The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-05-07
Confederate Congress-First Session.

Sr.ATE-Air Sparrow OF LOUISIANA suiliiatSu . 80
luton directing the committee Of hahse y a. M
oETnonsaton of assessors of the war fax, III those
Ct,tas which have assumed the payment Q! the 1'A'
The resolution was auopteu. !. 49,,
&c bonla;ns in the armv--yeas 49, nays g. The Dill
60 rho nayat $50 per month with rations. Passed I
HoUsE-After the reading OF The Jouliha the speaNer
laid before the house communication ffom the preSi-
dent covering report from the postmaster sup
Elementary areport previously suoitq3u' "no
mo certain documents relative to frauds erperated on
he revenues Of the posofce departmental by the South
ern ExDress company. On motion, II was LAID on the
table. ..
- +ba RESOLUTION of the house. asking information as to
the steps that have been taken tor connetng the Rich
ond and Danvile and North Carolina railroads, and the
railroad from Selma in Alabama to Meridian III Mssls
sppi 1t appears that the only steps thus Tar taken con
sst in having the former surveyed, and IN scndng an
accent southwark to examine and repfrt what steps
Should be taken TO complete the attel fohhec"ol ~
was laid Oh the table.
The amendments of the senate to the 5lEl adthorsng
the employment of clerks at the offices Ct the treasurer
and assistant treasurer, were concurred IN.
The resolution of the senate for Joint committee on
enrolment was taken up and agreed To, and Messrs
Elliott of KY Chambers, Of Miss, and Gibbs OF Tenn,
were appointed on the part of the house.
On motion Of Mr.. Chambers the house then went into
secret session.
i
sExArE-Mr Orr, Of South Carolina! offered an act
entitled an act to increase the number OF captains and
commanders in the navy; and to designate by suitable
decorations those who perform gallant services" Re
ferred to committee on naval affairs.
Mr.. Sparrow reported back from tbs military com
mtee bill to increase the general staff Of the Con-
fede1ate States with recommendation that it do not
pass
Also bill to authorise the keeping Of special reg
meut the frontier Of Texas, with recommendation
that it do not pass Agreed to.
Mr. Preston, of Virginia, reported back resolution
relation ahorisng the president t. receive irregu
lar troops for detached service with request that the
military committee be discharged rom!further consde-
ration OF the matter
Mr. Sparrow said that in consultatio with the pres-
dent lie had declared that the law It is stands
was all that he required, for by it he was authorised
call out troops i'll any way he desired and fog any pur-
pose The senator moved to lay the RESOLUTION the
table. Lost
| The whole matter recommtted 10 the committee
on military affairs.
The senate went into secret session.
| HoUsE-The CONSUMPTION bill F3Ssed--yea5 70,
nays ..
Mr. Harris, of Missouri reported back from the mill
tary committee, with the recommendation from the com
mittee that it be passed, bill previously introduced by
him and referred that committee entitled 'an act for
the relief Of the families of soldiers ia the services of
/ the Confederate States"
The bill appropriatcs five millions Of dollars for the
relief of families of soldiers who may re in needy cir
cumsances, the money to be distributed among the
States in proportion to number Of troops furnished by
the States-the governors of the Estates appOron the
money among the counties in proportion to the number
of troops furnished BY the Counties, and tile county
courts pay the money needs families of sol
diers under regulations to be prescribed.
The bill was ordered TO be printed land placed upon
the calendar
Mr. Miles also reported back senaSe bill for the re-
lief Of the families Of deceased soldies and offered
bill in lieu a substitute, differing materially from
the original The substitute adopted aud the bill
passed
Also, bill to organise battalions $f slarpshooters.
! Passed.
Mr. Conrad, from the committee or naval affairs re-
ported back house bill which had been amended bv tile
senate, entitled IAN act to encourage the manufacture
Of saltpetre and small arms" The committee recon-
mended that the amendment of the senate be concurred
in by the house, which agreed to and the bill was
passed.
Mr.. Chambss, from the committee on naval affairs,
reported bill for the appointment OF chap!ans the
naval hospitals during the continuance of tie warupon
the same footing as chaDlans in the army. Passed
Mr.. Wilcox, of Texas offered the fJllowi0g:
sResolyed That tile committee Of ways and means
inquire into the expedency of su.pGndng until the
close OF the war the against soldiers in the service
of the Confederate States or in State service and that
they report by bill or otherwise Agreed to.
Mr.. Foote, leave, reported from the special com
ntce appointed to examine into the surrender of fort
Donelson, &c, reports follows:
The special committee appointed to examine into
OF the recent military disaster at fort Donelson
and into the circumstances connected With the surrender
Of the city Of Nashville into the hands Of the enemy
which committee various other eolleral matters have
been subsequently reerred-beg Leave to report that
they have III the performance OF thg duties assigned
them found necessary accumuatea mass of test-
.mony all Of Which is herewith reported to this house
for such action in regard to the shall be deemed
eNpedient 1t is recommended by the committee that
the house do said testimony together with such
other may be taken, to be prntedtor the Of the
members
Messrs Foote and Brue presented IA minority report
which aims to defend Gems Pillow end Floyd 1t was
not received, however, the unanimous consent of the
house, necessary in such cases, beng refused TIE
minority report closes thus:
Wecommend the adoption ofthe following resolution:
Resolved, That the thanks of congress and the
country justly due to Gems. FloyG Pillow Buckner
and Bushrod Johnston their subordinate officers and
men, for their galantry, energy resolution and perss
tent bravery in the various sangUnar contests with the
overwhelming forces Of the enemy az fort DOneson.
Mr. Gartrell, from the judiciary c!mmttee reported
bill declaring what officers shall fill .he offices of pres
dent and Vlee-presdent IN certain contingencies The
bill provides that III of the death disability rcsig
nation removal from office Of thepresdent and vice
president the president of the senate if there be
if not the speaker of the house Of representatives
shall assume and discharge the dujies of the office
president. Passed.
Mr. Dargan of Alabama, from the committee on the
Juulcary reported Dill emitted AN act TO limit the
act authorsing the suspension of tie writ of habeas
corpus"
This bill provides that effect of This law shall term
thirty days after the meeting Of the next session
congress- unless it shall be reGnacted The bill was
passed.
Mr.. Gartrcl reported bill from the committee on the
judiciary entitled, IAN act to punish trading with the
2 enemy during the present war"
The house went into session, and without
opening adjourned,
Proclamation by the Governor.
Z Executive OFFICE, BATON RoUGf, April 18th 1862
The extraordinary Efforts of the enemy 10 capture
our chief city have been successful. 1t is dut,
now to deprive him Of the fruits OF victory. there
# fore order the destruction Of all cotton within the limit
of Louisiana that is in danger of falling into the hand
of the enemy, and direct the militia officers in the
several parishes to execute this orer In case those
officers should not be able to with sufficient prompt
ude let the torch be applied by persons appointed b!
the several police ures. In those parishes bordering
if the Mississippi river the citizens and planters mus
, act themselves in consummating tlis destruction up0l
e the first approach Of the enemy, in neither 0
d these authorities should have ting to issue the neces
II ;c ~