Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-03-03
NO. XL.
Congress.

/ congress-
SENATE, Feb. 21st.-The Senate was not in
session to-day. a4
Il HOUSE, The House unanimously passed a
resolution directing the Speaker to invite Lieu
tenant General Longstreet to privileged seat.
A large number of resolutions of inquiry were
adopted, including one offered by Mr. Collier, of
! Virginia, into the expediency of providing by
law that all negroes captured whilst in the SER
vice of the United States, unless they be fugitive
slaves, shall become the property of the captors,
and shall thereafter be held and considered in all
respects as slaves Mr.. Baldwin offered a reso-
luton, which was agreed to- requesting the Sec
retary of War to inform the House by what au-
thority number of Yankee prisoners have been
allowed to take the oath of allegiance and to To-
cate in Rockbridge county, Va. Among the bills
introduced and referred was one by Mr.. Garnett,
to authorize the importation of machinery and
and skilled workmen from Europe for the manu-
facture OF cottons and of iron for the use of the
Army and Navy of the Confederate States and
one by Mr.. Foster, to conscribe persons who
shall refuse to receive Confederate currency in
payment for articles offered for sale. The House
passed bill for the establishment and equaliza-
ton of the grade of officers of the Navy.
SENATE, Monday, Feb. 23.-Among the new
subjects introduced in the Senate was PROPOSE
ton by Mr. Orr, of S. c., to vest in the govern
ment as part of it's postage system, all rights of
graph lines in the Confederate States The Ex-
emption Bill was further considered A propo-
sItlon to exempt s'egislative and loyal rel orters
for the press gave rise to debate in which some
OF the PARTICIPANTS evinced but little respect for
the ''fourth state.'' Mr.. Johnson, of Ca, vim
dIcated the press and showed its usefulness to
the country and the cause, but did not convince
the majority of the Senate that the amendment
should prevail. The Exemption Bill was finally
ordered to be engrossed, and the Senate went
into Executive session.
HOUSE The House resumed the consideration
of the bill reported from the Military Committee
to provide for the arrest of officers and soldiers
absent from their command without leave, and
providing compensation to their captors. The
debate demonstrated the fact that if the bill pas
seS at ALL it will have to overcome mo f deter
mined opposition on the part of some prominent
members. Before disposing of the subject, the
morning hour expired, and the House went into
secret session for the purpose of debating the
currency BILL
SENATE, Feb. 24.-The Senate was occupied
in the discussion of an amendment proposed by
the Committee on Military Affairs to the bill re-
pealng all acts or parts of acts authorizing the
reception of substitutes into the army The
amendment proposed to require military service
from every person who has heretofore furnished
a substitute, who has deserted; and was reject
ed-yeas 9, nays IA. The Exemption Bill, as
was postponed until tomorrow.
HoUsE.-In the House, nothing of importance
was done i'll open session, beyond the adoption
of several resolutions of inquiry. The consid-
Grafton of the ssCurrency Bill'' was resumed m
secret session.
SENATE, Feb. 25.-The Senate passed the Ex-
emption Bill. 1t also passed bill to increase
the salaries of Assistant Treasurers and Depos-
itaries. Both bills originated in the Senate, done
in open session. The bill establishing the rank
of army officers was considered in secret session.
HousE.-The House passed resolution to
print $500 copies of the Journals of the Conven-
ton which framed the Provisional and Perma-
nent Constitutions, and of the Provisional Con-
gress. The Tax Bill was reported from the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, and made the order
of the day for Monday next. The bill to pro-
vide for the arrest of soldiers absent from their
commands without leave, and providing compen-
sation to their captors, was laid on the table by
a decisive VOTE Nothing else ofimportance was
lone in open session.
SENATE, FEB. &c. In the Senate the Impress
ment Bill from the House taken up, but af-
ter two three amendments submitted,
the consideration of the subject was postponed,
and the Senate went into secret legislative ses-
sion on other business.
HoUsE.-The House passed a series of joint
resolutions of thanks to General Bragg and the
army of Tennessee for recent achievements
Murfreesboro. A motion to reconsider the vote
by which the House passed the bill providing for
the transfer of troops, was decided in the mega
tive. At an early hour the consideration of the
currency Bill was resumed in secret session.
SENATE, Feb. 27.-In the Senate nothing was
done, in open session, except the further post
of the Impressment and Supreme Court
bills, and the passage of the Senate bill to Or
ganze an engineer corps.
HoUsE.-In the House, various personal ex-
plantations were MADE relative to the resolutions
of thanks to General Bragg, passed on Thursday.
A motion to adjourn over to Monday was de-
cide1 In the negative. Pending motion to re-
consider the vote by which the bill to provide
for the arrest OF struggling soldiers was laid up
on the table, the House took up and passed
bill to aid Committees of Congress in the in
yestgaton of matters referred to them, and to
punish false swearing. The military Committee
reported unfayorabIy upon the bill for the ac-
ceptance of troops from Missouri and Kentucky
for a term of service less than three years.