Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-20
rHr'Iyylt,o sospa

february l9, 1864 10 extend its provisions to
all officers non-cbnmissoned officers, musicians and
privates of the army, sad officers seamen ordinary
seamen, landsmen, and boys OF the navy, and nom
commissioned officers and privates OF the marine
corps, who have heretofore resigned OF been dis,
charged honOrably from the service in ignorance of
the above recited act-with the following amend
ments:
LIST. To strike ont the word officer in the above
bill
I'd. To add an additional section providing for the
appointment t. their former rank of meritorious dis
abled officers of the army, navy and marine corps
who may have resigned their commissions in gno-
rance of prior TO the passage of the act OF the
18th Of February, and that the officers so reappomt-
ed shah have position in the invalid corps and their
disability must be certified to by some medical
The compensation of retired officers to be half pay;
without any otler em6lunfents Allowances unless
while assigned 10 duty, when they shall receive the
full pay and allowances appropriate to then rank
The amendments being agreed to, the bill as
amended passed. :
Mr.. MILES also reported back the Senate joint
resolution relative to the exemption OF State oil
GERS with the recommendation that il be laid on the
table, which was agreed to. A
Mr. MILES also reported bacRfrom the same COM
mittee Senate bill to regulate the pay Of Lieuen-
ants of the Navy commanding batteries ON shore so
as TO give them the same salary and allowances as
Eleutenants at sea. Passed.
TIE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.
The Chair announced the following as the Special
Committee on the Exchange of Prisoners Messrs.
MARSHALL of Ky, PERKINS OF La, GILNER of N.
c., CLAREE of No. and FsNsTEN, of Va
TEXAS RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. BRANCH, Of Texas introduced a series of
patriotic resolutions adopted by the Legislature oi
the State OF Texas, concerning peace, reconstruc-
ton and independence, and endorsed them In series
of eloquent and appropriate remarks at the close Of
which he moved to lay the resolutions on the table
and have them printed.
On motion of Mr.. CLUSKEY, of Tenn, the resO
buttons were ordered 10 be spread upon the Journal
CAPTAIN RAPHAEL 'sEMMEs
On motion of Mr.. BoYCE, of S. c., Captain
Raphael Semmes, of the G.. S. Navy, invited
to occupy seat upon the floor of the House during
his soiourn in the city.
The morning hour having expired Mr.. F0oTE,
OF TenI9, arose TO q question of privilege.
Mr.. FooTE DEFENDS HIMSELF.
Mr.. FeoTE rose 10 a question Of privilege. Ele had
been prevented from attending the of the House
BY the interference of other persons His rights ha been
invaded and his reputation assailed and he wished y be
heard in their ylndicatioH
Tbrtyh members OF this House had voted in lis alb
senee that the and detention which he had suffered
were no breach OF his privilege member of the House.
Some of these were his long standing personal eremes
Others were gentlemen for whom he had high respect
but they must have acted without consideration.
Mr. F. proceeded to state the privileges OF legislators
understood in England The seizure and detention OF
member of Parliament while Parliament IL In session.
would lie punished by the block.
The House had been informed OF his arrest lie would
state the circumstances lie had obtained passport or
his wife aud child to through Our Lines on her way 10
Nashville where she was born whete she had lived ana
where she had hung ont the FIST Confederate nag Since
she had Joined him, two years ago size au not seen or
heard directly from two infant children whom she left ia
Nashville She had not heard AZ ali Tor twelve months
Her distress extreme her anxiety TO see them threat
eaed even Rer reason. lie had been seeking for Ter tie
privilege of return TO Nashville. He thought 1t his duty
10 escort his wife to the Potomac He had attended her
10 King George Finding It mpacticabe to put her over
the Potomac there lie sought Tor her an ngies in the d.
