The
Senates was called to order at 12 o'clock. Prayer by
Rev. Mr. Langhorne, of the Methodist Church.
Mr. Hill, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back with the recommendation that it pass the bill to regulate the salaries of Confederate District Judges.
Put on the calendar.
Mr. Phelan, from the same committee, reported back two bills declaring certain persons alien enemies, with a substitute therefore, to be entitled "An act declaring persons owing military service to the
Confederate States, and who seek to avoid such service by removing beyond the control and jurisdiction of said States alien enemies, and subjecting their property to confiscation.--Put on the calendar and ordered to be printed.
The
House bill granting to
W. J. Hardee and
S. H. Getzel a special copyright for a book styled "
Hardee's Rifle and Infantry Tactics," was passed with the amendment of the Judiciary Committee, making the provisions of the bill extend to spurious copies of the work already printed.
Mr. Caperton, from the Judiciary Committee, to whom had been referred the resolution in relation to the salaries of Confederate District Judges in
Virginia, reported a joint resolution, which was ordered to be printed.
On motion of
Mr. Sparrow, the Senate resolved itself into secret legislative session.
The House was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Edwards, at 11 o'clock.
Mr. Chilton, of Ala, presented a bill to provide for the organization of the field artillery of the Provisional Army of the
Confederate States.
Referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Garland, of
Ark., introduced a bill for the relief of
George A. Davis, of the
State of Arkansas, a mail contractor in that State.
Referred to the
Committee on Claims.
Mr. Hilton, of
Fla., offered a resolution that hereafter the
House will take a daily recess from 3½ o'clock P. M. until 6 o'clock P. M. In support of the resolution,
Mr. Hilton said it was quite manifest that, without longer daily sessions than we are now holding, Congress would not be able to dispatch the business demanding their attention.
We have but a month left to us, and yet only one bill of general importance — that in relation to substitutes — had been adopted.
There were yet to be acted upon the Exemption bill, the Currency bill, the Tax bill, the Army bill, and the bill regulating the so called blockade running, to say nothing of other measures of interest, though of less general importance.
Members getting their dinners at four o'clock could well dispense with their suppers, in view of the pressing demands of the public business.
Mr. Baldwin, of
Va., opposed the resolution, stating that the sessions of the
House were now too protracted to admit of proper work in the committees.
The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Ayes 36, noes 28.
Mr. Clapp, of
Miss., from the Special Committee to whom the subject had been referred, reported back the bill to provide for wounded and disabled officers, soldiers, and seamen, an asylum, to be called the
Veteran Soldiers' Home, and asked a suspension of the rules to allow the bill to be placed at once upon its passage.
The rules were suspended and the bill taken up for consideration.
After some discussion the bill was postponed until Monday next, and made the special order in the morning hour.
Mr. Villere, of
La., offered a resolution that the
President be requested to furnish this
House with a copy of the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry in the case of
Gen. Mansfield Lovell.
Mr. Welsh, of
Miss., introduced a bill to more effectually enforce
General Order No. 105, issued in July, 1863, in reference to officers and employees in the
Commissary and Quartermaster's Department.
Mr. Smith, of
N. C., introduced a bill amendatory of the act to put an end to substitution, approved January 6th, 1864, so that the bill shall not apply to producers who, previous to January 1st, 1864, were engaged in raising subsistence for man. The bill was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Miles, of
S. C., offered a resolution requesting the
President to communicate to the
House the number and names of officers dropped from the list under the act to rid the army of ignorant and incompetent officers, passed at the last session of Congress.
Mr. Heiskell, of
Tenn., introduced a bill to place in the military service all persons who have submitted to the oath of allegiance to the
Federal Government.
Referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Lyons, of
Va., offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the Military Committee inquire under what authority
Gens. Sam. Jones and
Imboden have prohibited the transmission of supplies of food from the districts which they command to the city of
Richmond for private uses.
Mr. Burnett, of
Ky., introduced a resolution in relation to the war and the treatment of prisoners, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
On motion of
Mr. Jones, of
Tenn., the
House went into secret session, for the consideration of the bills reported from the Special Committee on Currency.
