Confederate Congress.
Senate.
Mr. Hunter, of Virginia, offered the following resolution, which was agreed to:
‘ "Resolved, That the President of the Confederate States of America be requested to furnish the Senate--
"Firstly. Information as to the number of white men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, and of the number of negroes who, in addition to their own officers, may be required for the necessary employment and the proper discharge of the functions of the Departments of Medicine, of the Commissary-General, of the Quartermaster-General, of the Engineers, of the Ordnance, and of the Nitre and Mining Bureau.
"Secondly. A like estimate as to the Post-office and Navy Departments.
"Thirdly. A like estimate in regard to the railroad transportation of the country, including not only the working, but the equipment, repairs and construction, of the number, in his consideration, required for such transportation.
"Fourthly. To specify the railroads, if there be any such, whose repairs and construction, in his opinion, will be necessary for military purposes, and ought to be effected, in whole or in part by appropriations from the Confederate Treasury."
’ The Senate bill for the increase of the compensation of naval storekeepers was reported adversely from the Naval Committee; and, on motion, by Mr. Maxwell, its further consideration was postponed.
House bill to reduce the number of exemptions and details was referred to the Military Committee.
On motion, by Mr. Semmes, House bill to provide more effectually for the reduction and redemption of the currency was taken up and transferred to the secret calendar.
On motion, by Mr. Semmes, the Senate resolved into secret session.
House of Representatives.
The House was opened with prayer at 11 o'clock by Rev. Dr. Burrows.The House then took up and passed the joint resolution offered by Mr. Branch, of Texas, authorizing the President to appoint commissioners to investigate the proceedings of the Cotton Bureau and the conduct of the military authorities in connection with the cotton in the Trans- Mississippi.
Mr. Clark, of Missouri, from the Committee on Elections, submitted the following report on the case of Mr. Foote:
‘ "The committee to whom was referred the resolution in reference to the conduct of the Hon. Henry S. Foote, a member of this House from the State of Tennessee, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report and recommend the adoption of the following preamble and resolution:
"That, some weeks since, the said Henry S. Foote absented himself from this House without leave; that shortly thereafter he attempted to pass into the enemy's lines and to the capital of the United States without permission, which was in violation of law and in disregard of his duty as a member of this body; that when in the act of leaving our lines, to enter those of the enemy, he resigned his seat upon this floor, so far as he then could, by writing his resignation and depositing it for transmission to the Speaker of this House, but which he, being afterwards arrested and his purpose defeated, intercepted and withdrew.
"Resolved, That Henry S. Foote, in thus attempting to leave the Confederacy under the circumstances and in the manner above stated, whatever may have been his motives, has been guilty of conduct incompatible with his duty and station as a member of the Congress of the Confederate States, and that he be therefore, and is hereby, expelled from this House as a member thereof.
"A. M. Branch."
’ Mr. Hilton, of Florida, said that, while he concurred in the above report, he objected to the language in which it was couched, and therefore declined to sign it.
Mr. Gilmer, of North Carolina, in behalf of himself and Mr. Bell, of Georgia, submitted the following minority report:
‘ "The undersigned, being a minority of the Committee on Elections, admit that the conduct of Hon. Henry S. Foots in abandoning his seat in this House without leave, and attempting to pass to the enemy on any business involving the interest of the Confederacy without instructions, is highly reprehensible, and however honest his motives were, deserves the censure of this House; and they report the following resolutions and recommend their passage:
"Resolved, That the said Henry S. Foote was properly arrested by the military authorities.
"Resolved, That the said Henry S. Foote, for his conduct aforesaid, deserves the censure of this House.
"H. P. Bell."
’ After considerable discussion, the vote was taken on the adoption of the majority report, and resulted — ayes, 51; noes, 25.
Sixty-nine votes (two-thirds of all the members of Congress present and absent) being necessary to the expulsion of a member, the report was not agreed to.
The House then adopted the minority report, the vote on the first resolution being unanimous, and on the second--yeas, 64; pays, Messrs. Blandford, Chrisman, Dupre, Gray, Keeble and J. T. Leach.
[All the above, except Mr. J. T. Leach, had voted for the resolution of expulsion.]
The House then went into secret session, and, when the doors were opened, adjourned.
