Confederate Congress.
Saturday, Sept. 13th, 1862.
Senate.
--The Senate met at 12 o'clock. Prayer by
the Rev. J. D. Coulling, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Mitchell, of
Ark., offered the following resolution, which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the
Secretary of the Treasury be requested to inform the Senate if he has any official information of the appropriation of the war tax of the
State of Arkansas by the
Commanding General of the Trans-Mississippi Department.
Mr. Lewis, of
Ga., presented the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Military Committee to inquire into, and report upon, the expediency of instructing the
Secretary of War to have any military order revoked or modified which may now exist, and may interfere with the transportation of wheat and oats from
Virginia,
North Carolina and
Tennessee, to the South and Southwest, which may be intended for seed, making it, however, a condition of such order that persons so shipping these articles shall file an affidavit with the railroad agent from which shipment is made that the grain shipped is intended for seed only.
Mr. Hunter, from the
Committee on Finance, reported back the bill for the further issue of treasury notes, with certain amendments.
The consideration of the bill involving questions of too much importance for the public car.
On motion of
Mr. Hunter, the Senate resolved itself into secret session.
The doors being re-opened,
Mr. Lowis, from the
Committee on Post-Officer and Post Roads, to whom was referred a resolution inquiring into the cause of delays on the great
Southwest mall route, reported a communication from the
Postmaster-General, stating that the delays were caused by the refusal of
Robt. L. Owen,
President of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad Company, to run the schedule which had been adopted by the
Government, and in use to the 26th of March last.
The reason assigned for the refusal was the condition of the road and the rolling stock.
The Department had endeavored to make arrangements with the several roads forming the route to act in unison, and obviate the difficulty by running two trains daily, making ‘ "close connections;"’ but thus far the terms of such an arrangement had not been settled.
The
Postmaster General closes his next report by saying that unless such an arrangement be effected, or the Department invested with power to compel the railroad companies to adopt the necessary schedule, he could suggest no other means of avoiding the delays alluded to. The arrangement alluded to was agreed to by the
Presidents of all the roads between
Richmond and
Atlantis, except the
President of the South-Side Railroad.
The committee recommended, that the
Postmaster General renew his efforts to effect the arrangement spoken of, and in case of failure, that he report the same to Congress, in order that the proper legislative steps may be taken in the promises.
The report was laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
The unfinished business of yesterday, being the resolution offered by
Mr. Orr, of
S. C., appointing a committee to investigate certain charges against
Gen. Braxton Bragg, was resumed.
Mr. Yanesy, of
Alabama, offered the following amendment to the resolution, by way of substitute.
Resolved, That the
President be requested to communicate to the Senate, whether any soldiers in the army of the
Confederate States have been shot by order of any general officer, without trial, according to the rules and regulations for the government of the land forces; and if so, that he will lay before the Senate all the information he has upon the subject, and whether any steps have been taken by the
Executive in the matter.
On motion of
Mr. Brown.
of
Miss, the question was taken.
Mr. Yancay's amendment was then put to the vote and passed.
Mr. Henry. of Tenn moved that the resolution as amended be indefinitely postponed.
Lost.
The resolution, as amended, was then adopted by 13 ayes, 8 nors.
Mr. Sparrow, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill, in accordance with the design of a resolution to them referred, repeating the act commutation for clothing to non-commissioned officers and privates, and providing that all clothing shall hereafter be furnished by the
Government.
The bill was placed on the calendar.
The Senate then adjourned.
House of Representatives
--The
House met at 12 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Doggett.
Mr. Collier, of
Va., offered a joint resolution rendering thanks to
Commander W. E. Lynch for gallant and meritorious conduct at
Aquia Creek,
Roanoke Island, &c. Referred to Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Curry, of Ala, presented a memorial from the officers of Union Theological Seminary, Alabama, asking the exemption of theological students from military service.
Referred to Military Committee.
Mr. Kennan, of Ga, introduced a bid to create and abolish certain offices, whereby the effective strength of the army will be greatly increased.
Referred to Military Committee.
Mr. Russell. of
Va., from the Judiciary Committee, submitted a bill and joint resolutions from that committee on the subject of martial law and the suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus.
Mr. Dargan, of Ala, from the same committee, submitted a minority report.
Mr. Baldwin hoped the reports would not be acted upon until the present law would expire, which would be only a few days.
