Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-15

on their discharge under the Government OF the Con-
federate States.
and Determination of cur pnrpose the Congress hereby
declares that the whole property OF the Oo9s
States is pledged to the payment Of our pubic dett
as are our lives and sacred honor to the hGa triumph
of our arms and the establishment OF our liberty
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
| Mr. SEMNES of La., submitted resolution directing
inquiry into the e1psdency OF requiring the duties on
goods imported TO be assessed aud paid on the value
thereof in Confederate currency at the port or place Of
| importation. Adopted.
Mr. SEMME5 Also submitted a resolution of Inquiry
into the expedieGcy of regulating foreign trade oy
system of licences which will secure to the Government
| the importation of munitions of war, eio Adopted.
| Mr. ORR, of s. C., submitted resolution directing
tie judiciary Committee to inquire into the eIpedencJ
of provdrg by law that assessments under the Tax Act
shall conform 10 the valuation OF the Commissioners
under the Impressment Act Adopted.
Mr.. ORR presented the memorials OF julius Z. wright
and Robert Y. Jons of S. O., asking compensation Tor
taking the census OF 1860. Referred to the COMMITTEE
of Claims.
TIE INPRKssNKNr Acr.
Mr.. JOHNSTON, OF Ga, introduced bill to amend
the Sc! regulating impressmenB. The bill proposes the
repeal of 80 much of said act as provides fer the ap
pontment of Board of Commissioners in each State,
| etc.
Mr.. JOHNSTON said that the Impressment Act and
the manner Of its execution had produced great deal
of dissatisfaction in Georgia. and the Supreme Court oil
| the State had decided tnat the mode oil fxng prccs
prescribed in the law, not in conformity with the
Constitu ion SPEEDY action the Till was therefore,
important The effect of the proposed reoeal will be
the enhancement Of the prices which the Government
will have pay, but there is escape; certainly none
in Geo ga whilst the decision Of the Supreme Court
uureversed BE would be glad if it were the pleasure
i Of the Sola's 70 act upon the bill Today.
| Mr.. CLARK of 40, referred to the veXa'ion pro-
drssd by the improper execution of the Law. Swell
head officers with more brass buttons their uniforms
than common sense in their heads, had caused much OF
the complaint against the policy of mpre.sment BY their
arrogance ard ignorance in enforcing then construction
OF the TIE subject should be referred to the Com
/ mittee Of Military Affairs.
Mr. ORR, of S O., suggested that tho bill had better
be cent to the judiciary Committee. He ascribed much
of the trouble to the ineidceocy of the CommEsAry
| General AID his agents The Imp essment Act vss
passed to protect the rights Of citizens rom npreIfrg
officers sent out tom the army. The Oommissary De-
pIrment has perverted the object of the Law. lustsad
Of carrying out the spirit OF the measure, they have
used the law in South Carolina to Cypress the people.
The officers 80 well described BY the Senator from
/ Miss .uri; (Mr CLARK) Instead OF going through the
county looking after supplies remain at the depotS and
impress commodities brought 10 them by producers in
violation Of the orders Of the War Depar msnt, which,
/ indeed, are utterly disregaTded.
| Mr. HILL, Of Ga, agreed to everything which had
/ been said by the Senator from s. O., (hr ORR The
law had been rendered odOuso the people by the reck
lsssness of the impressng officers and officers Who as
sumed to act with authority. These officers should
longer be allowed 70 treplss upon the patriotism of the
people The law Of Congress regulating impressments
afforded 70 protection to the citizens OF the State
Il than the idle wind ItsWas violated under the very
shadow of the head quarters Of the commanding General
Tho bill was referred TO the Judiciary Committee.
| PUBLIC PRINTING.
The resolution Of the Senaes authorizing the Com
mttees on Printing Of both Houses to prescribe the
compensation of the public printer until otherwise pro-
| yided by laE was reurued from the House vita an
amendment proposing to SwEd The public prnting1y
/ cor tract 20 the owesl bidder.
| On motion of Mr.. PHELAN, the Seuate refused to
| concur in said amendment aud Committee Of Con-
ference was asked for. The managers on the part Of
the Senate are Mes,rs. PHELAS, BURNETT and HILL.
ORGANIZATION or RKsEkvHs.
| Mr. SPARROW, OF La, from tie Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, reported bill to be entitled ACT to or
ganE, forces TO serve during the war; which placed
i upon the calendar. The following is synopsis Ct the
| bill:
l. All white men residents of The Confederate States
between l6 and 66 shall DO in the military service.
@ All between l6 and Is and between 45 and s5 shal
belong to tho reserve corps those between 10 and 40
to the army in .hs field.
g. All who hereafter arrive at the age Of T shall be-
to the reserve and those who hereafter arrive st
the age Of Is shall be transferred from the reserve to
the army in the field
L. That the reserve corps shall be used for local de-
fence and garrison duty and may be ordered beyond
the limits of their State for 80 days in of great
emergency AL details for provost and hospital guards
for commissary and quartermasters agents, etc, shall
/ be from this corps.
8. Persons liable to duty in the reserve corps falling
to enrol shall be conscrbed to the army in the field.
g. The organization Of the corps shall be the
that prescribed by existing laws for the army in
| the field, etc.
T. Any existing org AMBITIONS OF conscrps may
be into the service and form part of the reserve
corps.
8 That the officers and pvates of the Reserve Corps
whilst IN actual service shall be sntled to tbs same
pay and allowances provided by law tor the army In
the field.
.. "No person shall be relieved from the operation
OF this law by reason OF having been heretofore dis
charged from the army, where no disability now exists
nor shall these who have furnished substitutes be any
longer exempted by thereof provided tat those
who have paid into the public treasury the amount spe
cited by the act in reation to exemptions, approx
Ilth October, 1861 and who may be held to service
under this act shall be repaid fair proportion OF the
amount paid by them, under rules TO be prescribed
| by the Secretary OF War"
10. Repeats all laws granting exemptions from mill
tary service and provdss that hereafter shall be
sOlEempt except all who shall be held unHI for mill
tsry service; ministers of religion supsrotendents of
ums of the deaf dumb ard bind, and of the insane
editor of each newspaper and the newspaper sstAb-
lishments; physicians and apothecaress as now pro-:
Vided by law.
H. Authorizes the President to grant details from
the reserve from the army in the field Of skilled ar.
uElns or Norknen to produce munitions Of war, etc.
IL Provides that nothing conAinsd in this Act shal
be construed repeal the Acts parts Of Acts gene
| rally known as the "Conscripton Laws" except
herein expressly provided for.
| SESSIONS OF oosGREss.
Mr. HILL, from the Judiciary Committee, reported
back the bill fixing the time for the assembling Of the
next session of Congress, with recommendation that
it do pass The bill post )ned until Wednesday.
He also reported back adversely the bill to regulate
the comm of ali future sessions Of Congress.
| On motion of Mr.: ORR, the Senate went into Execu
| tive Session, when the doors were opeEed.
Ca motion Of Mr.. ORB, tb Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES