The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-09-12
CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.
THURSDAY HtPr 1fIH 1862

", y.
M. E. Church.
On motion of Mr.. Haynes, the resolutions Offered
ny himself on yesterday, III relation to martial law
and The freedom Of tue PRESS were taken up ant
modified so that the clause inquirng as TO proper
penalties for the abuse OF the freedom of the press
would be changed into an inquiry RS to penalties
for incMing insurreetiOn by amy person or means -
The resolutions then referred TO the Commit
tee on J Judiciary
motion by Mr.. Phelan to reconsider the cues
ton OF reference WAS rejected
Mr. Hill, OF Ga, from the Committee on Judiciary
reported back the bill to regulate the nomn al ion
aud appointment of Brigader Generals with IA re
port declaring that the right OF nomination il given
by the Constitution exclusively TO the President
etc, and recommending that the bill te rejected.
The bill aad report laid upon the table and or.
dered to be printed.
Mr.. Henry, Of Tenn, from the Committee on Fl.
nance. reported back the bill to declare the true
meaning and intention of the act 10 define more c-
cnfateiy the exemption OF certain goods from daty,
with several amendments, which was taken up and
passed The bill defines in a more precise manner
those goods subject to exemption
A communication was received from the Secre-
tary OF War IN reply to resolution Of the Senate,
asking by what authority Conscripts were taken o
camps OF instruction. The reply stated that the
establishment of such camps was necessary for car
ryihg ous properly the provisions Of the Conscript
act.
Mr.. Hill, of Ga, expressed his dsapprobaton OF
The establishment Of any such system, rected some
~ II
own State, and denouncing the idea of forcing men
from their homes under any such ipan, borzed aud
unjust regulation
The COmmlnic alton was laid ou The table and
ordered to be printed
The following communication was also presen "a
to the Senate from the Secretary OF War, in reply
10 fesoIntion requesting certain Information from
the President in relation to the pay ana appoint
ment of Provost Marshals.
HIS Ercsllency Jedsrsca Dacis,
Pr s;1snt ~
Sir have the honor TO ;cknowl ledge the re.
csipt of the enclosed resolution of the Senate.
duestmg you to give them information concerning
the pay and appointment of Provost Marshals
The army regulations provide for the employ
ment, by Commanding General or General of
Division, of Provost Marshals. who are charged
with the custody Of prisoners and tbs performance
Of police duties In glrrisOns, non commissioned
officers are usually assigned 10 these. duties but,
with armies Of the field, deprived they Of The
assistance Of the civil authorities aud often encsim-
hered with large numbers of prisoners the duties
become more difficult and important, and commits.
stoned officers det allied for their discharge.
1t will be observed that Provost Marshss are
employed, not appointed; otherwise officers OF the
army already holding commissions, could not be
signsd to such duty without holding two aiStinct
appointments from the Government.
1t having been found that large amounts of pub
lie property at our principal depots and the peace
and good order of many of towns, were endan.
gerad by the numerous straggiers from the arDy.
and camp followers hanging about them, and that
deserton from the army was encouraged by the
w9nt of persons At these points authorized TO
make arrests the Department employ ed Provost
Msrshals and vested them with authority all
persons In the army found within their respective
limits
They hare no authority ha,ep6r 0per PERSONS not in
the ann ercp mhen martial lao IS in force in which
localities their police powers extended to eit-
zens as we'll as soldiers.
Whether martial law exist not they are express.
tr led q Gy.i- frn,p ay
civil jurisdiction, and the Department has checked
them in ali cases in which the exercise of such u
Fsdicti0n has been made the sube of complaint
Many of the Provost Marshals of posts where
martial law is not i'll force have fallen into the error
Of supposing themselves TO he clothed with general
police powers, but the Department has invariably
informed them when such brought TO
its attention that they could derive the power TO
arrest citizens from the civil magistrates only.
Their compensation is usually fixed AT tha. of
captain OF Infantry; but in some few eases they
have been allowed the pay Of field officers. The
reference TO the army grade is merely for the pnr
pos5 Of fixing their rate of compensation, and does
not confer On them grade or commission.
The employment of Provost Marshals and Pro
guards, s essential to the preservation of pub
lie property, to the peace and good order Of cur
chief towns, and to the very existence Of the
army.
They are paid by the Quartermaster's Depart
ment because the army regulations require that
department to pay the incidental expenses of the
y
expenses for the movements and operations OF the
array not expressly assigned to other departments
Provost Marshals being essential to the opera
tons of the army and not being chargeable to any
their pay and allowances to the Qnartermuster
Genera : Department
Very respectfully,
Your obedent servant,
GEORGE w. RANDOLPH,
Secretary of War.
Tile communication was laid upon the table aud
ordered be printed.
The consideration of the Exemption Bill was re-
sumed, and MIR. Henry, of Tenn. having tbs floor,
proceeded to respond TO the arguments which had
been made against the constitutiOnality of the
amendment excepting Justices of the Peace from
exemption from military duty.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATlvEs-H met at 10
O'Clock Journal of yesterday read.
The Chair announced that the first business in
order was the bill reported from the Military Com
mittee by the gentleman from kentucky, (Mr. Z NJ
Brace for the transfer of non commissioned Off
GERS and priv rates from egme nts other than those
from their OWE State to regiments organized from
their own States. After some explanations the
bii with slight amendments, was adopted. The
following is copy OF the bill it passed the
House:
AN ACT to Provide for the Transfer of Troops;
The C0nyyfss Of tie Con }ederate States do ~
aet That it shall be the duty Of the Secretary of
War to transfer any private or non commissioned
officer who may be in IL regiment from State tf
this Copfederacy other than his own to Il regiment
fro IN his own State, whenever such private non.
commissioned officer may apply tor such transfer,
and whenever such transfer can be made without
injury to the public service: and the Secretary Of
War shall make regulations for executing such
transfer Proetded That this act shall apply Ia
any who has enlisted AS substitute
Mr.. kenner, from the Committee OF Ways and
Means introduced bill to provide for raising reve
nue., which was postponed and ordered TO BIZ print.
ed.
Mr.. Hilton, of Ga, offered joint resolution, as
follows
Resoioed by the Congress Of ths Confedre,e States
of Amfrics, That the members of the two Houses
If Congress have heard with unfeigned satisfaction
Of the movement of Gen. Lees victorious troops
across the Potomac, and that we repose. with en-
tire confidence on tho military skill OF our disin-
gGished chieftaiu and the bravery OF his army Of
heroes officers and men, for a successful issne Of
the r great enterprise
Rssolred, That copy of the forsfong resolution
be transmitted by the Secretary of War to General
Lee.
Mr. Miles. Of s. G moved the reference of this
resolution to the Committee on Mititary Affairs.
Mr.. Foota, of Tenn, opposed the motion to rs.
fer. He thought the resolution was plain enough
to be understood by every member OF the House
without the aid of a committee to interpret it,
The Rubfcon was passed. and our gallant army
under chieftain, be believed, to become more Il.
lastrious than Cesar himself was now pressing In
the direction OF the enemys country. H0thought
1t emnently proper that the confdsnce Of Congress
shonld BE- clearly sxprssaed in the wsdom and pru.
dence Of the movement.
nr Miles was not oppossd to the spirit of the re-
solution. but objected TO its phfassology. modi.
fed he. would chesrfully support t.
Mr Lyons, Of Va. thought that our Information
from our army IN Maryland wAA not sucA - to jua1
e the adoption Of the resolution TIE vote Mss tnsa
II. 0attrell of Ga, from tha JudiciaSy Commit.
tse, aaksd peSnlsalon 0e IT. House - allow tAat