Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-01
other military operations in the valley of Virginia in


the year 1862.
Mr.. GARNETT offered resolution which was agreed
to- requesting the President to communicate to the
House at the next session of Congress how many slaves
taken by employed in the army have been reported
under the provisions of the act entitled an act to pro.
tect the rights of owners of slaves employed in the
my" aud especially the Sd and 9th sections thereof.
The SPEAKER laid before the house message from
the President Transmitting communication from the
Secretary of the Navy, in response TO resolution of
the House. covering the findings of the court in the
case of Lieut.. ]. X. Mitchell. Referred.
VETO MESSAGE.
The SPEAKER laid before the House message
from the President, vetoing bill which originated in
the House. entitled "An TO aid committees of Con-
gress in the investigation Of matters before them and
to punish false swearing" The President takes the
ground that there is warrant in the Constitution for
the inaicon OF the pains and penalties imposed Cit
zens by Congress that il can only be done by court
Of justice, after trial by jury.
On motion Of Mr.. RUSSELL, the subject was post
poned to next session.
NOTION TO RECONSIDER.
Mr.. MARTIN, of Fla, called up a Senate bill to
amend an act establishing and organizing the army Of
the Confederate States he here entered motion
consider the vote by which the bill laid upon the
table.
The bill was taken up and the motion to reconsider
was not agreed TO.
RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS.
Mr. SWAMI, of Tenn. introduced the following
joint resolution which was unanimously passed.
Resolved by tie Congress of tie Confederate States,
That the hanks OF Congress and Of the country due
and are hereby rendered to Major j. L. Brent and the
officers and soldiers under his command for their gallant
conduct in capturing the Federal gunboat Indanoa,
and that this resolution be communicated by the Pres
dent to Major Brent and the officers and men then
handed by him.
Mr.MILES, of S. c., from the Committee on Military
Affairs reported back joint resolution Of thanks to
Major Oscar NJ Watkins and the officers and men under
his command for the signal victory achieved over the
naval forces Of the United States at Sabine Pass result
ing in the dispersion of the enemys fleet and the cap
ture of two OF his gunboats. Passed, unanimously.
The resolution was accompanied by a highly compl-
mentary letter from Gen. Mapuder
Mr.. MILES also reported back joint resolution of
thanks to General g. T. Beauregard and the officers and
men under his command, for the signal repuse of the
enemys iron clad feet before Charleston on the 9TH of
April, 1868. Passed. unanimously.
TRADING Win THE ENEMY.
Mr.. MILES, from the Committee on Military Affairs,
reported back bill to prevent the SALE exchange or
other disposition of the Treasury notes. bonds &C. is
sued der the authority of the United States; being
substitute for bill introduced time ago by Mr..
FOoTE, and referred to the Committee.
Some debate followed, when Mr. GARRETT moved
that the bill be laid upon the table, to avoid an inter-
minable debate at this late period Of the session.
lie withdrew the motion at the request of Mr. SMITH
Of N. G., who moved to amend the bill by striking
the words 'as the jury trying the cause may deter.
mine" and inserting 'as the judge jury trying the
case, according to the practice of the courts Of the
State wherein the offence has been committed, may de-
termine."
Mr.. SMITH renewed the motion to lay upon the Ia
bic, which was rejected. Yeas l6, nays 81.
The amendment of Mr.. SMITH was agreed to.
Mr.. MACHEN of KY, introduced substitute for
the whole bill, making it unlawful after the lst of July
next to bring into the Confederate States for sale
barter any goods wares, merchandise of the United
States under penalty Of fine Imprisonment aud confs-
cation of the goods also making it unlawful in
any way the paper currency Of the United States
der similar penalties.
Mr.. MACHEN believed that if we wanted to sustain
our currency we must break up this illicit inter-
course with the United States He did not believe
it could be done in any other way The goods import
ed from the North chiefly for the adornment of
the female sex, who he believed would willingly forego
it for such purpose.
Mr. HOLT, of Ga, suggested that the substitute be
offered amendment to the substitute of the commit
tee-the latter to constitute the fourth section.
Accepted by Mr. MACHEN
Mr. HEISKELL, of Tenn, moved to further amend
by instrucng district judges to give the act in charge
to juries and making it the duty of officers seize or
give information cOncering contraband goods.
Mr.. CONRAD stated his objections to the length Of
punishment proposed. lie believed that five years was
too severe.
Mr.. MILES was convinced of the necessity of doing
something TO restrain the traffic in the paper currency
of the United States but believed that hasty action at
this late hour in respect to trade in merchandise would
seriously embarrass the operations Of Government He
moved to lay the pending amendments upon the table,
Carried.
The substitute reported by the committee was ordered
to its sngroSsment read third time and passed-ayes
40 noes Ia.
The bill makes it unlawful to trade or traffic in the
Treasury notes any other paper currency issued in
the United States, under penalty of not less than one
thousand dollars fine or six months Imprisonment AS
the judge or jury trying the case according to the
practice of the courts OF the State wherein the offence
has been committed, may determine.
QUAPTERNAsTERs AND CoMNIssARIEs.
Mr. HILTON of Fla, from the Committee on Military
Affairs reported the following bill facilitate the de-
econ of frauds in the Quariermaster's and Commssary
Departments:
With view to the discovery Of frauds and pecula
tons upon the government and TO facilitate the convic
ton Of offenders under existing future laws, the Con-
gress of the Confederate States do enact That every
person holding Office in the Commssary Quarter
master Department shall forthwith file, and every one
hereafter appointed in either of said departments shall
before entering upon the duties of his Office file in the
War Department schedueor inventory setting forth
under oath duly administered all the property of which
he seized possessed at the time OF his appoint
ment with description thereof and should any person
make Wiful misstatement in the execution OF such
schedule or inventory he shall be deemed guilty of false
swearing and upon conviction thereof be subject to the
pains and penalties provided by law for such crime
And in the trial of any officer in any suit orprosecu
ton against any officer based upon alleged frauds or
populations upon the government ownership by the de-
endant of other property money effects set forth
in such schedule or inventory, and not the natural in
accumulaons of or from property set forth
therein shall be held to be presumpve evidence against
him.
Mr. HILTON said a very large majority Of those hold
inc office in the Quartermasters and Commissary De-
partments we're honorable high minded and meritOrious
persons Yet there are others few perhaps) Of very
different character whose presence in those departments
brings reproach upon the good of their associ
ates 1t is the latter not the former class, he believed
who would be driven into retirement by the test invoy