Confederate Congress.
First session.
Senate.
Thursday, April 10, 1862.
Mr. Yancey, of Ala., offered the following, which was adopted: ‘
Resolved, That the Committee of Commerce inquire whether any persons within the Confederates States claim to exercise jurisdiction, and claim rights and privileges, as Consuls of foreign countries; and if so, whether any and what legislation is requisite to prevent the same. ’
Mr. Barnwell, from the Finance Committee, reported back favorably the bill to authorize the issuance of Treasury notes of a denomination less than five dollars. As before explained, the bill authorized the utterance of one, two, three, and four dollar notes, and notes for the fractious of these sums, provided the whole amount issued does not exceed five millions of dollars in the aggregate.
A bill for increasing the clerical force in the Treasury Department and in the office of the Assistant Treasurer was taken up and considered.
Mr. Brown, of Miss, offered an amendment to the last clause requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to give preference to applicants for clerkships under the bill to those who have served in the army, and have been discharged on account of physical inability, or from wounds received in battle.
Mr. Parnwell, of South Carolina, opposed the amendment because he looked upon it as an indirect mode of pensioning disabled soldiers.
He was of the opinion that other modes could be provided for taking care of this class of the population.
The amendment was adopted, and the bill was passed.
The joint resolution passed by the House, voting the thanks of Congress to the patriotic women of the country for their voluntary contributions to the army, and in aid of the cause in every conceivable way, was taken up and unanimously passed.
Mr. Sparrow offered a resolution authorizing the Senate to furnish the Senators from North Carolina with copies of all reports, &c., received by the Senate from the President, in relation to the Roanoke Island affair, for the use of the Convention of North Carolina--and upon the consideration of which, the Senate went into secret session. Thursday, April 10, 1862.