The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-01-19


publish Address to the people of the Confeder:
ate States. The House has appointed special
committee to investigate the outrages of the enemy
in Eastern North Carolina
The proposition to repeal the Exemption law and
leave the matter of exemptions under the control of
the President and Secretary of War, was rejected.
The subject referred back to the committee
and suppose modified exemption bill will be
prepared.
A resolution adopted that Special Commit
tee of five be appointed to enquire into the expedi-
ency of authorizing the impressment, for the army,
of share of the pork and bacon held by persons in
the country, who have a full years supply, prices
for the same to be agreed upon between the parties
ascertained by local appraisers, without appeal
resolution has been adopted fixing the first Mon
day in May next for the new Congress to assemble
In the House, on the 18th, bill was presented to
authorize the President to suspend the writ of habeas
corpus in any city, town or military district when
his judgment is that the public safety requires it.
and it is to apply only to made by authority
of the Confederate Government and for offences
against the same, to continue in force for thirty
days after the meeting OF the next Congress- also
bill to give transportation to all soldiers furlough
the same as now on sick Through; and bill for
proceeds of sales of property in the year 1863 raised
acquired by any previous year, not to oe taxed.
These bills were appropriately referred.
The Senate Committee Commerce reported
several important bills to prohibit, during the
the expectation of any cotton, tobacco, militia
ry naval stores, sugar, moasses and RICE except
under such regulations as the President may pre-
scribe Another to prohibit the importation of any
articles of luxury during the 1t prohibits, by
name. very long lists and confines all mportations
strictly to articles of necessity. The same Com
mittee reported back to the Senate resolutions of
the Legislature of Georgia favoring the appoint
ment of citizens, not liable to military service, to
act as impressng agents. The Committee unani-
mously approved of the measure and hoped that the
Secretary of War would adopt it.
The Judiciary Committee of the Senate reported
two years unless nominated by the President and
the term of those in office shall expire the
18th of February next, and recommend that it pass.
Majority and minority reports of great ability and
research presented-the' former by Semmes,
of Louisiana, and the latter by Hill, of Georgia.
The reports ordered to be printed, and the
bill placed the calendar.
THE CONsCRIPT BUREAU.-The Superintendent
of CONSUMPTION has presented Report to Congress,
showing the number of officers and soldiers engaged
in executing the Conscript law in the States of Vr
ginia North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
In Virginia, there is colonies, majors, % cap
tains IS lieutenants. 81 physicians. and l07 sol
diers; North Carolina, AZ commissioned officers, "a
soldiers, and $50 mounted men, South Carolina. "a
officers, and l41 men; Georgia. 6S officers. 208
men, besides Lees battalion of Rangers. consisting
of 80 officers and ass men. The duties of the Con-
script Bureau, besides enrolling conscripts, extend
to arresting and returning deserters and absentees
the number of whom are now very great and the
matter of furoughs and details outside of the army,
which alone amounts to 1890.