Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-03-17
Congress-.

!, Congress.
| SENATE. Saturday March 7th.-The SENATE
was not in session to-day.
HousE.--The House did nothing Of importanc'
in open session. The tax bill was debated VIII
closed doors.
SENATE. Monday, March ga variety of sub
iiects occupied the attention of the Senate to-day
A preamble and resolutions urging the farmer
to direct their labor to the scultivation of pro
vision crops elected the views of several Sena
tors IN regard to the duration of the war, &C.
The resolutions were adopted unanimously
Among the bills reported was one to establish
volunteer navy. Mr.. Clay, OF Alabama, made
preliminary verbal report from the Joint Com
mttce Instituted at the last session to Investigate
the management OF the Navy under its presen
Head. The evidence taken during the invsstl
CATION was ordered to be printed The Senate
then went into secret session to consider thu
anne ndme2ts to the Currency Bill proposed bJ
the House. 1t is understood that the most ma
tefial Of these amendments were concurred m
When the doors were re-opened the House I'm
pressment Bill was taken up. Mr.. Wigtall's pro-
posed substitute was rejected, aud finally, The
bill itself, as amended. The vote was reconsid
cred ard the Senate then adjourned.
HoUsE.--In the House nothing of importance
was done in open session. The Tax bill was fur
Their considered IN secret session.
SEEATE, March 1O.-The Senate passed in Sc
cret session, Mr.. Wigfail's substitute for the
House Impressment Bill. A Senate bill requir-
ing the prepayment of postage on letters sent
TO soldiers was passed. The bill to admit tue
heads Of the Executive Departments to seats in
the Senate, with the privilege of participa ing in
tee debates, was taken up and discussed until ad-
tournament. 1t will come up tomorrow as I'M
finished business
HOUSE, March TO-
SENATE RESOLUTIONS ON THE PRODUCTION OF PRO-
VISIONS
The joint resolutions from the Senate. relating
to the production OF provisions, were taken up
and read first time.
Mr.. H. W. Bruce, of Kentucky, was in favor
OF an amendment to the following effect, and ask
ed that it be read for the information Of the
HOuse:
"Resolved, that the President be also request
ed to ask the State Legislatures to universally
prohibit the production of cotton and tobacco
during the present year, and that such State Leg
islatures as are not now in session be convened
for tina, purpose
Mr.. Baldwin, of Virginia, offered the following
amendment to the second resolution of the Sen
ate:
.sAnd that the President be also requested in
such proclamat alton to give to the producers OF
food the assurance that if at any time it shall be
come necessary to impress provisions or forage
for public uses, full and just compensation will
be made to the owner, according to the fair mar
ket value at the time and place of seizure.''
MIR. Baldwin, in advocating his amendment,
animadverted with severity upon the present
system Of impressment, protesting against it as a
violation OF the rights of the citizens. When it
was understood that the Confederate Government
claimed the right TO seize private property with
out law or authority of Congress-to seize it at
an arbitrary valuation below the market price,
he thought it time for every representative, and
especially every Vrginian, to enter solemn and
earnest protest against the policy. Not only
was the power claimed to violate principles nm
DERIVING all good government, but to violate the
Confederate Constitution itself. Government
was max ng these seizures deliberately in the
face OF law, and in opposition to the written
opinion OF the Attorney General of the Conied
crate States-that the right Of seizure must be
granted by law, by act of Congress; that if the
Government makes seizures otherwise, it Com :
mits trespass, for which any citizen had redress
by law and that no officer had right to impress
without such authority. He had seen this writ
ten opinion, delivered six months ago, and gain
very recently. 1t was the opinion of the law off,
Ger of the government that there was no right TO
take private property under the Consultation, ex
cept at the fair market value at the time an!
place Of seizure. Now. when he saw the Sec
rotary of War committing error and perssting
in it, directly in the face OF toe opinion gwen by
the Law officer of the government, he thought it
time tor tie people to speak out, and no better
opportunity would occur than that afforded by
the Senate resolutions. Until we could come to
the farmers with the assurance offered in his
amendment. it would be treated mockery
AID an insult to urge them to raise provisions
which were liable t. be seized az half the marke
price. He hoped the House would not hesit tie
one moment in engratting this feature upon the
RESOLUTIONS as necessary part of the encourage
ment Of proper agriculture. Mr.. Baldwin TO-
ted from letter from one of his constituents,
describing the State Ut things in the Valley dis
trict). The people, he continued, could rot
send cattle to this city except with the risk OF
seizure at little over half the market value at
the place where they started from, or the place
to which they were going. They were afraid to
risk It. What state of things was this In the
cts of Richmond The other day the Government
seized all the -four at prices notorously less than
the market value. The plea was military neces-
sity-the army must be fed. He admitted the
force of the plea, but denied that it was neces-
sary to feed the soldiers at pric' cheaper than
the poor people of the country feed their wives
and children. 1t was having the effect in this
city, and in Petersburg, of brin ing the people
to the verge Of starvation. He quoted the in.
stance of a miller, who actually lost $50 900 by
these ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to a forced con-
tribution to that amount to The support of the
Government. Did any one suppose that the peO-
ple OF the country would submit to this sort Of
things Did any one suppose they would cheer
| fully support Government which gave them nc
| security tor private property The people were
patriotic, aid were prepared to submit to griev
ances and hardships; but it was calculating toe
much upon their patriotism to suppose they
would permanently su bmit to seizures Of private
property by Government officials without an,
authority Of law. He hoped the consequence
would be averted; but unless something were
done, evil results would ensue as sure as Their,
was God IN Heaven. 1t was the duty of Con
| gress to avert that state of things-to give thu
people the legal and constitutional protection
which they claim-t0 protect them by just, WIS.,
and timely legislation. He did Lot counsel re
sisiance God forbid He was for making tn,
people patriotic by encouraging their PATRIOTS
| feelings. In answer to numerous lett RS from
his constituents on this subject, he had advised
them to appeal to the laws OF the land.
! [Mr. Baldwin was proceeding with his remark
when the Speakers hammer fell.
Mr.. Hilton, of Florida, moved to amend the
amendment by striking out the words sstull and. ,
This was accepted by Mr.. Baldwin.
| Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee. raised point of Or
der-whether the proposition of the gentleman
| from Virginia was germane to the question.
| The 81 eaker had thought, ON hearing the a.
mendment read, that II was.
| Mr.. Hilton said he had not yielded the floor
| He now called he previous question.
MIR. Collier. of Virgins, raised a point of or
der. Gould the gentleman from Florida call thu
previous question after Offering an amendment
The Speaker He could. The gentleman sim
ply offered his amendment and made no RI mark S
The call for the previous question was sus
tanned