Confederate Congress.
Senate
Saturday, January 14, 1865.Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Norwood, of the Episcopal Church.
Senate bill to regulate the pay and allowances of certain female employees of the Government was reported back from the Judiciary Committee with amendments. The bill and amendments were ordered to be printed.
On motion, by Mr. Semmes, Senate bill to facilitate the settlement of the claims of deceased soldiers and officers, by the creation of the office of Fourth Auditor, was recommitted to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Walker, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back bill to secure more effectually the preservation and distribution of the effects of deceased soldiers.--Ordered to be printed.
On motion, by Mr. Semmes, the Senate resolved into secret session.
[Note.--In the Confederate Senate, on the 12th--Mr. Johnson, of Missouri, presented the credentials of the Hon. George G. Vest, appointed a Senator by the Executive of the State of Missouri to fill, until the next meeting of the Legislature of that State, the vacancy occasioned by the inability of the Legislature to elect a Senator conformably to the provisions of the Constitution of the Confederate States, owing to the occupancy of the said State of Missouri by the public enemy, which were read.
Mr. Johnson, of Missouri, having moved that the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution be administered to Mr. Vest, it was determined in the affirmative — year , 15; nays, 4 --as follows:
Yeas--Messrs. Baker, Barnwell, Burnett, Caperton, Dortch, Garland, Haynes, Hunter, Oldham, Semmes, Sparrow, Watson and Wigfall.
Nays--Messrs. Brown, Graham, Hill and Walker.
Whereupon, the oath prescribed by the Constitution was administered to Mr. Vest, and he took his seat in the Senate.]
House of Representatives.
The House met at 11 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Duncan.The Speaker announced the following committee on the message of the President relative to the arrest of Hon. Henry S. Foote: Messrs. Clarke, of Missouri; Gilmer, of North Carolina; Chilton, of Alabama; Gholson, of Virginia, and McCallum, of Tennessee.
The House passed a Senate bill amendatory of the act providing for local defence and local service.
Also, a Senate joint resolution of thanks to General Stand Watie, Colonel Gano, and the officers and men under their commands, for gallant military service.
The House also passed a bill to provide for the payment of provost marshals and military clerks.
Also, a bill to increase the compensation of the Surgeon-General, so as to give him the pay and allowances of a colonel of cavalry.
The House then took up for consideration the exemption bill. Several attempts were made to table the bill and recommit it to the Military Committee, but they failed.
A clause was adopted exempting all ministers of religion engaged in the discharge of their duties on the 17th of February, 1864.
Also, an amendment to exempt all mechanics and agriculturists over forty-five years of age, habitually engaged in the prosecution of their calling, who have eight white persons in their families dependent on them, and all such persons now in the army who would have been so exempted had they been at home.
Pending the consideration of the bill the House adjourned.
