Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-04
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Hous, me. a. Il O'Clock A. N. Prayer by Rev.
Dr. Duucan.
The call OF the States being the regular order,
Er. CURRY OF Ala, introduced bill TO repeal the
act to authorize the discharge OF certain civil officers
from the ary service of tue Confedsrae States up
proved April 1868 TAe bill referred - the ON.
init ee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. CURRY introduced bill to regulate the grant
ing Of burroughs in certain cases. Referred to the
came committee.
Rr. CURRY sS submitted the following joint reso-
luticns in relation the treatment Of colored troops
which were referred to the came committee
Whereas, by certain join: resolutions passed by the
Congress of the Confederate States OF America, snd
approved the ls May, 1868 the procamatons issued
by the President of the United States designed or
intending to emancpate slaves in the Confederate States
OF TO abduct them TO nce them to insurrectol or
to employ uGgrces ia against the Confederate stes,
OF TO oyeTthroE tie institution Of African slavery and
bring servile Ia these States" denounced
al inconsistent with the spirit of those u:ages which, in
modern warfare prevail among cyiiz d nations, and,
therefore, subject 70 repression by retaliation, set
forth in raid resolutions:
And whereas TIE correspondence between the Com.
mission rs for Exchange fpri5Oneis recently submit ed
to Congress- it appears, by letter of Maj-Gen Hitch
cock Commissioner Of Exchange d ted az Washington
the 2S December 1868 informa ion is communicated
TO the Commissioner Of Exchange appointed by this
Government that "unti the Southern authorities make
distinct declaration Of purpose to treat col0red
United ates Government in all cts accordicg to
the laws Of applicable 10 other iroop we cannot
recede from the position taken BY the Commander-n-
Chief above referred to," this position being order
suspending the operation of that portion of article four
of the cartel which requires al prisoners OF war 10 be
discharged parole in days after their capture and
Whereas is well known from general orders sued from
Wash ngtop well from other ofci4l sources that
the words "coored troops and their officers used in
the said letter. INTENDED to apply slaves
.Ofs 81. Al.
been seized, abduce., aud impressed into the military
service of the Uoiied States and armed for warfare
against their masters:
Therefore, it is resolved, by the Congress of the Con-
federate States Of America That they do adhere tho
position ;ha the emancipation of the negro slaves with
10 the Confederate States by the enemy il not among
the scs of legitimate warfare; but Is properly Chased
by writer's up)n public law including the most prom
Ge5t publ ciss of the Uaed Sa es, among such acts
as "pu.tirg TO death all prisoners in cold blood and
without special caus' or the right 10 use poisoned
weapons or to assassinats.n
Resolved, That the prstenson of the United States
that these Sltss whenever they may recapture their
own slaves, abducted and ermed by the enemy, shall
deliver them back to the enemy parole prisoners
OF war; is, IN ELECT, demand that this Government
shall the right Of the United States to legis
late Wilhai its imis and shall aid the U9ied stes in
giving effect to such lsgisls9n-a prelenson too
strous and revolving TO be yielded 10 Tor moment by
the Confederate States and set up oy enemies only
t. create pretexs for violating the litigation Of lib
Grating prisoners Of war; in accordance With the terms
OF the cartel to which the faith of tie Governments
is pledged.
Resolved, That Congress approve The ection of the
Executive in refusing 10 entertain any proposition for
treating recapurec negroes Otherwise than as
the properly Of those from whom they we're abducted
by enemy and to whom the laws require their resto
ration.
Resolved, That neither of these resolutions nor those
passed on toe first OF hsy 1863 are 70 be construed
as to exclude from treatment prs1ers of such
free c,lored persons aud their officers ros resi-
mt within the Confederate States at the CONNER
ment Of the present war
Mr.. CURRY submitted the following joint resolutions
of thanks to Lieutenant General Longsreet and the
officers aud men of his command, which were uaani-
Rously adopted:
"RssOIvsd BY tho Congress Of the Confederate State