The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-12-17
-'.IF-- SENATE - y y ---
Nothing of special Importance has been
transacted. q ------ - -r-~ Z


- - HOUSE. -ii-'- -
TRI-MoNTHLY CONGRESSES DURING THE WAR.
Mr.. johnson offered the following, which
was referred: --od 2 : s- 80 -.---e1t !
Resolred, That during the progress ofthe
present war between the Confederate ana
United States of America, nd after the
passage of the aot, no vacation or adjourn
ment of Congress for a longer period than
thrs. months shall take place; but that
Congress shall meet on the first Monday
after ninety days from the end of each
session, unless sooner called together by
the President. ~7-s- --a p,
fHE REBEL DISASTER AT CHATTANOOGA
{. 20 @..-- JEFF. DAVIS DENOUNCED.
Mr.. Foote offered resolution 1nstructing
the Military Committee to inquire into the
causes Of the late disaster near Chatta-
nooga, and ascertain and report whether it
was owing to want of valor in the troops,
as stated in the Presidents message, or
to other causes. g" L-l
He would undertake to say that the
President himself was responsible for that
defeat, and he was prepared to prove it; and
furthermore, he would show that he had
endeavored to skulk the responsibility and
throw it upon the brave men who had barred
their breasts to the battle. No man should
denounce those men as wanting in valor
with impunity. 1t was an accusation dis
honorable to the honor and discreditable to
all, which would tend to the demoralization
of our troops, and may be productive OF
still worse disasters.
1t had been urged upon the President to
remove from the command OF that army
General Bragg, who had already proved
himself incompetent for his position. The
President was called upon to remove
him as incompetent and even dangerous
But the result is known. Bragg was not
removed. That man Bragg has been
most odious to both the army and people
for more than year, and the President
must have known it. But he visited the
army and said there was no cause for COM
plants But / found the whole army was
distrustful of him. One thing is certain, he
has driven away every one of his best gen.
erals. He has driven away the skilled and
gallant Polk; he has forced the noble heart
ed Buckner to leave him; he has calumni-
ated Breckinridge, and vctimized M'Cown.
Everybody knows he is on bad terms with
Hardee He =, ) c., istituted that he can.
not agree with any Of his commanders.-
What is more, one of my colleagues has re-
ceived letter from Bragg himself, in which
he said--only five weeks ago-that he
couldn't command that army effectively un-
less he was clear of-unless there were cash
iered-l2 brigadier generals, and whole
regiment of field officers. President Davis
was appalled, to by nearly every officer for
his removal But he stood up for Bragg;
he had committed himself to the country;
he had expressed his opinion, publicly of
Bragg's fitness for the command, and was
determined to risk the safety of the coun-
try upon it. For the same reason and un
der the same ci -cumstances Pemberton was
retained. That was the sole reason of the
fall of Vicksburg. To show the pertinacity
of the President, the military court direct
ed to inquire into the conduct of Pember-
ton, was dispensed with in two days after
it met, by the order Of the President. When
this man had surrendered d-dishenorably
surrendered-his command to the enemy,
the President made him his companion, car
ried him with him to Bragg's army, and if
the truth must be told, many soldier said,
as they rode along the lines, "there goes
the traitor who delivered us over at Vicks
burg" Even then the President had the
unblushiag disregard of public sentiment
to offer to that same Pemberton the COM
mand Of Pelk'S corps; and if ho had under
taken that duty he would have been slain in
the earliest hour of battle by the hands of
his own men. What now does the Presi-
dent say? Does he come forward boldly
and say, 81 am responsible for the disasters"
No He charges them with want of valor.
| charge him, not with want of valor, but
with want of confidence in the opinions of
others; with gross mismanagement; with
contempt for the sentiment of the people.
The President never visited the army with
out doing it injury-never yet, that it has
not been followed by disaster. Would to
God he may never visit the army again;
would to God he had yielded to the pubic
sentiment of the country; would II God
he had heen able to appreciate the truth
that when confidence is once lost bv the
people in an officer it is suicidal to retain
him.
FUNDING AND ISSUE OF TREASURY NOTES.
Mr.. Orr offered the following -
That the committeof Finance be instruc
ted to inquire whether the construction
given by the Secretary of the Treasury to
the act supplementary to an act to provide
for the funding and further issue of Treas
ury notes, is authorized by said act
He said the government purchased cot
ton in the morning at forty cents, aud sold
the same in the evening at twelve and-a
half cents as was shown by the action of
the Secretary of the Treasury, and he read
the published advertisement of that officer
as proof of this assertion, He regarded the
construction placed on the act of Congress
in regard to this matter by the Secretary
of TIE Treasury as wrong, and was conf
dent that it would eventually prove ruinous
to the country. 49,.
REAL AND Personal PROPERTY TO BE TAXED
ACCORDING To VALUE.