The Daily Dispatch: August 29, 1862., [Electronic resource]

Confederate States Congress.
[Adjourned session.]
Senate

The Senate met at 12 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by the Right Rev. Bishop Early.

A message was received from the House, announcing the passage of sundry resolutions, which were received and laid upon the table.

Mr. Dortch, of N. C., offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

‘ Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary inquire into the action of the Judges of the several District Courts of the Confederate States in allowing tax fees to the District Attorneys under the ‘"Acts for the sequestration of estates, &c., of alien enemies,"’ and whether any legislation is necessary to render such action uniform.

On motion of Mr. Maxwell, of Florida, the message from the House was taken up.

The resolution voting thanks to Col. J. E. Montgomery and the officers and men under his command, for gallant services on the 10th of May and 6th of June, 1862, was referred to the Military Committee.

The joint resolution appointing a committee to investigate the administration of the Navy Department under its present head, was taken up and discussed at considerable length.

Mr. Maxwell advocated the resolution on the ground that the object was one of great importance, and was but just to the people and the Department.

Mr. Burnett, of Kentucky, was opposed to it, because he did not believe it would result in any good whatever. In nearly all similar instances under the old Government the result of such investigations was a series of whitewashing resolutions. The investigation of such charges belonged of right to other tribunals, and should be left to them.

Mr. Brown, of Miss., offered an amendment, that all persons having charges against the Navy Department shall submit them to the Committee in writing.

Mr. Wigfall was opposed to the resolution altogether. It was a matter which did not belong to the Senate. If an investigation were to be made at all, the Constitution provided especially that it should be done first by the House of Representatives, and the party impeached should then be sent to the Senate for trial.

Mr. Preston, of Va., took the opposite view, and contended that the object of the proposed investigation was not for the purpose of impeachment, but for inquiry, knowledge. It the House of Representatives should afterwards make the impeachment, then it would be the duty of the Senate to take the consequent steps.

Mr. Barnwell was opposed to the resolution because he believed it would be extremely inexpedient and unjust, inasmuch as the defence of the party examined would, necessarily, to prevent mischief to the country by affording information to the enemy, have to be kept secret. On the other hand, it was clearly a matter which, if impeachment were in view, belonged to the other House alone.

After some further debate the vote was taken upon the amendment, and it was rejected.

Mr. Phelan moved to amend by striking out the words ‘"under its present head."’ Lost.

The resolution was then adopted by a vote of fifteen to seven, those voting in the negative being Messrs. Barnwell, Brown, Burnett, Mitchell, Oldham, Peyton, and Wigfall.

The bill amendatory of the enrollment act was taken up, and, after several amendments, it was adopted.

The Senate then went into Executive session.

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