Confederate Congress.
Senate.
Friday, November 13, 1864.
The Senate met at 12 o'clock M. Prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Burrows, of the Baptist church.
Mr. Garland, of
Arkansas, introduced a bill to so amend the law establishing the judicial courts of the
Confederate States army as to allow parties twelve months after the organization of the Supreme Court of the
Confederate States within which to bring writs of error.
Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
On motion of
Mr. Orr, of
South Carolina, two hundred copies of the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury were ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate.
Mr. Sparrow, of
Louisiana, introduced a bill to amend the act providing for the establishment and payment of claims for a certain description of property taken or informally impressed for the use of the army.
Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Barnwell, of
South Carolina, presented the petition of bankers and others praying that owners of
registered bonds of the fifteen-million loan be authorized to exchange the same for
coupon bonds.
Referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Mr. Henry, of
Tennessee, offered joint resolutions defining the position of the
Confederate States and declaring the determination of the
Congress and the people thereof to prosecute the war till their independence is acknowledged.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Brown, of
Mississippi, offered a resolution, which was agreed to, calling on the Military Committee to inquire whether military officers in command of departments have authority to impress negroes, wagons, &c., for building or repairing railroads belonging to private companies; and if not, what legislation is necessary to restrain them within reasonable and proper limits.
Mr. Orr, of
South Carolina, offered a resolution, which was adopted, requesting the
Committee on Foreign Affairs to report the facts, so far as they can be obtained, relative to the seizure and capture of the Confederate steamer
Florida in the bay of
Bahia,
Brazil, and what action should be taken by this Government to redress the outrage.
Mr. Barnwell, from the Finance Committee, reported back the bill fixing the salaries of certain civil officers in the Trans-Mississippi Department.--Passed.
The bill extending the time within which old issue notes may be exchanged for new issue from the 1st of January next to the 1st of August next was reported back from the Finance Committee with amendments, and was passed.
It, as amended and passed, extends the time of exchange to the 1st of July, 1865, on both sides of the
Mississippi.
The bill to extend to postmasters the provisions of the law relative to the receipt of counterfeit money by Government officers was reported from the Finance Committee with amendments, and as amended passed.
On motion, the Senate resolved into secret session; and the doors being re-opened, adjourned.
House of Representatives.
The
House was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Minnegerode, of the Episcopal church.
Several bills and resolutions were introduced relating to the payment of property informally impressed.
Mr. Staples, of
Virginia, introduced a resolution of inquiry in relation to amending the act concerning the pay of staff officers so as to make its operations prospective.
Adopted.
Mr. Baldwin, of
Virginia, introduced a resolution that the
President inform the
House by what authority the
Secretary of War is impressing slaves, in
Virginia, without regard to State laws.
Adopted. Also, a resolution that the
President transmit to the House copies of the reports of the operations of
General Joseph E. Johnston last summer.
Adopted.
Mr. McMullen, of
Virginia, introduced a resolution of inquiry as to the expediency of equalizing the taxation on cotton and wool.
Mr. Goode, of
Virginia, introduced a resolution calling upon the
President for information, in detail, and orders issued for the impressment of brandies, &c. Adopted.
Mr. Clark, of
Missouri, introduced a bill for the relief of Confederate prisoners in the custody of the enemy.
Referred.
Mr. J. T. Leach, of
North Carolina, introduced a joint resolution declaring that secret sessions are incompatible with a republican form of government, and that Congress ought never to go into secret session except when absolutely necessary.
On motion of
Mr. Russell, the
House resolved itself into secret session.
