The
Senate met on Saturday at the usual hour.
Mr. Maxwell, of
Fla., introduced a bill in relation to trading with the enemy, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Johnson, of
Ga., introduced a joint resolution of thanks to
Commander John Taylor Wood and the officers and men under his command for daring and brilliant conduct, which was considered and passed.
The memorial of
Dabucy H. Maury was referred to the Naval Committee.
Mr. Semmes, from the Finance Committee, reported back, with amendments, the appropriation bill.
The amendments were agreed to and the bill sent to the
House.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported back, with an amendment,
House bill to provide for increasing the price of the rations for sick and wounded soldiers in hospitals.
The amendments were agreed to and the bill passed.
The Military Committee were discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of
R. W. Gibbs,
President of the
Press Association; and a resolution inquiring into the expediency of organizing and strengthening the Trans-Mississippi Department by the appointment of an
Assistant Secretary of War, etc.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported back adversely the bill to provide rations for the officers of the army during the war; and the bill relating to exchanged or paroled Confederate prisoners captured by the enemy west of the
Mississippi river.
Mr. Hill, from the Judiciary Committee, reported without amendment
House bill to provide for holding Congressional elections in
Arkansas.
The bill was considered and passed.
Mr. Baker, from the
Committee on Claims, reported back the joint resolution for the relief of
Major R. Hooper.
Mr. Burnett, from the same committee reported back the
House bill for the relief of
Livingston Mims, and
House joint resolution for the relief of
Major W. F. Haines.
House bill to increase the efficiency of the army by the employment in certain capacities of free negroes and slaves, was taken up, and on motion of
Mr. Johnson, of
Ark., transferred to the secret calendar.
Mr. Wigfall introduced a bill to amend an act entitled "An act to establish the
Judicial Courts of the
Confederate States of America, approved March 16, 1861, which was taken up for consideration, but the hour of half past 3 having arrived, the Senate took the usual recess.
The
House met at 11 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Minnegerode.
Mr. Preston, of
Va., from the
Committee on Quartermaster and Commissary Departments, to whom was referred a resolution offered by
Mr. Foote, of
Tenn., in reference to the subsistence of prisoners of war, submitted a report on the the subject, which was read, laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.
The resolution required the committee to inquire into the truth or falsehood of the allegation that the
Yankee prisoners in our hands have not been adequately supplied with food, and report to this
House as soon as practicable, to the end that the character of our Government may be effectually vindicated in the premises, and censure, if any be due, be visited upon those who deserve it.
The Committee, in their report, say:
‘
"For a more perfect understanding of the subject it is perhaps necessary to state that all requisitions for subsistence drawn from the Subsistence Department were directed by the
Commissary General to
Capt Forbes, the issuing Commissary.
In carrying out the orders of the Quartermaster's Department for subsistence to be furnished prisoners, it was understood between
Capt. Warner and
Capt Forbes that the rations of meat should be of fresh beef when
Capt. Forbes could supply it; and when beef was not to be had, the requisitions for meat rations should be filled by supplies of bacon, bulk pork, or salt beef.
The butcher for the Subsistence Department in
Richmond was a certain
George R. Wilson, upon whom orders were given by
Capt. Forbes to supply rations of beef under the requisitions made by
Capt. Warner.
It appears from the statement of
Wilson, herewith submitted, that orders were drawn upon him for fresh beef in favor of
Capt. Warner on the 1st, 6th, 8th, 9th, 13th, 20th, 21st, 22d, and 23d days of November, which were not filled because the supply of beef on hand was not more than sufficient to meet the requisitions for the hospitals; and by an index from the
Commissary General he was directed, in the event of a scarcity of beef, first to fill the requisitions for the hospitals containing the sick and wounded, to the exclusion of the prisoners of war and our own soldiers on duty at this post.
’
"It further appears that when the prisoners of war in the city of
Richmond were either upon short rations of meat, or deprived of the meal ration altogether, our own soldiers shared the same privation, and it further appears from the evidence, that when the meat rations was short, or withdrawn altogether, double rations of bread and vegetables were furnished to the prisoners.
Your committee therefore feel authorized to state that the complaint that the prisoners, suffered from being deprived of a sufficiency of food, is entirely without foundation."
A communication was received from the
President vetoing the bill to establish a Veteran Soldiers' Home, which was laid on the table.
Also, a communication in reference to the trial and conviction of
Wm. E. Codman, of
Rockingham county, Va.; which was ordered to be printed.
The
House took up the special order, the bill entitled an act to facilitate the settlement of claims of deceased officers and soldiers.
Before final action upon the bill a motion to go into secret session prevailed, and the
House went into secret session.
