The
Senate was called to order at 12 o'clock M., and the proceedings opened with prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Duncan, of the
Broad Street Methodist Church.
Mr. Baker, of
Fla., moved to take from the table the
House bill of last session, increasing the pay of non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the army of the
Confederate States.
Agreed to.
Mr. Orr, of
S. C., presented the petition of
Mr. Alex. M. Moffett, praying the passage of an act refunding a sum of money paid by him on Government account.
Referred to the
Committee on Claims.
Mr. Oldham, of
Texas, submitted a resolution that the Committee of Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of 10 amending the act of Congress of 24th April, 1863, (to levy taxes for the common defence and to carry on the
Government of the
Confederate States,) so as to provide for the levying and collecting taxes for the year 1864.
The resolution contained a scheme of taxation designed to reduce the currency and improve the credit of the
Government.
It proposes to levy upon all Treasury notes designated as "general currency," outstanding on the 1st January, 1864, a tax of 50 per cent.; upon all other Treasury notes, 25 per cent.; upon eight per cent. bonds, 20 per cent.; upon seven per cent. bonds, 15 per cent.; upon six per cent. bonds, 10 per cent.; and upon all other bonds, 5 per cent.; upon all other subjects of taxation specified in the act of 1863, such a tax as will be sufficient to raise the sum of--millions of dollars, graduating the latter tax in proportion to the ability of the classes taxed to pay their assessment.
The resolution was referred to the committee and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Semmes, of
La., from the Finance Committee, reported back, without amendment, the
House bill to repeal the tax in kind on the sweet potatoes raised in 1863.--Read a third time and passed.
A message was received from the
President transmitting a communication of the
Secretary of War, covering the report of several battles.
Referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, another, transmitting a communication from the
Secretary of War, containing information relative to the office of the
Quartermaster-General, called for by recent Senate resolutions.
Similarly referred.
The
House was opened at 12 o'clock with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Burrows.
The Chair submitted a Senate bill to amend the act passed Jan. 29th, 1862, appropriating $2,000,000 in Treasury notes for the use of the
State of Kentucky, so as to authorize the
Governor of that State to expend $1,000,000 in furnishing clothing, &c., for the troops from that State.
On motion of
Mr. Miles, of
S. C., the rules were suspended and the bill taken up and passed.
The Senate bill entitled An act to protect members of Congress from annoyance in traveling, was taken up, and, after some discussion, the ayes and noes were had, and resulted as follows: Ayes 28, noes 29.
So the bill was rejected.
Mr. Menees, of Ten., from the committee of conference on the disagreeing vote of the two Houses of Congress on a joint resolution of the Senate on the subject of printing, made a report, recommending that the
House recede from its action on a former occasion.
The report of the committee was agreed to.
Mr. Gray, of
Texas, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back a bill with amendments from his committee, which was ordered to be printed.
Mr. Boteler, of
Va., offered a resolution, that the
Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of filling positions temporarily made vacant by the capture of officers.
Mr. Chambliss, of
Va., offered a resolution, that when this
House adjourn on Thursday it adjourn to meet on Monday, the 28th, at 12 o'clock.
Mr. Gartrell, of
Ga., moved to amend the resolution by striking out Monday and inserting Tuesday.
Mr. Atkins, of
Tenn., moved that the resolution and amendment be laid upon the label, and on this motion called the ayes and noes, which were ordered with the following result; Ayes 38, noes 24.
The order of the day — the bill to amend he law in relation to substitutes — was then skin up, and
Mr. Gartrell, of
Ga., being entitled to the oor, addressed the
House in favor of recommitting the bill to the
Committee on Military Affairs, with instructions to increase the military age from forty-five to fifty-five, and requiring that all persons between the ages of eighteen and fifty-five be enrolled in the military service of the
Confederate States.
He submitted a bill embracing these satires of a plan.
He then moved that the ll and amendments be recommitted to the Military Committee.
Mr. Staples, of
Va., supported the proposition of
Mr. Conrad, of
La., declaring that one shall be exempt from military service y reason of having furnished a substitute.
Mr. Simpson, of
S. C., addressed the
House in favor of calling into the service the whole available force of the
Government between the ages of eighteen and forty five, and subitted a proviso that any principal who has furnished a substitute shall be entitled have refunded to him one-third of the mount paid for such substitute; and that both the principal and substitute shall be tained in the service.
Mr. Funsten, of
Va., thought that there as no contract between the
Government nd those who had furnished substitutes, nd believed the time had arrived when we should call into active service so much of our power as would enable us to strike a low that would furnish relief before starvation could reach us.
Mr. Gaither, of
N. C., had no hesitation stating that he did not believe that any contract existed between the
Government d substitute principals; and it there was, e implied faith of the
Government to our plunders and conscripts, who had been instated into the service first for twelve months and afterwards for three years, was much stronger.
He knew that an increase our armies was required, and he was in vor of greatly modifying exemptions and statis to effect such increase.
When a principal has an efficient substitute over the conscript age in the service, he did not think principal should be conscribed.
Under other circumstances, whether the substitute deserts, dies, or becomes disabled, thought the principal should be conscribed and made to do duty.
Mr. Hilton offered an amendment to the t section, which provides that nothing in foregoing clause shall be so construed as to relieve a substitute from any liability assumed as such substitute.
The question them up on the amendment of
Mr. Ra of
Va., offered as a substitute for the first section of the bill.
The vote on this amendment was taken by eyes and noes, which resulted: Ayes 18, noes 43, So the amendment was lost.
The substitute offered by
Mr. Conrad for the bill of the committee was taken up. The bill provides that hereafter so person shall be exempt from military service by reason of his having furnished a substitute.
Mr. Chilton, of
Ala., moved the following amendment: That this cause shall not be construed to affect persons who, though not liable to military duty, have nevertheless put substitutes in the army.
This amendment was agreed to, and the substitute, as amended, was agreed to.
The question then recurred upon the adoption of the substitute in line of the bill reported by the committee.
On this question the vote was taken by ayes and noes, as follows: Ayes 44, noes 18.
The bill was then engrossed, read a third time, and placed upon its final passage, when the ayes and noes were had, and resulted as follows: Ayes 52, noes 13.
On motion, the
House adjourned.
