Confederate Congress.
first session.
Senate Wednesday, April 2, 1862.
A bill reported from the Military Committee to increase the number of depositaries of the public fund, and providing that the incumbents shall not continue in office longer than one year after the war, was passed.
The Senate also passed a bill, reported from the Military Committee, "for keeping the firearms belonging to the Government in the hands of effective men." The bill provides that the President be authorized to raise a, force of pikemen, either by companies, battalions or regiments, who are to be organized as infantry, and may be detached for service in regiments of other arms in the proportion of two companies of pikemen to a regiment.
Also, providing that in case of the death or discharge of soldiers, their firearms shall be put into the hands of effective men taken from the drilled ranks of the pikemen.
Mr. Wigfall, from the Military Committee, submitted a report adverse to the resolution of inquiry, as to the expediency of employing negro teamsters in the army of the Confederate States.
The report was laid on the table.
Mr. Sparrow, from the same committee, reported back a memorial from citizens of Jackson county, Alabama, in favor of a general draft of soldiers, and suggesting a plan of legislation for the same.
Mr. Sparrow said the committee asked to be discharged from further consideration of the memorial, since the Senate had already commenced action upon the subject matter suggested in the bill introduced yesterday and discussed in secret session.
This measure embraced every object of the memorialists; but for the purpose of exhibiting the spirit of the people of Alabama in military matters, he would read some passages from a letter accompanying the memorial.
The paragraphs read, state that the county of Jackson, before mentioned, had furnished eighteen companies for the war in the Army of the Confederate States; that all the menable to bear arms had enlisted and gone away, and that the women were making the crops.
The committee were discharged from further consideration of the memorial.
The bill to provide for the payment of dues of deceased soldiers to their families was taken up and discussed at some length.--Every speaker admitted that some steps ought to be taken to pay the arrearages to the relatives of the deceased soldiers; but it was a question of doubt with many of the strict States-rights gentlemen, whether the Senate had a constitutional right to make a law for distribution of property and descent.
The bill was under discussion when the Senate went into secret session. 