Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-05-10
CONFEDERATE STATES CONGRESS-
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1864.
SENAIE


MIR. CApEKToE, of Va, offered resolution,
directing the Committee On Military Affairs
TO report what amc: dments, if any, should be
made to the act TO levy additional taxes 1or
the common defence and support Of the gov
ernment, passed February Il, 1874 IN rela1
tivn to taxes upon the property and sock u
Railroad Companies.
Also, resolution that tho same Committee
report upon the expcdiency Of eZemptins ana
releasing from import duties machinery anu
materials ior repairing the same, lmportcu
during the existing war and Diockaue' Dy
Railroad Companies. The resolutions were
agreed 10.
Mr. CApER7oN presented petition from
Eliza Maury, asking for the restoration or the
pension to which she was entitled under the
Government of the United States. Referred.
Mr.. HILL, Of Georgia, presented memo
rial from certain banks in his State, praJlns
a modification Of the tax Law. Referred.
MIR. BURNETT, from tho COMMITTEE On
Claims, reported, with q recommendation that
it pars & bill for the relief of jas. ID. South"
erland. The bill was passed.
.ss"lutlon was passed. directing the Sec
rctary Of tho Senate to furnish the House OF
Representative with copies fall bills, reports,
&C., made 70 The Senate.
Mr.. HsrHY, vf Tenn, offered the following
Joint resolution, which was referred to tho
Committee on Military Affairs: =.
Resolved by the Congress Of the Contede-
rate States of America, That the thanks Of
Congress- are hereby rendered to Major Genes
rnl N. B. Forrest aud the officers and soldiers
under bis command, for the brilliant victory
he gained over tho enemy's cavalry, under
+, - "a,
Mississippi, on the 2lst dav of January last,
By which that officer WAS prevented from
forming junction Of his cavalry forces with
tho main armY of the United States, under
General Sherman, and by which that army
was forced to make q prccipitate retreat to
Yicksbnrg and tie Srate Of Mississippi was
relieved IRON invasion; for his gallant achieve.
nent at Union City in Tennessee, on the Oath
March where he defeated the enemy, and cap
tured 500 prisoners, and & large supply IF guys
and army stores; for his successful assault
upon the city Of Pntucah, which he captured
on the oG:h of March, with heavy supplies OF
arms and subsistence for hid army: for his
di.tinauis ga!antry il his attack upon
Fort Pillow, on thc Mississippi river, which
he stcrmcd and carried at the point of the
bagonet. on the 9Th of April la,t, killing or
capturing tho entire garrison, which refused
% surrender, though repeatedly called upon
to do 90 and finally. and above ell. for res
nuins West Tennessee and West Kentucky
;ro,n the grasp Of the enemy, Il territory
shsoh he now holds, comprising nearly one
third Of each State. For all these rapid and
brilliant Successes, Major General Forrest,
md his cihcera und soldiers have now the
graft u le Of thoir country, and for which
Congress in i;s own name, and the name of
The country, cordially tenders its thanks to
the general anu Lis army.
Mr.. JOHNSON, OF Arkansas, offered rcso-
luton that IL! joint resolutions giving the
thanks Of Congress to officers and soldiers OF
The army or navy Of the Confederate States,
rball upon their sccond reading, be referred
to somu oac Of tho standing committees OF
mo Senate unless otherwise ordered by . ma.
] ority of the Senate. Agreed to.
MIR. WIeFsLL submitted the following reso-
lutions, with tho request that they be made
the special order VI the day for Monday
lext:
|. Resolved, That the Congress Of the Con-
Tolerate States Of America has the undOubtcd
right, during the invasion or rebellion, and
ITucn the pubnc safety requires it, to suspend
tho WRIT Of haGeds corpus: and that, while
10. suspended, 1t Is not competent for any
Confederate Judge to discharge from custody
any prisoner held under or by virtue of the
Gunltdar Ststsa.
.. That tia State Courts. being established
hy State authority, can IN no manner be ct
icctcd b. Corfederate Legislation, and that.
therefore, an net nG tho Confederate Congress
suspening tholririiege of tho writ Of habeas
corpus, does not apply to thctn and in no wise
prevents their issGirg. such writs as by the
llws Of their States they arc allowed to exer-
else or issuc.
3. That the Stale ard Confederate Govern
mcnts nre separate, distinct and co ordinate
Governments; that each has its legislative. OK.
ceutive and judicial departments. and is a
rerfect government in itself, and therefore
neither can interfere in any manner with the
legislative. executive or judicial action of the
ether, and that the Courts of neither can In
4uira into the legality = ilega'ity Of the
arrests Of persons III custody. under or by the
authority vi ihe other, or ah',:d such persons
unY relief.
/. Resolved, That the Constitution Of tho
confederate States IL, ~ TO the sta.es and
between them, 8 compact, and that each has,
;.s wall cCmrac'g between suvereigus, par
.e,t right to declare ita true intent and mean
;nr, and lilo ciizrns uf each S,ate are bound
by such decision.
). Resolved, That ~ to the citizens Of each
State tho Constitution Of the Confederate
States having been ordained and established
by the same authority as this State Consti;u-
ton, is equally supreme ard binding cver
,he,n as their Constitution is, and that the
Government established by it, to the extent
If its delegated puwers of which the State
only is the judge, is ~ fully empowered to act
ior them as their State govern :nent and that
when it does 80 act, their State government,
having no supremacy over the Confederate
Government, cannot release them from their
obligations 20 obey.
On motion Of Mr.. SEHKEs,
Resolved, That when this Senate adjourn
20 day it adjourn to l.eot on Monday at II
V'clnck.
Joint resolutions Of thanks for gallanfry
we're passed in favor of the 3lth and 35th
North Carolina regiments and Texas Brigade,
in the army Of Northern Virginia.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House met at II o'clock, and WAS
opened ~ith prayer by Rev. DR.. Dancan, oil tho
VI. E. Church.
LEAyE.GF ABSENCE.
Mr.. CoIYAR, Of Tenn, asked leave of alb
qtrco for his colleague, Mr.. ATKINS, who was
detained at his room by severe indisI ositlon.
Leave WAS granted.
QUALIFICATION OF MEMBER.
NJ. PUcu, Of Alabama, introduced Mr..
THos j. FOSTER, lis colleague, who took the
oath to support the Constitution Of the Con-
iederate Safes.
EXECUTIVE CONGREGATIONS.
The SPEAKER laid before the House COM
munioation from the President transmitting
communication from the Secretary Of the
Treasury, submitting certain estimates re-
quired for tie support Of ID, government
Referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means.
Also message from the President,
q communication from the Sc
cretary of the Navy in relation TO the $50 900
which lad been de- posted in the Treasury IF
the Confederate States, to the credit Of the