Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-25

MARSHAL 80, r
Joint resolutions Of the Senate relating to Judges of
oo.federate District Courts in Virginia. we're taken up
and appropriately referred
The bfrom the Senate in relation to the authensci
ton of claims against the government not otherwise
prsyded for, was taken up and referred.
The Senate bill providing for the Investigation ana
settlement OF accounts Of Commissioners, Quarter
masters, Commssaries contractors aad other financial
agents, was also taken up and referred.
RECEIPT OF CoUHTERFErr NOTES.
The Senate bill to extend the provisions OF an act in
relation TO the receipt OF counterfeit Treasury Notes oy
public officers approved May Is, 1868 was tAsen up
for consideration and pa SD. The bill extends the pro-
visions of eaid act TO the stof January, 1864.
IMPREssNKNTs.
The hill which originated in the House TO regulate i'm
prcssmepts and to repeal act smendatoty thereof
and cent back from the Senate with amendments was
referred 10 the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. RUSSELL, Of Va, moved to reconsider the vote
by which the bill was referred which was agreed to-
1t wss then taken up and considered.
The first amendment Of the Senate to Strike out the
frat section was not concurred in, but tho less mpor
t.nt amendments were The bill WAS then ordered to
be returned to the Senate.
INTRODUCTION BILLS, ETC.
Mr. BARKSDALE, Of Mics, introduced bill supple.
mentary to the several acts in relation to the public
printing, which was referred.
Mr. PERKINS,, of La., submitted resolution, which
was adopted that the Committee Public Printing u-
the Acts of Congress under the Provisional and Perma
nent Government s, and digest of the laval and mill
tary laws for the of the government
Mr. NILES OF S. c.. introduced q bill to authorize
the appointment OF additional artillery officers for Ord
narcs duty which referred
Mr. INGRAM Of Ga, submitted aresolution, which
was referred to the Special COMMITTEES that subject,
that inquiry b. made into the OF the delay in the
settlement of the claims of deceased soldiers and what
additional legislation, any is necessary to facilitate
such settlements.
Mr. MCQUEEN, Of S. @, presented memorial, which
was referred
Mr. LYONS presented a memorial from Robert
Cochran r. r. Young, and others, Clerks in the De-
partmens, pray for relief.
On motion of Mr. JONES, If Tenn, the memorial and
all others relating to tie subject we're referred to
SPECIAL Committee to be appointed.
Mr. MILES, of S. O., asked unanimous consent that
he might introduce resolutions in relation TO troops
who have go periodically eenlisted for the war. Con-
cent was gvep aud the following resolutions unani
mousy adopted the rule being suspended for that pur-
pose:
Resslped. That the thanks of Congress are hereby
rendered to all Of the brgades and other troops in
vice. who have taken the patriotic aud gall mt solution
to re enlist for the war.
Reached, That the manifestation Of ouch spirit in
our armies is happy of the ultimate triumph of
our struggle for Independence indicative as it is OF the
fixed determination OF our people never TO lay down
their aims while soil exposed to the hostile tread
and barbarous rsvaees of our malignant enemiss"
Mr CHAABLISS, Of Va, submitted resolution.
which agreed to- inquiring into the eIpediency Of
placing on the list Of Bcaswans 10 the Navy, the
Of John DundeIdAlo.
Mr. GRAY, of Texas introduced bill supplementary
10 the several acts in relation 10 Military Courts which
was referred.
Mr. GARTRELL, of Ga, presented memorial from a
Midshipman OF the Navy, and submitted q resolution
nqarg into the txpediency of criasing the pay Of
midsdpnen. The resolution and accompanying d0cu-
ment referred.
Mr. CONRAD, Of La submitted a resolution in
strucinR the Committee the Q1arermaster and Com
msssry Departments 10 investigate and report the facts
of the contract made in December 1862 by Maj. A. b.
Magruder A. C. s. or bJ his assistant Capt. Diane,
with certain parties at or near Lnconton N. O., for @
quantity OF beef supply the frce Stationed ct Will
mington, under command Of Gen. Whiting, and the
subse qlent dsapprova Of said contract by the Commits
cary Observation-Disclosures said disapproyal proper,
the reverse and whether the Government sustained any
AID what loss thereby. The resolution agreed to-.
SPECIAL ORDER.
Mr. MILES said, "a the gentleman ircm Virginia (Nr.
FUEsTEK) who had drawn up and introduced bill SINH.
lar to that for the organization of Invalid Corps the
special order, absent that il be Informally passed
ever, which vas agreed to.
Mr. MILES moved that in lieu Of that bill, the House
take from the calendar the bill conscIbe free negroes
and slaves as tcams,ers, cooks, To-, for the army.
Me-. GARDENHIER, Of Tenn, asked if the passage
of the proposed bill would recognize Lincolhs right
to conscribe our slaves for military purposes
Mr. MILES somewhat surprised at the question Of
the gentleman from Tennessee, Our slaves we're our
own properly, and the United States government had
nothing TO do with them.
Mr. F00IE said be approved the object of the bill
and should vote for it. but the difficulty that presented
itself TO his und the question OF the exchange Of
these non-cOmbstapts in case they should be taken
prisoners
Mr. MILES said that question had not been considered
by the committee, bu. that might well be
disposed OF when that emergency shall arise. l. could
be remedied by separate BILL or settled by the Com
mssioners of Exchange if they should ever be able to
untanEe that very tangled subject.
Mr. BALDWIN, of Va, moved TO amend the fret aec-
ton Of the bill by addi5g Aud free negro engaged
10 the prediction If food forage, shall DO taken
der this act"
Mr. BALDWIN said that in no ex amption law that had
been passed by Congress there any provision for the
producing class Of the country. The solitary exemption
made in fav r of that class based the idea of
pol &C.. He represented section OF Virginia where al
most the entire agricultural interests conducted
by whites and iree-negro labores, although it was
q tlave-hoding community. He could state, on
reliable authority that the late bill repeating exemp-
lion by substitution would be the means OF closing
one thousand farms which had hitherto produced
surplus of supplies for the army and restricted them
to a sufieiency for the support Of their families.
natcver may DC tue eHecb OI THAT
in other localities in driving into the army those who
have been skulkng lust duty to the country,.it had
swept like tornado through his district, leaving desc
hon in its track Farmers hiring their negroes,
aud dsposDg of their personal property, with view of
being compelled to go into the army The slaves had
escaped to been entced away by the Yankees, and
to avoid the hardships OF that, many had employed
free negroes 10 work their farms and relieve the
pressure on the farming interests Under the circum
stances the proposed ball would result in serious injury
to his diet let at least. In districts If the white
and free negroes arc taken, the women would su-
perntend aud conduct the operations of the slaves but
circumstances already alluded to- rendered it impossible
10 the district he represented.
1t seemed that there sort Of stampede,or panic
in Congress we'll out of Congress- IL was no Sc
cret that the question of did not depend on
the number OF men, so much that of the great
question OF supplies They already scant enough
aod yet it was proposed to make additional raids on
them by this sort Of legislation. The cry was "Place