Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-06-01
CONFEDERATE CONGRESS
SECOND 0o8GRESS-EzRST SESSION
SENATE.
TUEanAr, May 81, 1864.

The Senate met at IL o'clock NJ, and on motion Of
Mr. OAPERTON, resolved into secret session. When
the doors opened,
kr BURNETT, from the Committee Of Military At
fairs reported back the bill to facilitate ths settlement.
Of the claims OF deceased soldiers and aked that the
committee be discharged from the further consideration
thereof. Agreed TO.
On motion of Mr. JENISoN, the bill was laid upon the
| table. 1rN
Ga motion of Mr. SPARROW; tho same committee
Was discharged from the further consideration Of the
resolution relative to the exemption from military SER
vice of the necessary ohseIs OF steamboats, engaged 10
| transportation for the Government
Mr. SPARROW, from the same committee, reported
bill to author re the appointment CT additional Quar-
termasers aud Commistarits in the Provisional Army,
which was placed upon the calendar.
On motion of Mr. HILL the judiciary Committee
was discharged from the further consideration CT the
resolution directing the COMMITTEES 70 enquire into the
expe3ency CT reporting bill to continue the suspen-
sion Of the writ of habedS corpus until the cloee o. the
| next session of Congress. tt
MrhILL said the Committee were OF the opinion
that was not GIpsdent to legslse further on the
subject at this tme and that occurring events would
soon render it unnecessary altogether.
| Mr. GRAHAM, from the Joint Committee. ON Impress
ment reported back adversely he TO provide for the
| mpressment of railroad iron.
The amendments of.the House to the Senate bill to
the promp printing OF the laws OF the Oeniede-
| rate States, were concurred IN.
The Senate proceeded to consider the bill to provide
supplies for the army and to prescribe the mode OF
making mpressments.
Mr. GRAHAM, of N G, explained the provisions of
the bill and advocated s passage, as measure required
TO protect the people from unlawful aud opptessive
seizures of their property.
HILL OF Ca argued that the existing law secured
uniformity in impressmeats aad ooud not be repealed
without detrimsnt to the ceuJc. The people generally
| acquiesced in the law
Mr. BARNWELL, of @, presented similar views,
conending that the law as it now exss, was required
to keep the army supplied with provisions He moved
TO strike cut tho seotons coHidng the duty OF making
mpressments TO the cicsrs charged with tho assess
ment and collection Of the tax in kin and prescribing
the punishment of military officers or soldiers who shall
hereafter make impre s5ments of provisions.
Mr. OLDHAM, of Texas, announced his purpose to
vote for the BILL and remarked that in all legislation Of
this kind the officers entrusted With the execution of
tue laws only looked to the grant Of power and pro-
ceeded to exercise it according to their nooas-
He thought the country would be benefited IL about
seven hundred quartermas:eis, who violated the law,
were huag. ~ ln
Mr. ORR, of O, spoke in favor of the bill. There
should be mi to the p0Her Of impressment in order
tina. the families of soldiers may not be deprived of the
means Of subsistence He presented various points in
support OF the main features OF the pending bill.
| Mr. HENRY, OF Tenn, expressed bis concurrence in
the views of Mr. BARSWELL, and earnestly advocated
the retention among the statutes Of the existing law
regulating impressments. The camor sgains. the lay
merely clsmos, and Was more frequently heard in
| the Halls of Congress than out OF it.
lie INDICATED the officers OF the Government rom
the frequent mputations of attempting 20 tyranniz,
over the people and contended thai In ts crisis the
military authorities should have full authority to do
every act contributing to the establishment. of nds
peudencs, which should be the frst object OF every
| o triot.
Mr. SEMNES, of La, said thai in legislatirg on thiS
subject SHOULD be taken TO restrict the exercise Of
the poSer Of mpressment but not to restrict il TO that
extsnt which und possible circumstances would ne
cesitae a Viola.iol of the lay Tle leading Of
| the camor against the "lmpressmsnt Act" was the
unW ngness of large number OF producers to accept
the currency. Impressment had therefore become in
dispensable. TIE 1.-THE vas practically impressment
without compensation, and he was wiling 10 vote for
the imure.smeut Of an additional tenta with CONF
ton as provided for in the BILL but be ooul1 not vote
for the punishment of officers Who in certain cases
might be compelled to resort to mpiosanent
| Mr. JEMIS0N, Of Ala, said that If the existing i'm
pressmeut Law mad been executed honestly and iaith
fully, there would perhaps be no necessity for any
amendment Of the law but the conduct of impress o.
officers in come portions Of Aabami, convinced MIN
that some additional Legislation was requisite. He cited
several RACES pspstraed by impressing agents and
asked il they should be allowed TO pass unpunished.
| Mr. HILL remins ed the Senator from Alabama that
the existing law provided On ample penalty for tush
i cases.
Nc JEMISoN said that the penal section of the law
was detective, and could not be executed with that
acted would bring the impressiDg agents within reach
of the civil authorities if they should violate the law.
The bill was not without objections but upon the whole,
il was the bet bill the subject he had eeeH and be
hoped it would receive the sanction Of the Senate.
| Mr. WATSON, of Miss, mentioned several instances
of arbitrary and ue mpressnens by agents in Mis-
sisspp BE Wiiog to give ample authority to the
Government to secure supplies for the army but he
would, at the same time, protect the rights OF tbs pso
PIE aud especially throw safeguards around the families
Iiv
impressipg agents He hoped that the bill wouli b,
laid over until tomorrow, in order that amendments
might be prepared to render IL more acceptable.
MrJ0HNS0N, of No, said that may of ths outrsges
referred to had been psrpsrsted by ROBBERS, by
acting under assumed authority. He agreed hat soma
thing should be doae remedy the evils complained Of
and eoncurred in the suggestion for the posponement
| of the bill
Mr. HILL, of Ca, said that hs individual cases of
hardship cited were not justified By any Senator. TIE
existing law provided for the punishment Of all officers
vioatiUg its provisions IL: was willing 10 give the
power of impressment primarily to the 1.-THE coffee ors
but not Exclusively" the bill proposed. His objec-
ton the bill based on the conviction that II pass
ed in its present form, Is wouli cripple the Govern
ment.
| Mr.. GRAHAM, of N. o, chairman OF the committee
from which the bill emanaed again advocated its pas-
ssge showing tina. the Recessi les OF the army
ply provided for whilst the rig its of the people at
home we're protected. Tho Government would not be
crippled by the oct. The commissara. was doubled,
and the facilities Of tee Government for Obtaining sup
plies Whereby decreased At the time an equSz,d
mo of impessment was presented, and limit tie
power 6xsd.
B.fsre the subject was disposed Of
On motion of Mr. sEAME5, the Senate resolved into
Executive session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Prayer By the Rev DR. D;ggett, Of the Methodist
Church.
Two messages were received from the Pfesident-one
relative to tao increase Of compensation of the employ
es Of the Governments and another to the estimates
OF the Secretary Of the Treasury for the support of the
government Ordered to be psnted 49,