Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-03-13
CONGRESS


SENATE Wednesday. March 4:h The
Senate met at II o'clock, NJ Hou r. NJ.
I. Hunter il the Char. Prayer by Rev.
Dr. Seely, of the Baptist Church.
TELnGIAPH COMPANY.
Mr.. Oldham, of Texas, from the Com
mittee on Post Office, reported bill for the
con6scation of the leasehold interest and
shares Of stock owned by the American Tel
egraph Company and other alien enemies,
in the lines Of telegraph in Con ecderate
States.
Also bill declaring the telegraph part
of the postal system of the Confederate
States, and to provide for working the same
Both bills were placed on the calendar.
The Impressmcnt bill was taken up. At
ter debate by Messrs. Yancy. Davis, Of
North Carolina. Wigfall and Semms, the
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE. Prayer by Rev. Dr.. Reid.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION.
The Chair laid before the House COM
munication from the President, enclosing a
communication from the Secretary of War,
coyefie copies of the reports Of Generals
PolR,sHardce and Cheatham of The action
of their respective corps 10 the battles of
Shiloh on the 9th and 7th Of April, 1862.
On motion Of Mr. Miles. the commune
cation and accompanying papers were laid
on the table, and ordered to be printed.
%e House resolved itself into secret ses-
sion on the Tax Bill, after which it ad-
journed.
senate, Thursday, March 5th. Mr..
Brown. from the Committee on Naval At
fairs, reported the following joint resolu-
tons, which were adopted unanimously:
4 Resolved, by.tne Congress Of the Con-
federate States Of America, That the thanks
Of Congress are emineatly due, aud are
hereby cordially rendered to Capt Raphael
Semmes, Of the Confederate States Navy,
and to the officers aud crew under his COM
mand, for their galantry and good conduct
in the naval affair off the coast Of Texas, on
the 18th Of January, 1868, between the
Confederate steam soop Alabama, and the
United States sfonp Hasteras, resulting in
the total destruction Of the latter after
conflict OF thirteen minutes It is to such
conduct that Congress and the country look
TOR trlumphs on the sea, which shall rival
in brilliapcy the glorious achievements Of
our arms OF the laud, and. at no distant
day. win for our Infant navy the admiration
OF the world and the lasting gratitude Of our
people.
Resolved, That the President be request
ed to cause copy of these resolutions to be
sent to Captain Semmes, to be by him SUBJ
mltted to the officers and crew of the Ala
bama, with the assurance to them, individ-
ually and collectively. that Congress has
heard of their brilliant success with the live
Hest satisfaction, and confidently relies on
their skill and intrepidity for other triumphs
alike glorious to them and honorable to the
service in which they are engaged
The lmpressment bill was then taken up,
and considered until adjournment.
SENATE Friday, March 9th. The Sen
ate met at - o'clock.
The imprcssment bill was taken UP as
unfinished business, and occupied the great
er part of the day Pending the consider
alton of the question, the Senate went into
secret session.
HousG.-A message was received from
the President communicating copy of a
bill passed by the Legislature of South Car
DINA, guaranteeing the State the bonds
of the Confederate States. Ordered to be
printed
The Chair laid before the House Senate
Bill appointing Register for the Navy De-
partment.
Also, joint resolution of the Senate ten
derng the thanks Of Congress to Captain
Raphael Semmes commanding the Confed-
crate vessel Alabama and his crew for their
gallant and meritorions service 10 destroy
ing the enemy's war vessel Hatteras.
Also, communication from the Postmas-
ter General enclosing copy of the CORES
pondence between Campbell Wallace, rela-
tive to mail service. Referred to the Pos
tai Committee.
Mr.. Foster then moved that when this
House adjourn, it adjourn to meet at II
o'clock to morrow. Agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee,
the House resolved itself into secret session
on the Tax Bill.
SENATE Saturday, March 7th.-The
Senate was not 10 session to-day
HousE.-The House agreed to the motion
to- meet at ! ! o'clock on Thursday, and then
resolved itself iuto secret session on the
Tax Bill.
SENATE, Monday, March 9th Mr.. Clay,
of Alabama, introduced bill to repeal the
naturalization laws Referred to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Maxwell offered joint resolution
earnestly recommending it's adoption.
1. Resolved, That the people, instead
of planting cotton and tobacco, shall d.
rect their agricultural labor mainly to the
production of such crops as will ensure a
sufficiency Of food for all classes and for
every emergency, thereby with true patriot
ism subordnating the hope of gain to tho
service of the country.
9. Resolved, That the President is hereby
requested to issue proclamation to the
people of these States urging upon them
the necessity Of guarding against the great
perils of a short crop of provisions, and set
ting forth such reasons therefor as his judg-
ment may dictate.
After remarks by Messrs. Maxwell, Yam
ccy, Clark and Brown, in which they very
clearly portrayed the wants of the Confed-
eracy, aud the imperative demands upon
the energies Of all the farmers to cultivate
all the lands possible in such articles as will
feed the soldier, the resolutions were unani-
oJootod.