Confederate Congress.
Senate.
Friday, January 13, 1865.Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Norwood, of the Episcopal Church.
The Military Committee were discharged from the further consideration of a resolution and bill relative to clothing for commissioned officers of the army.
On motion of Mr. Johnson,
"Resolved, That the Committee for Courts of Justice take into consideration forthwith the propriety of prohibiting by law, under heavy penalties, the traffic in gold and silver coin."
House amendment to Senate bill to amend the act providing for the publication, distribution and safe custody of the laws, was concurred in, and the bill passed.
On motion, by Mr. Garland, the Senate resolved into secret session.
House of Representatives.
The House was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Duncan.The House passed a bill providing that the interest due the Cherokee nation on certain State bonds, amounting to three thousand seven hundred dollars per annum, the payment of which was assumed by the Confederate States in their treaty with said nation, be paid in cotton, deliverable at some convenient point in Texas. Messrs. Chrisman, Logan and Hilton voted against the bill.
The following communication was received from the President:
"Executive Department," January 13, 1865.
"To the House of Representatives.
"Confederate State of America:
"I have just received from the Secretary of War the accompanying report, stating that Hon. Henry S. Foote, a member of the House of Representatives from the State of Tennessee, has been arrested by a military officer, in Northern Virginia, while endeavoring to pass our lines on his way to the enemy's country.
As this arrest may involve a question of privilege, I submit the matter to you in order that such disposal of the case may be made as to you shall seem proper.
"To the House of Representatives.
"Confederate State of America:
--War Department,
"Confederate States of America.
I have the honor to submit for your information and direction the subjoined copy of a telegram received from the provost-marshal at Fredericksburg.
No special instructions had been given for such arrest.
"I have arrested Hon. Henry S. Foote, at Occoquan, on his way to Washington, for the purpose of negotiating peace, as he avows. Full particulars, through Major Carrington, by mail. Have paroled him to await instructions. Please instruct me what disposition to make of him.
On motion of Mr. Clarke, of Missouri, the matter was referred to a select committee of five.
[Occoquan is in Prince William county, on the stream of that name, near the Potomac. The village is about seventy-five miles from Richmond and twenty miles from Alexandria.]
The House proceeded to consider the exemption bill; and pending its consideration adjourned.
