The
Senate on Saturday was opened with prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Langhorne, of the Methodist Church.
Mr. Jemison, of
Ala., introduced a bill for the relief of
Green T. Hill, which was referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr. Jemison also introduced the following resolution, which was considered and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Committee of Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of giving to the
Secretary of the Treasury authority to allow or refund to tax collectors for counterfeited notes received by them, in such cases as he shall consider there has been no fault or neglect on the part of the collector.
Mr. Brown, of
Miss., introduced a bill for the establishment and of the grades of officers of the navy, and for other purposes.
Referred to the Naval Committee.
Mr. Brown introduced the following, which was agreed to.
Resolved, That the
Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire and report what further legislation is necessary to prevent Assistant Charter masters, Commissaries, and others, from detailing able bodied men from the army to collect the tax in kind, and perform other light duties, which may as well be performed by aged citizens and disabled soldiers as soldiers capable of bearing arms.
Mr. Semmes, from the Finance Committee, made an adverse report upon the
House bill to amend the act in relation to the receipt of counterfeit Treasury notes by public officers.
Mr. Semmes, from the same committee, reported a bill to regulate the collection of the tax in kind on tobacco, which was considered and passed.
The bill provides for the appointment of receivers, who shall be experts, capable of judging of the quantity of tobacco and arranging and putting it up in hogsheads.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to.
Resolved, That the
President be requested to communicate to the Senate the names and rank of the officers appointed under the act to raise troops approved 11th of October, 1862, and the dates of their appointment; also, the names of those who have raised troops under such appointments, and those who have failed to make report of what they have done, and those whose commissions have been vacated, as provided by said act.
Mr. Semmes, from the Military Committee, reported back the bill authorizing chaplains in the army in certain cases to draw forage for one horse.
The bill was passed.
Mr. Brown, from the
Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a bill to amend the act to establish a volunteer navy approved April 18, 1863. The bill was passed.
Mr. Brown also reported a bill to regulate the allowance of travelling expenses of officers of the navy, and others travelling under orders.
Ordered to be printed.
Mr. Brown, from the same Committee, made an adverse report on the memorial of the Virginia Volunteer Navy Company, in so far as it asks pecuniary aid from the
Government.
Mr. Maxwell, from the
Committee on Patents, reported in favor of printing the report of the
Commissioner of Patents.
Mr. Semmes, from the special committee appointed to prepare an address to the country, reported back with the recommendation that it be concurred in, the
House resolution on the war. The resolution was concurred in.
On motion of
Mr. Semmes, the Senate resolved itself into secret session.
The doors being opened, on motion of
Mr. Semmes, it was resolved that when the Senate adjourn, it be to meet on Monday, at 11 o'clock A. M.
On motion of
Mr. Burnett, of
Ky., the Senate adjourned.
In the
House, Mr. Garland, of
Ark., introduced the following bill:
‘
Whereas, it appears somewhat likely that the Federal Congress may possibly call for one million or more of men to attempt to release all the
Federal prisoners in the
Confederate States, and to plant the
Federal flag upon every prison in the
Confederate States, and to do divers other things within the next ninety days too numerous to mention, and to leader the accomplishment of these things Certain there is a
remote possibility that the members of the Federal Congress under 50 years of age may "take the field" Therefore.
’
Resolved, That the
Committee on Military Affairs he instructed to inquire into the expediency and propriety of at once conscribing 400,000 men to meet this stupendous and gathering host, to serve
next grass, and if in their opinion this is not sufficient, they further inquire into the propriety of putting into the service for that time every member of Congress under
seventy one years of age, and that they report by bill or otherwise.
The
House refused to suspend the rules to consider the bill.
The unfinished business being to increase the rank and pay, of Adjutants, was taken up, ordered to a third reading and passed.
The following is the bill as perfected:
‘
The Congress of the Confederate States do enact, That from and after the passage of this act, the Adjutants of regiments and independent battalions shall have and receive the rank and pay of
Captain in the arm of the service to which they may be attached.
’
The
House then went into secret session on the special order.
