Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-25
TENNESSEE EEGrsLATURE.

On the 22d both branches adopted a resolution
to go into joint convention for the election Of
Confederate States Senators on yesterday. This
question settled, the halls of legislation viii be
evacuted by a goodly number Of lobby mem
bcrs.
In the Senate, the Judiciary Committee made
reports in favor of a bill to amend an act Civ
ing the people the power to elect revenue col
le6tors; also a bill exempting soldiers from the
penalties inflicted for carrying bo~wie-knives.
The latter bill was passed, ayes, IA; noes, Z.
We have no information as to its provisions.
The Military Committee reported back bill
providing for the payment of certain expenses
incurred by the Pay Department Of the Proyis-
ional Army, and recommended its passage.
The Judiciary Committee were discharged
from the consideration of bills looking to a relief
Of the people; the SAINT to be referred to their
appropriate committees.
In the House Mr.. Martin, OF Shelby, sub
mitted the following report ON sequcstratiou
The Committee on Confederate Relations, TO
whom was referred Senate resolution, No. -,
have had the same under consideration, and III
suueted me to report:
The object of the resolution is to ask the Con
fedcTate Congress to SO modify and amend the
sequestration act as to give time ON the debts
sequestrated by the act. The preamble preced-
ing said resolution, assume the law to be that
the moment a debt is sequestrated it is due and
must at once be paid. If this were so, then the
passage Of the resolution would be right and
proper, but if the object sought to be attained is
already provided for in the sequestration law
itself, then the passage Of the resolution is I'M
necessary legislation. Or if not already pro-
vided for directly, if the remedy is plteed by the
law in the State Legislature, then the resolutions
are unnecessary.
Section 6 Of the sequestration act says "That
it shall be the duty of the several receivers aiOTe-
said to taxi the possession, control and manage
ment Of all land, teHements and hereditaments,
goods and c~lattels, rights and credits, of each
and every alien enemy within the section for
which he acts. And TO this end he is empow-
cred, and required whenever necessary for sc-
complishing the purposes Of this act, to she for
and recover the same in the name of said Con
federate States, allowing, in the recovery Of
credits, such delays as may havs been, or may
be, prescribed in any State as to the collection
Of debts therein during the war
This, in the opinion Of your committee, is as
far as Congress can or ought to go. 1t is an
acknowledgment Of the riglE Of each State to
control and prescribe the time for the collection
of debts within its own limits. 1t may, be ar
gued thai as this is a law -Of the Confederate
States government, theTetOreit OughttO be general
in its application, mode, manner, and time of
collection, in all the States. The law has very
properly and wisely left the peOpleof each State
to be the Judge OF the time when their WIZ citi-
zens will be most able to pay, and through their
own several Legislatures can provide such relief
by delay as the case may demand. For these
and other reasons that might be suggested, if
necessary, your committee do not think the pas
sage of the resolution at all necessary, and
therefore recommend its rejection.
In the House, amongst other business trans
acted. was the introduction of a bill for the relief
Of the people, which, by its provisions, i~ustructs
the banks of Tennessee and branches to discount
the paper of the planters on six months time, to
the extent of half their crops.
A resolution was presented requesting our
Representatives ia Congress to endeavor to Sc
the passage of a law reducing the pay OF
commissioned officers and increasing the pay Of
non-commissioned officers and privstes. After
Intellectual efforts to amend, it was referred to the
committee on military affairs.
\ resolution modifying the law prohibiting
the expectation Of Cotton, sugar and other arti-
cles, except through the ScapoIts, 50 as to allow
such articles TO be seut to kentucky, was
House bill to create a clerk for the Circuit
Of Memphis was passed.