Confederate States Congress.
Tuesday, March 31, 1863.
Senate.--The Senate met at 12 o'clock M., Mr. Hunter, of Va., in the chair.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Baker, of the P. E. Church.
Mr. Maxwell submitted a motion to reconsider the vote by which the Senate passed the bill regulating the action of the Secretary of War in relation to Naval Court-martial.
Mr. Orr presented the memorial of 200 Government employees — clerks, heads of bureaus, etc.--asking increased compensation.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr. Maxwell offered a resolution that said committee in considering the memorial of certain clerks for an increase of compensation, referred this morning, do further consider the propriety of increasing the compensation of the ladies acting as clerks in the Treasury Department.
Adopted.
Mr. Barnwell stated that the Finance Committee were still busy with the Tax bill, and asked that leave be granted them to sit during the sessions of the Houses
Mr. Haynes reported a bill to regulate the fees and compensation of district attorneys.
Referred to Judiciary Committee (The bill repeals adlaw prescribing fees for the class of persons named; gives them $200 per year salary $10 or each day's a tendance at Court, and 10 cents manage; a docket fee of $20 in every jury case, and $10 in cases without jury; in case of nolle prosequi $5 etc.]
The Military Committee asked to be discharged from the further consideration of a memorial of army officers relative to cloth as the Secretary of War had attended to the matter.
The committee reported back the bill conferring temporary rank and command on officers of the C. S. army in the bureau of the Quartermaster General, the Commissary General and the Surgeon General, with recommendation that it do not pass.
The committee were discharged.
Mr. Sparrow reported a bill amending the several acts fixing the pay and allowances to Captains in the army so as to allow them the pay and allowances of a First Lieutenant of cavalry a tent, and horse and forage.
A latter from Stonewall Jackson urging the measure was read.
The bill passed.
Mr. Oldham reported a bill increasing the compensation of Route agents and Special Agents of the Post Office Department which passed.
House amendment to Senate bill to authorize the discharge of certain civil officers from the army, was concurred in.
House bill providing for the establishment and equalization of the grade of officers of the Navy of the Confederate States, and for other purposes, being up for consideration, was opposed by Mr. Oldham, of Texas, and made the special order for Wednesday, at 12½ o'clock.
Mr. Oldham offered a joint resolution extending until the 1st of June the time for receiving and opening bills for the transportation of the mails in the States of North Carolina, Georgia Virginia South Carolina, and Florida, which was adopted.
The Senate, on motion of Mr. Sparrow, of La., proceeded to consider the bill to provide and organize a General Staff for armies in the field, to serve during the war, which was debated and amended, and passed.
A bill to prevent the absence of officers and soldiers without leave was taken up. Pending the consideration of this bill the Senate adjourned.
House of Representatives.--House met at 11 o'clock and was called to order by the Speaker.
Mr. Gartrell, of Ga., moved a suspension of the rule requiring the call of the States, in order that the call of committees might be continued.
The motion did not prevail.
Mr. Clapp of Miss, presented a bill to provide for keeping in repair the railroads of the Confederate States, necessary for the transportation of troops and Government supplies.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Welch, of being, introduced a bill to repeal all laws authorizing the employment of substitutes in the armies of the Confederate States.
Referred to Committee on Military affairs.
Mr. Harris, of Mo., introduced a bill to provide for the relief of officers and soldiers who have been irregularly introduced into the military service of the Confederate States.
Referred to Military Committee.
By the same, a bill to regulate the payment of mileage to officers in the service of the Confederate States.
Referred to Committee on Military Transportation.
By the same, a bill to prohibit the improper employment of soldiers and sailors.
Referred to Military Committee.
By the same, a bill to facilitate the authentication of official and other bonds.
Referred to Committee on Quartermaster's Department.
Mr. Harris, of Mo., also offered a resolution that the Committee on Public Printing be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending Act Mo 208 of the Provisional Congress so as to provide for the printing and distribution or sale of a large number of copies of the laws.
Referred to the Committee on Printing.
Mr. McDowell, of S. C., offered a resolution to fix the time of adjournment for Monday the 13th day of April, 1863.
Several amendments were offered to this resolution, and considerable discussion ensued; but on the passage of the resolution the vote stood — ayes 35, noes 47.
The special order of the day, the act to define who shall be exempt from military service in the armies of the Confederate States, was then taken up.
Mr. Miles, of S. C, moved to lay the Senate bill upon the table, but the motion did not prevail.
Mr. Morse, of Miss, moved to substitute the House bill for that of the Senate bill, and on that motion called the main quarter.
Mr. Baldwin, of Va., called for the reading of the bills.
Mr. McLean of N. C., moved to suspend the rule requiring bills to be read so as to dispense with the reading.
On this motion the ayes and noes were had and resulted — ayes 2d, noes 44.
The reading of the bill was then proceeded with and at its conclusion the question came up on the motion of Mr. McKae that the main question be now put, and was sustained by a vote of 16 to 21.
The question then recurred upon the motion of Mr. McKae to substitute the House bill reported from the Military Committee, for the senate bill.
On this motion the ayes and noes were had, with the following result — ayes 46 noes 34.
The Senate bill as amended, was then read a third time and put upon its passage.
Mr. Collier, of Va., called the ayes and noes, which were ordered; but before the vote was taken.
Mr. Perkins, of La., moved an indefinite postponement of the whole matter.
This motion was discussed at length; but before any vote was had the House went into secret session, on motion of Mr. Kenner, of La. 