Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-02-23
CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.


sArURDAr, Feb. 81, 1888
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at the usual hour, and was opened
with prayer by Bishop Early.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL LoSesrREIr
The following resolution offered by Mr.. CURRY, Of
Ala, was adopted unanimously:
Resolved That to mark the distinguished services
which Lieutenant General James Longsreet has rendered
the Confederate States Of America the Speaker do In
vite him to take seat upon the floor Of this House.
SLAVES ESCAPING TO THE rSENT.
On motion of Mr.. GARRETT, of Va, the President
was requested TO inform the House whether Govern
men holds has at any time held itself liable for the
value Of slaves Impressed by It's authority and escaped
to the enemy while so impressed and whether the
Of such slaves have been paid Also TO commune,
cate the correspondence if any between the Secretary
Of War, the Adutant General the Quartermaster Gen.
eral the Engineer Bureau and the Attorney General.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY, &C.
The following resolutions of inquiry were offered and
appropriately referred
By Mr.. GARRETT, of Va,-0f allowing the clerks
in the Government Arsenal like increase Of pay with
the clerks benefited by the act of October, 1862
BY Mr.. STAPLES, of Va.-0f authorizing the publ
cation of digest of such laws Of the United States
are force in the Confederate States and also Of the
acts of the Provisional and Confederate Congress-
BY Mr.. BALDWIN, of Va.-Of 30 amending Act No.
Sl3 of the Provisional Congress to extend is provs
ions to all staff officers, including Adjutants.
By the same-Whether the increase Of compensation
provided by the act Of October 49, 1862 does not
tend TO persons employed rs temporary Clerks in the
Executive Departments.
The following resolutions were also agreed TO:
BY Mr.. GARNETT-Requestng the President to send
to Congress estimate of the appropriation for fret
half o the next fiscal year.
By Mr. B0TELER-Requesting the President to in
form tha hat off havo haap "A
into the Treasury under the Sequestraon Act and 10
communicate other information to property in the
hands Of Receivers.
BY Mr.. BALDWIN-Requesting the Secretary of War
TO inform the House by what authority n number of
Yankee prisoners have been allowed to take the oath Of
allegiance aud to locate in Rockbridge county, Va
BY Mr. misunderstanding the President to COM
muncate to the House General Lorings report of his
expedition to the Kanawha Valley, with the accompa
ny ing reports of General jenkins and other officers.
BY Mr.. FOSTER of Ala.-Requesting the Secretary
of War to inform the House if official notice has been
furnished the proper officers Of the provisions of
TO protect the rights of owners of slaves taken by
employed in the army also, whether the provisions
of the I'd and Sd sections of said act have been carried
out.
Sundry memorials were introduced and referred to
the Committee on Claims; among them, one by Mr..
STAPLES, from Alexander MAhood asking compensa-
ton for house destroyed.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
The following bills were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. GARNETT-To authorize the importation
from Europe of machinery and skilled workmen for the
manufacture of cotons and of iron for the Of the
Army and Navy of the Confederate States
By the same-To regulate the compensation for the
use and occupation of real estate by the Army and
Navy of the Confederate States.
By Mr.. STAPLES-To provide compensation for
horses belonging to officers soldiers lost captured
without default of their owners and while such
were in the discharge of their duties.
BY Mr.. LYONS of Vain relation to Commission
Of Courts in relation to slaves tried and convicted
in Confederate Courts in relation to the fees of aors
| By Mr.. DARGAN. To amend the LIST section Of an
act relating to the compensation Of Attorneys of the
Confederate States, app: owed March l5th 1861.
BY Mr.. FOSTER. To conscrbe certain persons therein
named Proposes 10 conscrbe all white male citizens
resident in the Confederate States who shall refuse
receive in payment for articles offered for SALE the
rency of the Confederate States.
NEGROES IN THE YANKEE ARMY.
Mr. COLLIER, Of Va, submitted the following pre-.
amble and resolution, which agreed to
Whereas The Congress of the United States have by
law authorized the raising of negro troops be used
the present war; in the attempted subugaon of the
Co nfpderate States therefore,
Resolved That the Committee the Judiciary be in
sructed inquire into the expedency of providing by
law that all negroes captured whilst in the service
slaves, shall become the property Of the captors, and
shall thereafter be held and considered in all respects
slaves.
INCREASE OF The ARMY.
Mr.. FOOTE offered resolution which was agreed
TO- that the letter of Brgader General Pillow in regard
to the increase of the strength Of army be referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs in order that they
may consider the propriey of adopting such measures
as are therein recommended.
PAGES.
On motion of Mr.. LYONS, the pay of the pages OF
the House increased to 81 per diem from the
mencement Of the present session.
BILLS PASSED.
On motion of Dir. HODGE, of Ky, the House took
up the bill for the establishment aud equalization Of the
grade Of officers Of the Navy OF the Confederate States
and tor other purposes The substitute last reported
| from the Committee Naval Affairs was adopted in
lieu of the original BILL and passed yeas So nays 81.
On motion of Mr.. KENNER, the House resolved itse
secret session and resumed the consideration of the
Currency bill.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA