Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-08-27
SprlIi-Wteklq 5tanaarh.
CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.


Affairs presented bill Ito amend an act entitled
IAN act to further provide for the public defence
approved 10th April 1S62"viZ:
l. That all persons liable to military duty ana
who have not already been enrolled snail De I'M
medately enrolled and reported by the enrolling
officers, and held to service, wherever they may
he found whether they are residents of the State or
county where they may be found or not and any
nersun 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 "to amend an act to organized bands
of nortisan rangers" The bill provides that here
of,er No such bands shall be organized in any mill
tarv district the military forces of which are not
fIIsd to the maximum number and whenever the
nmmhpr of partsan 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:
/. ResolcM 6y the Senate of the Confederate
States of America That the war which is now being
waped by the United States for the avowed purpose
of subiugating 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, 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 each citizen
thereof when the invading enemy enters upon the
soil of his State in taking up arms to defend ms
homestead and liberties and in attacking the invader
either by individual action or i'll organized bands
O. Resolued 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 they
shall be treated otherwise, it is the duty OF TINS
Government to extend to them all the protectlen
which may be within its power, or to retallatc Tor
injuries done to them.
s. Resolued, That in the event the enemy shall,
in revenge for such patriotic defence OF their State
BY any of its citizens, seize upon and lmprlson OF
otherwise iniure other of its citizens not implicated
in the particular acts for which such revenge may
be taken or shall piage destroy the property OF
any of our citizens, it will be the duty OF this
Government to take prompt notice of such acts OF
cowardy barbarity, and, far as may be within Its
power to punish the perpetrators thereof or to re-
taliate in such may be most likely to deter
the enemy from the repetition OF such deeds
T. ResolUed, That the Senate has learned, with
lively satisfaction that the President OF the Coned-
crate States has already given serious 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 ruthlessy to force upon this
government of protecting its citizens by the bloody
law of retaliation it will give to the President its
unfaltering support in the prompt execution OF
measures devised for the complete protection of our
citizens in the exercise of the nalienable right Of
selfdefence.
5. Resolued, That the committee on Military AT
fairs are instructed to inquire and to report wheth
er any further, and, if So what legislation may be
necessary to clothe 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.. Wigfall, 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:
Resolved By the Congress Of the Confederate
States of America That the thanks of Congress are
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 on
the ChiGkahominy on the 26th 9th, 29th and 30th
of June and the 1st day of July, 1862, when, with
inferior numbers, they encountered the barbarous
and Vindctive 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.
Res0lred That the Secretary of War be requested
to communicate the foregoing resolution to General
Lee and request him to communicate it to the army.
Mr.. Kenan, of Ga, thought that, as Gen. John
ston commanded in the battles of The Seven Pines,
it ought to be put on as an amendment to the reso
luton.
Mr.. Lyons preferred to withdraw his resolution,
in order to allow a separate to be introduced in
reference to Gen. j. E. Johnston.
Mr.. Goode, of Va, accordingly offered the follow
ing:
ResolUed, By the Congress Of the Confederate
States of america That the thanks of Congress are
eminently due, and are hereby rendered to General
Jos. E. 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, one of the
officers who commanded under him in the battles OF
The Seven Pines. l speak in reference to General
Huger. Mr.. F. proposed to amend Sy excepting
Gen. Huger in the vote of thanks.
Mr.. Miles, of S. c., thought this strange pro.
ceeding
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 unusual pro.
ceeding
Mr.. Arlington, of N c., called for the yeas and
nays, and the amendment was lost-yeas 81
nays As.
The resolution Of Mr.. Lyons, rendering thanks to
Gen. Lee was called up
Mr.. Foote 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.. Boteer, of Va, offered the following Join
resolutions:
RssolUed by the Congress Of the Confederat
States Of America, That with a profound sense o
mighty lod, and deeply grateful to Him for the va
rious manifestations of His goodness to us during tn
present war for independence Congress has hear,
with lively satisfaction of the brilliant series of sue
recently achieved by the army of the Valla,