Confederate States Congress.
The Senate met yesterday at 12 o'clock, and the proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Langhorne, of the Methodist Church.Mr. Orr. of S. C., presented the credentials of Hon. Edwin G. Read, of N. C., appointed by Gov. Vance, of N. C., to fill the vacancy in the C. S. Senate occasioned by the resignation of Hon George Davis. Mr. Read attended and took the oath of office.
Mr. Phelan, of Miss., introduced a bill to amend an act to organize military courts to attend the armies in the field and to define their powers.
And also a bill to confer additional powers on military courts and courts martial. Both bills were referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Brown, of Miss., introduced a bill to increase the yearly compensation of the Commissioner of Patents to $4,500, to be paid out of the Patent Office fund. Referred to the Committee on the Patent Office.
Mr. Sparrow of La., introduced a bill to punish absence from the army. Referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported back adversely the bill to fix the rank pay, and allowance of Adjutants of regiments and independent battalions.
On motion of Mr. Clark, of Mo., it was ordered that when the Senate adjourn it be till Monday next.
The following House bill, to prohibit dealing in the papers currency of the enemy, as amended by the Finance Committee, was considered and passed:
- Section 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of American do enact, That no broker, banker, or deale in exchange, or person concerned in trade as a merchant, or vender of merchandize of any description, or any other person, except within the line of the enemy, shall buy, sell, take, circulate, of in any manner trade in any paper currency of the United States; Provided, That the purchase of postage stamps shall not be considered a violation of this act.
- Sec. 2 That any person, violating the provisions of this act shall be subject to indictment and protestation in the Confederate Court holden for the distinct within which the offence was committed, and shall, upon conviction, forfeit the amount so bought, sold, circulated, or used, or a sum equal therefore and shall be moreover subject to a fine of for more than twenty thousand dollars nor less than five hundred, and be imprisoned not less than three months nor more than three years, at the discretion of said Court; and it shall be the duty of the Judges of the several Confederate Courts to give this act specially in enrage to the grand jury.
- Sec. 3That this act shall not be construed to apply to any person acting in behalf of the Government of the Confederate States, by special authority from the President, or any of the heads of Departments.
The bill declaring persons owing military service to the Confederate States, and who sick to avoid such service by removing beyond the control and jurisdiction of said States, alien enemies, and subjecting their property to confiscation, was taken up and considered. After considerable discussion.
On motion of Mr. Caperton, the Senate resolved into secret session.
The proceedings of the House were unimportant. The rules for the call of the States for resolutions, &c., was suspended, and reports from committees called for.
The bill reported by Mr. Wilcox, to assign Judges of Military Courts from one Court to another was passed.
The bill reported by Mr. Wilcox from the same committee, to authorize commanders of departments and corps to detail field officers for duty on Military Courts, in cases where the regular incumbents are disqualified from presiding, was also passed.
The House also passed the joint resolution of thanks to Major General P. R. Cleburne, and the officers and men of his command, for their gallant defence of Ringgold Gap, Ga., and the joint resolution of thanks to Maj. Heros Von Borck, reported by Mr. Miles, from the same committee, were unanimously adopted.
The bill to create the invalid corps, reported from the same committee, was made the special order for Saturday morning.
The House then went into secret session, on the special order.
