The
Senate met at 12 o'clock yesterday.--Prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Minnegerode, of the Episcopal Church.
The memorial of the
Superintendent of the
Press Association, asking that reporters in the field be allowed to purchase rations and lineage, was referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Sparrow, of
La., offered a resolution instructing the Judiciary Committee to report a bill for the suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus after the expiration of the present law, which being modified into a resolution of inquiry, was laid over until to-day.
Mr. Semmes, of
La., introduced a bill to regulate the pay of the
General assigned to duty at the seat of Government.
Referred to the Military Committee.
A bill amending the 1st section of the act imposing restrictions on the foreign commerce of the
Confederate States, so as to strike out the word "uniform," was reported from the
Committee of Commerce and passed.
From the same committee a bill was reported, amending the same act so as to protect the interests of the States in vessels owned wholly or in part by them.
Passed.
Lease of absence was granted
Mr. Johnson, of
Ga., for the residue of the session, on accout of illness in his family.
A communication was received from the
Secretary of the Treasury, recommending the passage of a law authorizing the payment of railroad transportation, and of debts contracted for clothing and subsistence for the army in Certificates of Indebtedness, payable in gold two years after peace, with interest payable semi annually in coin during the war, the rates to be paid to be fixed according to the values of 1860, or to the values of the articles in gold at the present time.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
House joint resolution relative to the removal of the restrictions on members of Congress visiting the sick and wounded in hospitals was referred to the Military Committee.
On motion, the Senate went into secret session.
House of Representatives.--The Speaker laid before the
House a communication from the
Secretary of the Treasury concerning the postponement of the sale of six per cent. bonds, and recommending legislation to meet the expenses of the
Government in the meantime.
A portion of the communication, relating to an amendment of the impressment law, was referred to the Special Committee on that subject.
Mr. J. T. Lench, of
N. C., offered a series of joint resolutions in favor of peace by negotiation.
Mr. McMallen, of
Va., moved that they be laid upon the table, but withdrew it. The motion was renewed by
Mr. Heiskell, of Yerci, and carried — ayes 47, noes 26.
The Speaker laid before the
House a communication from
C. F. Collier, of
Petersburg, announcing his withdrawal from the contest for a seat from the 4th Congressional district of
Virginia.
Read and laid on the table.
Various bills and resolutions were introduced and referred.
Mr. Wilberforce, of
S. C., offered a joint resolution of thanks to the 21st, 25th, and 27th regiments of South Carolina volunteers.
Referred.
Mr. Atkins, of
Tenn., offered a resolution instructing the Military Committee to report a bill so amending the act to organize forces to serve during the war as to repeal that portion which exempts the owner of a farm employing fifteen able bodied working hands.
A motion to refer the resolution prevailed — ayes 48, nays 23.
Mr. Leach's "peace" resolutions were again brought before the
House by the request of
Mr. Conrad, for the privilege of changing his vote on the motion to lay upon the table.
Leave was granted, and the same privilege was accorded to others, and after several personal explanations the resolutions were finally tabled by a vote of ayes 62, noes 22.
The following are the resolutions:
Whereas, the unconstitutional enactment of laws by the Congress of the United States from time to time upon subjects of vital importance to the harmony and independence of the States, the happiness and prosperity of the people, the preservation and perpetuation of the
Union, against the demands of justice, the appeals and admonitions of her best and wisest statesmen, made it our painful duly to fail back upon the rights for which the colonies maintained the war of the revolution, and our forefathers asserted and maintained to be clear and inalienable: Therefore,
Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States, That the delegation from each State, acting in its sovereign and independent character, for the purpose of adding moral to our physical force, and placing ourselves property before the civilized world, do most earnestly appeal to the
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint commissioners whose duty it shall be to propose an armistice of ninety days to the proper authorities of the
Federal Government, preliminary to negotiations for peace upon State sovereignty and independence, and that said commissioners shall report in writing to the
President the answer received from the
Federal Government upon the subject.
Resolved, That should the peace-making power of the
Federal Government secede to the proposition for an armistice of ninety days, the
President be requested to convene the Congress of the Confederate States for the purpose of appointing commissioners, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and that he also be requested to notify the Executives of the several States of the fact, and ask their co-operation by appointing commissioners, either by the Legislature or Convention, to co-operate with the commissioners appointed by the
President to negotiate with commissioners appointed by the
Federal Government upon such terms of peace as will be consistent with the honor, dignity, and independence of the States, and compatible with the safety of our social and political rights.
Resolved, That in maintaining the rights guaranteed to us by the blood and treasure of our Revolutionary fathers, and dearest at all times to freemen, we desire to be let alone — we ask no man's property — we fight not for conquest, but for our rights: the independence of the States, our equality, our civil and religious liberties.
Resolved. That such terms of peace as are agreed to by the
Commissioners ought to be endorsed by the
President and Senate, and submitted to the people for their ratification or rejection.
Those who voted against laying the resolutions upon the table were:
Messrs,
Atkin,
Bell, Cruiksbank,
Echols,
Foote, Faller,
A. H. Garland,
R. K. Garland,
Gilmer,
Lamkin,
J. M. Leach,
J. T. Leach,
Logan,
Marshall,
Ramsey,
W. F. Smith,
W. N. H. Smith,
W. R. Smith,
Triplett, and
Turner.--Some of these gentlemen explained that by voting against the proposition to lay upon the table they by no means endorsed the sentiment of the resolutions, but thought it due to the dignity of the
State which the mover represented that they should be referred to a committee.
Mr. Hilton, of
Florida, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to increase the compensation of non commissioned officers and privates in the army of the
Confederate States.
It proposes to permanently increase the pay of all non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, seven dollars per month, in lieu of the temporary bounty provided by the 3d section of the act to organize forces to serve during the war; and to repeal the said third section as to all non commissioned officers,
privates, and musicians who are now living, but provides that it shall remain in force as to the representatives of such as have died since the passage of said act.
The bill being taken up,
Mr. Murray, of Tenn, moved to amend by striking out all after the words "seven dollars per month." Agreed to — ayes 74, noes 5.
The bill passed — ayes 78, noes 3.
Mr. Marshall, of
Kentucky, moved a reconsideration, with a view to amending the bill, so as to provide for the payment of the bounty to soldiers in Treasury notes instead of hundred dollar bonds.
The motion was laid upon the table.
Mr. Hilton offered a resolution instructing the Committee on Ways and Means to report a bill to provide by taxation for the increased pay of soldiers.
Agreed to.
Mr. Lyon, of
Alabama, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported bills to amend the tax laws.
Ordered to be printed, and made the special order for Wednesday.
Mr. Colyer, of
Tenn., submitted a minority report, which was also ordered to be printed.
Mr. Miles, of
S. C., introduced a resolution of thanks to the cadets of the Virginia Military Institute, and their officers, for gallant conduct in the battle of the 15th inst., near
New market, in the
Valley of the Shenandoah.
Passed unanimously.
The
House then adjourned.
