Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-30
CONFEDERATE STATES CONGRESS.
THIRD SESSION OF FLeSr CONGRESS-
SENATE.
TUESDAY, Dec. 20, 1868.

Prayer by Rev. DR.. Burrose, of the Baptist Church.
The PRESIDENT lsid before the Senate a commuui
cation from General Hardee and other General officers
relative 10 the organization OF the army. Referred to
the Committee of Military Affairs
The bill TO repeal the act regulating the grintirg Of
furloughs and discharges from hospitals was taken up
and, after some discussion, passed
The bill 10 repeal the act authorizing the destruction
OF property mil tsry necetsy as next taken up.
Mr. PHELAN, of Miss, the patron of the BILL advo-
Gated It's passage He argued that good had resulted
from the desruc ion oil cotton aad other property
der the authority of said a,. Thousands of bales had
been destroyed in Mississippi, under circumstances
which excited great discomfort among the people, The
officers executing the law had allowed ricl planters, in
various instances TO remove their cotton. whilst that
belonging to poor widows had been consigned to the
flame. In one case the people became so Indignant a.
the manner in which the law vas executed, that they
burned the cotton belonging to the officers who we're
destroying cot1n bu took care to pass their
As the bill inicts il jury upon the envy and does
great loss to own citizens, tn, act should be
repealed.
Mr. p. referred to the restitution and suffering of the
people 10 the country bordering upon the Mississippi,
ana cont. ndei thai, under the circumstances, they
should be allowed to retain their remnant of cotton,
aud cell it, If need lie, TO the enemy TO support them
selVs
The d. sructon of our cotton has had no apprecia BILE
influence on the war. Why, thep, should we deprive
citizers of the of it Ii public good is to
result fom the law-if only harm is TO result from it
it should be repealed aud he asked he attention Of
Congress to the subject.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Ark, aid there should be in the
bill some recognition of the claims for losses already
sustained There to be indisposition in Con-
gross taxa any nn,ina nj spehI elaine Not only ir
Mississippi but in Arksosa, the citizens had sustained
very severe Losses The Pc pie, however, did not
get their Losses, though mJry OF them provoked
at The manner in which the law had been executed
The feeling amorg the psope preference for the
sacrifice required of them, aGd come complimentary re-
cogn ol OF this patriotic sentiment by Congress
due TO them but this had been denied-although
tue claims of spectators were always recognized
M j. sympathiz,d with fn2nciers, and he hoped
they would yet satfy why tina they had never
used the cotton OF the cunry 10 strengthening the
credit of the Government. he would vote for the bill
not because it would enablehe people trade with the
enemy but because If perfected it should be- h may
provide al indemnity for those who have sus aimed
10, sss by the destruction Of their cotton
Mr.. HENRY, OF Tenn remarked that the pending
measure was of considerable importance and as the
attendance was thin, he would move that the Senate
adjourn.
The PRESIDENT stated that he had mef lge from
the President on his desk for Executive session.
Oa notion the Sene resolved into Execu I've session,
and soon after Adjourned.