After prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Minnigerode, of the Episcopal Church, the Senate was called to order by
Mr. Hunter, of
Va.,
President pro tem.
Mr. Johnson, of
Ga., offered the following, which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the
Secretary of the Treasury lay before the Senate a statement showing the amount of property and credits that have been taken possession of under the laws of sequestration and confliction; what amount is in judgment, unsold and uncollected; what amount, in money, has been realized in the several States of the
Confederacy and paid into the Treasury; what the balance, if any, which, being collected by the various receivers, has not yet been paid into the Treasury; and what is the amount of property and credits still in litigation, and where such litigation is pending.
Mr. Caperton, of
Va., presented a memorial of dental surgeons, of ten years practice, praying exemption from military service.
The memorial was accompanied by a recommendation in its favor, signed by the
Surgeon General of the
Confederate States and a number of surgeons and physicians.
Mr. Sparrow, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported back, with the recommendation that it do not pass, the resolution relative to the appointment of chaplains for battalions in the army.
The resolution was laid on the table.
Mr. Phelan, from the
Committee on the Judiciary, reported back, with the recommendation that it pass, the bill to provide for the auditing and payment of certain claims in the
State of Mississippi.
The bill was ordered to be printed.
Mr. Caperton, from the same committee, reported back, with an amendment, the
House bill to prohibit dealing in the paper currency of the enemy.
Put on the calendar and ordered to be printed.
On motion of
Mr. Orr, after some discussion, the Senate resolved into secret Executive session.
The
House was called to order at 11 o'clock by the
Speaker.
The Chair laid before the
House a communication from the
President enclosing a communication from the
Secretary of War, covering a copy of the report of
Brig. Gen. Echols of the battle of
Droop Mountain.-- Also, another communication, conveying copies of reports of military operations, submitted in response to resolutions of the
House.
The Chair also submitted Senate joint resolution of thanks to
Gen. Robert E. Lee and the officers and soldiers under his command, which was at once taken up and passed.
Mr. Russell, of
Va., introduced a bill entitled an act to repeal certain laws exempting persons from military service; which, on his motion, was laid on the table.
Mr. Miles, of
S. C., from the Military Committee, reported the following bill on the same subject:
‘
The Congress of the Confederate States do enact, That from and after the passage of this act, all acts and parts of acts exempting persons from military service be, and the same is hereby, repeated, except in so far as they relate to officers of the
Confederate and State Governments, and hereafter no person shall be exempt from such service, than the following, to wit: All who shall be held to be unfit for military service, under rules to be prescribed by the
Secretary of War, and such other persons as the said
Secretary with the approval of the
President, may deem it expedient to exempt, in view of the fact, which must be satisfactorily established, that such persons can by their skill, labor, occupation, or employment, better subserve the vital interests of the country, and contribute more substantially to its defence outside of the army than in its ranks:
Provided, That even in such cases absolute exemptions from military service shall not be granted, if in the opinion of the
Secretary of War the same end can be attained by regularly enrolling and detailing, for specific times and stated purposes, the persons whose skill, labor, occupation, or employment, may make their services more valuable out of than in the actual ranks of the army.
’
This bill was postponed, ordered to be printed, and made the order of the day for Wednesday, and each alternate day thereafter, in the morning hour, until disposed of.
Mr. Goode, of
Va., introduced the following joint resolution in relation to the war:
Resolved, by the Congress of the Confederate States, That the present is deemed a fitting occasion to remind the people of the
Confederate States that they are engaged in a struggle for the preservation both of liberty and civilization, and that no sacrifices of life or fortune can be too costly which may be requisite to secure to themselves and their posterity the enjoyment of these inappreciable blessings, and also to assure them that, in the judgment of this Congress, the resources of the country, if developed with energy, husbanded with care, and applied with fidelity, are more than sufficient to support the most protracted war which it be necessary to wage for independence; and to exhort them by every consideration which can influence freemen and patriots to a magnanimous surrender of all personal and party fends; to an indignant rebuke of every exhibition of factions temper in whatever quarter, or upon whatever pretext it may be made; to a generous support of all branches of the
Government in the legitimate exercise of their constitutional powers; and to that harmonious, unselfish, and patriotic co-operation which can alone impart to our cause that irresistible strength which springs from united counsels, fraternal feelings, and fervent devotion to the public weal.
After some discussion, on motion of
Mr. Clapp, of
Miss., the resolution was referred to a select committee.
Mr. Chilton, of
Ala., moved to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was referred, with a view to offering the following amendment: "And we urge upon our people to regard as the whisperings of treason in its most dangerous form all suggestions favoring a reconstruction with the
Government which thus seeks to enslave us."
The motion to reconsider did not prevail, so the resolution and amendment were referred to a select committee.
Mr. Clapp called for the order of the day, and moved that the
House go into secret session, with a view to its consideration.
The motion was carried, and the
House went into secret session.
