Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-25
Confederate States Congress.
SECOND CoNGREss-sECoND SESSION.
TUESDAY, January Gath, 1865.

TUESDAY, January Gath, 1865.
SENATE,
The Senate met at IL O'Clock NJ, the YIcE-PREsr-
DENT IN the chair.
Prayer by the Rev. DR.. Burrows, of the Baptist
church.
Mr.. WALKER, OF Alabama, presented resouS
tiohs Of the Montgomery Conference, in reference
to the CONSUMPTION OF certain Of its members.
Mr.. HUNTER, of Virginia, presented the follow.
ing resolution
Resolved That the President of the Confederate States
| OF America be requested to furnish tAe Senate
LIST. lnformation AZ. to the number Of white be-
tween the ages OF Is and 40 and OF the number of ne
gToes, who, in addition to their own officers nay be
qel for tue necessary employ ent and the proper dis
charge OF the functions of the departments of medicine
OF the CommissaTy General Of the QuaterRaster General
OF tho Engineers Of the Ordnance and oil the Ne and
M.npg Burear,
. like estimate as 10 the Post Ofice and Navy De-
Iartments.
8 like estimate regard to the railroad transporta
ton Of the country including not only the working hut
the equipment repairs and constructions OF the number
in his consideration required for such transportation
d. To specify the railroads If there be any such whose
repairs and construction, in his opnipn viii be neces
say Tor military purposes anu ought TO be effected Tia
whole in part By appropriations frcm the Confederate
Treasury
Mr.. HUNTER said, in his opinion, the time had
come when we must organize the Industrial system
of the country. Ii this he'd been done before, we
should have been able 10 keep greater number OF
men in the field Ne believed we had lnen enough
10 keep up the necessary industrial pursuits of the
country; aud TO take the field and win the cause
lie desired that the Senate should have the asked
for information that they should be able TO legslate
Understandings on the exemption bill which would
in a few days come up for consideration.
The resolution was agreed to.
Mr.. BAKER, from the Committee on. Naval AZ
fairs asked TO be discharged from the further con
sideration of Senate bill 10 Increase the cOmpensa-
tion of nasal stOrekeepers.
On motion of Mr.. MAXWELL, the bill was post
ponrd for future consideration.
House bill to reduce the number Of exemptions
and details was referred to the Committee on Nili-
.aIy AAaiFs,
On motion of SEMMES, of Louisiana, House bill
TO provide more eflectualiy for the reduction and
redemption of the currency, was placed on the Sc
crct calendar.
Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The HCSse met at the usual hour-the SPEAKER
in the Chair.
Prayer by Rev. DR.. Burrows, OF the Baptist
Church of this city.
TUE TRANs-snssIssTPPT COTTON pvREsp.
Under fhe head Of unfinished business tor the
mornipg hour, the SPEAKER announced the Joint
resolutions offered yesterday by Mr.. BRANCH, OF
Texas concerning the Cotton Bureau Of the Trans
Mississippi Department. THE resolutions pgqyile
for the appointment OF three commissioners, not
liable 70 military duty, 10 eLaGine the proceedings
aud transactions Of the Trans Mississippi Cotton
Bureau and the conduct of the military authorities
therein and to report the result Of tlier investiga
lions to the Secretary of the Treasnryby the next
meeting OF Congress
Mr. BRANCH stated the reasons which had in
duced him tU ohci' the resolutions, and alluded III
strong terms to tho frauds which had becn i.oFpe-
trated ia connection with .he Trans Mississippi
l...l
sons connected with it had suddenly from compare
tive poverty, been placed in aiuent circumstance
Mr.. CARROLL, of Arkansas, endorsed what had
been said BY Mr.. BRANCH relative &c the Irands per-
petrGted so gross have they been that they have
caused serious dissatisfaction among the loyal peo
ple of that secti, n He thought the matter ought
10 be rigidly inquired into.
Mr.. BAYLOR, of Texas knew thar a-great deal
of cotton in the trans Mississippi Department had
been fraudulcntly disposed OF, but he had never
known 9fan officer high in position being called to
account for delinquency. lie encountered last sun
mer on the Mississippi one of those cStton agents
travelling in regal ambulance drawn by six oEJeight
horses and proysinned with wines, sardines, cigars
LIQUORS and other sumptlaus luxnries obtained by
illegal traffic with the enemy. At the same tine he
knew that our wounded only few miles distant bad
to betranspoyted to hospitals in carts. This state
Of things had caused great dissatisfaction among the
people and In the army. $50 :
Messrs SEXTON OF Texas, DUPRE and GRAY
of Louisiana cordially approved of the resolutions
whereupon they passed.
HON. HrSRY y. FooTY.
Mr. CLARK, OF No, submitted the following,re-
port;
TIE committee TO whom was referred the resolu-
zion in reference to the conduct Of the Hon, HeHry
s. FoOte, a member of the House from the State
OF Tennessee have had the same under con-
sideration, and beg leave 10 report and recommend
the adoption Of the following preamble ana resolus
tons .-
absented himself IRON this House without leave :;
that shortly thereafter lie attempted TO pass into
the eneny's lines and 10 tho capital of the United
States without permission, which was in violation of
law and in disregard OF his duty member OF
this body THAT when Ia the act Of leaving cur lines
to enter those Of the enemy, lie resigned his seat
upon the floor, faE he could then, by Wl ting
fs resignation and dGposiing il for transmission 10
the Speaker OF this House. but which, he bein Of
forwards arrested and his perpose defeated, inter
copied aud Withdrew;
Ing TO leave the Confederacy. under the circum-
stances, and irsthe manner above stated, whatever
may have been his motive, has been guilty of con-
dsct incompatible with his duty and station as a
meE.bef of the Congress Of the Confederate States,
and that se therefor and is hereby expelled from this
Nouse as a member thereof.
tSigned) JoES B. CBARK,
yANEs CHnIsMAS,
q, A. MILLER,
n. ID, SIMPSON,
W, D, ikcLDEn,
al @ A, ", BRANCH.
Mr., CLARK spoke at some lengtlin support of
the abpyc report aud quoted from Kent and other
authorities 10 show that Governor ,Footc, in at
tempting 20 roach the encmyis Capital under the