Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-04
CONFEDERATE STATES CONGRESS-
THIRD SESSION OF FIRST CONGRESS.
SENATE.

SENATE
SATURDAY, Jan. I'd, 1854.
Prayer by Rev. DR.. j. L. Burrows, OF the Baptist
Church.
RESOLUTION OF THANKS TO GEN. LEE lND cRRIcERs AND
soLDIERs UNDER HIS CoMhAND.
Mr.. JOHNSON. of Ark, submitted tie following pre-
amble and OiGt resolution:
Whereas the gns Of the brave ard gallant ar
mics covering the Capitol Of the Confederate STATES
during the two successive years OF 1862 and 1903 IN
der the leadership and command Of Gen ROBERT LEE,
have bsen croMnet With glorious resus--deieaung
greatly superior forces massed by the enemy for the
conquest of these Safes; repeing tbs invaders with
immense losses and tEce transferring the battle field
from ou- own country to that CT the enemy;
And phereas the mastery and glorious achievements
rendering orever memorable the fields Of Seven Days
of Great Battles" which raised the siege OF Richmond;
as we'll as those OF Cedar Run, Second Manassas, Har
per's Ferry, Boonsboro Shsrpsbu'g, shepherdstoWn,
Fredericksburg Winchester, Gettysburg and Chancel-
lorsvie command the animation and gratitude OF cur
Country;
Add, whsrsas, these, and other iIusrious services
rendered by tlis able commander since the commerce
ment of our War of Independence, have especially en-
deared him to the hearts Of his countymen and have
imposed on Congress the grateful duty o! giving ex-
p,cssion to their feelings Therefore,
Resolved By the Congress Of the Con ederate States
of Al erica that the thanks of Congress are DUE and
are hereby rendered to Gen. RoBEEsE Llr and to the
officers aud sodie Of tie Confederate armies under
his command for the gseat and signal victories they
havs won over the vast boss OF the enemy, and for the
iuesmabe services they have rendered in defence OF
the Liberty and Independence Of our Country.
Resolved That the President be requested to comnu-
meats these resolutions TO Geo. Robert e. Lee and to
the officers And soldiers herein desgnsed
After remarks by Mr.. JOHNSON and Mr.. SPARROW,
complimentary teGen. Lee and the officers and soldiers
of his command, the resolutions were unanimously
adopted.
Mr.. JOHNSTON, of Ga, presented the memorial Of
Henry I. Hiard, relative to the Fire RfigadI OF Au
gusta Referred to the Committee of Military Afairs.
TERRITORIAL COMMANDS.
NJ. sENYES OF Ia, introduced bill for the estab:
shment and regulation OF territorial commands in the
army Referred to the Committee on Military AfIirs
ASSESSMENT OF TAIEs..
+ On motor of Mr. CLAY, OF Ala, 1t was
, RESOLVED That the President be requested to inform
the Snse whether the taxes have bee1 assessed in tie
Confederate States in conformity with the requirements
of an act entitled act for the and col
lection Of taxes" approved May lst 1853 and if not
In which Of the ates OF the Cohfederscy have they
not been assessed when were they assessed and when
will The assessment be mleted In thosesecions Of the
Confederacy not oce1Pied by the arms Of the enemy
and that he furr inform the Senate whether the taxes
have been collected in any, and which, States of the
Conederacy aud if no. in whole, wha: portion of the
taxes in any State, and In which State, have been COL
lected in accordarcs wthsaid act ard when the coec
ton of the same will ba completed in the sections Of the
Confedsracy no. occupied by them.
THE DHPAR1MRNr oTFIozhs AND CLERKS
Mr.. SENMES, from the Committee Of finance, re-
por;ed bill TO increase the compensation of certain
evil officers aud employees In the civil departments Of
the Govern ment in Rcbm Jnd for limited period The
bill proposes 20 increase from LIST January to LIST July
the compensation of those employees rec living 81 500
per one hundred per can and those receiving
IS 600 and upwards, fifty per cent.
Mr.. SEMAES explained the necessity FOR the passage
of The bill and cited instances of suerg occasioned
by the made lscy of the psens compensation under
existing Giro umstances.
Mr. HENRY, of Tenn opposed the bill on the ground
tina the perremedy was to improve the condition Of
our finances.
Mr.. BROWN of Miss, also opposed the bill not only
for the eeons assigned by the senator from Tennessee
(Mr HENRY but for the additional reason tina. he was
in favor otcroWdng out of these Offices men capable Of
performing military duty. Such appeals for aid as
they Rad sent in wi precious little force to him.
Isucb men he described could not be got rid of in
auy other way would starve them out They can 20
10 the field where they can obtain their ratons aud
their places be supplied with soldiers who have been
crippled 10 the service These clerks have been organ
ICED into sort Of home guardit ought to be called
worthless guard-asd their service n this guard is said
to be the performance Of military duy II they to
perform military duly let them be eeut 70 the I'D,
where they may become soldiers. He would not give
baWbee for the military eetV ceS OF men VINO sleep upon
comfortable beds eat three meals day, aud do about
three hours writing oct Of his twenty four. Abou. 0nce
every three months they get the idea into their heads
that the Yankees will attempta raid upon this city and
forthwith they become very valiant TO the excitement OF
the women aud children, and the amusement Of the
groes In defiance to the expressed will Of Congress these
men are kept ia their places instead OF supercedrg
them by disabled men. He would pay no premium to
Them as this bill proposed to DO for Sinking military
duty.
Mr. CLARK, of No., sdvocsed the passage ofthe bill
He ga that among those proposed be benefited by it
were mertorious persona who had been disabled In the
service and old too far advanced In years 10 enter
the army Those who did not belong 10 these classes
could be reached by the conScpton bill yet to be acted
the currency was improved the CLERKS would be starved
and in their graves or driven into other employment
Attic clo:e of Mr.. CLARKs remarks,
Mr. DORTCH, ofN. o., said there was an important |
message from the President for executive session,
the Senate resolve into executive session. The motion
was agreed 10.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The House met at IL N. Prayer by Rev. DR.. Mime
gsrode.
of WAYS and Means the Senate bill providing for the
appontment of Third Auditor Of the Treasury, for
the Post Office Department Tho bill was read third
ma and raised, and the salary fixed at "a. 600.
Mr. PERKINS, from the same Committee, reported
bill authorizing the cancellation Of certain Confederate
states bonds, and the substitution Of Others for them.
Two bord Of million dollars each, at eight per cent