Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-24
CONFEDERATE STATES CONGRESS.
THIRD SESSION OF FIRST CONGRESS-
SENATE
WEDNESDAY, Dec, 2S, 1868.
Prayer by Rev. Dr.. Duncan, of the Methodist Church.
CONFEDERATE FINANCES
SENATE.

Prayer by Rev. Dr.. Duncan, of the Methodist Church.
CONFEDERATE FINANCES
Mr. OLDHAM, of Texas, submitted the following
| resolution:
Resolved Tnat the Committee on Finance be 10
sLruced to inquire into the expediencT of 30 amending
tie act OF Congress approved April 24tb, 1868 Ell tiled
"An act lay for the anon deieg &c and carry
on the Goyernmrnt of the Confederate States as to
provide for laying aad oecng taxes o the year 1854
TO the amount Of millions Of dollars, to be levied
upon the subjects Of taxation follows, to-wit;
l. Upon all Treasury notes designated by the Secre
ary of the Treasury general curre cy" out standing
on the first day of January, 1864, fifty per cent.
g. Upon all other Treasury notes aid call eertifcle7
| twenty-five percent.
l. 3 Upon all eiglt per cent Confederate bonde, twenty
per cent upon per cent bonds fifteen per cent
| upon six per cert bolds ten per cent; and upon all
| other bonds FIVE per cent
And upon all other subjects Of taxation spec fed
in said acs will be sufficient to raise the aforesaid
sum of 60 millions, grading The same in proportion
t. the ability Of the classes taxed TO pay their assess
ment
| That as a means of sustaining any new issue OF
Treasury notes which may be made hereafter the pro-
prety OF inserting the following stipulation on raid
notes: "ThIt the shall be receivable Ia Payment
OF taxes and other public dues at their current vaue
and thai the same shall be funded 5y the holder in tie
six per cent bonds Of the Government after the publci
| ton Of notice by the Secretary Of the Treasury
| Mr. OLDHAM presented his views on the questions
| presented at some length. A sketch of his remarks
viii be inserted in a Subsequent issue
SWEET POTATOES
The House bill 10 authorize producers of sweet rota-
toes in he year 1868 make Communication by the pay
ment of the money value of the 1.-THE taken up aud
Passed.
PROPERTY DESTROYED BY MILITARY AUTHORITY.
Mr.. SPARROW, from the Committee on Military AZ
firs reported back tie bill to repea the set 10 author
ize the destruction Of property military necesst y
etc with a recommendation hat 1t do not psss The
| bill was placed uoon the ca.endaf.
MILITARY RKPoRTs.
A message from the President was laid before the
Senae Transmitting the report of the Operators Of
several comma ding of,ers. Referred TO tie Commit
| lee on Military Affairs.
THE oUARTERMAsTKR's DEPARTMENT.
A message froH the President was laid before the
Senate, transmitting communication from the Sscre
tary OF War in response to resolution of the Secae
relative to the Q larermasters Department. The COM
muncatOn after repeating tho term OF the said resou-
ton and stating that the resolution had been referred
| 10 the War Department, proceeds as follows:
A Myers, Of S o, was appointed Lieutenant Colo
mel in the Qaartermasters Department in the army of
the Confederate States, 1874 Ap 1851 and gave bond
a. such. In the correspondence of the Department he
is described Acting Qlarterm ister General srbse
quendy to that date The Jaw organizing lho Depart
ment gave to the Quar- .ermaster General the rank Of
Colonel but il not supposed that the Tank was
erred by the Law upon the senior OH OF the Depart
ment on duty This rank could only be given by nomi
nation and conf lton. On the 18Th February 1862
| Lieut. Col Myers recommended by the Secre Gry
| of War Tor nomination follows:
"a O. Myers, Q n. General, to be Colonel in the
| Quartermaster's Department."
The nomination submitted to the Senate as fol-
| lows:
"a c. Myers, OF s. O., o. rermaster General, to be
Colonel 10 take rank from the date of his couirma-
ton" and he conf med the date by the Pro-
visional Congress Since this date, Col. Myers has
discharged the duties Of Qurtermaster General Of the
army unnl be relieved from duty without having
| given any other bond.
Ga the 20tl Barch last act of Congress was ap-
proved entitled An act to amend for the estab
shment and organ zatiOn of general staff for the
my of the Confederate States" which provided that
from and alter the pas age of this act the rank ply
aud allowances attached to the ofice of Qurtermsser
General of the army of the Confederate shall be
those o. Brgadier General in the Provisional army
This act Il Susceptible of two constructions. The oae
assumes Col A. q. Myers 10 be Qlartermaster General
OF the army, and confers upon bin add tional rank
pay and allowances equivalent to those Of Brgader
General Of the Provisional Army of the Confederate
ateS.
The construction nadmissible becauseit involved
violation of the Constitution. The other that Con-
gress in view Of the existing circumstances supposed
that the duties of the Qustermaster General would be
mo bene6cialy exercised by officer having the
Provisional Army. This lar regarded as express.
ing toe intent of the Legsat Department of the Gov
ernment The power 10 nominate and by and with the