Confederate Congress
Senate.
Monday, March 17, 1862.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill offered by Mr. Philan, of Tennessee, for the prohibition of raising cotton during the year 1862.
Mr. Oldham, of Texas, made a stirring speech against filtering away the time of the Senate in useless discussion, and urged that the bill be referred, which was done.
Mr. Johnson, of Arkansas, introduced a bill repealing an act of the Provisional Congress, and enacting as a substitute a bill providing that the pay and allowances of deceased soldiers shall be handed over first to the widow, if any, or to the child or children, if any, or to the father, or mother, or brother.
Upon proper certificates being shown, it is provided that the Second Auditor of the Confederate States Treasury shall liquidate all such claims.
Mr. Davis, of North Carolina, thought this whole bill to be wrong, because it was not the province of Congress to prepare any law of descent or make provisions for the distribution of the estates of deceased persons.--He therefore moved a reference of the bill to the Judiciary Committee, which was done.
A message was received from the House, announcing the passage of the bill appointing a Public Printer for both Houses of Congress.
Mr. Johnson, of Arkansas, introduced a bill ‘"to regulate navigation of the Confederate States, and to establish direct trade with foreign nations."’
Mr. Oldham spoke against the bill.
Mr. Phelan, of Tenn., asked the Chairman of the Committee of Commerce what disposition had been made of his resolution to abolish all ports of entry, and suppress all commerce with foreign nations.
Mr. Clay, of the committee, replied that the committee had not yet been supplied with data asked for, and had consequently been unable to do anything in the premises.
The bill to make Treasury notes a legal tender was made the special order for to-morrow.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, repeated adversely to a bill, legalizing the organization of certain Tennessee companies of volunteers, received into service since the 1st of December, 1861.
Consideration of the report was postponed till to-morrow.
A message was received from the President, announcing that he had appointed Benton H Harrison, of Miss., as his private Secretary, vice Robert doselym resigned. 