Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-28


per currency OF the enemy.
Sec l. The Congress of the Confederate States O
America do enact, That broker banker or dealer il
exchange, person concerned in trade as merchant
or vendor of merchandise, of any description any
other person. except within the lines OF the spmy shall
buy SELL take, CIRCULATE 10 any manner Trade in any
paper currency of the United States provided that the
purchase Of postage stamps shah not be considered
violation of this act
Sec 2 That any person violating the provisions OF
this act shall be subject to indictment and prosecution
in the Confederate Court holden for the district within
which the offence was committed and shall, upon
viction, forfeit tie amount bought sold, circulated
Or used, equal thereto; and shall be subject
moreover, to fine Of not more than twenty thousand
dollars less than five hundred, and be imprisoned
not less than three months, than three years,
the discretion of said court and it shall be the duty
of the Judges of the several Con ederae Courts to give
this act specially in charge of the grand jury.
Sec 3. That this act shall not be construed to ap-
ply to any person acting in behalf of the Government
of the Confederate States by especial authority of the
Precedent, or any of the heads of departments.
The following bill was then taken up, read third
time and passed
bill to be entitled an act to provide for the in
VeStigation and settlement OF the transactions and
accounts of quarermesteTg commssaries contractors,
and other financial and dsbusing oficers agents and
employees of the Confede. ate States
Sec |. The Congress OF the Confederate States Of
America do enact That it shall be the duty of the
spective districts and after the passage of this
act may be- to make Inquiry into, and investigate
the conduct transactions and accounts OF each person.
whO during the existing war, has acted, shall act
Quartermas er cOmmssary contractor or other hnan
cal or dsbursing Ccer, agent employee Of the Con
ederatc States and when the district attorney shall
receive credible information, shall have to be-
eve that any person, while SO acting has received or
directly or indirectly made realized more than the
salary allowed him by law, has failed to execute his
contract or has executed the contrary to its true
meaning for bis profit, with intent tn defradd
the Confederate States, it shall be the duty Of such dis
trict,attorUey 10 institute against every such person
proceedings for unit and settem in the district
court of the district wherein such person resides is
acting wherein such transactions occurred, fraud
was committed
SEC q Such proceedings shall be in the of the
Confederate States aud may be instituted on either the
Law or equity side of the court shall be conducted
cordng 10 the forms prescribed in the several States
for the conduct of suits at law IN equity and shall be
determined according to the principles OF law and equ
ty. One proceeding may embrace all any portion OF
be acts of the party defendant and the investigation
and accounting shall extend to every receipt expend
ure purchase sale, trade bargain, agreement, act or
transaction OF such quarteImaser commissafy contrac
tor or other officer agent or employee, Or in which he
was directly indirectly interested, or with which he
was in any manner connected.
SEC 3. For the prosecution and trial OF cases under
this act, the court shall be deemed in session at all
times and the first Monday in each month shall be
of the court which may be required in the enforcement
of this act
SEC. 4. The party defendant may be examined by
the district attorney witness by written nteIEoge
tories or by Orei examination, in of other wit
nesses but statement, or admission shall be re-
ceved as evidence against the party making it in any
criminal prosecution, except in prosecutions for perjury
or false swearing in making such statement Or adms-
sion shall the of the defendant be conclu
sive evidence in his own favor.
& "a ca Or such
officer, agent, contractor employee OF the COnfeder
ate States, made otter the passage OF this act, sba
operate to impair defeat the collection OF any udg
ment or decree which shall be made or rendered under
this act against the party making such sale or trans
fer.
SEC. 6. Proceedings, under this act shall not be in
stuted against quarermasters or commssarles absent
and serving with the army IN the held, while actually
so absent and serving Nor shall any settlement or
pretended settlement by any officer, contractor, agent
or employee as aforesaid be pleaded in bar or in avoid
OF the proceedings authorized and required under
this act.
SEC Z The district attorney shall receive a commits
sion of ter per cent all actually collected by
virtue oil proceedings under this act and above
the limit now owed by law and the marshals and
clerks shall receive the fees which they now ecc9 tor
like services in other cases, and which shall be over
and above the limit of fees now allowed by law
SEC. 8. The clerk shall keep separate docket Of
cases instituted under this act and the district attor
ney shall make quarterly return to the Attorney
General of all the tried setting forth the names
Of the parties to each aud the amount and date
of each judgment decree, made or rendered by the
courts n their respective districts The marshas shall
make monthly returns to the Treasurer OF the Confede
rate States of all moneys collected IN their respective
districts and from whom collected, and shall pay the
net balance due by each return, to the Treasurer.
Several messages, TO be read in executive session,
were received from the President of the Confederate
States by Col Harrison.
The Senate went into executive session, and alt
the doors were opened adjourned until Monday
Initiation OF n Novice.