Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-02-09
srAUNToN, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1864

! in his Judgment, the wants of the service MAJ
| require, furnishing them while so employed
with proper rations and clothing, under rules ant
regulations to be established by him, and paying
10 the owners of said slaves wages at the rate OF
! eleven dollars per month for their use and sef
vice. and in the event of the loss OF any siase o.
while so employed by the act OF the enemy, or Dy
escape 10 the enemy, or by death inflicted by the
enemy. or by disease contracted while IN any
service required of said slaves, then the owners
of the same shall be entitled TO receive the lui
| value OF such slaves, to be ascertalned oy agree
| ment or by appraisement under the laws regu-
| lating impressments at the time, to be PAID un-
der such rules and regulations as tne 0ooie'a' ,
| of War may establish.
ssSEcT1oN. 3. Be it further enacted, Iha'
when the Secretary of War shall be unable to pro-
cure the services of slaves in any military oe-
! parsment in sufficient numbers for the neceSsi-
ties of tie department upon the terms ana cohui
tions set forth in the proceeding section then he
/ is hereby authorized to impress the service OF
| AS MANY male slaves. not to exceed twenty thou-
sand. as many be required from time to time To-
discharge the duties indicated in tue nrst sec
of tits act according to the laws reguiatlag Tue
imnrcssment of slaves in other cases: PRoVIDED,
That slaves so impressed shall, WhlIe employees,
receive the same rations and clothing II kihu
and quantity as slaves regularly hired from their
owners, and in the event Of their loss, snail De
paid for in the same manner, and under the same
rules established by the said impressment laws
PROVIDED, That if the owner have not me male
slave between the ages of eighteen and nifty
years, he shall not be impressed without the con-
sent of the owner,
ssSEoTloN. 4. Be 1t further enacted, That i'm
pressments of slaves shall, as far as practicable,
be made in counties and districts the productions
of which are least available for the use OF the
army or remote from facilities fer transporta-
ton and shall be apportloned, as nearly as
practlcble, among the owners, according 10 NUM-
bers Of laboring hands: PROVIDED, tnat IN max
ing the impressments, not more than one IN eV'
ery five male slaves, between the ages OF elgo-
teen and forty five years, shall be taken from d.
nv owner: Provided further, That free negroes
shall be first impressed, and if there should De
deficiency it shall be supplied by the impress
ment of slaves, according to the foregoing pro-
visions.
In the Senate, Tuesday. the End, the House
joint resolutions to the heroic defenders OF Sa-
bine Pass and of Charleston, 5. o., were unaul-
moasly concurred in. Two bids relative TO tne
Engineer Corps were introduced and feierfeo'
after which, the Senate went into secret session
on the currency question.
The House of Representatives went into Sc.
cret session very soon after the regular nour VI
meeting, on the special order, which ls unoer-
stood to be the military bill. Nothing OF IN
terest was transacted in open session, save Tue
,passage OF bill to establish certain post routes
| in several States.
Feb. The principal business before the SEN
ate r W ednesday] was the bill to provide anu "
ganize general staff for armies IN the ne,o
The bill was perfected and passeu. a Dill w -
trodGced by Mr.. Phean, creating the oiiiSo VI
ensign m the army. was also considered and pas
| sed The House Joint resolutions OF thanks TO
| Gen. Patrick R Cleburne and the olncers anu
| of his command, were unanimously agreea TO-
/ The Senate went into secret session " eonSi0oi
the bills regulating our foreign commerce.
The House was engaged. most of the time II
/ open session, in the agreeable duty OF aaopt
| ing resolutions of thanks 10 various oIganlza-
/ tions of troops, who continue 10 le-0n N
| the war.
! A few hills and resolutions relating 10 otne
/ subjects, were introduced
! The House met at night and went into secre
session on the Military bill.
| Tn the Senate on Thursday, the 4th, nothln
of importance was done in open session. mo
ton was entered to reconsider the vote by Whlc
the bill creating the office OF ensign IN the arm
was passed. and several resolutions OF thanks l
troona who have re enlisted for the war wer
! concurred in.
The House passed bill to increase the com
| -.ation of the TREASURER, and Clerks in tn
pe.s --"nt- at Richmond, the Assis
Fraas., ond extendln
! treasury Depart1no IN
| raht treasurer, at Charleston
the Pr DIVISIONS of the act to The Clerk ana ..
] rployees IN the Department, at Conmbia. South
Carolina.
The bill from the Senate to establish a yolun-
teer Navy was also passed and bill to author
ize the President to establish Military Court
for each Division of cavalry In the field, and one
for each State in military department wheney.
er the public interest may require it.
The Senate, friday, Feb. 5th,was chiefly oc-
cupied in the discussion of an amendment to
the esAppropriation BILL Withholding the pay
of officers appointed under the Provisional Gov
ernment who have not been renomiuated and
confirmed by the Senate. After lengthy debate,
the proposition was withdrawn. The House bill to
exempt farmers who have furnished snbstitut es
from military service, was made the order of
the day for Tuesday next.
Nothing of Importance was transacted by the
House in o.. EN- session. Soon after it was call.
ed to order, motion was made to go into Sc
cret session, but It was Withdrawn to allow the
introduction Of some memorials to re-enlsted
troops. The motion then renewed and
the House went into secret session to consider
the business before it, which. it is understood.
has been increased by the adoption of the FL
nancial bill, which has been sent from the Sem
ate.