, presented a memorial of Mr. Zants, of New Orleans, in relation to finance. Referred to Committee on Finance.
The President laid before Congress
A Message from the Secretary of the Treasury,
In relation to certain donations made on last Fast day by various churches to the Southern cause.
Mr. Memminger offered the following, which was adopted;
Resolved, That the sum of $5,276.86, reported by the Secretary of the Treasury as received by donations from churches on the late Fast day, is hereby appropriated for the use of the wounded, in conformity with the resolution of Congress adopted July 25, and that the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to pay over the same accordingly.
On motion of Mr.Memminger, the report of the Secretary of the Treasury and accompanying documents were ordered to be printed.
On motion of Mr. Hill, of Georgia, Congress went into secret session.
