Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-02-10

when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths
of the several States, shall be part of said Con-
stitution, and shall be inserted therein as clause
I'd, section lst. of Art. ", to wit:
ssWhen any State, being aggrieyed by any act
of Congress, shall, by Convention, declare the
same to be unconstitutional, Congress, if in ses-
sion-and if not, the President shall convene it
for that purpose-shall Immediately call u Con-
venton of the States to consider said act, and il
not approved by two thirds of said Convention.
the vote to be taken by States, it shall be void
and no laws but if affirmed, it shall stand and
if affirmed, and if no adjustment can be made by
amendment or otherwise, satisfactory to the
omplaining State, and it determine to secede
from the Confederacy, it shall do so in peace,
but shall be entitled to it's pro rata share of the
public debt, to be determined and settled by me-
gotation.
That the President shall transmit to the
Governor of each State copy of this act, to be
submitted by him to the Legislature thereof for
ratification.
THE SUPREME COURT.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill to organize the Supreme Court of the Con-
federate States.
Mr.. Phelan again addressed the Senate in ex-
position Of his views. He stated the pending
question to be, ssHas Congress the power to
grant to the Supreme Court appellate jurisdic-
tion over the State Courts in cases arising under
the Constitution and Laws of the Confederate
States.'
The Military Committee reported bill grant
ing transportation to furloughed soldiers, and
extending the privilege to all soldiers who have
enlisted during the war. Also a bill denying
furloughs till alter July next.
Mr.. Johnson, of Ga, obtained the floor for to
morrow (Friday,) when, upon motion, the Sen
ate went into Executive session.
HOUSE, Feb. ST. h
TRIAL OF FEDERAL PRISONERS BY STATE TRI-
BUNAhS.
Mr.. Smith also offered resolution directing
the judiciary Committee to ascertain how far it
may be practicable to administer the law affac-
ting the case of ederal officers taken prisoners
and transferred for trial to State authorities
Mr.. Dargan of Alabama, differed from the Pres
ident in this single instance. The Confederate
States are at war but not the individual States
In some of the States there must be radical
change Of their constitutions in order to effect
the purposes Of the President. The act for which
men are punished must be committed in the
county of the venue and hence the impossbility
of inficting any punishment by State authorities
There never will be trial and never an ad-
ministration of punishment. The States should
not be charged with duty which they cannot
perform. The censure will fall upon the States
incapable ofinficting punishment. If the design
be not to punish, let it be so proclaimed by the
Government Mr.. Dargan hoped that this rec
ommendation of the President would not be con-
Cured in by the House.
The resolution instructing the.Judiciary Com
mittee to inquire into the proposed retaliatory
policy Of the President was adopted.
EXPORT DuTIEs.
Mr.. Aver, of S. G., offered a resolution to in
struct the Committee on Ways and Means to in
quire into the expedency of laying an export
duty on tobacco and naval stores. Adopted.
an RETALIATION.
Mr.. Foote offered resolution directing the
j Judiciary Committee to enquire whether it is not
expedient to dissent from the retaliatory mode
of punishment proposed by the President. He
stated that our enemies deserved any punishment
that we might inflict upon them, but that the pro-
posed policy of the President was unjust to those
OF our soldiers and citizens now in the hands of
the enemy. That we should renounce the policy
of retaliation altogether perhaps, and that he
would not hereafter reproach himself with suf-
ferings inflicted upon our officers and men in
consequence of the action OF this House. We
have friends in the North West, in New JERSEY
and elsewhere, who by the proposed policy would
be converted into bitter enemies. The resolution
was adopted.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT
Mr.. Baldwin offered resolution directing the
Committe, on P. O. & p. Roads to inquire into
the necessity of reducing the expenses of p O.
Department by abolishing the Department. He
said he was serious and wished another mode of
transporting letters and papers adopted. He
could not see why the Government should con-
vey letters and not all other freights. He would
prefer private Express Companies. No conf
dence could be reposed in the present mode of
transportation, and there was remedy for los.
ses. The constitution requires the P. M Gen
eral to keep its expenses within it's revenues, and
there was no other mode of doing it save by the
abolition of the Department.
Mr.. Chiffon, of Ala, opposed the proposition
He said it was unjust to the Department.
On motion of Mr.. Wilcox, the resolution was
laid on the table.
SENATE, Feb. a.
III FINANCE.
Mr.. Phelan, of Miss, offered joint resolutions
an exchange with the several States of
the bonds of the Confederate States. Referred
to the Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Barnwcll, of S. c., introduced a bill to au-
thorize the Issue of bonds for funding treasury
notes. Referred to Committee on Finance.
HOUSE, Feb. e.
TRANSFER OF TROOPS.
Mr.. Chambers, of Mississippi, from the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, reported back the bill
introduced by Mr.. Vest, of Missouri, with sub
stitute, which is as follows:
The Congress of the Confederate States do
to the transfer of troops," approved September
z3, 1862, be and the same is hereby repealed
and that it shall be the duty Of TIE Secretary of
War to transfer any private or non-commissioned
officer who may be in regiment from State
of the CoEfederacy other than his own to a regi-
ment from his own State whenever such private
non commissioned officer may apply for such
transfer; and it shall not be necessary, in order
to obtain such transfer, to secure the consent Of
the country, regimental, brigade, division or
corps commander to whose command such pri-
vate or non-commissioned officer may belong, or
to which he may apply to be transferred but it
shall be sufficient to require the applicant to e-
port to the commanding officer of the regiment
to which he applies to be transferred, by whcm
he shall be placed in the company of his choice
in that regiment, unless such Company shall be
already full to its maximum, in which case the
commanding officer may place him in any other
company of that regiment: Provided, That this
act shall not apply to any one who has enlisted
as substitute.
Mr.. Read, of Kentucky, moved to amend as
follows:
ssSection 2. That whenever The Secretary of
War shall grant transfer, agreeably to the above
provision to any soldier in the service, he shall
furnish transportation also." Adopted.
The, bill was then passed as amended-yeas 80,
nays SO.
ANOTHER SPEECH FROM VALLANDINGHAM-The
Northern papers contain long and interesting
account of debate in the United Congress be
tween Vallandingham, Wright and Bingham. In
the course OF his remarks, Vallandingham said :
You can never subdue the seeded States
Two years of fearful experience have taught you
that. Why carry on the war? If you persist it
can only end in final separation; believe it now,