Confederate States Congress.
In the Senate, yesterday, Mr. Maxwell, of Fla, introduced the following joint resolutions, which, on motion of Mr. Orr, of S. C., were transferred to the secret calendar:
- Resolved, by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the action of the Confederate authorities having in charge the matter of exchange of prisoners, in declining to treat with Gen. B. F. Enter in relation thereto, is cordially approved by Congress, and the selection of such a person, who is justly outlawed by the President of the Confederate States, and who is held in odium not more by the people of these States than by the people of all civilized countries, is regarded as an act of petty spite on the part of the Government of the United States, and is an indication of its purpose covertly to embarrass and avoid the further exchange of prisoners on any reasonable terms.
- 2. Resolved, That the Government of the Confederate States is, and at all times has been, ready to make a fair exchange of prisoners, according to the cartel, and is prepared to resume negotiations to that end whenever met by a Commissioner or agent of the United States not especially obnoxious to the people of these States.
- 3. Resolved, That any pretence of claims for the exchange of negro soldiers who were, under our laws, slaves of Confederate citizens prior to the war, is alike unjustified by reason of the law of nations, for these give to every nation the right to the entire service of all her people, of whatever class, against a public enemy, and the right also to dispose of and punish according to her own laws any such of them as may be caught in the act of war against her; and further, if the claim for such exchange be acquiesced in by the Confederate Government, it would thereby give sanction to servile insurrection in its most destructive form.
- 4. Resolved, That if there has been any scantiness of provisions or clothing for the prisoners in the hands of the Confederate authorities, it has been only in the same proportion with that which has befallen our own soldiers in the field, and is due to the indiscriminate and malicious devastation and destruction of private property by the armies of the United States, such as for ages past has been denounced by the civilized world as only fit to be practiced by barbarians and savages.
‘ Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs he instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing an invalid corps, to be composed of officers and soldiers who have been incapacitated for field service by disease or the casualties of battle, and who when organized may be assigned to the performance of such light duties as are now performed by efficient officers and soldiers; and that said committee report by bill or otherwise.
’ Agreed to.
Mr. Orr submitted the following, which was agreed to:
‘ Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of placing in the military service of the Confederate States all male free persons of color between the ages of 18 and 40 years of age, to be employed as cooks, teamsters, and laborers.
’ The bill to authorize the appointment of an agent of the Post-Office Department and such clerks as may be necessary to carry on the postal service west of the Mississippi, was taken up and passed.
Also, the bill to authorize the appointment of an agent of the Treasury Department west of the Mississippi river was passed.
The Senate took up and considered the House bill to amend an act entitled "An act to regulate impressments," approved March 26, 1863, and to repeal an act amendatory thereof.
After the adoption of several amendments the further consideration of the bill was postponed till the following day.
The Senate then took up and considered the House bill to prohibit dealing in the paper currency of the enemy, which, on motion of Mr. Semmes, was postponed till Wednesday.
The bill to provide for the auditing and settlement of claims in Mississippi was taken up, and pending its consideration the Senate resolved itself into secret session.
The House met at 11 o'clock, A. M. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Marshal.
The following are the most important resolutions introduced.
Mr. Barksdale, of Miss., submitted a resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to report a bill for the speedy and effectual punishment of officers and privates who violate the provisions of the act regulating impressments. The resolution was referred.
Mr. Barksdale introduced a bill providing for the payment of property destroyed or injured under military necessity, which was referred.
The Committee on the Quartermaster and Commissary Departments reported favor ably on the bill to allow persons discharged from service by reason of wounds, &c., and in Government employment to purchase clothing at Government prices. The bill was ordered to be printed.
The special order being the bill to provide an asylum for disabled officers, privates, &c., to be called "The Veteran Soldiers' Home," was taken up and passed.
[The bill as perfected provides that all moneys that have been or may hereafter be paid into the Treasury on account of exemptions from military service, under laws heretofore enacted by Congress, shall be expended in the purchase of some suitable location for an asylum to be called "The Veteran Soldiers' Home," and for the erection and furnishing of such buildings and fixtures as the probable number of inmates may render necessary. It further provides for the appointment of a Board of Managers and other necessary officers, and for contributions from individuals in aid of the enterprise. The beneficiaries of the institution shall be all commissioned and non-commissioned officers, musicians, privates and seamen, who have been or may hereafter be retired or discharged by reason of wounds received or injuries sustained in the service of the Confederate States, while in the discharge of their duties during the pending war.]
The House then went into secret session on the special order.
