Confederate States Congress.
Wednesday, January 21, 1863.
Senate--The Senate met at 12 o'clock Mr. Hon. R. M. T. Hunter in the chain Prayer by Rev. Dr. Duncan of the M. E. Church.
Mr. Phelan offered a resolution, providing that hereafter the Senate will assemble at 11 o'clock A. M., and adjourn at 3 o'clock P. M., which sided, the rules requiring it to lay over one day being dispensed with.
A lengthy debate sprung up on the resolution, at the conclusion of which it was disagreed to
Mr. Phelan then offered a resolution firing the hour of adjournment at 3 o'clock P. M. until further wise ordered; which, after much details, was also disagreed to.
Mr. Phelan offered another resolution providing that the Senate meet at 11 o'clock A. M., at 2 o'clock P. M., and reassemble at ½ o'clock P. M. This was also argued at length, and finally disagreed to.
Mr. Clarke, of Missouri, moved to reconsider the vote adopting the report of the select committee on the reorganization of the standing committees, and asked that the motion be entered on the Journal, which was ordered
Mr. Wigfall, of Texas, introduced an act to provide for the organization of Engineer troops to serve during the war. The bill provides for the selection of the troops, in such manner as the Secretary of War may direct, from each division of infantry in service, one company of Engineer troops, to consist of one hundred men each, chosen on account of their mechanical skill and physical strength, to be organized into regiments of ten companies each, two companies to be assigned to each regiment as pontoonlers, and to be provided with boats, wagons, &c. Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs
The Senate than went into secret session.
House of Representatives--House met at the usual hour.
Prayer by Rev. Dr Doggett.
The Chair announced that the business before the House was the consideration of the joint resolutions offered on Monday, by the gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Clopton, in relation to turning over captured Federal officers to the State Governments for trial under State law.
Mr. Foote, of Tenn a being entitled to the floor, addressed the House in support of the resolutions, and proceeded to define at length the character of the war in which we are now engaged.
He declared it to be one upon sovereign States, and was commenced and prosecuted for the destruction of an institution which was exclusively under the control of the States Nothing could be more proper, therefore, than to turn over all these prisoners of war to the State Governments as violators of State laws.
He was also in favor of this course of disposing of captured officers upon grounds of policy.
There would be more dignity and decorum in this course of inflicting punishment than in executing them summarily on the field when captured.
If the matter was turned over to the State authorities there would be regular trials, and every opportunity would be given the culprits to vindicate themselves against the charges which would be brought against them.
He was one of the warmest advocates of the President's policy on this subject.
He had been an earnest supporter of the policy of retaliation at the last session, and had not since changed his views in the least.
We could not do otherwise than declare distinctly that we would hold responsible every man who invaded our soil to carry out the mandates of the wretch, Abraham Lincoln.
He who had issued that infamous proclamation, and his aiders and abettors, would be held as criminals by posterity.
Any other mode of retaliation than that proposed by the President, he believed, would greatly aggravate the character of the war and outrage the sensibilities of the civilized world.
At the conclusion of his remarks the joint resolutions were referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Curry, of Ala., introduced a bill to amend an act entitled an act to secure copy rights to authors and composers — referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Also, a resolution that the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of continuing the pay or soldiers and seamen discharged, from service on account of wounds received in engagements with the enemy, until the expiration of their term of service — agreed to.
Mr. Foster, of Ala., offered a resolution that the Committee on Quartermaster and Commissary Departments be instructed to ascertain (as nearly as practicable) the number of able bodies young men who are new engaged as principals and agents in each of those Departments, and to report by bill or otherwise as to the best and most speedy mode of placing all such in the ranks, and supplying their places with men over the conscript with discharged soldiers — agreed to. Also, a resolution that the Military Committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of abolishing, in part, or in whole, camps of instruction — agreed to.
Mr. Chilton, of Ala., introduced a bill to refund to the State of Alabama the sum paid by such State for the steamer Florida; referred to Committee on Claims.
Also, a resolution that the President, if not deemed by him inconsistent with the public interest, cause to be transmitted to this House, at the earliest practicable moment, copies of all written evidence of, or relating to, any contract or contracts, and of any change or modification thereof, for supplying the Government with flour, made with Messrs Haxall, Crenshaw & Co; and that, in like manner, he cause to be transmitted to the House copies of any contracts made during the present winter with the Government for supplies of ice. Agreed to.
Mr. Smith, of Ala., introduced a resolution to instruct the Military Committee to inquire into the expediency of adopting some mode by which wounded and disabled soldiers may be furloughed or discharged, and to report to this House by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Miles, of S. C., from Committee on Military Affairs, called up the special order of the day, (House bill No. 2,) to declare what persons shall be exempt from military service.
The following is a copy of the bill:
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That from and after the passage of this act all white male residents of the Confederate States, between the ages of eighteen and forty five, except those constituting the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial authorities of the Confederate States, and of the several States composing the Confederacy, are, and shall be liable to military duty in the service of the Confederate States, and shall be duly enrolled in the same, in accordance with existing laws, and all laws and parts of laws exempting any persons between the said ages of eighteen and forty-five years are hereby repealed: Provided, That the Secretary of War, shall upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by him, and with the approval of the President, exempt from all military service, or detail for specified purposes, such person or persons as, with the approval of the President, he may deem essential for the good of the service, or the general interests of the country: and, Provided, further, That the enrollment of persons between forty and forty-five years of age shall be suspended until the President shall call such persons into the military service.
Mr. Miles addressed the House in support of the bill as reported by the committee
Mr. Collier offered as a substitute for the bill of the committee a bill designating certain classes of persons who shall be exempt from service.
In support of this substitute Mr. Collier addressed the House.
Mr. Bargan of Ala., offered as a promise, to come in at the end of the original bill, the following: ‘"Provided, however, That such judicial and executive officers of any State, who by the laws thereof are, or may be, liable to perform military service, shall not be exempted by virtue of this act."’
Mr. Holt, of Ga., spoke in support of the original bill, and Messrs Clarke of Ga., Clapp of Miss.
and Conrad of La., in opposition to it. The latter gentleman moved to recommit the bill to the Committee on Military Affairs, with instructions to frame a bill specifying the classes of persons to be exempted.
Mr. Gartrell, of Ga, offered the following amendment: "Provided, " That no person shall be enrolled who has a substitute in the army, furnished in accordance with order heretofore issued by the Secretary of War.
Other amendments were offered by Messrs. Foote of Tenn., Graham of Texas, Chambliss of Va., and Lyon and Foster of Ala; which the Chair decided would go to the committee with the bill, in the event the motion to recommit prevailed.
The vote was then taken on the motion to recommit, and regulated — ayes 34 noes 24, on a division.
Mr. Miles, of S. C., demanded the ayes and note; pending which, on motion of Mr. Jones, of Tenn., the House went into secret session, to have read a message of the President. 