Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-14
FROM THE SOUTH.
oPESrSs oF THE CONFEDERATE cosGREss-NEs
SAGE % rHE YzEsIDESr-rsE yEDEaAL rRIs-

esting items OF intelligence. which will be found
below. They contain the opening proceedings
Of the Confederate Congress, which resumed its
sittings on The 81 inst
From the Richnond whig. hay4
The message OF President Davis. as was 70 be
supposed, considering the short time which has
elapsed since the adjournment OF the last Con.
gress is not very long document. vet short as
IL il, il will be found, think. 20 embrace all
the important topics which il was 10 be pre-
sumed. would be presented for the considers
ton OF Congress IL il, likewise, marked by
that purity, as well as energy OF dietion which
characterize all The productions of the Executive
pen.
The President. speaking ex cathedra. tells Us
that he sees no prospect OF an early change in
the course heretofore pursued by those the Eu-
ropean) governments In his words, which
true enough and forcible enough to commend them
TO every citizen of the coniederacy. "it j. enough
for US 10 know that every avenue Of recognition
is closed against u; that our enemy is making
renewed and strenuous efforts for our destruction,
and silat the sole resource for Us, people
cure in the Justice Of our cause and holding our
liberties % be more precious than all other earth
IL possessions " To combine and apply every
available element of power for their defense and
preservation"
refers TO the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury We infer that that officer will ask
Congress to relieve him OF the power which he
supposes to be conferred by the existing law, OF
issuing currency To the full amount of all re-
ceiyed into the Treasury, either by funding or
exchange. Ii is very justly said that the curren
CIV in circulation. say $3.50 900 900 on the lSt Of
July, is ample for tue business requirements of
the country ana that the addition OF $500 900 900
would be attended by disastrous effects. and
would produce the speedy recurrence OF the evils
from which the funding law has rescued the
country. We are glad TO know that the Secre-
tary takes this view Of the subject and we hope
Congress will do something to relieve the untor-
tunate gentleman of the weight OF power which
so sOrely Expresses him
We are lkewise glad to learn that the efficiency
OF our armies in the field is all that can be de-
sired and that "the discipline and instruction of
the troops have kept pace with their improve
mtnt in material and equipment .
Various recommendations. contained in the re-
port of the Secretary of War, are recapiiulated
by the President. Among the subjects referred
to are an Amendment to the law deprvng Off
GERS in the field of the privilege of purchasing
ratlOns; an increase in the allowance of officers
travelling under orders; provision for invalid
officers resigned in consequence of wounds OF
sickness: the tenure OF office of general officers
OF the provisional army: the organization oil the
general staff of the army &c
The recaptulatlOu OF the recent successes of
our army is sufficiently encouraging. and We can
not do better than quote the paragraph ia which
it is contained:
The recent events of the war are highly
credltabie to our troops, exhibiting energy aud
vigilance. combined with the habtual gallantry
which they have taught Us To expect all occa
sions. We have been cheered by important and
valuable successes in Florida, Northern Missis-
sippi. Western Tennessee and Kentucky, West
cru Louisiana, aud Eastern North Carolina, re-
hecting the highest honor on the skill and con
duct OF our commanders, and on the incompara-
bic soldiers whom il is their privilege to lead A
naval attack on Mobile was so successfully re-
pulsed AT the outer works that the attempt was
abandoned, and the nine months siege of Charles
ton has been practically suspended. leaving the
noble city and Its fOrtresses impershable mOnu-
ments TO the skill and fOrttude o its defenders
TIE armies in Northern Georgia and Northern
Virginia still oppose with mistaken front for
midabe barrier To the progress of the invader:
and our armies and people are minated by cheer
full confidence"
There ls passage in the message which de-
serves more than casual notice. He calls atten-
ton To the fact that the Congress under the
provisional government held four sessions. and
the first Congress under the permanent govern
ment also held four sessions, aud that now the
second Congress under the permanent govern
ment is assembled at the time and place appoint
cd by law:
"All these events have passed into history
notwithstanding the threat of prompt suhlu-
CATION made three years ago by people that
presume To assert a title TO govern States whose
separate and independent sovereignty was recog
nized by treaty with France and Great Britain in
the last century, and remained unquestioned for
nearly three generations Yet t!.ese very gov
ernments in disregard of duty and treaty obliga
tlOns which bind them TO recognize independent
Virginia and other Confederate States, persist i'm
countenancing by moral influence if not in aid
Ing 10y unfair and partial action the claim set up
by the executive of a foreign government to ex-
ercse despOtic sway over The States thus recOg-
nized. AMI treat the invasion of them bv their
former limited and special agent as though il
were the attempt of sovereign to suppress a re-
bellion against lawful authority
Though apparently aimed at foreign powers
this paragraph has point also for parties nc
home AS The words which We have italicized will
show The separate and independent sover.
eighty of the States. and the Limited and
spec al nature of the agency, is here admitted
in terms which must satisfy the most ardent
lover OF State rights. in the teeth of such 4dmis
slOns. Is II probable that President Davis will abuse
the absolute powers conferred upon him nv the
last Congress and seek To erect here permanent
'despOtism worst than that of Turkey p We
think not has ne used the dt spoic powers which
he now enl0ys To the deulmenl oil States and in
divIdualsr That is question which the parties
Interested may answer tor themselves Congress
will not tail to appreciate the discrepancy of
cOniesSedly limited agent being invested unne
cessarily with absolute powers, and will At an
early day adjust the functions to the admitted
nature OF the office
THE UNION PRISONERS
There now remains in our hands twelve
thousand two hundred aud sixty eight Yankee
prisoners, distributed rs follows:
Al DinviIfe. org; in the State of Georgia.
1916; at the Libby in this city. 942 Il Rich
mond Wing. Maya
THE GEORGIA AND TENNESSEE LINES
From the Richmond Examiner April 2sl
We have again rumors OF an impending battle
on the Georgia and Tennessee lines The
opinion in that part Of the Confederacy appears
To be that the enemy make the grand effort
of the ensuing campaign ia that quarter: but
while there IS much stronger evidence that that
effort Is TO be made in the direction of Richmond
II must be recollected that this theory by no
means excludes the probability that an important
issue is also to be tried in Northern Georgia
he enemy has an army there which is formi
dahle IN numbers and discipline Ii possesses
one great advantage which the enemy has not IN
NirSinia-the impregnable Notifications of Chat
tanooga. upon which TO fall back IN case of dis
sster The state Of preparation of the army in
General Johnstous front. the removal of the
great body OF the troops from Knoxville and
II - -.