Confederate Congress.
Senate.
Wednesday, March 1, 1865.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Dogget, of the Methodist Church.
On motion, by Mr. Burnett, of Kentucky, the Senate reconsidered the vote by which was passed the bill to provide for returned prisoners; and the further consideration of the bill was then postponed till to day.
Mr. Simms, of Kentucky, offered the following, which was agreed to: ‘
"Resolved, That the Select Committee on the Exchange of Prisoners be instructed to inquire into the treatment of returned prisoners, and that they also be instructed to inquire and report all neglect in transporting them to Richmond from the places of exchange, and who is responsible for such neglect." ’
Mr. Wigfall introduced a bill to provide for the organization of a Bureau of Inspection in connection with the War Department.
Referred.
Mr. Caperton introduced a bill to regulate the compensation of the State Collector of the State of Virginia.
Mr. Maxwell, of Florida, introduced a resolution for the adjournment of Congress on Tuesday next.
On motion, by Mr. Johnson, of Missouri, the resolution was laid on the table.
Senate bill fixing the first Monday in October as the time of the regular meeting of Congress was taken up; and, after debate.
On motion, by Mr. Wigfall, the bill was informally passed over.
Senate bill to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to receive specie from the several States of the Confederate States, and use the same for the benefit of said States, was considered and passed.
Senate bill regulating the destruction of property under military necessity, as amended by the House, was taken up, and House amendments were concurred in and the bill passed.
The following is the bill, which awaits the approval of the President to become the law: ‘
"The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That hereafter, whenever cotton or tobacco, military or naval stores, or other property of any kind whatever, which may aid the enemy in the prosecution of the war, may be in an exposed position, where it would be liable to seizure and removal by the enemy, the general officer commanding the department or district where the property may be situated shall order the owners thereof to move the same to some place of safety, to be designated by him, if such removal, in the judgment of such general commanding, should be necessary to prevent the said property from falling into the hands of the enemy; and if the property is not removed within a reasonable time, to be fixed by the commanding general, by the owners thereof, it shall be lawful for the said general officer to have the same removed at the expense of the owners, under general regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of War, or to destroy the same, as now provided by law." ’
Mr. Semmes, from the committee of conference on the House bill to provide more effectually from the reduction and redemption of the currency, reported that the committee had not been able to agree, and asked to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject.
The report was received and the committee were discharged.
The tax bill was then taken up, and Mr. Semmes, of Louisiana, explained the amendments proposed by the majority of the Senate Finance Committee.
Mr. Oldham addressed the Senate on the minority report on the same bill.
The Senate then resolved into secret session.