He wanted to live one day at least under a Government where the
habeas corpus existed and was recognized.
Mr. Miles, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported back
House bill authorizing the appointment of additional artillery officers for ordnance duties, with Senate amendment, with a recommendation that the
House concur in the amendment.
The bill was taken up and agreed to Also reported Senate bill creating the rank and providing for the appointment of a
Lieutenant- General, to receive the pay of
Brigadier General The bill was considered and passed.
Also, reported back the bill for the increase of the signal corps, with a recommendation that it pass.
This bill provides for the appointment of one
Major, ten First, and ten Second
Lieutenants, in the signal service.
The bill, as reported, was agreed to. Also, a bill to regulate the rank of officers of the Provisional Corps of Engineers.
Agreed to. Also, reported back from the committee the bill to increase the pay of non-commissioned officers and privates of the Provisional Army.
This bill provides for an increase of $4 per month for each non- commissioned officer and private.
Mr. Foster, of Ala, moved to amend by striking out $4 and inserting $5. This motion was rejected.
On the passage of the bill the vote was taken by ayes and noes, as follows:
Ayes.--
Messrs. Ashe,
Atkins,
Ayer,
Baldwin,
Batson,
Bell,
Bonham,
Boyee,
Bridges,
H. W. Bruce,
E. M. Bruce,
Chambliss,
Chisman,
Clapp,
Clopton,
Collier,
Cook,
Crockett, Curvin,
Curry,
Dargan,
Davis,
Dawkins,
Dejarnett,
Ewing,
Farrow,
Foote, Foater,
Freeman, Gardenheir,
Gartrell,
Gentry,
Graham,
Gray,
Hanly,
Hartridge,
Heiskell,
Herbert,
Hilton,
Hoge,
Holcomb,
Holt,
Johnson,
Kenan of
Ga.,
Kenan of
N. C.,
Kenner,
Lander,
Lyon,
Machen,
Marshall,
McDowell,
McLean, Menees, Miles,
Moore,
Perkins,
Pugh,
Royston,
Russell,
Sexton,
Smith of
Ala.,
Smith of
N. C.,
Strickland,
Swann.
Tibbs,
Trippe,
Vest,
Villere,
Welch,
Wilcox,
Wright of
Texas,
Wright of Tenn, and
Mr. Speaker.--74.
Noes.--
Messrs. Breckinridge,
Conrad,
Conroe,
Dupre,
Harris, and
Lyons.--6.
Absent, or not voting.--
Messrs. Arrington,
Barksdale,
Boteler,
Burnett,
Chambers,
Chilton,
Clarke,
Davidson,
Elliott,
Gaither. Garland,
Garnett,
Goode,
Hyer,
Jones,
Lewis,
Mckae,
McQueen,
Mumerlyn,
Preston,
Ralls,
Read,
Singleton,
Smith of
Va.,
Staples, and
Wright of Ga.
Mr. Harris, of
Mo., from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported back a bill to provide for the payment of certain claims against the
Confederate States in the
State of Missouri.
The bill was taken up and agreed to.
Mr. Foote, of
Tenn., offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the
President be respectfully requested to cause to be sent to this
House copies of the following papers, viz: Original and Supplemental Report of
Gen. Pillow in regard to the affair at
Fort Donelson, with the sworn statements of
Cols. Forrest and
Burck, and
Majors Haynes,
Nicholson, and
Henry; also, the correspondence between the Department of War and
Gen. Pillow since his suspension from command, restoring him to his former position and command; and all other correspondence between that officer and the Department of War, with a view to printing those documents with those relating to the same subject, heretofore ordered to be printed under the direction of the Special Committee on the Affair at
Fort Donelson.
Agreed to.
Mr. Holcombe, of
Virginia, introduced a bill to establish a Court for the investigation of claims against the
Confederate States.
Referred to Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Atkins, of
Tennessee, offered a resolution to terminate the debate on the Conscript bill to day at 3 o'clock, and limiting debate to all amendments to five minutes for each member.
On this resolution the ayes and noes were taken with the following result: Ayes 55, noes 29.
The Speaker ruled that a two third vote was necessary for the adoption of the resolution; so that it was not agreed to.
The special order of the day, the bill to increase the Provisional Army of the
Confederate States, was then taken up, and the
House was addressed by
Messrs. Herbert, of
Texas, and
Foster, of
Alabama, after which the
House adjourned.
