The
Senate met at 12 o'clock, M., yesterday. Prayer by
the Rev. Dr. J. L. Burrows, of the Baptist Church.
On motion of
Mr. Johnson, of
Arkansas, his resolution, relative to fixing the day of the adjournment of Congress, was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Brown, of
Mississippi, presented the memorial of
Lieut. Col. W. B. Lowry, of the 11th Mississippi regiment, which was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Brown, of
Mississippi, introduced a bill to provide passports for
Senators and Representatives in Congress when travelling in the
Confederate States, which was passed after long discussion.
It provides that the
Secretary of State shall furnish, without application, each
Senator and Representative with a certificate of his official character, which shall entitle him to travel throughout the
Confederacy, but not to visit an army or vessel of war against the orders of the commander thereof.
Mr. Johnson, of
Arkansas, offered a joint resolution of thanks to
Brig. Gen. F. M. Cockrill, and the officers and men under his command, for pledging themselves to serve during the war.
Mr. Johnson, of
Arkansas, introduced a bill for the relief of States holding Confederate securities.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr. Barnwell, of
South Carolina, presented the memorial of the officers of the First Corps, Army
Northern Virginia, asking for increased rations.
Referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Orr introduced a bill to amend the act in relation to the
Cherokee Indians, which was referred to the
Committee on Indian Affairs.
Mr. Orr offered a resolution, which was agreed to, instructing the Military Committee to inquire and report if any legislation were necessary to vacate the commissions of general, field, and staff officers, who have no commands nor duties to perform.
Mr. Orr offered a resolution, which was agreed to, instructing the Military Committee to inquire and report upon the expediency of reducing the cavalry force now in the service of the
Confederate States, in consequence of the scarcity of forage.
Mr. Hunter laid before the Senate the petition of the
Virginia and
North Carolina Bank Convention, asking a reduction of the tax imposed on banks by the tax act of the 17th January, 1864. Referred to the Committee of Finance.
Mr. Walker, of
Miss., offered a resolution, which was agreed to, instructing the Finance Committee to inquire into the expediency of providing by law that all arrears of interest upon coupons and
registered bonds and the interest bearing Treasury notes of the
Confederate States, due prior to the 1st of April, 1864, not heretofore paid, shall be paid in new issue notes.
Also, a resolution instructing the same committee to inquire into the expediency of so amending the Currency act as to provide that transfer by delivery of the four per cent. Certificates and bonds, provided by said act, shall be sufficient to enable the holder to use the same in payment of taxes.
Agreed to.
The report of the
Secretary of War was reported back from the Military Committee and ordered to be printed.
The report of the
Postmaster General was also ordered to be printed.
Two messages were received from the
President--one in relation to naval affairs; the other transmitting communications from the
Secretary of the Treasury.
On motion of
Mr. Sparrow, the Senate resolved into Executive session.
House of Representatives met at 12 M.--Prayer by
Rev. Mr. Duncan.
A message from the Senate was received, requesting the concurrence of the
House in a joint resolution of thanks to
Maj. Gen. Hoke and
General Finnegan for their late successes, &c.
Mr. Chilton, of
Alabama, introduced a bill to continue in force the act passed at its last session providing for increase of compensation of clerks and employees in the Executive Department in
Richmond.
After some discussion on the amendments which were offered, the bill was made to embrace the clerks at
Columbia, and also the clerk of the
Sequestration Board.
Referred.
Mr. Clopton, of
Alabama, offered a resolution of inquiry whether any further legislation was necessary to prevent illegal or unjust impressments, and to compel Quartermasters to render a correct account of all impressments.
Adopted.
Mr. A. H. Garland, of
Arkansas, introduced a bill to be entitled an act to organize a Supreme Court of the
Confederate States.
Referred.
Mr. Moore, of
Kentucky, submitted a resolution on the propriety of increasing the compensation of District Collectors of
Confederate States taxes.
Referred.
Mr. Perkins, of
Louisiana, introduced a bill for placing in the
Confederate States service all citizens of the
United States residing within the limits of the
Confederacy.
Referred.
Mr. Orr, of
Mississippi, introduced a bill to discourage speculation, and to increase and strengthen the army.
Referred.
Mr. Fuller, of
North Carolina, offered a resolution to amend the tithe tax law, so as to provide when persons cannot afford to pay the tithe that it be remitted.
Referred.
Mr. J. T. Leach, of
North Carolina, submitted a resolution to amend the tithing law, so as to exempt soldiers' wives who make no surplus provisions, from its operations.
Referred
Also, a resolution to allow cavalry officers to draw rations for their servants from Government at Government prices.
Appropriately referred.
Mr. Montague, of
Va., offered a resolution of inquiry as to whether some legislation was not necessary so as to afford relief to paroled Confederate prisoners lately returned from the
North, who had no opportunity of funding their treasury notes under the act approved 17th February, 1864. Referred.
Also, a resolution to increase the compensation of jurors and witnesses in the
Confederate States Court.
Referred.
Mr. Foote, of
Tenn., submitted a resolution that the
House abolish secret sessions except in the case of diplomatic proceedings, or when they were on business in connection with the armies in the field, which caused a great deal of discussion; pending which a motion was made and the
House adjourned.
