The Daily Dispatch: February 23, 1865., [Electronic resource]

Confederate Congress.

Senate.

Mr. Orr, of South Carolina, introduced the following, which was referred to the Committee on Finance:

"A bill to be called 'an Act to Authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to receive Specie from the Several States of the Confederacy, and Use the same for the Benefit of said States."

"The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact. That it shall be lawful for the Secretary of the Treasury, under the direction of the President, to receive specie from any State in the Confederacy on the terms following, to wit: He shall exchange the same at market rates for treasury notes, and credit the amount of treasury notes acquired, against the taxes to be paid by the citizens of the State, in such manner as may be agreed upon between him and the proper authorities of the State."

House bill for the relief of agriculturists exempted and detailed under the act of February 17, 1865, in certain cases, was considered and passed.

Senate bill providing that the first Monday in October, 1865, shall be the day for the next regular meeting of Congress was reported back favorably from the Judiciary Committee, and on motion of Mr. Garland, of Arkansas, its further consideration was postponed.

House bill for the redemption of old issue treasury notes held by certain Indian tribes was considered and passed.

Senate bill to establish a general staff for the army in the field, sent back from the House with amendments, was referred to the Military Committee.

Senate bill to abolish the office of quartermasters and commissaries, also sent back from the House with amendments, was referred to the same committee.

House bill to provide more effectually for the prevention and punishment of absenteeism and desertion was passed.

House bill to establish an arsenal and foundry in the valley of Deep river, in North Carolina, was passed with a verbal amendment.

The Senate resolved into secret session on the House negro soldier bill.

House of Representatives.

The Speaker laid before the House the following:

‘ A communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, inclosing a report of the operations of his department in the Trans-Mississippi. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

’ Also, another communication, asking for authority to appoint assistants to the Register of the Treasury, in order to promote the prompt issue of the "soldiers' bounty bonds." Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Senate bill "to abolish the office of all offices engaged in discharging the duties of provost-marshal," except within the lines of an army in the field, was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Senate bill declaring refugees subject to perform military duty in the reserves in the State where they are temporarily residing was referred to the same committee.

Senate amendments to the appropriation bill, which reduce the amount appropriated some five millions of dollars, were concurred in.

The Chair also laid before the House a message from the President, in response to a resolution of the House, inclosing a telegram from Lieutenant-General Hardee, stating that the cotton captured by the enemy in Savannah was not destroyed previous to the evacuation because the destruction of it in the places where it was stored would have involved that of the entire city, and stating that it was impossible to remove it.

Mr. Hartridge, of Georgia, in an earnest manner, vindicated the loyalty of the people of Savannah.

The communication was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Boyce, of South Carolina, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported back Senate bill to increase the number of acting midshipmen in the navy, which was passed.

The House then resumed the consideration of the tax bill; pending which the House took a recess to half-past 7 P. M.