Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-11
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.nDERATE STATES CONGRESS.
THIRD SESSION OF FIRST CONGRESS-
SENATE.


s.ae " SENATE.
WEDNESDAY,, Dec. 9, 1868.
aver by Rev. De- Read, Of the Presbyterian Church.
Messrs Johnson Of Ga PRELAN, Of Miss, CLAY, of
Ala, EAxwsLL of Florida, and CAPERroS, Of Va, Ap-
peared in lIeir seats to-day.
The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the annual
report OF the Attorney General for 1853 Referred TO
tho Committee Of The judiciary.
PAYMENT or oREDIroEs IN BosDs.
Mr. ORR, of s. c., introduced bill to authorize the
creditors of the Government 10 receive their dues IN
egh; per cent. Confederate bonds Tee bill provides
that any creditor of the Government may dema I'd rcm
tho disbursng officer, 10 payment OF his claim, bonds
bearicg eight per cent. interest
M ORR said that the jsct'of the bill was to pre-
eeIt an inducement 10 persons from whom supplies Tor
the army, e c.. we're purchased, 10 accept bonds III
payment in lieu OF Treasury notes. lie believed bat
# this privilege had been extended heretofore TO Gov
eminent creditors the currency would be 5000 600 600
less than i is 20 day.
TIE bill was referred to the Committee of Finance.
ARBITRARY nIPRRssMNTs.
Mr.. ORR also Submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That il be referred to the Committee or
Hillary Affairs TO Inquire il any and what additional
legislation is necessary TO protect the rights OF citizens
against the arbitrary, unus and needless mpresemeut
of provisions uuder orders from the Commssasy Gen.
era and whether additional efficiency in that depart
meIt nay not DO occurred by increased energy industry
and effort by ofcslJ 10 make purchases for the cub
esteros of the army and that Ahe committee do fur
Their inquire whether additional officers in that depart
ment OF the rank of captain have been recently ap
pointed and assigned to duty in the several States
District or Division Commissioners; by whom and IN
der what law (f any such appointments have been
I4GdO,s a
Mr.. ORR sad he offered this resolution became be
was convinced that the subject demanded tho
of Congress. He then real seve al papers, giving
history Of an instance Of just impressmeDt the sub
stGlCe of winch is ttA officer OF The army, who fell
IN Virginia, owned sugar estate in Florida, which
yielded ABOUT l20 hogscsads of sugar Last The
widow Of the Officer offered it TO tue ConmissAIy D.
plrlment at 40 cents per pound. The offer was de-
clned. The sugar was tuen removed 0y tie exeOu;rx
at great trouble aud expense TO Augusta, Ga where il
Wss impressed a. 10 cents per pohd, the market price
being 81 30. -
Mr. ORR said that this transaction indicated gross
inatenOn to the duties of his position the part OF
the Commssary General lie failed 20 buy the sugar
when il was offered to him At 40 per pound, and
impressed it afterwards al rs cents per pound when it
was still 10 the possession OF tue owner-the widow o.
gallant eff ;er-and not owned by a epec9lstor.
Alter further remarks BY Mr.. Oar tho resolution
adopted.
COTTON LOAN BONDS
Rr ORR submitted the following resolution:
Resolved That it be referred 10 the Committee on
Finance to inquire whether the construction given by
tue Secretary OF the Treasury 10 the "Got supplement
tary 10 TO provide Tor the funding and u ther
issue of Treasury NOES" is authorized by said act
Mr. ORR said he SscIesary of the Tfsasury rad
taken a tie law very different from that which
had been taken by the Senate when the Dill passed
Rae Ia:sed at the last session Of Congress- 10
secret session. and the inudcOn Of secresy mai not
been removed |. was prn ed By order of the Score
tary OF the Treasury through Laiyertence lie didnt
make any yint OF that fect. Ulder that law the cot
ton to BE- pa iLtsrest to be valued Cd ster
ling Toe senior Senator from Louisiana Cdr. SPARROW
and himself made an estmSt3 OF Wh the psice would
be- and their conclusion Nas-eIchange beng at lhaJ
time S50-that the cotton would be worth 40 cents per
pound ia Confederate currency The Secretary of she
Treasury in his advertisement of the bonds mas init
mated that the colt 70 BE- valued at SD or IL ce"
cotton is now selling in lmbia a. 81 per pound II
the Government purchases cotton a this price ard
turns over TO the bond holder the same cotton a. II
cents per pound in currency, the consequences Will
be that will have to pay $500 interest upon every
bond OF 81 900.
Mr. ORR read some extracts from the advertisement
TO show aat he did misrepresent the Secretary aud
urged the importance OF prompt action before any
siderable portion OF our citizens are deceived IL could
not be supposed for instant any Senator would
place himsbt in tuch an attitude as that which he l.
made to occupy by the Secetays construction Of the
law. De is sure that the Secretary is Incorrect and it
tbs subject were submitted to judicial investigation, Lis
construction Of t1e law wou d not be sustained TAe
phrase "6i sterling incorporated in the bill to
poihoe the sale OF the bonds abroad aud was desg
TO ca IL cents ia Confederate Currency, with the
OF exchange added.
As the advertisement had emanated from the financial
agent oil the Government he did not zee how the osses
however runous TO the GoverImsn, could be avoided
steps should be promptly taken, however to prevent
arv iutaer subscriptions to tie loan. II the Whole
amount sut lied $3.50 900 900 had been TAKEN the
interest to day would be $l25, 100000.
The resolution was adopted.
TRANs-MssIrsPPI REGIMENTS.
Mr.. JOHNSON, oil Ark, introduced bill relat ng 10
the transfer CT skeleton regiments for recruitment across
the Mississippi river, and the transfer CT companies to
regiments OF their own States, etc.
H.. JOHNSON said there were large number of
regiments from the Trans Mississippi Department on
III side OF the river which had been greatly reduced
by the casualties OF the the only sctua nose Of
recruiting them to sand them back to toe Department
from whence they came. Recruits will not come over
to this side, and they are right He hoped that not
another man would come whilst the present policy in
respect to the trans Mississippi Department IL main
tanned He knew there were impeomenta in the way,
and jectOns to establishing prec dents but it is not
consistent with the safety OF the people on tha. sdo oil
the river nor Just TO them to adhere to the prose Mt
policy Il Was time for the representatives of those
pc opls to speak out.
The bill was referred to tn, Committee of Military
Afnrs.
PRISONERS CAPTURED wIsr OF THE MISSISSIPPI
Mr. JOHNSON also introduced bill relating TO ex-
changed paroed Confederate prisoners who mas have
been or may hereafter becaptured by the enemy west
of the Mississippi.
Mr.. JOHNSON said it almost seems that the people
of the TansMss sspp have to fgbt both sides in this
war There has been constant d,ait upon us for men