Confederate States Congress.
After recess on Friday the Senate met at 8 o'clock P. M.House amendments to Senate bill to establish a Bureau of Foreign Supplies were concurred in, and the bill passed.
Mr. Wigfall introduced a bill to allow agents of the Press Association with the armies to purchase rations. Rejected — yeas 8, nays 10.
House bill to conscribe certain non-commissioned officers and privates in the trans-Mississippi department was passed with an amendment.
Mr. Wigfall introduced a bill to extend to officers below the rank of Colonel the provisions of the act providing for the appointment of officers with temporary rank and command. Referred.
Mr. Henry submitted a resolution extending the time of adjournment to Tuesday, the 14th inst. Agreed to.
Senate bill to amend the act to establish military courts was reported back from the Military Committee.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.
The Senate, met at 11 o'clock Saturday morning. Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Read, of the Presbyterian Church.
A House bill in relation to the pay of Government depository clerks was passed.
The Senate refused to concur in House joint resolution explanatory of the act increasing the compensation of certain civil officers and employees in the city of Richmond.
Senate bill to facilitate the settlement of the claims of deceased soldiers was reported adversely from the Military Committee.
The Senate considered and refused to pass the bill to extend to officers below the rank of Colonel the provisions of the act providing for the appointment of officer with temporary rank and command.
Mr. Semmes introduced a bill providing that General Officers heretofore appointed to the command of particular armies, army corps, divisions, and brigades, may be assigned by the President, when in his opinion the public interest will be promoted thereby, to the command of any other army, &c.
The bill was lost — yeas 7, nays 7.
Senate bill to authorize the impressment of the railroad iron, equipments, and rolling stock, of railroads was considered and passed.
Senate bill to establish a Bureau of Polytechnics for the examination, trial, and experiment of warlike inventions, was lost — yeas 7, nays 10.
Senate bill to repeal the act to provide a staff and clerical force for any General assigned to duty at the seat of Government was taken up, and, after some discussion, laid on the table.
The bill to establish a general staff for armies in the field, was taken up and discussed till the hour of recess.
At the night session no business was done.
House of Representatives.--Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Read of the Presbyterian Church.
The bill amendatory of the tax laws was taken up and referred to a committee of conference.
The bill to increase the compensation of the heads of the several departments, and the Secretary of War and the Treasury, was taken up, and the House insisting upon its amendments, a committee of conference was asked for.
House bill to provide for the enrollment and conscription of certain non-commissioned officers and privates in the trans-Mississippi department was taken up, and the Senate amendments were concurred in.
Senate bill relating to the issuing of certificates of indebtedness by the Government of the Confederate States was taken up.
Mr. Foote moved to lay the bill upon the table. Lost — ayes 22, noes 48.
The bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Senate joint resolution authorizing the raising of the rent of the building owned by James Lyons, now occupied by the Treasury Department, was considered and passed.
Senate bill to authorize the manufacture of spirituous liquors for the use of the army and hospitals was taken up, and a debated ensued involving the merits of whiskey manufacture in general, and the duties of the Government concerning the matter in particular.
Pending the consideration of the subject, the House took up the special order of the day, namely: A Senate bill providing for the establishment and payment of claims for a certain description of property taken or in formally impressed for the use of the army.
The discussion of this bill occupied the remainder of the morning session.
Night Session--Friday.--The House resumed the consideration of the bill amendatory of the tax laws, and returned it to the Senate with sundry amendments.
The bill to regulate impressments was taken up, debated and laid upon the table by a vote of ayes 34, noes 33.
A message was received from the President vetoing the bill amendatory of the act imposing regulations upon the foreign commerce of the Confederate States, so as to allow the several States to ship produce in vessels in whole or in part owned or chartered by them. The President suggested that the act be so amended as to confine the privilege of shipping by States to vessels owned exclusively by them.
The House sustained the President's veto, and a motion by Mr. Barksdale to reconsider was lost.
At 9 o'clock, on motion of Mr. Rives, the House resolved into secret session.
At half-past 1 the doors were opened, when the Senate resolution, extending the session to Tuesday, was taken up and passed.
The House adjourned at 2 o'clock A. M.
