Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-01-01

We give below in condensed form from the
Progress, the proceedings Of Congress of the 29th
and S0th December @'-. 2
In the Senate on the 2sth, Mr.. Semmes, from the
committee on finance reported bill to fund Confed-
crate notes This bill provides among other things
that after q certain date "no treasury notes out
standing at the time of the passage of this act
shGH be receiua6ls 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 on the subject Mr. Foota said
"Again, if the letter Of our worthy officers has
not been misunderstood, be had another exceed
ngiy grave objection TO it tseems to suggest the
proPriety Of extending the operation Of the con-
script law to all persons between the ages Of sixteen
and sixty. Now 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 CoDfed.
eracy, and Of the people thereof they have been
stawart defenders of those rights in the field. Bot
stil his undoubting conviction was, that measure
OF this kind, without some modification of the ex:
isting conscripeBystem 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, and tell the country, that
there are persons of some consequence in the army
and elsewhere, who are openly advocating the con.
eentraon Of all military power in the hands of the
President; and really, if you extend the conscript
law in the manner now recommended, the President
as the commander-in-chief would have more power
given to him than any monarch now living. What
ever others may think, hevas we'll and painfully
satisfied, from past experience, that he was not at
all likely to WELD it either wisely with due
70 kha yaI ,nhk ofk H. cd
pie He had no right to eede away the liberties of
his constituents. He still had an old-iashioued
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, apd for the vindcation 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 amplifying the powers of present Exec
utVe 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
shudder of alarm which he had seldom heretofore
experienced He CHANGED to know that there were
men not far from where he now stood (God forbid
that they should be found in this HalD who were
the open advocates Of Military Despotsm.-
Rumor says that this portentous symptom is
not altogether confined to this yicinage, but
that one or two servitors Of pampered power
0I0 " Oo lOuuu CNon III Tue TdnkS OF our army.
Now, let him say, once for all that he should not
willingly surrender up an atom Of the present
trolling power over the reserved militia force Of the
States to the President and add to his present dan
gerous capacity for mischief especially as he was
that he would never willingly surrender power
OF any kind once vested in him, and would be but
too apt to seize all convenient opportunities of ex-
tending it The President will have to show him.
self q little more free from his strange and unrea-
sonable partialities' and prejudices-a little more
regardful of well known public sentiment before he
could yield him any increase Of his military capaci-
ty. He had but httls relish for the notion Of es-
tablishing dictatorship"
North Carolina has long been celebrated for her
devotion 10 liberty but it seems she had no mem
Der of the House who possessed the nerve to rise in
his place and sustain Gen. Foote. Whittier are we
drifting4
1t will be seen that the Senate has pessed the
House bill to place the principals of substitutes in
service.
RIcHMoSD, Dec 29-In Senate bill passed to
repeal the law allowing Surgeons in hospitals to
grant furloughs 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 House q communication addressed to Con-
gaess and signed by large number Of commanding
officers, of the army of Tennessee, was presen ted
and read, urging prompt enactment Of measures to
avert disorders omnipotent for our destruction and
which may become iRcurable in thirty DAYS In
this communication they give the opinion that il is
essential to retain, during the war; the troops now
in the service and to place in the service immedi-
ately, for the same time all white males between
IL and 90 able TO perform any kind Of military DUTY
and authorize the President at his discretion, to
place in the service for the same term all between
10 and 18 and 30 and 60; to prohibit substitutes:
to prohibit exemptions except for civil officers to
prohibit details except for short times to carry On
works essential to the army to prohibit discharges
except in cases Of permanent disability from anv
duty; 70 prohibit furlouShs except under rules of
universal application, based the length of service
and meritorious conduct to prohibit as far as DOS
sble all ablebodied officers and so ldiers from being
assigned to post, hospital or other interior duty.
and 10 place all abebodied negroes in the service as
cooks laborers, DC. They also suggest dissatisfac
ton on account Of short rations and deprecated
currency. Reconscribing the army may be obyiated
by oounties to old troops, increase Of pay, CON-
mutation to enlisted for rations not issued and
allowing rations to officers. This document IS signed
by Generals Hardee, Cheatham, Stevenson, Breck-
enridge, Brown, Pettus, Reynolds and Jackson, and
with some slight reservations and disseats, by Gen.
erals Cleburne, Hindman Lewis, Lowry, Ander-
son. Manigault Vaughn, Qusrles Finley, Bates,
Stewart Strahl, Clayton, and by several Colonels
commanding brigades. The reading of this docu-
ment produced some discussion. Mr. Foote declared
that the adoption of the measures recommended
would be step towards establishing military -des-
potism, with the present administration at its head
to which he was seriously opposed If a dictator
became necessary be favored placing that power in
the hands of GcOeral Lee, man influenced by no
narrow views or preudices, but patriot of enlarged
and liberal ideas and mind of the order of Wash
ington.
The matter was referred to the Military commit
tee. "a motion to reconsider the bill which passed
the House on Wednesday last to prohibit the circu
lation of Yankee currency was voted down 4S to g.
Attendance in both Houses still thin, House
adjourned without quorum.
RICHMOND Dec: so-The Senate passed the bill