Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-05-10
CONFEDERATE STATES CONGRESS,
FIRST SESSION OF SECOND CONGRESS

SENATE, Tuesday, May 3rd.-The Senate
was occupied several hours with the election OF
standing committees, by the slow process OF
.ballottiDg
House. of representatives, the House, The
time was chiefly occupied by the call of the
States and the Introduction OF bills and kesolu.
tons. The most important OF these were for
the appointment of q committee to investigate
the rumored disloyalty of Mr. Cobb, one of the
members elect from Alabama to amend the
law allowing commissioned officers OF the army
rations; to place the five dollar notes ofthe old
issue on the same. footing with the new to
prevent frauds on the Treasury by purchasing
Treasury notes East of the Mississippi to fund
West of the same; aud others relating to the
Tax law.
8 Senate, Wednesday 4th.--fn the Senate,a Joint
resolution was introduced fixing the day Of ad-
iournment on 10th inst. Resolutions of thanks
to Brig. Gems. Hoke aud Filegan, and the Off
GERS and men of their respective commands. for
the recent victories in North Carolina and Flor>
ida achieved by them, were unanimously ADOPT
ed. number of resolutions and bills were
introdrced,an referred to tho appropriate COM
mittees.
To the House, the time was mostly consumed
in the ia PRODUCTION - bills and resolutious.-
The most important of these were to render i've
per cent. bonds negotiable BY delivery; to ess
tablish Court to investigate claims against
the government; to allow detailed men for gov
eminent work and commissioned officers rations:
to establish Bureau of Foreign Supplies to
relieve persons who have paid for overseers at
forwards conscribed to provide for horses kill
ed, or otherwise lost. in the war; to carry on
the government without increasing the issue of
treasury notes; and to exempt from service
State officers exempted by State law.
By a vote of 67 to a resolution was ad,nts
ed declaring thu iGexpedieney Of putting FIVE
dollar notes of the old issue on footing with
The new.
SENATE, Thursday, May 5th.--The Joint reso-
luton fixing the day of adjournment was referred
to the Judiciary Committee. A bill directing
the Secretary OF State to issue special passports
to members of Congress was passed, alter am in
cidental debate, in which the passport and pro-
vost marshal, was denounced and defended
Much time was occupied in discussion.
In the HOUSE, nothing OF portance was done
beyond the Introduction of new subjects for leg
isiation. ass4
FROM PLyMouTH.- Petersburg Express
learns from gentleman who has lust arrived
from Plymouth, N. c., that our forces at last ac
count were in quiet possession of that place, the
enemys water craft not daring to come within
gun shot OF our formidable iron-elad. Mai Tan.
nahlI, the efficient Commissary for Petersburg.
had reached Plymouth, and secured the i'm
mel Sc quantity OF valuable stores captured. by
starting them off to point where they were
more needed. Maj 7. has also put in operation
two very large senes, and our boys are now lux
uriating on fresh shad, behring's etc. Immense
quantities of fish are taken at every haul, and
the surplus, after feeding the troops, are put
into barrels and sent away. The amount of
provisions secured by the fail of Plymouth, is
said to ba far greater than any one had suppos
ed, and the country opened TO, will furnish
enough to feed large army for many months
to come. There can be no improperly in sta
ting these facts, because the enemy is as famil-
lar with them as we are.
Between three and four hundred negro wo-
men and children, who had been taken from
their legal owners, were re-captured at Ply.
mouth. The men were either killed in battle. or
made their way to the swainps and forests. Ma
ny of the latter will no doubt be taken. a
Yankee Lieutenant who was in command of the
negro forces, has, by order of Gen Hoke, been
confined with the negro women and children.
he is said to present most AFFECT, hang-deg
appearance, and has requested TO be sent off With
the other prisoners of war, but as he preferred
the company of negroes previous to the capture
of Plymouth, General Hoke has determined not
to separate him from them now.
PLANS AND HOPES OF THE YANKEES. The Bos-
ton Evening Journal concludes an article on the
situation of the opposing armies in Virginia as
follows ::
sigel, with considerable farce at bis disposal,
is at Beyerly,in West Virginia, three days march
from Harrisonburg or Staunton, with no fornid-
able force of rebels to oppose his march to that
place. he would menace Lees LETT flank, com
pei that General to change or extend his present
line, and thus weaken him. Or, if not this, with
Burnside in reserve, as movable column, his
centre can be pierced by sudden stroke across
the Rappahannock, near the bloody field of Chan
cell0rsVie. Or Smith, with his troops on tran
sports can choose in night to strike up the
Rappahalnock, or up the York, or up the James,
landing on the north or south side, 1t 10 not
probable that General Lee will attempt to hold
all these points, but that he will fall back az
Grant advances, and concentrate his troops on
the James, in the vicinity of Richmond, where
he will have his supplies at hand, whereas Grant
by such nance uyre will be Obliged to change his
base. Butif this should happen, second siege
of Richmond will nos be like the first. Then Lee
had all the East Virginia Railroad and sll the
fertile Shenandoah, and all the rich upland coiln.i
ties north of the James for feraging ground; but
If he falls back to Richmond, his foraging conn
try will be confined to the country south of the
James. Can he support his cavalry and artillery
deprieved of that territory Doubtful.
There are some indications that Lee intends to
make desperate resistance in his present posi-
ton, hoping to repnfse Grant in any flank move
ment think that Grant would like to have
him decide upon adopting that policy. Some of
the heavy guns which have been in position in
the rebel works in front of Calpeper have dis-s
appeared. Troops have been seen moving east
ward but. on the other hand, new camps are to
be seen from day to day. We shall know before
many days what is intended on bo,h sides.
AS Lee adopted the policy Grant desired, we
hope that he is satisfied. The sudden stroke a.
cross the Rappahannock near the bloody field of
Chancellorsyille did NOT pierce the centre. II
was Grant, and not Lee, who fell back. The
g Journal = now knows not only what was in
tended but what has been Gone. Ed. SpEo
GENERAL JoHEspos's ARMg.-A corresn on
dent who has been to the front Of General John
etonys army says
The condition OF the troops in point of disci-1
pline, bodily comfort and spiritual health, is ex-
eeilent. They feel confident, and look ruddy|
with cheerfulness and strength. The wisdom
of the commanding general in great things has
been riyalled by his matehless tact in lesser
ones. The feeble aud decim ted ranks which
he found have swollen into sturdy and solid col
umps. Where there was repining, there is ami
nation, zeal AMI hearty good will ; where there
was debility, there is vigor.
So far as General Johnston is concerned, Il
have already said, their confidence is complete
They rely with aqua. courage upon themselves
With respect to General Lee they are undeubt
ing, and arise each morning eager to hear of
some signal victory. The recent successes ey-
erywhere have increased their faith to super
a. "a -