Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-12-15
NO. 90.
CONGRESSIONAL.

| Congress assembled on Monday, the
7th inst, and that body seems to be
Impressed with the importance of the
Ipresent crises. We have not room in
this issue for much oftheir: proceedings.
On Thursdy last the following bill passed the
/ Senate
I"A bill to pa'evept the enlistment or en-
! ro1aae1at OF substitutes I'm the nasZstoy,v
Servace ofthe Comfederote Stotes. and
TO repeal all zaaos permitting or 0ee-
thorSsiasg the same.
"zHe Congress. of the Confederate
States do enact, That no person. liable
f.. to military service, shall hereafter be pearmit-
| ted or allowed 20 furnish a substitute for such
service; nor shall any substitute be received.
enlisted or enrolled in the military service of
the Confederate States and that all laws here
tofore passed, permitting or allowing persons
liable to military service to furnish substitutes
for the same, or authorizing the acceptance, en-
listment or enrolment of any such substitute IN
the military service, be, and the same are here
by, repealed.
In the House of Representatives, Mr..
Foote introduced resolution that the
committee on the Quartermaster and
Commissary Departments be instructed
to inquire into the circumstances of Off
GERS connected with those departments
at the time they entered the service, and
all property in their possession now that
cannot be satisfactorily accounted for,
be applied to the increase of the pay of
the soldiers.
Mr.. Foote said the evil referred to
in the bill was one of the most enormous
in the country. Some monsters of in
iquity in the shape of quartermasters
and commissaries had accumulated e.
normous fortunes since the war began
without any estensible means While
our soldiers had been periling their
lives, these fends incarnate had been
engaged in the worship of Mamn.on,
and that was worse than stealing or rob-
berry, causes for which they ought to
be hung. Cases OF that sort had occur
red all over the Confederacy. He knew
of large fortunes made during the war
by vicious means, and steps should be
taken to strip them of every dollar for
The benefit of the soldiery. Adopted,
yeas Al, nays 9.
Mr.. Baldwin presented plan offnan-
;ial relief by Hon. A. III. I'll. Stuart, and
4 bill providing for the payment of
slaves impressed under State laws, and
lost in the public service, which were re-
ferred.
He offered also a bill to repeal so
much of existing laws as allows Judges
Of Confederate State Courts to appoint
, time and place of holding courts in his
district, which was agreed to also res
olution requesting the President to COM
municate to the House list of officers
Of artillery appointed for ordinance du-
y, and the roll of merit made out by the
Board OF Examiners which was adop-
ted.
In the House on Friday last, Mr.. Foote
submitted a preamble and resolution in
regard to abuses and defalcations in the
Quartermaster and Commissary De-
partments, and providing for the ap-
pointment of committee to investigate
them; and that additional legislation,
f necessary, may be adopted to prevent
them.
The Speaker submitted to the House
a bill from the Senate to prevent the en-
rolment of substitutes in the army,
and that none be hereafter received in
the service, and that all laws allowing
she same be repealed.
The rule was suspended and the bill
passed to third reading.