Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-01-19
|CoNEEDERATE STATES CONGRESS.
MONDAY. JANUARY 18th 1864.

The Senate was chiefly occupied in the dis
cussion ofthe objections of the President to the
act for the relief of the Kentucky troops, which
he had retained, without his approval. In the
spring Of '62, Congress appropriated So ,OOO. O00
to be expended, under the direction of the Pres
ident, in raising and organizing troops in Ken
lucky. The present act. in the form OF an a.
mendment to the act making said appropriation,
proposed to authorize the expenditure OF one
million of dollars by the Provisional Govern
ment of Kentucky in the purchase OF clothing
for troops from that State, now in the Coneder-
ate service. The President obj acts to the policy
of the act for several reasons given In his veto
message, The question upon the passage of the
act, notwithstanding the veto, was determined
| in the negative, for the want OF constitutional
majority. The joint resolution from the House
| for the preparation Of q Congressional address,
was concurred IN.
i In the House, the bill reported from the Mill
tary Committee repeating the present exemption
law and regulating future exemptions was recon-
mitted with the amendments. A number voted
AGAINST the recommitment in order that they
might vote the bill down at once, without await
ling another report. Little else of Importance
was transacted, when the House went into secret
session.
On Tuesday the 10Th, the Senate, before gone
into secret session on the ssmitary bill,'' con
sidered and passed several biils-one increasi ing
the compensation of the civil officers and en-,
lnloyecs in the city Of Richmond, and another
liking the time for the commencement Of the mex
session of Congress, viz the first Monday ii
Nav, Both of these bills We're sent to the Honse
J, for concurrence. A bill granting extra allow
ance to officers Of the Navy WIS also passed.
In the House, bills were passed to increase the
nav of Clerks in the Executive and Legislative
Departments of the Government; and to provide
forage for army Chaplains, who have one horse
Several resolutions and bills were introduced.
In the Senate, on wednesday, the 18th, sew
, eral bills were reported from the Committee O.
, Commerce to regulate the foreigen commerce O
the Confederate states. Nothing else of gener
al interest was done in open session. The ssom
nibus military bill'' Is still uuder consideration
in secret session. 1t is some satisfaction tx
know that the secret session have not been Who'll
y consumed in speech-making. We learn tina
Several votes have been taken, and at the pres
ent rate ofprogress it is highly probable that tn
bill vii! be perfected before the currency question
is disposed Of in the House of Representatives
In the House. various bills and resolution
were introduced, the most important Of which
was bill to authorize the suspension of the wri
, of mABEAs CORPUS in certain cases. The Com
mttee on Military Affairs reported bill, will
the recommendation that it pass, to confer upol
adjutaats of battalions, &C., he rank and pay c
J captain of cavalry Pending its consideration
Tn the Senate, on Thursday, the 18th, in opel
session, much time was consumed ia the read
, ing Of elaborate majority and minority reports
from the Judiciary Committee, on the subject Q
limiting the term Of office of the Cabinet officers
The reports were ordered to be printed.
The Senate resumed, in secret session, tht
consideration Of the military bill,
The House was chiefly engaged on the APP
) Ipropriation Bill for the support of the Govern
rnent fer the fiscal year, ending June 3Oth 1864
The bill was passed with slight amendments
: The Honse then went into secret session on tht
! special order-tho currency
: In the Senate, on Friday, the 18th, the House
bill granting a special copyright for ssHardee'
, Tactics was passed with an amendment. The
Judiciary Committee reported bill to coniis
: cate the property OF persons evading military
service by absconding beyond the Confederate
lines The Senate went into secret session a
an early hour.
House was tho adoption of a resolution to talk,
> a recess hereafter from 81 O'Clock, P. NJ to 6 P
: NJ
Bills were introduced to enforce more efectu
! ally General Order, No. lOa, in relation to EN-
7fplcyees in the Quartermastcr and CommissQr,
: Departments and to amend tn act repeating ex
l empton by substitution in the army SO that it
/. provisions shall not apply to producers of foot
I engaged thus on the 1st of January, 1864, b,
their own manual labor, or experimenting tn,
labor of others. A bill was also introduced Il
put into the military service all who take th
oath Of allegiance to the Unit, States. A join
resolution in relation to retaliation for the treat
meat OF our prisoners in the hands of the Yam
I KEGS, was submitted and referred to the appro
pirate committee.