The New York herald., 1865-03-23
Quarrel Between JEFF Davis and
His Congress.
An lrrepressible Conflict Between the
Legislative and Executive De-
pariments Of the Bogus
Confederacy.
IJeif.'s Late Message Lecturing the Congress for
Its Delinquent Legislation Meets with q
RetOrt from Special Committee.
The Disasters to the Rebel Arms
Attributed to Els General Lack
Of Executive Ability.
ADJOURNMENT OF TIE REBEL CONGRESS-.

Hunter, Of Virginia, Forced to Announce
His Position on Reconstruction,
The Irrepressible Conflict Between JefY.
Davis and His Congress.
'CRIhIEATIoN AND REGENERATION AMONG THE
REBELS.
[Fr0m the Richmond Whig, March 20
The trte adage that those who live in glass houses
should not throw stones Is emnenty illustrated the
late special message OF the President aragning the Con-
gre for denquencies and delays and the response OF
the Senate through the document which print this
morning II was hazardous issue for the Executive
make whether the public interest had suffered,
liable to suffer, most from defective legislation yn
LauIty ADMINISTRATION; for without discussion defence
and impeachments against that body be forget
that had long since placed the whole making power
OF the country at the disposal the Executive This being
DONE nearly all had been done that the power OF
Congress the result did not answer public expecta-
tions must have been either because the con-
nded the Executive inadequate or because thew
not developed to their fullest capacity or used with
intated by the Executive that the resources Of the
country, In men and supplies, unequal the emer-
gency On tho contrary has been repeatedly asserted
from that quarter that they are ample Accepting the
assurance as correct and knowing that the Executive has
been armed with the power Of conscrption and the
power Of impressment tho OF the people
would impel them ressistiby to search for tho
OF disappontments and failures in the conduct
Of those whose duty il was 70 marshal and
and authorized to be used by the Congress
Taiss since il invited scrutiny as much into the way in
which legislation had been enforced a. into
tho wisdom OF measures that had been adopted re-
Jected by the legislative department II provoked in
quiry to whether the revecs disasters we have
encountered and the dangers that environ us tho
used sanK wasted energies and niisdrectcd
whsshsr in word Congress has Withheld Ihc Military
evs has ssanneed Il body and Aasdlsd ine@cesGy TAs
fressdeM should hdvs been the ta 10 aTs such qne
they notorousy are he ehoud have bsen slow to do or
say anything calculated to impair public confidence in
body 70 whom the people have entrusted and obliged
Dy our system OF government 70 entrust much But
there 10 something more than the blindness TO
ones own faults In the temerty that invited this Invest.
and conspicuous. The Senate connne themselves in
their RESPONSE to the specific allegations OF the Prss
think, that Whatever cuipabty there may be does
not lio at the door OF the legislative department Con-
/. rao,s b. sef;ng A ae uaass and and dsnqss~ess: Ill se
gsir ac ,ssr, rttA their dporabk eon~qssncss This
viii MOI be without lis lesson OF Of good & tho high
oncial Who had least reason TO expect It
The Retort or tho Rebel Congress 10
Davis Late Lecture ON their Delin-
Inc Following report Of select committee was pre-
sented In the Senate Thursday night in session.
and concurred in by that body without call for the
quently removed and the report ordered TO be printed
The select committee to whom referred much
the action Of Congress during the present session. hav
ing duly considered the same respectfully submit the
The attention OF Congress called by the President TO
the fact that for carrying the successfully there
The measures passed by Congress during the present
session for recruiting the army are considered by the
IN law I'm ovurpp nf glpye Qnt-
diers wll b less than anticipated in consequence Of the
dilatory action Of Congress in adopting the measure
TO the pr JUDGES OF our people, and so intimately
affecting the organism Of society, should encounter
excite surprise but n the policy and necessity OF the
measure had ben seriously urged on Congress by
an Executive %essage lsssla'l,e action %sn, have
Duncaton TO Congress, has recommended the Ias-
sage Of law putting slaves into the army as soldiers
and the message under consideration IL the first official
Information that snei. Jaw would meet his approval
The Executive transmitted TO Congress on the
7h Of November last suggests the propcty o. enargng
for this purpose recommends that the absolute title TO
slaves bs acquired BY mprenent; and as an incentive
acquired be liberated with the permission OF the states
from which they wore Drawn. In this connection the
commend itself 70 the judgment OF Congress- is sug
gested that In addition TO the dnties heretofore per-
formed BY the slave he might Be advan'aseousy en-
event that the number should be augmented TO forty
thousand. Beyond this limit and these employments
not 10 desirable, under existing circum
stances, TO CO." In tho same message the Presi-
dent further remarks -"The subject 10 TO be viewed
by U.S. therefore, solely In the light OF policy and our
social economy When 80 regarded must dissent from
those who advise general levy and Gming the slaves
dent IN November iss, did ~, consider that the conn-
gency had then arisen which would justify resort 70 the
extraordinary policy o. sI%ns our slaves ave Indeed no
by him. for he says:-1hese considerations, however,
are rather applicable TO tho improbable contingency Of
our present condition" Tho Secretary Of War in his
port under date Of November seemed 70 concur In the
opinion OF the President when he said -"Whilc II is
encouraging 10 know this for further aud future
efforts IL at command, my own Judgment doee not
yet either perceive the necessity or approve tne pocy Of
Al what period Of the session the President or Sccre
tary Of War considered the Improbable contingency had
arisen, which required resort to slaves a. an element
res stance appear by any official document
within the knowledge OF your committee Congress
present moment a. the President whose constitutional
duty II Is ITO give 10 Congress information OF the state OF
the has never asked u any G
mcnt Of slaves soldiers Tho Senate however did not
await the tardy movements OF the President On the
10th December 1884, the following resolution was adopt
cd by the Senate, in secret session.
Resolved That the President be requested to inform
ces in connect on with the payment OF the troops;
the means Of supplying the munitions OF war,
the army, and the possiS.,y ny Of o"I recruiting
she same the condition Of our foreign relations aud
pected, has been sought. proposed no that the
Henae may have clear nni exact view Of the state OF
tho country and Of ts future prospects, and what
sures of leg slatiop are required.
In response this resolston the President might we'll
have communicated 70 the sense his views as TO the
necessity and policy Of amipg the slaves Of the confede
racy means Of public defence No answer whatever
has been made TO the resolution In addition 10 this
Joint committee was raised by Congress- under q concur
rent resolution adopted In seFsion The 30h De-
cembcr 1894 That COMMITTEES, by the resolution creating
i instructed by conferences with the President
and by such other as tboy shall deem proper
20 ascertain what reliable OF public defence
present aud prospective
written report was made by the committee on Jsnu-
ary 25 1885, and although " had conference with the
President auson Ia made In the report 70 any sug
gcslon by him that the necessities of the county
qured the employment OF slaves as soldiers Under
those circumstances Congress- Influenced, no doubt by
prcty policy and necessity Of adopting tho measure In
a e.tiop.