The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-01-31

/ CoNGREss.-Nothing very important has beer
transacted in Congress during the past week
great deal of the time has been occupied in secre
session. - 3 g. - .e- -
In the House. on the Gath, Mr. Clark. from th'
Committee on Elections. presented report review
ing the circumstances of Mr. Foote'S effort TO leave
the Confederacy, closing with the declaration tina
he has been guilty of conduct incompatible with hi
duty and station member of the Congress of tht
Confederate States. and that he therefore be and ii
hereby expelled from this House. MIR Gilmer pre-
scented minority report iustifying the arrest o.
Foote and declaring that his conduct deserves tht
censure of the House. The majority report was re-
jected for the want of two thirds vote. The vote
was for its adoption 81. against it27. The minority
report was then adopted. It is announced thai
Foote has again left Richmond and it is hoped he
will now stay away. s
In the House, the 9th, the most interesting
business the consideration of the Senate bill to
provide for the employment OF free negroes and
slaves in Notifications, &c. Mr. Ramsay moved a
proviso that said slaves shall not be armed or used
soldiers. Mr. Miles supported the amendment.
He was utterly opposed to arming our slaves In
the midst of his remarks. the House sustained mo-
ton to transfer the bill to the session calendar
The House then went into secret session.
A resolution introduced directing the repeal
of all laws authorizing the mpressment of property
for the use of the army, except by military officers
in case of absolute necessity, which, after a long
debate was adopted
The bill providing for the appointment of a Gen
eral-nC Chief of the Confederate Armies, has been
passed 1t provides that the General in Chief shall
have charge of the armies of the Confederacy. 1t
also repeats the law providing staff for the General
assigned to duty at Richmond A resolution recon-
mending the assignment of Gen. Joseph E. john
ston to the command of the Army of Tennessee, has
also been adopted.
The House of Representatives passed an exemp-
ton bill, which provides radical changes in the
present exemption law. 1t repeats absolutely the
fifteen negro law; provides that mail contractor
under forty five years of age shall be exempt, and
limits the power of detail hitherto rested in the
hands of the President and Secretary of War. We
have to believe the bill, in its present
form, will pass the Senate The sense of the SEN
ate, recently incidentally expressed in debate, is
in favor of leaving untouched the exemption law
now in force.
SOUTH CARoLINA.-Gov. Magrath has issued the
following pointed appeal to the people of South Ca
rolina:
.'Gen. Butler with his Division is on his way to
the aid. of our State. Gen. Hampton is with him.
He needs horses and have told him he shall have
them. You will not hesitate to give up your horses
when your friends and brothers require them to de-
fend your State from invasion, your property from
pilage. your wives and daughters from insult. Put
aside your pleasure carriages for the time; cease
your ordinary pursuits for this occasion: and bring
Or send in your horses to Columbia Col. Christie
pher F. Hampton is charged by me with the duty of
receiving with thanks all that will be sent of taking
all that withheld The horses will be paid for.
one shall suffer from his devotion to the State
When army needs horses SO much, is it not
shame to pleasure carriages dashipg about the
towns of the onfederacy.