Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-06
ONFEDER ATE CONGRESS
SENATE.


THURSDAY, March 9TH, 1868.
The Senate met at IL o'clock M. Prayer by Rev, Dr.
Scecy of the Baptist Church.
THE SAvs DEPARlaES.
The Senate bill to authorize the appointment Of
Register and an additional Clerk and Craftsman for the
Navy Department, was taken.up and passed
RESOLUTIONS or THANKS.
Mr.. BROWN, of Miss reported from the Committee
of Naval Affairs the following joint Solutions which
wero read and unanimously agreed to-
Resolsi 6ythe Congress Of the Confederate States Of
america, That the thanks of Congress are eminenuy
due and are hereby cordially rendered, to Captain RI.
phaeI Semmes of the Confederate States Navy and to
the officers and under his command, for their gal
lantry aud good conductin the naval affair of the coast
OF Texas, the 18th of January 1863 between the
Confederate steam soop Alabama and the United States
sloop Hatteras resulting in the total destruction of the
latter after conflict of thirteen minutes. 1t is to such
conduct that Congress and the country look for rumphs
on the sea- which shall rival in brilancy the glorious
achievements Of our arms on the land and at no dis
tant day. win for infant navy the admiration Of tue
world and the lasting gratitude of our people.
Res7lrci That the President be requested to cause
copy Of these resolutions to be sent Captain Semme
to be by him submitted to the officers and crew Of the
Alabama with the assurance to them, individually and
collectively, that Congress has heard OF their brilliant
success with the iveest satisfaction, aud confidently
relies their skill and intrepidty for other triumphs
alike glorious to them and honorable to the service in
which they engaged.
THE IMrREssMEyT BILL.
The Senate resumed the consideration OF the bill to
authorize and regulate the impressmen of private pro-
perty for the Of the army. The pending question
was Oh the amendment submitted by Mr. SENMEs of La,
providing for the appointment by the President Of three
commissioners in each State to fix the price value to
be paid to owners Of articles impressed
Mr.. CAPERT0N, of Va, being entitled to the hoor
addressed the Senate at length in presenting his views
on the question OF impcssment, and in opposition to
the pend ne amendment lie argued that the Constitu.
ton guaranteed to every citizen Just compensation
and arbitrary imprsssmens which did not insure that
compensation in violation of the spirit and letter
of the Constitution. "Just compensation" was the
market value at the tins and place of the mpressment
The effects of arbitrary impressments were shown to be
injurious the interests of government aud people
Mr.. SEMMRS modified hiS.amendmenis by inserting
the words "as inst compensation after the word paid"
lie then proceeded to explain ard advocate his amend.
ment The market price Of an article was not just
pensaton in every In the condemnation of land
for railroad, other public improvement, the
did receive the market value, but just eompensa-
ton asceraned by commissioners appointed for the pur
pose. He 40 constitutional difficulty in the amend
ment.
Mr. HILL, of Ca, said that he would vote for the
amendment if it alliedwith the rest of the BILL
ported from the Judiciary Committee. The market
value OF and just compensation for thing were gate
different as ne proceeded to show by Illustrations.
Mr.. HENRY of Tenn, said that the market value Of
any article was entirely fictitious, and referred, by way
OF illustration, to Richard Ill, when down in the dust
o. Bosworth field, Offering his Kingdom for horse
That offer the market value of horse at tie time
aud place designated. Mr.. ii. said that the army must
be fed and clothed will be Therefore he
would do what he could constutionaly, to ensure sup.
plies at just compensation 10 the owners lie preferred
the plan, with notifications, proposed some days
since by Mr.. HUNTER, Of Va, regulate imDressments
Mr.. SIMhS, Of KY, expressed his unqualified oppo-
sion to subectng the value and tenure Of the property
of the people Of the Confederate States to the will OF
three men in each State. The passage of such law
would produce revolt against the Government and In
six months cause the premium Of gold to rise to 900
per cent. Other dsasraus consequences which he emu
meraed would ensue if this proposition should become
law.
OLDHAM and WI6FALL,. of Texas, the amendment
submitted by Mr.. sEMMES was agreed to by the follow.
ing vote:
Yeas-Messrs Barnwell Clay, Davis, Hill, Hunter,
Maxwell Orr, Peyton, Phelan, Semmes, Sparrow and
Wigfall-l2.
Nays-Messrs Brown, Capcrton, Clark, Haynes, Hen
~, johnson, of Ca, Mitchell, Oldham, Simms and
Yaucey-l0.
8. "That three commits soners shall be appointed by
the President in each State who shall be eeholders resi-
dent in the State for which they appointed and VINO
shl hold their sessions place IN that state 10 Dc
fixed by the Secretary of War; and who shall hoo the
offices for ore year. and each OF them sna rses'' IT,
annual salary of dollars, payable quar,er{.
shall, he tho dutv or these commissioners to divide the
State into one or more apprascment districts AZ ner as
creon and proceed to FIX the price OF vauT 70 DC pau
NJ lust eomnensaton 10 the OF the leading art-
ces of subsistence and forage that may De impressed IN
said Advertisement district for the use OF the army ana
the price or value thus fixed in such districts shall be