Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-04-12
CONFEDERATE CONGRESS-.

great scope lOi SpttulaiOuy anu perhaps SOME
glimpse Of hope, bat it is for what It may herald,
and not for what it is"
CONFEDERATE CONGRESS-.
Seuate-Nr. Henry, Of Tennessee, inquired
why it was that the committee on flag and seal
had not reported the subject was one of great
importance.
Mr.. Semmes, Of Louisiana, replied that the
committee would hold a meeting during the en-
suing week.
Mr.. Clay, Of Alabama, presented a remon-
STRANGE AGAIN. carrying the mail on Sunday,
which was appropriately referred. lie also in
trOduced a bill to discourage drunkenness IN the
army, which be moved to refer to the committee
on military affairs. MI. Clay said he had sub
mitted the bill to several army officers, and they
cordially approved Of its provisions.
Mir. Henry, of Tennessee, said that he had re-
ceIyed a letter from a prominent gentleman in
his State, in which ne said that ne felt more APP
prehension from the magnitude of this evil In
the army than from any other cause.
Mr.. Sparrow, of Louisiana, said the commit
tee on military affairs nave been engaged in de-
vising some plan for Kidding the army of inca
pable officers, whether So from drunkenness or
otherwise.
The motion to refer was then agreed to, and
then the Senate went into secret legislative
session.
LAfter the doors were opened Friday, Nj
Banweli, of South Carolina, from tue committee
on Finance, to whom was referred the House
oil for suspending the collection Of duties on
foreign imports, except from the United States,
returned the same with an adverse recOmmen-
dation.
Housc-Mr. Chiffon, of Alabama, said that
some time ago he had offered a bill to regulate
the pay of deputy postmssters, reducing the pay
d. rrau0v+ ~..r~-.H vvhT1h In H-z--aT fn ha ~aE4,
up and considered
Mr.. Jones, OF Tennessee, was opposed to any
reduction. and believed that with less compenSs
ton than that now SLOWED, it would be i'm
possible to obtain competent postmasters. He
moved an amendment to the bill of Mr.. Chill
ton, which was rejected by e vote Of yeas II,
nays 43.
The bill was then engrossed, read a third
time, and passed.
Mr.. Curry, Of Alabama, offered a resolution
requesting the President to communicate TO the
House what steps have been taken to carry out
the act for connecting the Richmond, Danville
and North Carolina railroad with the Selma
{ Alabama) and Meridian (MississippD railroad.
Agreed TO-.
Mr.. Foster, OF Alabama, offered q resolution
that the President be requested, if not incom-
patible with the public interest, to inform the
House what is the status of Gen. R0bt. Z. Lee,
and what are his duties.
Also, to furnish tbe House the court etiquette
for the use Of the members in their business
intercourse with the department over which he
presides.
Mr. Foster said that he offered these resoIu-
tons in yiudicstion Of the dignity Of the mem
bers of this House. He had become tired of
Witnessing the humiliation b. which honorable
members had been subjected ia their intercourse
with the different departments. Il was only
yesterday that an honorable Senator from the
other wing Of The capitol was iusulbed by a
clerk in one OF the departments.
Nj. Conrad said ne did not know what
grounds the gentleman had for introducing the
resolution. II b. betrayed little excitement,
be hoped that the gentleman from Alabama
would not think it was on account OF his resOlu-
ton or his remarks. lie could not see that the
resolution would accomplish the end desired.
The gentleman c0mpiaiued thst the employees
in the departments had not treated members Of
Congress with the courtesy due their position.
As for the inquiry as to toe duties Of Gen. Lee,
d general order had been published describing
those duties. Under these circumstances, re
did not think tho resolution would elicit any in
i formation that the House did not now possess
from that order. As TO the dlsc0Urtesy of which
the gentleman complained, he did not think that
Gen. Lee had ever shown any discourtesy to any
one, much less a member of this body
MI Moore, Of Kentucky, moved 70 lay the
resolutions Of Mr.. Foster on the table, and the
motion was agreed to.
Mr. Foster also introduced a bill to promote
the efficiency Of the army, which was referred 10
the military committee
Messrs. HaTtEdge and Clarke also presented
memorials. which were appropriately referred.
Mr.. Gartreu, OF Georgia, presented the memo
rial Of a former citizen of Philadelphia, apply
ing for citizenship in the Southern C0ntedsracy.
Referred.
Also, a resolution that the principal officer in
each of the executive departments report 70 this
House the number, names, and places Of Tesi-
dence of all the clerks and employees of their
respective departments, and the amount Of pay
received by each.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, suggested that it
would be better to require them to prepare the re
port during their recess, and submit it to the
House at its next session.
Mr.. GartreI agreed to the modification sug-
gested, and in that form the resolution was
agreed to.
Mr. Kenner, of Louisiana, offered a resolution
TO cause the proceedings and journals of the con-
sttutional convention and the provisional Con
gress to be printed. Referred TO the committee
on printing.
Mr.. Davis, Of Mississippi, introduced a reso-
luton to fix the hour Of meeting Of this House,
after this day, at II o'clock, instead Of ii, as al
present. Agreed TO.
Mr.. Singleton; OF Mississippi, asked consent Of
the House to report a bill from the committee on
Indian affairs. Objection was made.
Mr.. Ciapp, Of Mississippi, introduced a memo
rial on the subject Of country mails, which was
referred 50 the committee on post-othces and post
roads.
Also, a bill entitled an act for the relief Of tax
payers in certain cases. Referred to the com
mittee on ways and means.
Mr.. Miles, Of South Carolina, introduced a bI
to organize a signal corps. Referred to commit
tee on military affairs.
Also, a bill 20 increase the corps Of engineers
of the Confederate army. Similarly referred.
Also, q biIl to amend the act entitled an act to
provide tor the public defense, aud the appoint
ment of generals. Referred 70 military COM
mittee.
Mr.. Neuees, Of Tennessee, introduced a ne
mortal on the subject of making treasury notes
a legal tender. Referred to committee on ways
and means.
. Mr.. Atkins, Of Tennessee, offered a resolution
that no member Of the House shall speak more
than once, nor longer than twenty-five minutes
on sny subject during the remainder of the ses-
sion, and moved q suspension Of the rules for
its consideration. Motion not agreed TO. Under
the rules, the resolution laid over two DAYS.
Mr. FOote, OF Tennessee, offered 3 series of
resolutions which he read, and on which he mo
posed to submit o remarks.
Mr- Holt, of Georgia, stated that in his judg-
nent the matters contemplated in the r5s0lu-
tons required TO be considered in secfet ssssi on,
and he therefore moved that the House go into
session, which was agreed TO.
After spending some time therein, the House
again resolved itself into open session, when
Mr.. Graham offered a resolution instructing the
on WAYS and means 10 INQUIRE into
the expediency of a law eXemting from sale, IN
the "act to suthorize the issue Of treasury
notes, and to provide a war tax for their rsdemp-
ton - the property, both real and personal, Of al
officers and soldiers Of our army during the time
they may be engaged in the service, which was
agreed TO.
Nj. Boteler, Of Virginia, offered a resolution
.nstucting the committee on military Affairs ~
into the eEpedisncy Of 50 amending she
act Of February 18th, 1852, in reference to the
pay Of deceased soldiers which was agreed TO-