Confederate States Congress.
The Senate, yesterday, was called to order by Mr. Hunter, of Va., President pro tem., and the proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Burrows, of the Baptist Church. The President laid before the Senate a communication from Gen. Hardee and twenty other Generals, in relation to the organization of the army. Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The following bill, to repeal "An act regulating the granting of furloughs and discharges in hospitals," was taken up and passed: ‘ The Congress of the Confederate State of America do enact. That an act regulating the granting of furloughs and discharges in hospitals, approved on the 1st May, 1863, , and the same is hereby, repealed. ’ The bill to repeal "An act to regulate the destruction of property under military necessity, and to provide for the indemnity thereof," which had been reported upon adversely by the Military Committee, was taken up, and pending the discussion upon its passage. On motion of Mr. Henry, of Tenn., the Senate resolved itself into secret Executive session, and the doors being reopened, adjourned. At 12 o'clock the House was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Minnegerode. The Speaker announced that when the House adjourned yesterday, it was without aquorum, and it was there necessary that the roll should be called this morning. In the call roll only fifty members answered to their names, being four less our aquorum, and the business was retarded until several members came in. The Speaker laid before the House the following communication from the officers of the Army of Tennessee; which was referred to the Military Committee and ordered to be printed: army of Tennessee, Dec. 17, 1863.
to the Congress of the Confederate States:
to the existing condition of affairs, it is hoped that honorable bodies will portion the variance custom of addressing you from the army.
It done in spirit of dictation, but under the entious conviction that the necessities of the country demand the voices and labors of all, and that delay, even for thirty days, in enacting proper measures, may make present disorders incurable, and the dangers of the moment omnipotent for our destruction.
in our opinion it is essential to retain, for the term of during the war, without reorganization, the troops now in service; to place in service, immediately, for the same term, all other white males between eighteen and fifty years of age able to any military duty; to provide for placing in service at the discretion of the President, for the same term, all white males between fifteen and eighteen and between fifty and sixty years of age; to prohibit substitution; to prohibit exemptions, except for the necessary civil offices and employments of the Confederate States and the several States; to prohibit details, except for limited times and for carrying on works essential to the army; to prohibit discharges, except in cases of permanent disability from all duty; to prohibit leaves and furloughs, except under uniform rules, of universal application, based, as far as practicable, on length of service and meritorious conduct; to prohibit on the greatest possible extent, the detail of the bodied officers and men to post, hospital, or other duty, and to place in service, as cooks, laborers, teamsters, and hospital attendants, with the army and elsewhere, able-bodied negroes and bond .
these measures, We think, if promptly enacted as issue, so as to give time for organizing and discipline the new material, would make our armies invincible at the opening of the campaign of next year, and enable us to win back our lost territory, and conquer a peace before that campaign shall be leaded.
We beg further to suggest that, in our opinion, the dissatisfactions — apprehensive or existing — from short rations, depreciated currency, and the retention of old soldiers in service, might be obviated by allowing bounties, with discriminations in favor of the retained troops, an increase of pay, the commutation to enlisted men of rations not issued, and rations, or the value thereof, to officers.
We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servants,
to the Congress of the Confederate States:
- W. L. Harder, Lieut.-General.
- C. L. Stevenson, Major-Gen.
- E. F. Cheatham, Major-Gen.
- D. C. Breckenridge, Major-Gen.
- John C. Brown, Brig.-Gen.
- Edm'd W. Pettus, Brig.-Gen.
- A. W. Reynolds, Brig.-Gen.
- T. C. Hindman, Major-Gen.
- Jos. H. Lewis, Brig.-Gen.
- John K. Jackson Brig.-Gen.
P. R. Cleburne, Major-Gen.
[In addition to the above names, there are some dozen others attached to the paper, some of them with reservations and explanations.] Mr. Foote, of Tenn., moved to reconsider the vote referring the paper, but the motion did not prevail. The Speaker announced that the question in order was the motion of the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Lyons, to reconsider the vote by which the bill to prohibit trading in the currency of the enemy was passed by the House. Mr. Lyons being entitled to the floor, addressed the House in-support of his motion, basing his opposition to the bill upon a want of power on the part of Congress to determine what currency shall circulate in a State. He was replied to by Messrs. Kenan, of Ga., and Clapp, of Miss., when the ayes and noes were called, and resulted as follows — ayes 5, noes 48. The bill introduced by Mr. Read on a former day continuing in pay all discharged soldiers by reason of wounds and injuries received in the service, was taken up. The question was upon the amendment of Mr. Kenan, of Ga., extending the provisions of the bill to the widows and orphans of deceased soldiers, upon which the ayes and noes were called, and the amendment was agreed to — ayes 32, noes 22. Mr. Read moved to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was adopted, and on taking the vote on this motion the House found itself without a quorum, and, on motion, adjourned.
