Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-08-27
Tbt Stanaar1,
CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.


In the Senate, on Thursday the 21st, Mr.. Spar.
row, of Louisiana, from the committee on Military
Affairs, presented bill "to amend an act entitled
an act to further provide for the public Defence
approved 10th April, 1862" viz =
l. That all persons liable to military duty and
who have not already been enrolled shall be i'm.
medistely enrolled and reported by the enrolling
officers, and held to service, wherever they may
be found whether they residents of the State or
county where they may be found or not and any
person leaving without proper permission after said
enrolment shall be held and deemed deserter and
punished as such.
Mr.. Sparrow also presented from the same Com
mittee bill ito amend an act to organized bands
of partisan rangers" The bill provides that here
after no such bands shall be organized in any mill
tary district, the military forces of which are not
filled to the MAXIMUM number and whenever the
number of partisan rangers shall exceed the number
necessary for partisan service, they shall be placed
on the same footing as troops of the line.
Mr.. Yancey, of Alabama, submitted the following
resolutions:
l. Rssolued by the Senate Of the Confederate
States of dmerica That the war which is now being
waged by the United States for the avowed purpose
of su6jugating the people of the several States of
this Government to the dominion of the Govern
ment of the United States, is in the opinion of the
Senate, a war as well upon the people as upon the
Government of the Confederate States of America;
and that the principles upon which this Govern
ment and the Governments of the several States
which compose it are founded justify eacn citizen
thereof when the invading enemy enters upon the
soil of his State, in taking up arms to defend his
homestead and liberties and in attacking the invader
either by individual action or i'll organized bands.
g. Resolred, That when any of our citizens shall
exercise this sacred right and SHALL by the fortunes
of war, fall into the hands of the enemy, they are
entitled to be treated prisoners of war; and ifthey
shall be treated otherwise, it is the duty of this
Government to extend to them all the protection
which may be within its power, or to retaliate for
injuries done to them.
8. Resozped, That in the event the enemy shall
in revenge for such patriotic defence of their State
by any of its citizens, seize upon nd imprison, or
otherwise injure other of its citizens not implicated
in the particular acts for which such revenge may
be taken shall pillage destroy the property of
any of our citizens, it will be the duty of this
Government to take prompt notice of such acts of
cowardly barbarity, and far may be within its
power, to punish the perpetrators thereof to
taate in such manner as may be most likely to deter
the enemy from the repetition Of such deeds.
4. Res0lred, That the Senate has learned. with
lively satisfaction that the President of the Confed
crate States has already given attention and
grave consideration to the subject of several gross
violations of the laws and usages of civilized war by
the military authorities of the government of the
United States, and has already initiated measures
tending to prevent their recurrence. And, while
the Senate responds with sympathy to the regret
expressed by the President at the stern necessity
which the enemy seems ruthessly to force upon this
government of protecting its citizens by the bloody
law of retaliation it will give to the President its
unfalterng support in the prompt execution of
measures devised for the complete protection Of our
citizens in the exercise of the inalenable right of
self-defence.
s. Resolred, That the committee on Military AZ
fairs instructed to inquire and to report wheth
er any further, and, if So what legislation may be
necessary to cothe the Executive with the amplest
authority to act upon and carry out the intent and
principles enumerated in these resolutions
These resolutions were briefly debated by Mr..
Yancey, Mr.. Maxwell, and Mr. Wigfan, and then
postponed and made the order of the day for Monday
In the House, on the same day, Mr.. Lyons, of
Virginia, offered the following joint resolution Of
thanks to General Robt. E. Lee, and the officers and
men under his command for the victories on the
Chickahominy:
Reso1,ed, By the Congress Of the Confederate
States Of Anaerica That the thanks Of Congress
due and are hereby rendered to Gen. Robt E. Lee,
and the officers and men under his command, for
the great skill and ability, and unsurpassed gaantry
and patriotism displayed by them in the battles Oh
the Chiskahominy on the 26th, 9th, 18th and 3Oth
of June, and the LIST day of July, 1862, when, with
inferior numbers, they encountered the barbarous
and vndictive enemies of our country, and drove
their army, of at least one hundred thousand men,
under their most accomplished General, from their
camps and entertainments. to take shelter under the
guns of their ships leaving in the hands of the vic
tors great number of prisoners and cannon, and a
large quantity of ammunition and stores of various
kinds
Resotred, That the Secretary of War be requested
to communicate the foregoing resolution to General
Lee, and request hin to communicate it to the army.
MI. Kenan, Of Ga, thought that, as Gen. John
ston commanded In the battles of The Seven Plncs
it ought to be put on as an amendment to the reso
luton.
Mr.. Lyons preferred to withdraw his resolution,
in order to allow separate to be introduced in
reference to Gen. j. E. Johnston
Mr.. Goode, of Va, accordingly offered the follow
ing:
Resolped, By the Congress Of the Confederate
States of Anaerica That the thanks of Congress are
emincntly due, and are hereby rendered to General
Jos. f. Johnston, and the officers and men under
his command for their extraordinary skill and cour-
age displayed in the late battles of The Seven Pines
Mr.. Foote-I understand that Gen. Johnston, in
his Official report, excludes clearly and distinctly,
from all claims to thanks for gallantry, of the
officers who commanded under him in the battles Of
The Seven Pines. speak in reference to General
Huger. Mr.. F. proposed to amend 5y excepting
Gen. Huger in the vote of thanks.
Mr.: Miles, of S. c., thought this strange pro-
ceedins
Mr.. Conrad, of La, hoped Mr.. Foote would not
insist upon his amendment
Mr. Foote did insist. Gen. Huger did not deserve
our thanks and he would not bestow them:
Mr. Bonham Of S. c., thought it an unusual pro-
ceeding.
Mr.. Arlington, of N c., called for the yeas and
nays. and the amendment was lost-yeas q,
nays As.
The resolution of Mr.. Lyons, rendering thanks to
Gen. Lee, was called up
MT Fcote offered the same amendment as before,
saying That the old Colonies had their Arnold, and
the Southern Confederacy had its Huger
The amendment was lost, and the original resolu.
ton was passed.
Mr.. Boteler, of Va offered the following Join,
resolutions:
Resoluea by the Congress of the Canfsaerat<
States Of america, That, with a profound sense Of
our dependence as people upon the favor Of AL
mighty God, and deeply grateful to Him for the VA
rous manifestations Of His goodness to us dnr;no the
present for independence, Congress has Sss ~
with lively satisfaction of the brilliant series Of smc