Confederate States Congress.
The Senate met at 12 o'clock M. yesterday. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Dogget, of the Method at Church.On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Ark., the resolution fixing the day of adjournment was taken up, and the blanks in the resolution being filled with the words "Tuesday, the 31st of May," the resolution as amended was passed. Ayes 11. noes' 7.
Mr. Baker, of Florida, introduced a bill to amend the act imposing regulations upon the foreign commerce of the Confederate States, and to provide for the public defence. Referred.
House bill to exempt railroads from certain duties was reported back from the Finance Committee, with the amendment: In line four, after the word "roads," insert the words"imported by any railroad company for its own use." Amendment agreed to and bill passed.
Mr. Oldham, from the Committee on Commerce, reported back Senate bill to establish a Bureau of Foreign Supplies, with an amendment by way of a substitute.
The resolution inquiring what legislation was necessary to vacate the commissions of general, staff, and field officers who have no command, and are not assigned to any duties, was reported back from the Military Committee with the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved by the Senate of the Confederate States of America, That the President be respectfully requested to inform the Senate whether the General Order of the War Department, No. 48, of July 11, 1862, has ever been revoked if any officers have ever been dismissed the service under it; and if any, what officers, and when they were dismissed.
From the same committee a bid was reported to promote the efficiency of the cavalry and to punish lawlessness in that arm of the service. Laid over.
From the same committee a bill was reported to authorize the appointment of general officers, with temporary rank and command, and to limit and define the power of assigning officers to command. Ordered to be printed.
The bill to amend the act to reduce the currency, and to authorize the new issue of notes and bonds, was taken up, and pending its discussion the Senate resolved into secret session; and the doors being opened, adjourned.
House of Representatives.--Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Minnegerode, of the Church.
The Speaker laid before the House Communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a report from J B DeBow, relative to the cotton loan. Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
A joint resolution to refund to John D Sutherland a sum of money taken from him by the enemy was taken up and discussed, and the question being upon ordering it to its third reading, was decided in the negative — ayes 24, noes 39. So the resolution was lost.
Mr. Perkins, of La., from the Committee on Rules, to whom was referred the resolution of Mr. Foote, that hereafter all proceedings of the House shall be in open session, unless it be otherwise ordered by a two thirds vote of the body, or they refer to military movements or diplomatic questions, submitted a report in favor of giving as much publicity to the proceedings of the House as circumstances will admit, but in opposition to changing the existing rule of the House on the subject, and recommending that the resolution do not pass. The question being taken upon the passage of the resolution, it was rejected — ayes 25, noes 51. The report of the committee was ordered to be printed.
Mr. Helskell, from the Committee on Elections, reported back a bill to provide for holding elections for representatives in Congress from the State of Tennessee, with an amendment. The bill was taken up and passed.
Mr. Barksdale, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported the following bill, amendatory of the currency and funding law of February 17th, 1864:
‘ The Congress of the Confederate States do enact, That the above recited act be, and the same is hereby, so amended as to a low citizens of the Confederate States who, by reason of the occupation by the enemy of the sections of country in which they resided, and the interruption of postal and telegraphic communication, or other unavoidable causes, were prevented from obtaining timely information of the requirements of said act, or who were so situated, in consequence of the movements of the enemy, or the casualties of war, as to be unable to comply with the provisions thereof, until the the first day of July, 1864, east of the Mississippi, and until the first day of August, 1864, wester said river, to fund such Treasury notes above the denomination of five dollars, as were bone fide held by them prior to the 1st of April last; provided that any person claiming the benefits of this act shall make oath before some officer that he or she is a true and loyal citizen of the Confederate States, was the bone fade holder and owner of the notes proposed to be funded prior to the 1st day of April, 1864, and has been prevented by the causes specified in this act from funding said notes within the time allowed by the said act approved February 17, 1864.
’ The bill being taken up, Mr. Arkins, of Tenn, moved to amend by striking out the dates named, and inserting the 1st of January, 1865.
Pending the consideration of the subject, Mr. Machen moved that the House adjourn, but withdrew the motion at the request of.
Mr. Dupree, who offered a resolution that during the present emergency the public printer be authorized to have the printing of the House done by private contract. The resolution was adopted.
The House then adjourned.
