Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-19
CONFEDERATE STATES CONGRESS.
THIRD SESSION OF FIRST CONGRESS.
SENATE.

IHLRD 6hSolOH VI fIhoI COdGhAoo
SENATE.
MONDAY, January Is, 1864.
No minister being present. the proceedings were not
On motion of Mr.. ORR, a further leave of absences
for one week, was granted, to his colleague, Mr..
BARSWELL, detained from his seat by indspostion.
AN EvALID CORPS.
On motion of Mr. ORR, it was
Resolved That the Committee on Military Affairs en-
quire into the eIpediency of establishing invalid
corps to be composed Of officers aud soldiers who have
been incapactated for field service by disease the
casualties OF battle, and who wheI organized, may be
assigned the performance of such light duties
now perfo; med by efficient officers and soldiers.
B.. COOKS, TRANSFERS AND LABoRERs.
On the further motion Of Mr.. ORR, it was
ResolVed That the Committee Military AfIirs en-
qurein the expediSncy of placing in the military
vice Of the Confederate States all male free persons of
color between tho ages of Is and so years. be en-
ployed as cooks, Transfers and laborers.
TIE rRASs-MIssIssIPPI DEPARTMENT..
The SeIa,e bill to authoriz, tbs appointment of an
agent of the Pos Office Department. and such clerks
may be necessary 10 carry the postal service west Of
the Mississippi, taken up and passed.
The House bill to authorize the appointment Ct an
agent OF the Treasury Department west of the Mssis
spp river, was also taken up, amended and pissed.
kXCHAkeE OF PRISONERS.
Mr. MAXWELL, Of Fla., submitted the following req
olutOns:
Resolved 6yt the Congress ofs Confederate States of
AHericG That the action of the Confederate authori-
ties having in charge the of the exchange of prs-
oneTs, declining to treat with Gen. B \. Butler ia
relation thereto, is cordially approved by Congress- and
the selection OF such person who is justly ouawed by
the President of the Confederate SaEe and who held
in cd nos by the people Of these States than
nv manila al
of petty spite the part of the Government of the
Uni ed States and indication offs purpose covert
IL to embaras and avoid the further exchange Of pris-
ODers on any reasonable terms.
2 That the Government Of the Con ederats States
Is and at all times has been ready to make fair ex
change prisoners according to the cartel and is pre-
pared TO resume negotiations 10 that end whenever met
by Com missioner Agent Of the United States not
specially obnoxious to the people of these States.
3. That any pretence Of claim for the exchange OF
negro soldiers who under laws slaves OF Con-
ederIte ciZ ens prior to the war; il alike urnsted
BY and the law Of aols these give 10 every
ration right 10 The ene service of all her people, OF
whatever class against public enemy and the right
also to dispose of and punish, according 10 her own
laws any such OF them may be caught in the of
against hsr ald further if tie claim for such ex
change BE- scquiesced in by the Confederate Govern
ment it would thereby give sanction to serve nsnrrec
ton in its most destruct We form.
4. That II there been any scaniuess OF provisions
or clothing for the prisoners in the lands OF the Con-
fedcrate authorities t has been only in the same pro-
portion with that which has beallsn own soldiers in
the field and is due to the iadscrminate and malicious
devastation and destruction Of private property by the
armies OF the UGited States such for ages past has
been denounced by the civilized world only fit to be
prscticed by baTbarians ard saVsges
On motion of Mr.. SEAhES, tne resolutions were re-
ferred to the Committee of Military ARlirs
On motion of Mr.. ORR, they we're transferred to the
secret calendar.
THE MPREssMEEr QUESTION.
The House bill to amend the to regulae Impress
ments and TO repeal an act amendatOry thereof was
taken up for consideration.
The frat quetton presented was on the proposition
of the Judiciary Committee TO amend the bill by striking
out the first SECTION rep,ang go much of the above
cited act authorizes the Boards of Commissioners TO
tx the prices to be paid for property impressed.
Mr.. ORR desired TO know the reasons which had in
6uced the Judiciary Committee to propose this amend
ment 4
Mr. HILL said that the Judgment of the Committee
that the power to fix prices should not be with
drawn from the Com nissioners, damage would
cult from the further exercise of that power but on
thc 1ntrary, good would result from it, when prices
fixed by tie Commissioners there general will
lngness the part Of producers to conform TO them
The Commissioners retained by another section of
the bi as appellate tribunal The amendment there
FORE did not increase tee number of officers Toe ma
chinery already existed, aid it only proposed to in
crease the amount OF work.
Mr. ORR said that it would be a mere mockery to bro.
vide for an appraisement OF the vcinage whilst the
Commissioners ulhorzsd to fix prices and also
acs as an appel ate tribunal Would not consistency
compel them to award the came compensation to tho
appellant that they bad prescribed in their schedule
IL they did otherWs it WJuld be tsntamoun; to
Acknowledgements that they had made mistake when they
fixed the prices and is supposed that they will do
this? So far from aiding the Government he believed
that this amendment would have contrary effect The
Commissioners would be constantly Influenced by the
higher pEeej awarded by neighbOrhOod apprasements
to amend aud increase their schedule until those
rates would get utterly beyond the ability OF the Gov
eminent TO pay them. He willing that tbs Com
missoners should be retained appellate tribunal
but they should longer exercise their other functions
They would then be enabled TO act judicialy and ina
partially upon cases brought before them.
The clamor against the Impressment Act was chief
occAsioaed by the manner ia which it had been e1eeu
ted. The law had beeu rendered odous to the people
by the CommissAry 6enirl who had proved himself 10
b. of all the incompetent officers of the Government,
the most Incompetent He had made the law stink in
the ncsrils OF the people, and that he should be retain
ed in Office by the President whilst the country was
teeming with complaints against him, was perfectly
amazing But it seems he is to be retained, however
near he may be to starving our armies.
Mr. HILL replied that the provision of the Impress
ment Act autborz ng tho Commissioners to FIX prices
has saved millions of dollars to the Government aud to
the people. The subsistence for our armies had been
supplied at one-half the cost which would otherwise
have been pad The camor against the bill not caused
by the prices fixed by the Con mSsioners but by the
manner in which the impressing officers have treated
the peope-not conAaing themselves to the impress.
ment Of the surplus. There was patriotic disposition
throughout the country to accept the prices hIed The
people awaking the fact that it is to their nF-
est to do so.
The decision Of the Supreme Court Of Georgia could
not be, stated in the newspapers, declaration OF
the uneopstitutonAity Of the Impressment Act They
could not say that prices could not be fixed forthat
question Of fsct not Of law. All that the Court de.
cded was that prices fixed in advance by the Commits
sioners as not just compensation
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Ga, said he differed from both bis