The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1863-03-26
CONFEDERATE STATES CONoREss

" f"'' ""'""s ''''os lucy toi
tain, however, an account of matters
OF interest Of which we have heard
but have not seen the particulars
For instance there is Mr.. Phelan's bill
for appropriaiing all the cotton,
which is thus given in the proceedings
Of the Senate on the 2sth OF January
SEIZURE OF COTTON FOR PUBLIC USE.
Mr.. PHfi ~ introduced u bill for the
condemnation to public use of all the
cotton within the Confederate States
The bill provides that all the cotton
now within the limits of the Confed
crate States, except that used for
home consumption, or 10 be manutac'
lured within the Confcderacy, shall
be seized by the government and APP
propriated to the payment OF the ex-
pcnscs Of the war, thr parties owning
the cotton to receive fifteen cents per
puLud for the same to be paid in
bonds. Attempting 10 defeat the
operation Of the law by selling or
sccrcting the cotton, to be considered
as felony, and the offender to be lined
one thousand dollars, and to be i'm.
prisoncd not less than one year, and
the forfeiture of the cotton. For
selling or attempting to sell cotton IN
"A citizen OF the United States, or nor
exposing the same where 1t may be
obtained by the enemy, the party SO
Offending to be guilty OF misprison ct
treason, ana TO suffer death, Tue
,t',ue'' " 's'uo P'uO''''''''I ~. 70
nm ,hc s,me IN snociGed ,gcn,s ami
any person refusing to comply with
the order to be guilty OF felony, and
to be fined one Thousand dollars, and
hc Imprisoned one year, with iorlelt'
ure ct his cotton. Authorizes milita.
ry commanders above the rank OF
colonel to destroy cotton IN danger
OF falling INTO the hands OF the enc
my, the said cotton to he pad tor by
the government III bonds bearing
interest from the date OF IT'S destruc.
ton. Prohibits the expectation OF
cotton beyond the limits OF the Con
iedcracy, except ny permission Of the
President, under penalty OF death to
the oilender, the cunilscation oi the
cotton, as well as the means OF land
or water carriag" by which 1t IL at
tempted 70 lie transported.
The hlll, on motion OF MI fnEiAS,
was referred to a Special Committee
of six members.
The next interesting extract we
find il ,he f,Ilowiug brief account of
=, a., n,
oeo''o "" Wv -" VI '''' vi wv
exemption h'll.
Mr. SPARROW moved the senate pro
coed to the consideration OF the hN'
cmptlon Bill, reported from the com
m't,ce on Military Affairs
Mr. IN las moved to lay 1t on the
table Tor the present, Tor the purpose
OF taking up tue Exemption bi' re-
poSed irom me House OF Representa-
'lNeS' lie S''u, "n 'iut ,uS N'' INV"
ton, that the lionse nlll contained
the principal feature Whloh II was
desired should De 'eg's'a'eu upon III
reference to the question o' cNemP-
tl"ns, h'ntly' 'he feature 'uia'hs l"
the ponce ot slaves Inc house MA
passed II UNANIMOUS y ana ne ucs''eu
to test the sense ct ,he SENATE on
tins essential particular pei9'e pro
ceeding to the fnr'her consideration
OF the oill as reported from 'he sen
ate committee Tor "''et ,ohs ucu'''
perhaps, on cach preceding soct'"h'
when the section referred to was ar
rived at, they would "squahhie' over
il for two or three weeks.
Mr. HIM said the COTTON If the
Senator brought up the question made
by the House hill. which was that no
person should be- exempted To super
intend the negroes Of the country
The gentleman talks about clamors oi
the people about this bill.
Mr. PnElAv-l never SAID any thing
about clamurs.
Mr.. llut.-Then ! will not apply
the remark to YOU. 1t was the duty,
continued MI Inn of statesman to
consider all the questions involved
in the general welfare of the people
aud Success of the cause, and To re
~ upon the good sense and patriotism
Of the people, who would endorse them
in the end He granted that the
clause referred to had been most
shamciully abused, and be was de
sirious of adopting such provision IN
the new bill az To- prevent it's occur
renee ia the future. The FIRST propo
-itlon he laid down was that the war
could not he carried on without bread
2. That the army was dependent on