The
Senate met at 12 o'clock M. yesterday. Prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Doggett, of the Methodist Church.
House joint resolution authorizing the auditing and payment of the accounts of members of Congress was considered and passed.
The bill to regulate the pay and mileage of members of Congress, during the present session, was considered and passed.
It doubles the compensation and mileage now allowed by law.
House joint resolution of thanks to
Major Gen. Forrest, and the officers and men under his command, for their campaign in
Mississippi,
West Tennessee, and
Kentucky, was passed.
The following was reported from the Military Committee:
Whereas, information in relation to our military and naval forces, and as to the strength of different parts of our lines and defences, have at times been published, (and which is believed in most cases to have been done inadvertently and thoughtlessly, and without any evil intention,) which is thought to have been at times detrimental to our cause and of advantage to the enemy; and
whereas, it is believed that the public interest requires that such publications should be prevented for the future:
Resolved, That the
Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire if any legislation is necessary to prevent hereafter the publication of such information in regard to army and navy movements, and the military defences, as may disclose to the enemy any facts which he may use to our injury.
After some debate, in which
Mr. Wigfall opposed the resolution and
Messrs. Sparrow,
Hill, and
Burnett, advocated it, the resolution was adopted.
The bill to amend the act to aid any State in communicating with and preparing records of its troops, was reported from the Military Committee, with a substitute, which was adopted, and the bill was passed.
It allows the
State officers engaged in preparing records of State troops to purchase rations and forage upon the same terms as officers of the provisional army.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported a bill to provide for the compensation of non-commissioned officers, soldiers, sailors, and marines on detailed service.
It provides for paying detailed men $3 per diem instead of the compensation now allowed them, for allowing them to purchase one ration a day, and for allowing them extra pay for over work.
The memorial of
Eliza Maury was laid on the table and the Naval Committee discharged from its further consideration.
The bill to authorize the appointment of general officers, with temporary rank and command, and to define and limit the power of assigning officers to command, was considered and laid over till this morning.
Mr. Wigfall, of
Texas, introduced a bill to allow the agents of the associated press with our armies to buy forage and rations.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
The Chair presented a communication from the
Governor of
Virginia, transmitting resolutions of the last Virginia Legislature, reaffirming the intention of the
State of Virginia to assert her ancient boundaries.--Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
The Senate resolved into secret session and soon after adjourned.
House of Representatives.--The
House bill to admit railroad machinery free of duty, returned from the Senate with an amendment, was taken up, and the Senate amendment concurred in.
The resolution of
Mr. Foote, to repeal the law suspending the privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus, coming up as the special order,
Mr. Foote addressed the
House in its support, continuing his remarks for three hours and a quarter.
Mr. Rives, of
Virginia, next obtained the floor, when, on motion, the subject was passed over until Friday.
The Speaker laid before the
House a communication from the
Governor of
Virginia, transmitting certain resolutions of the General Assembly of that State, asserting the determination of
Virginia to maintain her ancient boundaries.
Read and referred.
Mr. Farrow, of
S. C., offered a joint resolution to prevent the restriction upon the right of members of Congress to visit the sick and wounded officers and soldiers in the hospitals.
A long debate ensued, touching upon the privileges of members of Congress as compared with those of the friends and relatives of the wounded, and the resolution finally passed.
The
House then adjourned.
