Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-06
Congressional.

OVn6ACSSAVu0ts
We give below in condensed form from the |
Progress, the proceedings of Congress Of the 29th
and Both December. ~
In the Senate, on the 2sth, Mr.. Scmmes, from the
committee on finance reported bill to fund Confed
crate notes. This bill provides among other tings
that after certain date "ho treasury notes out
standing at the time of the passage of this act
shall be receivable in payment Of public dues"
1t will be seen that the Generals of the Tennessee
army are debating measures to Congress In the |
course Of the debate the subject Mr. Foota said:
"AgaD, if the letter of our worthy officers has
not been misunderstood, he had another exceed
ngly grave objection to it. ltseems to suggest the
pro2riety of extending the operation of the con- |
script law to all persons between the ages Of sixteen
and sixty. New, he suspected not these officers of
any evil intent. He was sure they were as true |
friends of the rights Of the States of this Coled
eracy, and of the people thereof as they hasebsnF
stawart defenders of those rights in the field. But
still his undoubting conviction was, that measure
Of this kind, without some modification of the ex |
listing conscript SYSTEM which he had not yet heard
mentioned, would have the inevitable effect Of ut
tery destroying State rights and State sovereignty,
and of establishing huge and overwhelming Mill
tary Despotism, beneath which all the muniments |
of civil freedom will be crushed into utter extinc
ton. He did not think that these excellent officers
had any such scheme in contemplation; but he |
would now tell them, ard tell the country that
there are persons of consequence, in the army
and elsewhere, who are openly advocating the con-
centration Of all military power in the hands of the
President; and really, if you extend the conscrpt
law in the IN amer now recommended, the President
as the colnnander-in chief, would have more power
given to him than any monarch now living What
ever others may think, he was we'll and painfully
fio.lf poct hat ho yyoc ntot
all likely to WELD it either wisely or with due re-
gard to the reserved rights of the States and peo-
pie. He had no right to cede away the liberties of
his constituents. He still had an oldiashioned
affection for liberty, and whatever part others might
act he should ever be found on the side Of those
priceless rights for which this war had been CON-
menced, and for the vndicaton Of which, thus far,
this war had been carried on. He knew that in
another wing Of this capitol distinguished gentle
man from the State of Mississippi is reported in the
morning papers. to have declared that he was for
greatly simplifying the powers of our present Exec
utive chief with view to enabling him to prosecute
the war with more vigour. He must say that he
had read the Speech to which he had referred with
shulder of alarm which he had seldom heretofore
experienced. lie CHANGED to know that there were
men not far from where he now stood (God forbid
that they should be found in this HaD who were
the open advocates of Military Despotism.-
Rumor says that this portentous symptom is
not altogether confined to this vicinagc, but
that one or two scrvltors Of pampered power
are to be found even in the ranks of our army
Now, let him say once for all, that he should not
willingly surrender up an atom of the present con-
trolling power over the reserved militia force of the
States to the President and add to his present dan
gerous capacity for mischief, especially he was
sure that he would nevev willingly surrender power
of any kind once vested in him, and would be but
too apt to seize all convenfen. opportunities Of OK
| ho Drasidnnt uil hov tn rhn,r hin
| self little free from his strange and unrea-
sonable partialities and prejudces-a little more
| regardtul of well known public sentiment before he
could yield MIN any increase of his military capaci-
ty. He had but little relish for the notion of cs
tabl!shng dictatorship"
| North Carolina has long been celebrated for her
devotion TO liberty, but it seems she had no men,
Der of the House who possessed the nerve to rise in
his place and sustain Gen. Foote. Whittier are We
driftinga
1t will be seen that the Senate has passed the
House bill to place the principals Of substitutes in
service.
RICHMOND, Dec 29-Tn Senate bill passed to
repeal the law allowing Surgeons in hospitals to
grant fnrloaghs and discharges.
At an early hour went into executive session, af-
ter which adjourned The pending bill to put those
into the army who have furnished substitutes was
not taken up.
In the Hcusca communication, addressed to Con-
gaess and signed by large number of commanding
officers of tae army Of Tennessee was presen ted
and read, urging prompt enactment of measures to
avert disorders omnipotent for destruction and
which msy become incarable in thirty days. In
this communication they give the opinion that it is
essential to retain, during the war; tile troops now
in the service and to place 10 the service, immedi-
ately, for the same time, al white males between
ls and 80 able to perform any kind of military duty,
and authorize the President at his discretion, to
place in the service for tie same term, all between
10 and 18, and 80 and 60; to prohibit substitutes
to prohibit exemptions except for civil officers to
prohibit Details except for short times to carry OF
works essential to the army to prohibit discharges
except in cases of permanent disability from any
duty; to prohibit furloughs, except under rules Of
universal application, based on the length of service
and mertorious conduct; to prohibit as far as pos
sible all able bodied officers and soldiers from being
assigned to post, hospital or other interior duty
and to place all able bodied negroes in the service
cooks, laborers, &C. They also suggest dissatisfac
ton on account of short rations and deprecated
currency. Reconscribng the army may be obviateo
by bounties to old troops, increase of pay, com
mutation to enlisted men for rations not issued ane
allowing rstions TO officers This document is signet
by Generals Hardee, Cheatham, Stevenson, Breck
enrdge Brown, Pettus, Reynolds and Jackson, ant
with some slight reservations and dssents, by Gen
erals Cleburne, Hndnan, Lewis, Lowry, Ander'
son. Mauigault Vaughn, Quarles, Finley, Bates
Stewart, Strahl, Clayton, and by several Coloner'
commanding brigades The reading of this docu
ment produces some discussion. Mr.. Foote declared
that the adoption of the measures recommends
would be step towards establishing military des
potism, With the present administration at its head
to which he was seriously opposed. If dictate
became necessary he favored placing that power in
the hands Of General Lee, man influenced by M
narrow views or preudces, but patriot Of enlarged
and liberal idt as and mind OF the order OF Wash
ington. :.
The matter was referred to the Military commit
tee motion to reconsider tho bill which passce
the House ON Wednesday last to prohibit the clrcu
lat;on Of Yankee currency was voted down 4s to S
| Attendance in both Houses still thin. House