Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-04-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

On motion Of Mr.. JOHNSON, of Ark, the Senate ad
Journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
After the House had spent sometime in secret session
on Monday, the doors were reopened. bill reported
IRON the Committee on the Judiciary, by Mr.. DARGAu
to provide for taking of testimony in certain cIimna
Ca es postponed TO the inst Monday in January
next Another bill from the same Committee, to au
horize the Department of Justice to offer rewards for
the apprehension of fugtives from justice was taken
up and considered until the recess.
| NIGHT SESSION -MoSDAY.
The House resumed the consideration OF the bill re
Lifting to fugitives from Justice.
The Judiciary Committee propose to amend the bill
by striking out eDepament of Justice" aud inserting
"lhe President"
Mr.. CONRAD, lOf La, moved TO amend the amend.
ment by substituting the words "the Marshals of the
Confederate States BY authority of the President.
After long period spent in ascertaning whether
| there was quorum present. Mr.. CoNRADs amen dment
rejected, and the amendment OF the Committee
agreed to. The bill then passed. 1t authorizes the
President to offer reward, not exceeding $4,000 for
the apprehension of fugitives from justice.
| Mr.. HElSKELL, of Tenn, from the Committee on
the Judiciary, reported back bill amending the first
section Of act relating TO the compensation of Attor
neys of the Confederate States which taken up and
| passed.
Mr. REISKELL from the same Committee, reported
ayo'ably upon resolution proposing to the
II,
| OF Mr.. RAILS was lid upon the table
| Mr.. RUSSELL of Va from the same Committee re-
ported series Of resolutions relating TO martial law
which postponed and placed on the calendar.
Mr.. GARLAND moved reconsideration of the vote
bT which the resolutions postponed and the mo.
ton was supported by Messrs GARLAND, BALDWIN and
FooTE. Pending the consideration Of The subject tie
House Adjourned
TUESDAY, Alrl Ii, 1868.
The House was called to order at I o'clock
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
The SPEAKER laid before the House messages from
the President, traustnItt & the following:
A communication from the Sec etaTy of War COW
er;ug copies of General BEaxtOn Brasg's reports of
v,rIl battles.
covering estimates for the support Of Government for
the first half Ct the rex fcal year. Pie Secretary in
his communication, strongly urges Congress to levy u
tax in kind. Ordered to be printed.
THE sTQUEsTRATgON LAWS.
The SPEAKER announced the following Select Con-
mitee the bill 10 amend the Scquestraton Laws !
Messrs LYONS of Va; GARLAND, OF Ark; GRAY, OF
Texas; CLsrP of Mis-, and HODGE, of Ky.
COLONEL GARNET s CASE.
Mr.. PERKINS, of La, from the Select Committee to
investigate certain charges against the chief collector of
the wrSax, in the State OF Virginia, submitted a re-
port which laid upon the table and oroered to be
printed IL coutempates further action on the part
of the House. The Committee recite the simple fac.
that there was no corruption on he part of Colonel
Garrett to influence the action Of Congress- but an act
Of improperly.
MARTIAL LAW.
The House resumed the consideration of the Joint
Resolutions reported last night by Mr. RUSSELL from
the Committee theJudcary, which are as follows:
l. That Martial Law in the sense of an arbitrary sus.
pension of all the aS and civil Jurisdictions cannot
exist within the Confederate States.
H. That Martial Law in any sense, if it can exist
within the Confederate States can exist only by virtue
off Legislative authority.
Ill Military Law flor the government of the orces)
is distinct from Martial Law and it is enacted by Con-
gress in pursuance of the Constitution
" Without martial law military commanders NAV |
somees exert extraordinary powers at and near the |
places occupied by their troops and may be justified by
the nature and ies Of the service and therefore
BY the laws authorizing the employment of the forces
but they the hazard of responsibility according
to known pris ciples OF law.
V. For the security Of liberty and the certainty Of !
law powers which necessary to he conferred on the
President military commanders in lieu of the |
power 20 declare martial law within the Confederate
States ought TO be conferred by distinct enactments
The QUESTION being upon the motion of Mr. GAR
LAND. toIeeopsider the by which the House post.
pOued the resoutions pace, Ia mnii,:,
Mr.. BAREsDALE favored postponemcn', and Ncssrs.
MOORE and CLAPP sustained the motion TO reconsider.
Mr.. FOSTER, Of Ala, called the question which was
ordered and the motion TO reconsider prevae6-yeas
40, nays 2l
Mr.. II. W. BRUCE moved that the resolutions be re-
committed to the Committee Oh the Judiciary.
A long debate ensued in which Mr.. DAVIS, of Mis-.
discussed the question Of marital law and favored the
passage of the resolutions reported by the com-
mit-ee.
Mr. KEENAN,, OF Ca, viewed the resolutions as unnc-
cessary distractions hoped they would speedily be DIS
posed Of and that the House would turn its attention TO
the important business of the country
Mr.. CONRAD, Of La, took similar views, and went
on to dfne martial law that law of military necessity
which must always exist in nation at war.
Mr. RUSSELL OF Va, opposed the recommitment Of
the resolutions because this the last opportunity
he House would have for action upon martial law aud
The committee could do no more than it had do.e al
ready He believed that martial law should be controlled
lnd regulated by enactment Of Congress.
Mr. POOTE of Tenn, denounced the action OF Gen.
andman in Arkansas, and quoted from pamphlet by .
General bert Pike detailing series of outrages per-
,ctrated by General Hindman in the name Of martll
aw He urged the necessity of some statutory enact
lent, to prevent a repetition of such outrages.
Mr. CHAMBERS, OF Miss, desired TO offer an amend
nent, but the CHAIR declared it not in order
Mr.. GARLAND of Ala, altered series Of instruc-
ions TO the committee in the that the motion to
ecommit prevailed.
Mr.. ATKINS, of Tenn, called the previous question, 2
which ordered and the motion to recommit not
greed to. q
The resolutions ordered their engrosSment and
bird reading
Mr.. CONRAD urged division Of the question on
heir passage He in favor of the first resolution
ut the second proposition be could not agree 10.
The CHAIR decided that the question not divisi !.
lie. II
The question then taken and the resolutions
assed by the following vote