Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-20
eoNFRpERATR CONGRESS.
SECOND 0o8oRKSs-F7Rsr SESSION
SENATE.


luton authorizing the auditing of accounts of members
for pay and mileage, which was considered and con-
CURED in.
He also reported back the Senate bill doubling tho
compensation and mileage of members OF Congress for
the present session, which was read aud passed
Ne SPARROW, from the Com nittce OF Military At
fairs reported back the House joint resolution OF thanks
to Major General n. B. Forrest aud the officers and
Of his command for their campaign in Mississippi,
West Tennessee and Kentucky, which was read and
coneurred in.
He also reported back smil.r resolution introduced
come days s.nce, by Ar HENRr, end moved that the
committee BE- discharged from the further cOnsidera-
lion thereof Agreed TO-
Mr. SPARROW also reported back, with "a amend
ment Senate bill 20 provide computation for non
commissioned officers aud soldiers on detached EsrVioe
The amendment WAS agrssd TO and the bill passed.
Mr. SPARROW also reported back Senate bill to
amend the act 80 aid any State in communicating with
aud perfsctng records concerning lie troops, which
Was considered and passed.
Hr SPARROW also reported the following resolu-
ton
Whereas Information in relation to aay military and
naval forces and thu relative strength Of different
parts Of our nss and defencss have lines been pub
ished in soma OF the public wspspeIs of tbs Oonted
craoy; and
Whereas such information, SO publahed, land which
ia believed in most cases 20 have been done nadVer
tendy and thougdiley. and without any evil ntentoo)
is thought TO have been a. times dstmsntal to Gus
H2uto ana OF aQFanta6a 70 tue enemy, aud
Whersss il is believed that thu public interest
qulreE that such publications shoud DO prevented for
the future:
.RssSvs5 That the COMMITTEES on the Judiciary be in
ssructsd 70 inquire tAng Legislation necessary to pre-
vent hereafter the publication OF ruch information in
regard to army aud navy movements, and the military
de.ences "A may disclose to the enemy 4nJ facts which
he may uss TO our injury.
Mr. SPARROW said that the object Of the resolution
to bring the attention of the press 10 the import
of avoiding ssoh publications referred TO.
IL not offered from any belief that tbs conductors
Of the prsss dsfc sent in patriotism The opnion
entertained by Congress not only OF their patriotism,
but OF thtir ssutAry nhlenos the pubic interests
evidenced by the exemption OF the last session.
Some OF the committee believed tht the power already
existed to prevent any publication Injurious cause,
bu inoairy whether further legislation on ihe sub
jeot necessary and proper was deems appropriate.
Mr. WIGFALL sAid thar, in bis Judgment no fu,tier
legislation wSs necessary, The suspension Of the priv
legs oftoe writ Of hdbsdS corpus enables the President
AZ any moment TO provide for the safe keeping Of any
person giving information to the enemy. II tie Pres
dent willing TO exercise that authority, what Is the
use Of further legislation! Ii Copgre2s could Lass
law TO PAT an inch two OF backbone into the EKecu
tive then il would do all that necessary be done.
II can't 60 hat any further legislation on the sub
iect would only have a tendency 10 excite prejudice
against Congress s. far ~ the publications alluded to
we're concerned there Was more scare" about shsm
dian any actual harm. lie vas sure that Generals
would read the Yankee pspera to get the pana Of
their camps gns.
NJ. HILL, OF Ga, said hs did not know tha. any
iurtner legislation is necessary. The press had un-
IOub,edlJ done ui much good within laes, bu in
acme instances, through nS!verIenee, tad commun
Gated Information 70 the emmy. The EcI suJpending
he hGbsas corpus however, doel nc meet the psnding
resolution jsJtfy the remarks Of the member from
Texas M II then proceeded to argus thai the aid
act was not applicable to editors who might furnsh in
formation calculated to dAmigs our CAUSE unless il
could DE shown thst they publish such in ornNhon do
signedly. IL. Hill hoped that thp agitation Of this
question world OF iGet prove sufficient 10 aamonah
editors OF the Importance Of becoming recencs on all
matte relating the army navy. He repeated thst
the press had done much COED, especially by their
apimous aud patriotic eupport Ct the striu
gent meaures adopted by Congress 1t its last session
but il nevertheless true that some journals hGd pub
liIhed indiscIeet articles.
Mr. WIGFALL said il was the constitutional dnty Of
the President 50 keep Congress advised Of tle cond
ton OF the try and ask for such legislation as
may be necessary. He has not suggested any the de.
fscs 10 the h1saS corpus act Gudsd to By the Senator
from Georgia. and therefore be dad not the necessity
of Gang volunteering to remedy those detec. Mr.
W. thought Ihs. any paper should publish facs which
would prove of advantage to the enemy, and increase
tie difficulties under which lsboring he would It
President Immediately send TO that editor the message
"You have published that which you should no. have
published 20 and Elm more;" or he would send an
Ctncer VINO enOull eQltor lie nipo
o. the neck IL necessary, and put him into prison,
Nj w. proceeded to justify editorial discu sion ofm
itsry management after operations concluded. If
this is not to be allowed, We certainly 10 very Pc
culAr condition. There has been great deal of twSd
die about newspaper publications, ard lie was tired Of
l. He didnL suppose that orr Generals were inhu-
enced in their Tements BY the Mons Of the Nsw
York Herald nor did he believe that the Yankee Gan.
erals SHAPED their plans from any statements In the
Confederate journals Nevertheless If any paper gives
information TO the enemy the President has amp pow
TO aud punish Shs finder rs therefore saw
OF necessity for any further legislation on the
SuhjSct
Mr. BURNETT, Of KY, sid be did MOI doub. the pa
triotism Of the prss but the resolution carefully
worded aud nsndod to call the attention of editors
to the fact that publications. ioretmss iusdvar
teutly made which Wers calculated 20 prove injurious
He believed thai tho pres would understand AID sL-
precAte the merits and objects Of the resolution and s
adoption would no doubt prevent the recusrSaoe H.
discreet publications.
The resolution was then sgreed to.
Mr. BROWN, from tbs Committee Of Naval Affairs,
reported back the pStion OF Mrs. FL IA haury asking
the renewal of pension granted by the q. 8 Govern
ment ThScommittee seemtd 1t ineIpedien. to lsgis-
late the subject at this time, and asked TO be dis
charged from the further confederation thereof
Agreed TO.
Tee S.uas bill to Authoriss the appointment OF gen-
eral officers, with temporary rank and command, and to
define and limit the power of Assigning officers 20 com.
msnds was taken up ard after being furths considered
was pos ponS d until tomorrow.
M WIGFALL introduced bill concerning reporters
Of the Press Association providing that any accredited
agent or reporter of the Proas Association Of the Con-
edsrate States within the lines Of army is hereby
authorised TO purchase ration for himself ard for
age for bis HORSE under such regulations and for suca
lsngth Of time a. the commanding General may pre-
SCRIBE" Referred to tAe oomnittee Of Military AfAirs
The PRESIDENT pro tam. laid beicrc ,hs Senate a
hR
latiOps OF tho Virginia Legislature asserting the u is
dicton and sovereignty OF Virginia ovor her snc.snt
boundaries. Tue Governor skys: 81 am eatis6ed it
will be the pleasure of Congress to sanction them and
TO reafirm to the world the firm purpose Of the Gov
eminent Of he Confederate Safes to uainsia VginiE
in all her jest and ancient rights.
On motion OF Ar OAPERTON, the communication
and sccnmnanYing docn laid nron the