Confederate Congress.
Monday September 8, 1862.
Senate--The Senate met at 12 o'clock. Prayer by the Rev. J. D. Coulling, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Yancey, of Alabama, introduced a bill to regulate the nomination of Brigadier Generals, the object of which is to give to each State something like a quota of such officers.
He called attention to the fact that Virginia had twenty-seven in the field, while Alabama had but five, three of whom only were really from Alabama. Gens. Rhodes and Ledbetter were appointed from Alabama, but were not in fact from that State.
Alabama had sent sixty full regiments to the field, about one hundred companies, and various battalions.
He thought it due to the valor of the troops, and to the States themselves that such a system were adopted.
The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Hill, of Ga., introduced a bill changing the time of the assembling of the next regular session of Congress, from the 1st Monday in December to Wednesday, the 18th of February next.
Also, a resolution that Congress shall adjourn on Monday, the 22d of September, which was laid over until to-morrow.
Mr. Orr offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the particulars of reported executions of Confederate soldiers by Gen. Bragg.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported back the bill for the payment of claims of deceased soldiers, and the bill establishing the rank of Quartermaster-General the same as
that of Brigadier General, which were placed upon the calendar.
Mr. Henry, of Tenn., from the same committee, reported a bill to provide medals of distinction for soldiers who have rendered themselves notable by peculiar acts of valor.
Placed on the calendar.
Mr. Brown, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported the following bills:
A bill to determine the pay of Engineers in Chief and Passed Assistant Surgeons in the navy, allowing to the former $3,000 per annum, and to the latter, for sea service, $1,700, shore duties $1,500, and when under leave of absence, &c., $1,200.
A bill to permit persons subject to enrollment to enlist in the marine corps.
Mr. Yancey, of Ala., presented a design for the national flag from a lady of Philadelphia, now in England — a white field, with blue Union, in the centre of which is the sun in meridian glory.
Mr. Orr, of S. C. presented two flag designs from Mr. Holmes, of S. C.
All were referred to the Committee on Flag and Seal.
The Exemption bill was resumed, and the amendment under consideration being the except on of Justices of the Peace from exemption, Mr. Phelan proceeded to examine the constitutional question involved.
Mr. P. based his argument upon the proposition of the supremacy of the war making power, and contended that Congress had the authority from the people of placing all citizens, whatever their position, into the field for the defence of the country.
His argument was analytical and involved several nice points for discussion.--When he had concluded.
On motion of Mr. Preston, of Virginia, the further consideration of the question was postponed until to-morrow of Mr. Clay, of Alabama, the Senate went into Executive session.
House of Representatives,--The House met at 12 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. M. Wellons.
Journal of Saturday read.
The chair laid before the House a message from the President transmitting the response of the Secretary of War to a resolution of the House in relation to arrests of persons by military authority.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Also, response to resolutions for information as to the prosecution of the work on the extension of the Danville Railroad, and the acts of Maj. General Hindman, as commander of the Trans. Mississippi District.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Also, letters from the Secretary of War and Quartermaster General in relation to the payment of troops.
Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed.
The House then took up the order for the morning hour, being the bill to provide for the further issue of Treasury Notes, reported by Mr. Kenner from the Committee of Ways and Means.
After some discussion, in which Messrs Johnson of Va., Kenner and Machen of Ky., participated, the bill was passed substantially as it came from the Committee.
We give the bill as it passed:
A Bill. to be entitled An Act to provide for the further issue of Treasury Notes.
Section 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact. That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby authorized, from time to time, to issue in addition to the Bonds, Certificates of Stock, and Treasury Notes already authorized by law, such additional amount of the same as may be required to pay the appropriations made by Congress at its last and present sessions, to be issued under the same forms, conditions, and restrictions as are, or may be, provided by law; the Bonds and Certificates of Stock to be issued in preference in all cases where they can be used; and where they cannot, the deficiency to be supplied by Treasury Notes.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to issue Treasury Notes of the denomination of fifty dollars, bearing interest at the rate of one cent, per day, the said notes to be payable at the same time as other Treasury Notes, and to be receivable in payment of all public dues, except the export duty on cotton.
Sec. 3. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to pay annually the interest accruing on the first of January on all interest bearing Treasury Notes, and to make all proper regulations in relation to such payment.
Provided, That until six months after the treaty of peace, such payment hall be made in Treasury Notes.
Sec. 4. The issue of Treasury Notes under the denomination of five dollars is authorized to be extended to ten millions of dollars.
Mr. Kenner also presented from the Committee of Ways and Means a bill making appropriations to comply with the provisions of certain acts of Congress.
This bill provides for the appropriation of $14,000 for the Choctaw Indians.
After being read a first and second times, the bill was engrossed and passed.
The Chair announced the following additional standing committees, under a resolution adopted by the House some days ago:
Committee on Quartermaster and Commissary Department, and on Military Transportation.--Messrs. CL liton, of Ala., Marshall, of La. McRae, of Miss.
Preston, of Va., Clark, of Ga.; Lander, of N. C. Dawkins, of Fla. Ayer, of S. C., and Sexton of Texas.
On Ordnance and Ordnance Stares.--Messrs. Boteler, of Va.; Conrad, of La.; Wright, of Tenn.; Clopton, of Ala; Hodge, of Ky.; Hartridge, of Ga. Cook, of Mo., Clapp, of Miss, and Herbert, of Texas.
On the Medical Department.--Messrs. Wright, of Ga. Be . of Mo., Goode, of Va.; Chisman, of Ky.; Smith, of N. C.; Farrow, of S. C.; Ralls, of Ala.; McNeely, of Tenn., and Royston, of Ark.
The morning hour having expired, the special order of the day came up, being the bill to provide for filling up existing regiments battalions, squadrons, and companies, and to increase the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, when Mr. Ayer, of S. C., gave notice of his intention to introduce an amendment at the proper time.
Mr. Gentry. of Tenn., having the floor, addressed the House at length and earnestly in support of the bill, and in favor of its immediate passage.
Mr. Baldwin, of Va., followed Mr. Gentry.--He doubted the constitutionality of a law of conscription, and had he been present when the bill now in existence was under consideration, he would have opposed it. As the bill had passed, however, and was now a law, he was willing to vote for its extension.
Mr. Smith, of Ala., obtained the floor, but gave way to a motion to adjourn. 