Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-08
Confederate States Congress.
SECOND coSGREss-sEcoND SESSION.
SENATE.

SENATE.
MONDAY, Feb, 6, 1865.
The Senate met at IL NJ, the VICE PRESIDENT in
the chair. ..
MIR. MAXWELL of Fla, submitted the following
resolution, which was agreed to
ResolVed, That that the President be respectfully
reanested TO furnish to the Senate, II not inc ON
patible with the public interests, copyof the cor
respondence il any, between the Government OF
the United States and the Commissioners recently
sent by him to that Government, aud also copy of
the report made by them OF their proceedings and
action. r-
L MIR. GRAHAM, of n. C.. submitted the following
resolution, which was agreed TO:
RESOLVED, That the Committee on Naval Ahairs be
detected to inquire into the expedlency OF trans
ferring lhe marine corps, or so much thereon as
may not be required for urgent duty IN that branch
Of service TO the army, for such length oil time as
1 the condition OF the public deiences may require.
/ Mr. GRAHAM presented the memorial of A. { 4.
Williamson depository of Charlotte, N. G., which
was referred TO the Committee on Finance.
MIR BROWN, from the Committee on Naval At
fairs reported back Joint resolution OF thanks TO
Capt Raphael Semmes, of the Confederate States
war steamer Alabama, and the officers and crew
under his command for their victory over the enc
my's steamer llatteras, OF eight guns ana one nun
tdred and twenty men, sunk by them in the Gulf of
Mexico, on the Nth day of January, 1853, and for
their long and arduous cruise, extending through
period of two years. in.the pursuit and destruction
of the enemy's commerce, in the North and South
Atlantic oceans, the Indian ocean, and in the china
seas The resolution was unanimously agreed to. I
Tie first business in order being the motion to
reconsider the vote rejecting the House amend
ment leaving the number Of slaves to be employed
/ in the army as laborers underlined.
Mr.. GRAHAM, ON. C., moved to postpone the
consideration of the subject until tomorrow.
| Mr.. SPARROW, La, hoped the subject would
| mot be postponed.
| Mr. HAYNES, of Tenn, had voted against the
l House amendment, for the reason that while 1t.
would not effect his constituents, ii would those OF
other Senators. lie was opposed to the employ
ment of soldiers except il should become absolute
| Is necessary TO secure our independence, but he
would not vote for such a proposition until all
other measures were exhausted.
He defended Congress from the charge of not
having performed its duty 10 the country, and
charged our disasters 70 the Executive. lie also
advocated the restoration OF Gen. Johnston.
Il Mr.. SEMAES, of Louisiana, said II was made ne.
cessary by the OF Sepators on this floor who
voted for the resolution requesting the President TO
restore General Johnston TO the command OF the
army OF the Tennessee that some one who voted In
the minority should be heard. Gen. Johnston had
never Won solitary pitched battle, or held posi-
ton which should have been defended. The falling
back from Dalton'is held up as mastery retreat
Gen. in his report, admits loss III that retreat IN
killed and wounded OF 40, 900 men, and loss from all
other causes OF 4, 200, principally from sickness
He thought il strange no loss OF prisoners VAS men
Itioned, hit 900 we're reported absent without
| leave La that retreat % 900 were lost. Mr.. s.
showed that Gen. Johnston intended TO abandon Al
lanta. All thai had ever been claimed for General
Johnston was that he had saved his armies by re
Idreating. His retreats We're contra sted With the
lisaNeTS of Gen. Hood. But do the disasters OF
Hood prove that Johnston would not have abandon
cd Atlanta, aud retreated through Georgia lie
criticised tho Vicksburg campaign of General j. and
| blamed him for the disaster al Port Hudson.
He had been forced TO defend his vote ON the
resolution for restoring General j., bur what good
has arisen from this debate? Do they wish To ei-
feet the restoration of General Johnston lie did
not believe it would he the result Al this doubt
| full time, when we require all our energies, we
should exalt ourselves to the occasion. This was
no time TO be 'lnarreling over General who had
| never accomplished any great results. The Pres
| ident lad on previous occasion, yielded to the
wishes of Congress; but IL lie believed General j.
had failed he could not lie expected to yield again.
EXCEPT bv surrender of his constitutional prerog
| alive Gen. Beauregard had been assigned TO The
Army ofTcnneSSee, aud it would not meet With the
appreciation OF LouSianans to supersede him by the
appointment of any other.
Mr.. WIGFALL, of Texas, replied to the remarks
of Mr. s.. defending Gen. Jolhston and denouncing
the Administration.
The vote was reconsidered, and the House amend
ment agreed to. +. t.s.
The following is the vote on the motion to agree
| TO The House amendment, which leaves the number
of negroes TO b. employed unrcstrctcd
| fEAs-Messrs. Brown, Burnett, Dortch, Henry,
Waldo P Johnston, Oldham, Sinms, OF KY, Spar
row, Vest, Walker, Watson and Wigiall-l2.
NAYs--Messrs. Baker, Caperton, Graham,
Haynes, Hunter, Maxwell, Orr and Semmes OF La.
IS. lHf
| A message from the President was received COM
municating the report of the Peace Commissioners.
/ Mr.. WIGFALL moved that one thousand copies
of the. message and accompanying documents be
printed. 1t was the first streak of light lie had seen
TOR some time.
| On motion of Mr.. HENRY, the number was in
I creased to live thousand. ..+
| On motion of Mr.. SPARROW, the Senate re-
solved into executive session, and on the opening
/ of the doors adjourned. =