rcction Of AicNandria. Within two miles Of Uccoquan
river he was accosted by two scouts who asked FOR his
pass lie told them that he was member OF Congress;
Lt he had right 10 he there that he intended 10 cross
tle Occonuan and get into communication with peace
men IN Washington and to proceed TO that city, if safe to
do So with view to see whether or not pacihcaten
could not be effected consistent with noble claim TO
independence The scouts and the officer to whom they
conducted him thought he ought 10 be discharged; but
their orders restrained them He had been brought here
under custody and this morning had been discharged Ivy
the Court
Mr. FoorR then read letter of resignation which he
had addressed TO the Speaker under date Of but which
had been delayed in its transmission end had come again
Ia his possession il stated tia; he about to the
Potomac and proceed 70 Washington in order to eject
peace il possible between tie two begerentS that in
taking this step one had been consulted respon
sbis but himscf that he anticipated great fame sue
cessu g1eGt oboqUy if he failed; that he proposed 10
visit Washington CITY neither reyeaer OF Confederate
secrets noTas SPY upon tho bHted states that nc nght
be held by the United States courts criIhhal-he
might die on the scaa but he would die cheerfuy be-
cause dying for his county.
Mr. FoOTE said le learned afterwards that the difficult
ties were greater than he had expected that he could not
reach Washington without fist taking tho oath OF aegi
TO tho United States at AeXandria-which he had
idea OF doing. he then decided TO resign absolutely
his seat that could be compromised by his self
appointed mission aud lie added postscript 10 hisfeIor
accordingly lie had since concluded TO withhold his
sgnaon IN order 10 await some further and more pro-
missing developments. HI would not Iesign, certainly,
pending resolution of cenSuIe. DE would meet every
one who wished to censpre him.
MI proceeded 10 detail other reasons fur his se!fap'
pointed m4slpn 20 Washington He had become diScouT-
aged by the condition and tile tendency OF public affairs.
He thought the management bad and the prospect
gloomy de thOught the time had come for negotiation,
lie determined to throw himself into this work He
thought he occupied favorable position as mediator OF
egotatoT. H- connection with the compromise measures
Of ls60 well known at the North, His uniform past
advocacy OF the Union and his known desire fer peace
he thought womb secure him hearing In CALIFORNIA he
was Intimately known lis had there four children aud
eight grande hden lie thought he could be useful and
he waswilng to make the effort and run the hazard,
Several points Of order Were raised whether or not dis
cussiOn OF tire 10 arrest member under the circum
stances OF Mr. FoOTEs case, allowed so wide range Of
debate
The SPEAKER said that strictly it did not that the
question of privilege from arrest did not INCLUDE the mo-
tiyes which MIGHT member 20 place himself IN a.
position that might be supposed 10 EXPOSE him TO arrest
that the member woul Have night 10 debate thess mo
tiyes in mitigation If amy dction we're pending against
him but not the mere question of power TO make an
atresA Ii The House chose hear the member generally,
it, own action would be pnestrained
The House decided bS vote of IS to Is to hear Mr.
TooTE at large
Mr. FOoTE Then proceeded to dwell at much length on
what he deemed the and the false policy Of the EK
ecutive and of Congress- the disasters that had resulted
aud the dangers which had been produced lie charged
personally nnfriendy sentiments on the President whom
he had beaten Governor Of Mississippi and upon Sec
retaTy Seldom whom he had arraigned before commit
tee-makIng thereupon remarks which the Chair,
tie point of Mr. MAcHrS' rRlea oft of order Mr..
FOOTE proceeding still further in the same or more VIC.
sppaEer reouIed take his seat,
decided under the rules, he could only proceed BY
vote Of the House.
Mr. FOO1E said he would content himseiitTith pub
Fishing tile ree Of the remarks he had designed 20 sub
NIT He concluded by asking aleaye of absence fortwo
months stating that his purpose was to proceed 70 ms
constituents or near TO them IA he could get, mr..
FooTR represents the Nashville district and would con
suit them o4he great question peace and war and mp
on the rights due 10 himself az their representative