Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-12
coNFEDER ATE CONGRESS.
SENATE.

SENATE ra
WEDNESDAY,, March llth, 1853
The Senate met at II o'clock, NJ Prayer by the Rev.
Geo. Woodbridge, of the Episcopal Church.
ARMY.
Mr.. CLAY, of Ala introduced bill to prevent the
absence Of officers and soldiers without leave. Referred
to the Committee on Military Affairs. f@ -
THE NATURALIZATION LAWS. tsg
Mr.. HILL, from the Committee of the Judiciary, re-
PorIeo PACK the Senate bill to- repeal the naturalization
laws, with an amendment. The Committee propose 70
strike out the I'd section Of the b and recommend that
the bill, so amended, be passed.
On motion Of l1r. HILL, the bin was placed On the
calendar and ordered to be printed 80
,. CLAIMANTS FOR POSTAL SERVICE.
Mr.. MITCHELL, of Ark, from the Committee of
Postal Affairs reported bill for the benefit of GER
tain claimants for postal service" which was read and
passed.
REGIMESTAL COMNIssARIEs
Mr.. CLAY submitted resolution which was adopted,
nsructing the Committee of Military Affairs TO enquire
into the expedioncy Of aboshiDg the office Of Reg-
mental Gommissary -
THE BATTLE AT BATON ROUGE.
Mr.. SlhMS, of KY, offered resolution which was
adopted, requesting the President 10 furnish if not
preudcal to the public interests copy of the official
report OF the battle at Baton Rouge, made by Maj Gen.
John O. breckenridge.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the hill IN
grant TO the principal officer OF each of the Executive
Departments seat upon the floor Of Congress. -
Tie bill was further opposed by Aessrs CLARK ON
NAN aud YANcKr, aud ADVOCATED By AssSr@ WissALL
and ORR. r4>s-~-7- t.--5]s 0-T7F =
Mr. HAYNES, of Tenn, mon a 70 amend the hin hv
striking out the clause with the.pryiege of discussing
any measures appertainiag 10 hi, Department.
The amendment was agreed " By he following vote
fEAs-Nessrs. Brown, Caperton Clark, Davis, Doricb,
Haynes, Henry, johnson, OF Ark, Mitchell, Oldham,
Pcyton, Smms Sparrow and Yancey-l4.
NAGs-Messrs. Barnwcll, Burnett, Clay, Hill, Hun.
ter, Maxwell, Orr, Phean, Scmmes, and Wigfall-Io
Mr.. SPARROW remarked that the adoption of this
amendment the virtual defeat Of the bill He there
fore moved that the further consideration of the bill be
indefinitely postponed.
The motion agreed 10. -l
BONDS oUARTERMAsJEls, ETC.
The Senate bill relative to the bonds Of Quartermas-
tiers and Commssaries was then taken up discussed,
amended, and passed.
REroRrs OF BATTLES
A communication from the President was received,
transmitting from the Secretary OF War reports
l. Of the attack by the enemys dcet on Fort Neal
lister, Feb. lst, '6S.
.. OF the engagements at Faye.te c. H., Cotton Hill,
Gauley, Charleston, and the pursuit Of the enemy the
Ohio.
g. OF the operations of Brig Gen Rodes' brigade at
Seven Pines
A. OF the capture of the gunboat ]. P. Smith, on
Stone River.
PRIVILEGES or REPoRTERs
Mr.. WIGFALI, from the special committee appointed
under resolution Of the Senate TO enquire into and
report upon the question raised BY the reporter of the
Enquirer etc. presented report defining the privileges
Of reporters admitted 10 seats within the bar of the
Senate in which they announce the following concu-
SONS relative to the interpretations upon the proceedings
of the Senate made b. the complained Of in the
Enquirer Of 9th February:
THAT it was improper; that IL is an attack upon the
the person and political character of Senator couchcd
in offensive and indecent language aud is such abuse
of the privilege granted by the Senate as cannot
be looked upon with Indifference
Resolved That the privilege of the floor of the Senate
is hereby Withdrawn from the present reporter Of tic
Richmond Enquirer
Resolved further That the presiding officer Of the Senate
is hereby empowered and onoined 10 administer this pr
vlegr granting to such numb'r OF papers only shall
him proper and convenient, aud Withdrawing it
from any and all such reporters papers in his ud
mont the public interest the pcAce and dignity OF The
Senate may require aud for such Withdrawal he shall
not be required TO assign reasons.
Mr. BROWN OF Miss, the Senator alluded to in the
n Xxi s FePpE sad that the presented would
nonon that attacks Senators, if made ALL were
not to be made in reports of the proceedings Of the Sem
ate He thought this admonitop met the fully
As to the past he cared nothing, and the evil done
could not be rcmeded now, perhaps it would be too
harsh proceeding to expe the reporter who did very
foolish thing He had personal feeling in the matter
II be had considered it personal grievance he would
have sought personal redress lie closed bis remarks by
moving to strike out both resolutions.
Amer further discussion in which the majority of those
participating eyinced unwlingncss to agree to the
motion TO strike out the first resolution,
Mr. DAVIS, of n. c., moved that the Senate adjourn,
but at the instance of Senator who said there
important business demanding attention in secret session,
his motion to resolve into secret session. and ID
was then agreed to.