The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-05-05
CoNFEDERAPE CONGRESS.

| RICHMOND, April 30.-In the Senate, The
House bill increasing the pay of soldiers was post
poned until the next session. The House Ex-
emption bill was finally passed. 1t repeats clauses
in the existing law relative TO oyerseers, but
empts one person on each farm owned by minor,
person of unsound mind, fenae sole, persons ab-
sent in military service, on which are twenty or
more slaves. Several provisos were annexed
one requiring the owner Of slaves to pay annually
| into the Treasury five hundred dollars. The Act
also authorizes the President to exempt such per-
sons as in his Judgment should be exempted, al
so exempts all State officers whom the Governor
! of any State may claim to have exempted for the
administration of the laws. In other respects, the
Acts of las, session remain. The Senate also pass
ed the House bill to establish a Provisional Navy,
and bills relating to the Congressional election in
Tennessee and Louisiana
! The House passed bill which prohibits any
| trade in United States paper currency, under Sc
we're penalties; also bill requiring all persons in
Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments to
file an inventory of property as security against
! fraud. The bill TO prevent frauds 10 the Quarter
masters Department and Transportation, with the
Senate amendment, was finally adopted.
| May 1.-The Senate passed the House bill for
placing in military service, after the lst of uly
next, all citizens of the United States, including
Marylanders, residing or sojourning in the Con-
| federate States. The House amendment to the
bill establishing flag was concurred in. A mes
sage was received from the President, returning
with disapproval, act to authorize the trans
mission of newspapers to soldiers free of postage.
| Mr.. Russell, of Virginia, reported from the
Judiciary Committee certain joint resolutions COM
mandatory of the conduct of citizens of Louisiana
who, falling within the lines of the enemy, had
refused to take the oath of allegiance to the United
States Government.
Mr. Conrad, of La, offered the following substi-
tute, which was adopted:
"That Congress has heard with sorrow and in
dignatiqn the wanton crueties practiced by our
vindictive enemies upon the inhabitants of those
portions of our country which have fallen under
their CONTROL that while deeply sysnpathizng with
the suffering of those devoted patriots, Congress
can only assure them of their undiminished con.
fdence in the ultimate triumph of our cause, and
that the frmness and tortitude which they have
| exhibited deserve and receive the gratitude of
their country and the admiration Of the civilized
world" @5.@'
! GARD.-The New York World, in speaking of the
fight at Charleston, makes the following alusion
to Gen. Beauregard
One result of this Charleston fight will be to
restore Beauregard to the favor of the Southern
people. True, he is boastfu egotis.ical, untruth
full and wanting in tact, but he is certainly the
most marvellous engineer of modern times. By
his genius and professional skill he has erected
batteries in Charleston harbor that would sink all
the wooden fleets Of the world, did they come
under fire, and he has succeeded, moreover, in
driving back in disgrace the most impenetrable
iron-cad feet afoat. There is no denying what
this man has done, unpalatable though it may be
to the Northern people.
THE sl5,OO0OOO BoNDs.-Many persons do
not understand the cause of the high prices which
these bonds command compared with those of
the 500, 100000 loan The export duties cotton
cannot be paid in Confederate notes, as any one
may by the conditions on their face. They
must be paid in gold or silver or the coupons of
these Sl5,000,00O bonds. These latter are
therefore sought after by blockade runners as
eagerly as specie, and prices have run up accord
ingly. r..:-