The New York herald., 1865-03-24

JeH. Davis and Ills congrcss-The sc-
nate Report Against Hins-A Dismal
Picture.
The closing scenes of The late and the last
rebel Congress wcrc am.ds. The prevailing
gloom around them. made samewhas ,iroiy ~
q controversy bo.s SEA Sei. Davis and his
Congress as to which is responsible for their
recent crushing military disasters and the pre-
sent forl0rn condition Of their con!ederacy.
Davis, in LIS recent special message, threw the
whole blame upon The dila.ory acIion of his
submissive Senate had barganed for; and SO,
in It's own defence, q committee OF that body
was appointed, Mr.. james l.. Orr, Of South
Carolina, chairman, whose report we pub
lished yesterday.
Tie report opens with the following
statement OF The casc:-" The measures
passed by Congress during the present ses-
sion for recruiting the amy are considered
by the President insufficient; and it is said that
the results Of the law authorizing the employ
msnt of slaves as soldiers will be less than was
anticipated, in consequence Of the dilatory
The committee then 60 on to say "that a law
so radical in its character, so repugnant 10 the
prejudices of our people, and so intimately af
fecting the organism Of society should en-
counter opposition and receive a tardy sane
ton, ought not to excite surprises" but still, il
the thing had been seriously urged in ian exc
cutive message, legislative action might have
been quickened." So from the records clear
case is made up against Davis, showing that his
Congress acted at last, not from any advice or
warning coming from him, but in consequence
Of the urgent appeals Of General Lee, for that
last resort of putting in the niggers."
The committee next declare that all the mea-
sures recommended by Davis were adopted.
and some that he had not thought of-"mch o.
the creation Of the ofice Of general-in-chief,
with a view to the restoration Of public conf
dence, and the energetic administration Of mill
tary affairs"-which Is . palpable hit Next, in
the matter Of exemptions, It is shown that while
by the laws Of his Congress some nine thousand
professional persons east Of the Mississippi
within the military age are exempted from the
army, some "twenty-two thousand Eve hundred
men have been detailed by executive
authority" Hence the disagrcemens with
Davis in the matter Of exemptions. Next, It is
urged that If his request to have control Of oil
the militia Of the States concerned was dis
regarded, 1t was because the militia reserves
left In the States are necessary for local order
and the arrest Of deserters.
But II Is upon the subject Of his finances that
Davis IL most effectually demolished by this
Senate committee. They say "the Currency
bill Qor the reduction Of their paper currency
was recommended to Congress, and based on
the condition Of the. finances presented by the
President In his message, and by the Secretary
Of the Treasury in bis report But II was aban-
doned without regret, because at q subsequent
period Of the session II was ascertained that
the arrears Of the public debts, constituting
cash demands on the Treasury, exceeded by
nearly four hundred millions he amount orlgi-
nally reported to Congress-" A little mistake
Of nearly four hundred millions, which Davis
and his secretary doubtless considered as q
matter Of mo consequence" In this disclo-
sure we have fair eluoldation Of rebel Gnan-
ciering. To mend the matter, their Secretary
Qe ths ygspsuxx GnaahAlpas pnon tha discoYsx1