The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-01-28
Confederate Congress.

FRIDAY, january lO.-SENATE AT
II o'clock m, the Senate was called to
order. Mr.. Hunter, Of Virginia, in the
Chair.
Mr.. Sparrow, Of Louisiana, submitted
the following, with the motion that it be
transferred 10 the secret calendar:
"That the Committee on Military AT
fairs be instructed to inquire into the ex.
ped;ency Of amending the Act entitled
AN Act to exempt certain persons from
military duty, and to repeal an Act euti
! tied an Act TO exempt certain persons
from enrolment for service in the army
Of the Confederate States, approved 21,t
April, 1862, az follows:
"lsl. BY confaing the exemption Of
persons allowed for the police Of slaves to
those cases only where the sole owner Of
the farm or plantation is a .teme sole,
minor, or person of unsound mind, or
person in the public service absent from
home in the discharge Of his duties.
"2l. BY still further restricting the ex.
empton Of persons engaged in the mer.
chant marine service, and in the employ
ment Of railroad and canal companies,
telegraphic companies, aid also in river
navigation.
"3l. BY repeating SO much OF said Act
as exempls shoemakers, tanners, black
smiths and wagon makers, or modifying
the same as to make their exemptions
depend upon the discretion OF the militia
ry Authorities, in view Of the public ne.
eessiies, and upon their giving their la.
Dor or its product for fair compensa
! ton.
"4lh. by repeating SO much Of said
Act ~ eSempts artisans, mechanics aad
employees IN the Government establish
ments engaged in manufacturing arms.
ordnahce and ordnance stores and other
munitions OF wa-, or who NAV be EN-
ployed 10y persons having contracts with
the Government for the manufacture Of
these articles, and providing thai Persons
skilled in such work may be detailed
| therefor.
"5Ih. That no person engaged in the
/ production or manufacture of salt shall
for that reason be exemp, when tie price
for which said salt is SOLD shall exceed six
cents per pound"
The bill was transferred to the secre,
calendar.
Mr.. Clay, Of Alabama. presen,sL two
designs for Confederate Flag, which
were referred to the Joint Committee on
Flag and Seal.
House OF RErnEsENrArIyEs.- MIR.
Baldwin, of Virginia, offered the follow
ing resolution:
RsSolred, That tie Committee Of WAYS
and Means inquire into the expediency of
reporting a tax bill to raise during the
present year the sum Of one hundred and
twelve millions Of dollars the tax to be
spportioned among the several States in
the ratio OF one million Of dollars for eve,
| ry Representative in the House, and to
be assessed for each State according TO
the system OF taxation pracliced in each
Also, the following resolutions:
ResOiced, Tha. the Committee Of Wavs
and Mean. inquire into the erpediency OF
calling upon the several States OF the
Confederacy TO unite in joint guarantee
Of the debt Of the Confederate States now
existing or hereafter to be incurred; ex.
cept;ng from such guarantee all Treasu.
ry notes, stock and bonds heretofore
issued.
Mr.. Baldwin also offered a LiIl to fund
the currency.
The essential features OF the bill are TO
reduce the rates Of interest on Treasury
notes by regular system Of decline, so
as to compel their funding: after the Is,
Of June next, the rate TO be six per cent:
alter the Is, July, 5 per cent, and so on
until after st December, when the inter
es, shall be one per cont. The bill also
provides that the bonds Of the Govern.
ment hereafter issued shall run thirty
years, with the option Of The Government,
TO redeem it at five years.
MoRE PRIsoNERs OF WAR-Yas,s,.
day morning, oct ween seven and EIGHT