The Daily Dispatch: November 23, 1864., [Electronic resource]

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Confederate Congress.
Senate.

The Senate met at 12 o'clock M., and was opened with prayer by the Rev. J. C. McCabe.

Mr. Walker, of Mississippi, introduced a bill, which was referred to the Military Committee, to repeal so much of the act to regulate the destruction of property under military necessity as authorizes the military authorities to destroy cotton, tobacco, and any other property other than military and naval stores, not belonging to the Government of the Confederate States, when necessary to prevent the same from falling into the hands of the enemy.

Mr. Walker also introduced a bill to provide supplies and to prescribe the mode of making impressments. Received to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Garland, of Arkansas,--a bill to amend the impressment acts. Referred to the same.

Mr. Garland also introduced a resolution, which was agreed to, that the Military Committee inquire into the expediency of allowing such details of the employees of railroads and iron works as the presidents and superintendents thereof shall certify are necessary to the same; and also into the expediency of inquiring into the expediency of making all detailed men report to the Government superintendents of railroad transportation in the several districts, who shall have authority to transfer any one thus detailed from one road to another.

A bill was passed authorizing the cashier of the Bank of Tennessee to certify to the amount of treasury notes on deposit in his bank and its branches within the lines of the enemy to the credit of the State of Tennessee.

Mr. Sparrow, of Louisiana, from the Military Committee, reported back the resolution of inquiry relative to the nonpayment of the army, and requesting to be discharged from the further consideration of the same, the committee being of opinion that no legislation was necessary on the subject. The committee were discharged.

Mr. Henry, of Tennessee, from the Military Committee, reported a bill, which was ordered to be printed, to amend the act "to increase the efficiency of the army by employing free negroes and slaves in certain capacities." The bill increases to eighteen dollars a month the compensation of the free negroes employed under the law; increases from twenty to forty thousand the number of slaves the Secretary of War is authorized to employ as therein provided; and provides that, in the impressment of slaves, those employed in agriculture, mechanics and manufacturing, shall be last impressed; and that if enough of these classes shall not be obtained, those belonging to persons having more than fifteen able-bodied field hands between sixteen and fifty years shall then be taken.

Mr. Orr, of South Carolina, offered a resolution, which was agreed to, that the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the causes of the recent reverses sustained by the Confederate arms in the Valley of Virginia; and what, if any, additional action is required by the Legislative Department of the Government to prevent their recurrence.

Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported a bill, which was ordered to be printed, to authorize the President to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, as commissioners of exchange, three officers--one with the rank, pay and allowances of a colonel of cavalry; the other two with the rank, pay and allowances of lieutenant-colonels of cavalry.

The Committee on the Judiciary reported adversely on the bill for extending the assessment of prices for the army to all the citizens of the Confederate States, and were discharged from its further consideration.

A bill was passed extending to all counterfeit treasury notes received by public officers in the discharge of their duties prior to 1st January, 1865, the

provisions of the act in relation to counterfeit notes received by public officers.

A bill was passed, and sent to the House, continuing in force till the 1st January, 1866, east of the Mississippi river, and till the 1st of May 1866, west of the Mississippi, the law for the establishment and payment of claims for a certain description of property taken or informally impressed for the use of the army.

Mr. Walker, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back the bill to amend the act establishing the judicial courts of the Confederate States, which, after consideration, was postponed till to-day.

On motion, by Mr. Orr, the Senate resolved into secret session, and shortly after adjourned.

The following message, in answer to the resolution of Mr. Maxwell, was sent to the Senate on Monday:

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Richmond, Va., November 21, 1864.

To the Senate of the Confederate States:

In response to your resolution of the 19th instant, I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of State, which conveys the information requested.

Jefferson Davis.

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Department of State,
Richmond, November 18, 1864.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the resolution of the Senate of the 19th instant, referred to me for an answer to the inquiry, whether "any State of the United States has, through any of her recognized authorities, directly or indirectly, expressed a willingness to go into convention with the States of this Confederacy for the purpose of negotiating a peace or consulting on the best method of effecting a cessation of hostilities, " and respectfully report that no intimation, direct or indirect, has been received by this Government of a willingness on the part of any State of the United States to go into convention with the States of this Confederacy for the purpose of negotiating a peace, or consulting on the best method of effecting a cessation of hostilities, or for any purpose whatever.

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House of Representatives.

The House met at 12 o'clock. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Hoge.

Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported back joint resolutions of thanks to Major-General N. B. Forrest and his command for the numerous brilliant achievements in the West and South. Passed.

Mr. Foote, of Tennessee, made a personal explanation, in which he said that he had received a letter from Colonel Tyler, editor of the Richmond Enquirer, saving that he (Mr. Foote) had been mistaken in saying that Mr. Mitchell had been expelled from one newspaper and crawled to another. Mr. Mitchell had not been expelled from the Enquire office.

Mr. Lyon, of Alabama, from the Finance Committee, reported back, and asked to be discharged from the consideration of, a resolution of inquiry as to what legislation was necessary to ensure the prompt transmission of supplies to our soldiers who are prisoners in the hands of the enemy.

Mr. Lyon said that ample preparations had been made to meet the desired object.

Also, a bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to exchange coupon bonds for seven-thirty notes of the old issue. Passed.

back a bill to amend the law in relation to the receipt of Confederate counterfeit treasury notes by Confederate States disbursing officers, and for the relief of postmasters and sequestration agents where they are liable, in the discharge of their duties, to the receipt of counterfeit notes, and have received them unawares. Passed.

Mr. Russell, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported a bill to punish conspiracies against the Confederate States. Ordered to be printed.

On motion of Mr. Russell, the House went into secret session. Adjourned.