Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-31
CONGRESS
oErHE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF AMERICA.

6AioApAi, marvin 80 looAs
SENATE.
The Senate met at IL O'clock n. Prayer by Rev. DR..
N. D. Hoge. of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr.. BAKER, of Floridl, introduced bill to create
the Eastern Judicial District of Florida and provide
for the judges aud officers thereof The bill referred
to the Committee the Judiciary.
PAYMENT PRIzs MONEY.
Mr.. sENNEs, of L., submitted the following pint
resolution, which was adopted:
RssoIsed BY the Congress Of the Confederate States,
That any share Of prize money awarded, which may
be awarded to any marine, who may be pri-
souer In the hands Of the enemy shall under the drec
ton Of the Secretary of the Navy be paid to the wife Of
such seaman or marine, during his captivity.
PENSION TO WIDOWS.
Mr.. SPARROW, of LII, from the Committee on Nil.
tary Affairs 10 whom referred bill relative 70 the
payment of pensions to vidowsot deceased soldiers &
returned the same and asked to be discharged from the
further consideration thereof.
ORGANIZATION OF THE NAVY.
The Senate procee to the consideration Of bill 10
amend an act to provide for the organization Of the
navy.
On motion of Mr. HILL, of Ga, clause was inserted
providing for the appointment OF not more than twelve
cbsplains.
which he had not had opportunity TO prepare Al his
instance the bill again laid upon the table for the
present.
TIE PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE.
The bill declaring the officer who shall act President
In case of vacapces Ia the Office both Of President and
Vce-Presdent taken up and the amendments pro-
posed by the Committee on the Judiciary agreed TO.
Mr. CLAY, Of Ala, then moved TO strike out all after
the first section Of the BILL being that portion providing
for an election By the people, Of President and Vice
President, in case Of vacancies in both Offices.
Thu motion gave rise to debate of the question OF
constitu,iooaty presented Mr. Clay ard Mr.. Preston,
of Va affirming that proper construction OF the Con-
feeerate Constitution disAowed popular election OF
President except for the regular term Of Elk years. and
only authorised in Of vacancy the exercise Of the
functions Of the Presidential office by officer en-
powered to "Get President for the residue OF the
term.
NJ sEHMES, Of La, admitted tha. President could
opy be elected for the prescribed term of six years. but
argued that the, Constitution, imphedly granted 10
the people the right Of selecting Posident In case the
a ,e should become vacant Hs asked for record oil
the vote the question of constitutional construction
Involved.
The motion to strike out was then agreed to by the
following vote:
YIAs-Messrs. Baker, Brown Burnett Clay, Clark,
Hunter, Johnson haI~el, Mitchell, Oldham, PhslAu,
| P, y,on, Press on, Simms aud Yancsy-l5.
NAYs-Messrs. BarnWen, Haynes, Henry, Or, Spar
row, and Ssmmes-6.
LIBERTIES OF THE PEoPLE-srLTFs RIaHrs.
message from His Excellency, the President, recon-
msndiug the conGcpios Of persons subject TO military
duty between the ages OF is and 49, was laid before the
| Senate
Mr. SPARROW, o. La, moved that ii be referred to
the Committee Military Affirs.
Mr.. OLDHAM, of Texas, Understood to remark
that he did not think the Constitution conferred upon
Congress the power to carry out the recommendation Of
! the President .
M. SPARROW said that he vas personally grat6ed
at the message as eVnced energy purpose on the
part OF the Administration IN the prosecution Of the
which, 10 the estimation Of many, had not been exhibited
| heretofore.
M CLARK, Of Mo- said that tho message received bis
cordial appreciation The plan o. increasrg the strength
of the army recommended by the President would enA
be the Government to obvase the creumlocution and
deav in transferring troops 10 many Of the States under
existing laws. He respected the doctrine OF the sove
reigny Of the States bus in times like these the sove
reSny Of the States must be secondary to the sovereign
" Of the people. Let US frat establish individual rghu
and then the rights OF the Safes.
| M OLDHAM did not believe that Congress bad the
pover except through the Intervention OF the States to
force citE us into the army OF the Confederate States
This was not crcumocuiion it the theory OF our
Government lie well sItshed AZ that there's God
IN Heaven that we shall ba successful In this contest
ard Se can accomplish Opr deysrauos without violating
our fundamental Law We have always been able to get
\ more volunteers than E5 ceuld arm.
| Ne nI6FALL Of TcK's, said he differed Longo IN
rUllo from bis COLLEAGUES upon the question Of Cont
| tuse, Al power He (Hr. W. had always been and
sill vas States Rgbts ma1 but he could not close his
ewes to the Constitution OF admit that We we're living IN
the Con edcrscy under loose league The Confederate
GoyernPent the sgent Of all the States aud eIer-
ossd only such power ts delegated TO il by the
! States No State Government has the right to make
var rAe arcs or conclude treaties Of pcSoc. These
rigb were expressly conferred upon the Confederate
/ Government There was limitation upon the power.
Il was full plensry and ample. Toe volunteering syi-
ten of which mueh has been said, was CT racone-
tu,onAl II not unconstitutional. H. had heard enough
4 nv rslVinp the Country without
an adj late ary. The Provisional Congress was urged
TO adopt meAsure sLsBay 70 hat recommended by the
President but demagogism prevailed Oyer patriotism,
aad those who pretended 10 represent the virtue and In
lgcnce Of the people, proved to be ignorant Of BOTH
No troops eln be carried effectively, nto the hed who
elect their officers. He knew he would be told that all
this was auti.Rerubcan, but il was the doctrine oil
Washington, J. f. ron Hancock, LoWndes, Rulledge,
and other illusr.ous who struck agairs: preroga-
tves and dethroned krgs so far as this country was
copcsfaed "Thou cans't not say did Il
Nc W. SdduceI some official statistics OF the s!reng
OF the srmy. Cease ths chid's play" be sud. The
onemy are in some portions Of amost evey Satein the
ConfederaoJ; they ucon the borders OF Texu Viz.
ginia is enVeloped BY them We need a large Nty.-
How are you going 70 get itl Take these eonseript
soldiers and put them nt0 the old rcgmlts. This YES
Napoleons plan. No mas sBy individual rights Which
come 10 cor ict with the welfare OF toe country The
Government has "a much right TO CxAc; military service
has to collect tax to pay the expenses OF the Gov
ernuent The people viii not voiul eer 10 MI up toe ou
regiments We Hsnt no new regiments; we baveat
time to train them. We want trained troops, and the
DOLLY way briog effective force In the Gsd Ia to 6il
up the sksls,on regiments by CONSUMPTION, and keep
them foil The safety Of oar liberty and cor homes re-
uuires that we shall do this Il will not do 10 talk about
the uscs Of our cause tire favor Of Providence or the
aid Of foreign na,io1s. We must have heavy bataons
We hays to contend aglrst powerful nation, which
exhibits too desperation OF gambler who sakeo oil that
he possesses We arc WAiiG here for Providence, or
| foreigl governments TO help US. We lean upon a
"broEen Teedn To those who sustain this recommends
ton of the President the country will say Well done,
thou good and hl.iiul servant"
Nj OLDHAM said chat hs Geprpsted this discussion,
and did no, desire to participate in Il at this time, but
the style and manner OF his colleague required him to
submit few remarks. Ho spoke here by the same au-
thority which his colleague had aud he didn't come here
TO be lec.ursd.
Mr. wIGFALL discaimed any purpose to lecture the
Senator or deny him the right 10 express bic opinions
fully. he fp,ke with srtor ADD emphasis, but d d no;