Confederate States Congress.
[Adjourned session.]
House of Representatives.
The Speaker announced the business of the morning hour, viz: The bill reported by the chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. Kenner, of La., entitled an act to authorize the further issue of treasury notes. After some discussion, the bill was laid over to be made the order for the morning hour of Monday.
The Chair laid before the House a message from the President, transmitting communications from several heads of departments, in response to resolutions of inquiry, which were referred to appropriate committees, without action.
Mr. Barksdale, of Miss., submitted the following preamble and resolution:
Whereas, it is alleged in the official report of Maj. Gen. J. Bankhead Magruder, dated May 4th, 1862, that the army of the Peninsula, from the 4th of April to the 3d of May inclusive, ‘"had neither coffee nor sugar, nor hard bread, but subsisted on flour and salt meat in reduced quantities;"’ and whereas the statement is repeated in the following language of the said report, to wit: ‘"The best drilled regulars the world has ever seen would have mutinied under a continuous service in the trenches for twenty-nine days, exposed every moment to musketry and shells, in water to their knees, without fire, sugar or coffee, without stimulants, and with an inadequate supply of uncooked flour and salt meat: "’ Therefore, be it
Resolved, That the President be respectfully requested to cause to be furnished to this body a report setting forth the quantity and description of provision supplies furnished to the Army of the Peninsula during the period above recited, and the quantity and description of said supplies which were on hand at the time of the withdrawal of the army from the Peninsula on the 3d of May last.
Mr. Barksdale, remarked, that it had become customary of late to make accusations of gross delinquencies against those charged with the management of the commissary and quartermaster departments. These accusations had been presented in the form of communications through the public press, and had found repeated utterance without contradiction on this floor; and now they had obtained additional weight by statements contained in an official report of a distinguished General in the Confederate service. These allegations are calculated to impair the confidence of the army, and the country generally, in the efficiency and fidelity of officers charged with important trusts, and, to a more or less degree, to inflict injury not only upon those officers, but the common cause. It is due to them, therefore, but above all it is due to the country, that a rigid scrutiny should be instituted into charges, direct or implied, of this character. They should undergo the ordeal of a searching investigation. Not to advance an opinion at this time, upon the justice or injustice of these grave allegations, but under the influence of this conviction he had offered his resolution.
The hour having arrived for the consideration of the special order of the day, being the bill to provide for the filling up of existing regiments, squadrons, battalions, and companies, and to increase the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, Mr. Clopton, of Ala, addressed the House in opposition to the Committee's bill, as it stands. At the conclusion of his remarks, the question was called, being upon the substitute of Mr. Gaither, of N. C., for the bill reported by committee. This substitute differs from the committee's bill, in that is authorized the President, in his discretion, to call upon the several States for any number of troops, to serve for the term of three years, or the war. In making such requisition, the President shall take into consideration the number of troops from each State already enlisted for the war at the time of the requisition, and shall, as far as practicable, equalize the same amongst the States, according to their respective population. If the Governor of any State shall refuse or fail for — days, after any such call shall have been made upon him by the President, to comply with said requisition, then all white male citizens between the ages of thirty-five and forty-five years, in such State, are hereby made subject in all respects to an act entitled ‘"An act further to provide for the public defence, "’ approved April 16, 1862. and the President is authorized to enforce said act against such persons.
On this substitute the vote was taken by ayes and noes, with the following result: Ayes 28, noes 45.
Mr. Holt, of Ga., moved to lay the bill of the committee, and the several substitutes and amendments thereto, on the table, but the motion did not prevail.
On motion of Mr. Kenner, of La, the House went into secret session.
