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Confederate States Congress.
[adjourned Session.]
Senate.

Monday September 1st, 1862.

The Journal of Friday was read and approved. Mr. Maxwell, of Fla., presented a petition from twenty-three of the inmates of the Winder Hospital asking the passage of a bill ‘"to send all the old and infirm men that are not able to double quick in the army to their respective States."’ Referred.

Mr. Simms, of Ky., offered the following preamble and resolutions, which on his motion, were laid upon the table for the present:

Whereas, our country must ever cherish with a grateful pride the heroic achievements of its brave and patriotic soldiery, who, in a noble struggle for independence of and resistance to the invaders and desolator of our homes, have won for themselves and our armies imperishable glory upon the field of battle; and whereas, these achievements, thus signalized by deeds of daring and personal valor worthy of any age, and rendered doubly dear to the hearts of our people by the precious blood that has been shed and the brave patriots who have fallen, must ever form one of brightest pages in our history, and through all time challenge the admiration and approval of the brave and generous of every nation. To the end, therefore, that our whole country may in the most honorable manner give some especial token of its appreciation of the noble services of its brave and heroic defenders:

Be it Resolved, That the President cause to be prepared medals, or badges, with suitable designs or inscriptions thereon, to be presented to such of our officers and soldiers as may have, or shall hereafter, distinguish themselves by deeds of personal gallantry upon the battle-field; which medal, or badge, when presented, shall be to such officer or private a lasting memorial of a nation's grateful tribute to its patriotic and heroic defenders.

Be it further Resolved, That in all cases where such officer or soldier shall be killed by the enemy upon the battle field, after having performed such deeds of personal bravery as would entitle him, if living, to such medal or badge, the President shall cause the same to be delivered to his widow, or children, if any; and if there be no widow or child, then to the father or mother, if any.

Be it further Resolved, That in order to execute faith fully the intention of Congress, as above expressed, the Secretary of War shall prescribe such regulations to determine the claims of each officer or private who by his conduct in battle may merit this especial honor at the hands of his country; and in cases of especial merit he is hereby authorized to confer upon brigades, regiments, and battalions, or other corps, such evidences of appreciation as will impress upon the mind of each soldier that he is in the service of a country proud to do honor to its patriotic sons.

Mr. Hill, from the Committee on Judiciary, reported a bill for the repression and punishment of counterfeiting C. S. Treasury notes. Ordered to be printed.

Mr. Davis, of N. C., from the Committee on Claims, reported back the memorial in behalf of Gen. Hardee, in connection with his work on Military Tactics, and requested to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject, the committee being unwilling, at this time, to inaugurate the policy of bestowing pecuniary rewards upon any person, however meritorious. The memorial was laid upon the table.

The calendar being taken up,

The bill creating a Paymaster's Department, separate and distinct from the Quartermaster's Department, was taken up.

The bill was postponed on the motion of Mr. Hill.

The bill concerning substitutes, which was postponed from Friday last, was taken up in its place.

After much debate the bill was passed in the following form:

  1. Sec. 1. The Congress of the Confederate States do enact, That hereafter substitutes for persons liable to military duty shall not be allowed, except in cases where the person offering the substitute is skilled and actually employed in some mechanical pursuit, the prosecution of which, at the time, the Secretary of War may declare to be important to the public interest: Provided, That in all cases where substitutes are received, the person furnishing the substitute shall guarantee his fidelity, and in case he deserts the principal shall be held to service as if no substitute had been furnished by him.
  2. Sec. 2. That the Secretary of War and commanders of brigades and divisions shall detail to any farm or plantation worked by slaves, when the owner thereof is a femme sole a minor or a person in the service of the Confederacy, one enrolled private for police duty thereon, and to act as overseer, under the direction and control of the owner thereof, or his legal representative: Provided, That said detail be made upon the application and designation of the owner, or the representative of the owner, of such farm or plantation, and that the person so detailed shall be withdrawn upon a like application of such owner or his representative: And provided, further, That said private shall not, whilst so detailed, receive any pay or allowance from the Government, but shall be paid by the owner of the farm or plantation an amount to be agreed upon between them; and when recalled said detailed private shall immediately proceed to brigade headquarters and report for duty under the penalty of being punished as a deserter.
Mr. Brown, of Miss. now called up the bill in relation to the organization of Partisan Rangers.

Mr. Burnett, of Ky., in order to test the sense of the Senate, moved to postpone the bill until the first Monday in December next.

After some animated debate the bill was postponed, and the Senate adjourned.

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