Senate.--The Senate met at 12 o'clock yesterday,
Mr. Hunter, of Va, in the Chair.
The credentials of the Hon
Herschel V. Johnson, of
Ga., was presented, and he attended and took the oath of office.
Mr. Sparrow presented resolutions of the General Assembly of
Louisiana in relation to the further prosecution of the war, which were read and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Semmes, of La. offered a resolution that the Military Committee inquire into the expediency of causing officers of the
Quartermaster and Commissary Departments to be detailed or assigned to the duty of auditing and paying claims of the citizens of
Louisiana for all property impressed by order of officers of the
Confederate service, and for hire of negroes and teams.
Mr. Barnwell, of
S. C., from the Finance Committee, reported a bill to authorize certificates of indebtedness to be given for property purchased or impressed and for transportation, and to provide for the payment of the interest on said certificates in specie.
Ordered to be printed.
The Military Committee reported back a bill to allow agents of the press association with the army to purchase forage and rations, with an amendment.
The amendment was agreed to and the bill passed.
Mr. Hill, of Ga, entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which the foregoing bill was passed.
Senate joint resolution for the compensation of
McDaniel &
Ewing for blowing up with a torpedo the Yankee gunboat
Cairo, was considered and passed.
The resolution instructing the Judiciary Committee to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill suspending the writ of
habeas corpus, to take effect on the expiration of the present law for that purpose, was taken up as unfinished business, and
Mr. Graham, of
N. C., being entitled to the floor, addressed the Senate in an elaborate argument, going to show the unconstitutionality and the inexpediency of the present law, and the absence of a necessity for its re-enactment.
On the conclusion of
Mr. Graham's remarks the resolution was adopted, and
On motion the Senate resolved into executive session.
House of Representatives.--
Messrs. Ewing and
Elliot, members elect from the
State of Kentucky, appeared and qualified by taking the usual oath.
Mr. Miles, of
South Carolina, from the Military Committee, reported back without amendment, Senate bill to amend the act to aid any State in communicating with and perfecting records concerning its troops, and the bill was taken up and passed.
Also, Senate joint resolution in regard to the exemption of editors and employees of newspapers.
Passed. [Exempts editors and employees of magazines and periodicals published at the time of the passage of the act.]
Also, Senate bill to amend the act creating the office of Ensign in the armies of the
Confederate States.
Passed.
Also, Senate bill to amend the several acts in regard to Chaplains.
Amended verbally and passed.
Mr. Miles also reported a bill to organize a Bureau of Conscription.
Postponed, and made the special order after the tax bills are disposed of.
Mr. Miles also reported back the resolution of
Mr. J. T. Leach, of
N. C., calling for information relative to the number of troops furnished by each State, &c., and moved that it be laid upon the table; but withdrew the motion in favor of.
Mr. Leach, who made a speech, in which he charged members of the
House with impeaching the loyalty of
North Carolina.
Mr. Hilton, of
Fla., replied that on no occasion, either in open or secret session, had he heard
North Carolina's loyalty impeached on this floor, or her people disparaged.
After further debate, the motion to lay on the table was renewed and carried.
Mr. Chambers, of
Miss., from the Military Committee, reported back Senate bill to provide transportation for members of Congress, with an amendment by way of substitute.
The bill, as amended, passed.
Mr. Chambers, of
Miss., introduced a bill to amend the act to establish a Nitre and Mining Bureau, which was referred.
Mr. Bridgers, member elect from
North Carolina appeared and was sworn in.
On motion of
Mr. Conrad, of
La., the
House went into secret session for the purpose of considering the subject of exchange of prisoners.