The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-12-29
CoNFEDERATE CONGRESS.

Affairs presented in the House a bill to con-
in service, to the end OF the war all soldiers
now in service, or who shall hereafter enter the
same, and shall remain in their existing organiza-
tins. This bill is not committee report bpt pre-
scented for the consideration of the House, and at
the request OF the anthor was referred to a COM
mittee Another member presented a-resolution
that if any part of the army be reconscrlbed 1t
shall be allowed to elect company and regimental
officers.
| 10 the Senate, tie Military Committee reported
q bill which provides that when substitute has
deserted or shall hereafter desert, when at the
time OF reception is unfit or when he becomes liable
to enrolment under present or future laws, the
principal shall go into the army. This bill will
he considered in order The sentiment OF Con-
gress is divided on the subject Some are OF the
opinion that it is better to do nothing, as those
who have substitutes will all become liable at the
end Of three years from the time of putting them
in the army. The impressment bill reported by
the Judiciary Committee a few days ago was ia
ken up and several amendments adopted. The
most important allows appeal of both parties when
dissatisfied" at award Of local appraisers to State
Commissioners; prohibits the impressment OF field
negroes except ut order Of General Commanding
Department. he bill passed.
\ bill also passed allowing farmers to commute
the tenth of potatoes by paying value in mo-
ney at rate to be fixed by impressment commits
| soneIs
| Dec 22-Tbe Bill concerning substitutes,
which the Military Committee reported to the
House yesterday, was extensively debated to-day,
and number of amendments presented. A ma
iority Of those participating in the debate favored
putting the principals at once into the service
No vote taken oh the subject.
During the morning hour the Judiciary Com
mi,tee reported bill to punish persons enticing
s,,id;ars harhorinp aiding GeSerterS.
and bill to prevent dealing in the currency OF
the enemy. The latter bill caused considerable
discussion.
! The Senate passed bill to pay to the Provls-
iopal Council of Kentucky 81 100000 to clothe
Kentucky troops.
MIR Russell, of Va, offered the following resolu-
ton, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judicia-
ry, inquire into the expediency of enacting:
l. That the notes of all banks in the Confede-
rate States held by alien enemies be con6scated.
g That all such notes which shall not be depos-
tied in the banks respectively which have issued
the same within ninety days after the passage of
this act shall be presumed to be held by alien ene-
mics
3 That any bank which may incur debt to
the government by reason Of such coHfscation
may dischargeth any part Of the same
within certain time by paying atenth thereof in
specie and the residue i'll bonds of the Confederate
States; ...
To apply similar principles to coupons and
other paper negotiable by delivery.
Dec. 23.-Alost of the day in the House was
spent in discussing the bill to put the men in
vice who have heretofore furnished substitutes
Various amendments were proposed-one that all
who have sufficient substitutes in the service,
or whose substitutes died were disabled in the
line Of their duty, shall be exempted one year from
the day the substitute entered the army another
provides compensation, &e.-both Of these were
voted down. The bill as amended aud passed is
as follows:
Whereas ID the present circums ances of the
conntry it requires the aid of all who are able to
bear
The Congress of the Confederate States of
America do enact: that no person shall be exemp-
ted from military service by reason of his having
furnished substitute, provided that nothing in
he foregoing clause shall be construed to re-
eve the substitute from any obligation liability
contracted assumed by him as such substitute,
but this act shall not be construed as to affect
persons who, though not liable to render military
service, have nevertheless put in substitutes.
This bill was adopted by vote Of .ffiy.t,oo to
thirteen. A motion to reconsider was voted down
by very large majority.
nc iolo"iiS IL lHe 'otc ny "HlCH the aDOEe
bill passed the House:
Ayes-Messrs. Atkins, Bell, Boteler n. w.
Bruce, Chambliss, Chiffon, Chrisman, Conrad,
Conrow, Currn, Curry, De jarrett, Farrow, Eos
ter, Freeman, Funston, Gather, Gardenher, Gar
land, Goode, Graham, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge,
Heiske Hilton, Johnson, Jones, Kenan, Of Ga,
keenan,, of N. c., Lander, Lewis, Lyon, Machen,
Mclean, Menees, Miller, Moore, Perkins, Preston,
Push, Rails, Russell, Sexton, Simpson, Singleton,
Staples, Vest, Villerc, Welch Wilcox, Wright, Of
Tenn, Wright, OF Texas.-52.
Nays-Messrs. Ashe, Aver. Clapp, Clark, Cop-
ton, Collier, Dargan, Gartrell, Lyons, Miles,
Strickland, SWAIN, Trippe.-13.
Dec. "a The bill which passed the House
yesterday to put mon into the army who have fur
uished substitutes came up today in the Senate
ltappeared to meet with the favor Of large ma
5ority of that body, and strong disposition was
manifested to pass it at once, but it was postponed
aud made the special order for Monday next.
Both Houses passed bill authorizing the AS
sistaut Quartermaster and agents engaged in col
ecting tax in kind to receive from farmers sailed
pork in lieu Of bacon
The house passed Bill providing that if any
Rerson shall in any G.ner circulate or trade in
paper currency Of the United States he shall be-
punished by fine of not more than twenty thou
sand dollars and imprisonment not more than three
years. The Committee Military Affairs report
ed bill to allow officers in the army to draw ra-
slons In kind and quality, the same as privates,
anu purchase clothing from the Ouartermasters Mt