The Daily Dispatch: May 27, 1864., [Electronic resource]

Confederate States Congress.

The following bill was considered and passed:

‘ The Congress of the Confederate States of America doenad That the pay of a General assigned to duty at the sent of Government, under the provisions of an act entitled "an act to provide a staff clered force for any General who may be assigned by the President to duty at the sent of Government," approved March 25, 1862, shall be the same as the pay of a general officer commanding-in-chief a parte army in the field.

’ The following bill, reported from the Senate Finance Committee, to authorize certificates of indebtedness to be given for property purchased or impressed, and for transportation, and to provide for payment of interest on said certificates in specie, was considered and passed:

Sec 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That when certificates of debt are issued in manner and form as now provided by law, in exchange for private property seized or impressed, or for purchases made for the use of the Confederate Government, they shall be issued at the election of the owner of said property either for its market value in specie at the time of its impressment, or for its value according to the average prices prevalling during the second and third quarters of the year 1860. The said value shall be ascertained by appraisers, to be selected, and to act according to the provisions of the impressment law now in existence. The interest upon the said certificates shall be paid in specie, or, if paid in Confederate Treasury notes, the amount thus paid shall be equal in value to the said specie.

Sec 2. That the appraisers at large in each State for which they are appointed shall estimate and declare for each month the value in specie of the Confederate Treasury notes in such State, and the local appraisers shall ascertain the specie value of property impressed at market rates by first as certaining their value in Confederate Treasury notes, and then reducing them to a specie standard, according to the monthly valuation of the appraiser at large, as herein provide. The interest upon the said certificates, if paid in the said notes, shall be paid according to the value of said notes in specie during the month in which the said interest fails due.

Sec 3. The certificate thus issued shall declare upon its face that it is payable in specie two years after the ratification of a treaty of peace with the United States of America, and the same may be converted at the pleasure of the holder, at par, in the untaxable six per cent bonds, authorized to be issued under an act entitled "An act to reduce the currency, and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds," approved 17th February, 1864; but these certificate a can only be converted in sums which are multiples of one hundred dollars. The said certificated may be given by the Secretary of the Treasury, at his discretion, in exchange for property impressed or seized by the Confederate Government according to law.

Sec. 4. All claims upon the Government for railroad transportation, shall be adjusted by payment of two thirds of the claim, as unedited in treasury notes; the remaining third shall be set down at the rates of the year 1860, and be paid in certificates issued in the form hereinbefore prescribed — And in case the railroad company should be willing to accept more than one third in certificates, such additional amount of certificates shall be issued, as will discharge the same at the said rates of the year 1860.

Sec 5. That for the purpose of procuring specie to provide for the payment of the interest on the certificates hereinbefore mentioned, the sum of ten million dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, to be expended by the Secretary of the Treasury, is the purchase of cotton and its conversion into specie, to be applied exclusively to providing for the payment of the interest aforesaid.

The doors being opened Mr. Johnson, of Mo., submitted the following:

‘ Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the resolution passed by the two Houses fixing the day of adjournment for the 31st instant be and the same is hereby rescind. Laid on the table.

’ The Senate then adjourned.

House of Representatives--Prayer by the Rev Dr. Jeter, of the Baptist Church.

Mr Hanly. of Ark, from the Military Committee, to whom had been referred a memorial of the Society of Friends, reported a bill to amend so much of the act of February 17, 1864, to organize forces to serve during the war as relates to the exemption of certain religious denominations. The bill was taken up and passed. [It places members of the Society of Friends on the same footing with those of other religious denominations exempted under the act.]

Mr Hanly, from the same committee, reported a bill to provide for the enrollment and conscription of certain non-commissioned officers and privates in the Trans-Mississippi Department. Passed.

Mr Miles, from the same committee, reported back Senate bill to authorize the appointment of General officers, with temporary rank and command, and to define and limit the power of assigning officers to command, with a recommendation that it lie upon the table. It was so ordered.

Mr Miles then reported a bill to authorize the President to confer temporary rank and command upon officers of the Provisional army who may be selected for special service. Informally passed over.

Mr Lyon, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported the general appropriation bill, which was ordered to be printed, and made the special order for Saturday.

Mr Lyon also reported a bill making appropriations for the postal service for the years 1862 and 1863. Ordered to be printed and placed on the calendar.

Mr Bald win, of Va, presented a substitute for the bill.

Mr. Russell, of Va, from the Committee on the Judiciary, made a report in relation to the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.

Mr Russell also reported a bill to amend the army regulations with respect to gaming by disbursing officers and others entrusted with the public funds. Placed on the calendar.

Also, Senate bill to provide for the appointment of a disbursing clerk in the War Department. Passed.

Also, a bill to organize the Supreme Court of the Confederate States. Placed on the calendar.

Also, joint resolutions in response to resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Virginia, asserting her jurisdiction and sovereignty over her ancient boundaries. Passed.

Mr. Hanley reported back the Senate bill to double the compensation and mileage of members of Congress for the present session.

The question being upon the passage of the bill, Mr. Marshall demanded the ayes and noes, which were ordered, and the bill was rejected — ayes 33, noes 45.

The House, in Committee of the Whole, (Mr. Sexton in the chair,) resumed the consideration of the bill to amend the tax laws.

The bill was debated until 3 o'clock, when the Committee rose, reported progress, and the House took a recess until 8 o'clock P. M.