The Daily Dispatch: February 17, 1865., [Electronic resource]

Confederate Congress.

Senate.

Mr. Semmes presented resolutions passed by the Louisiana Guard Artillery relative to the further prosecution of the war. Ordered to be printed.

Mr. Graham, of North Carolina offered the following, which was agreed to:

‘ "Resolved, That the Secretary of War be instructed to inform the Senate, with as little delay as possible, what number of conscript soldiers have been levied in each State of the Confederacy and placed in the service in the field; whether there has been any failure to execute the law of conscription in any State by reason of any cause other than its occupation by the enemy; and if so, why it has not been executed with uniformity in all localities which the operations of the enemy have not prevented."

’ The Senate resumed consideration of House bill to diminish the number of exemptions and details, which was the unfinished business of the previous day.

Mr. Orr. offered the following:

‘ "Resolved, That House bill No. 350, entitled 'a bill to diminish the number of exemptions and details,' be recommitted to the Committee on Military Affairs, with instructions to inquire into the expediency of reporting the same back with amendments, which shall authorize the Secretary of War, in cases of great public necessity or convenience, to detail persons between the ages of eighteen and forty-five from the performance of military service, guarding the discretion of the Secretary so as to protect, as far as possible, the power from abuse.

"2. Authorizing the Secretary of War to grant details to such officers and men of the James River and Kanawha Canal Company as are necessary to secure prompt transportation of all supplies over said canal. Amending the third section of the bill so as to provide that hereafter no contractor for carrying the mails, or drivers of post-coaches, shall be exempt from military service by reason of such contract or employment hereafter to be made, unless such contractor be above the age of forty-five years. And providing that the Secretary of War be required at each meeting of Congress to report the names, with a descriptive list of each exemption and detail allowed by him, and the purpose thereof."

’ After a lengthy debate, the resolution was agreed to and the bill was disposed of.

Senate bill for the relief of Major D. W. Hinkley, quartermaster of Finnegan and Terry's brigades, who had eight thousand five hundred dollars stolen from his tent.

Mr. Sims, of Kentucky, moved to provide in the bill for the relief of Captain. C. Hart, quartermaster of Lomax's brigade, who had lost about the same amount in the same manner.

The amendment was disagreed to and the bill rejected.

Senate bill to exempt from military service skilled artizans and mechanics employed by the Government was recommitted to the Military Committee.

On motion, by Mr. Burnett, the Senate bill to provide for receiving volunteer troops for the war was transferred to the secret calendar.

Senate bill to provide for raising two hundred thousand negro troops, reported from the Military Committee with an amendment, was taken up, when,

On motion, by Mr. Johnson, of Georgia, the Senate resolved into secret session.

House of Representatives.

Senate bills to provide for the cancelling of four per cent. bonds received in payment of taxes; to remit the penalties for the non-delivery of the meat tithe; and to authorize the exchange of registered bonds of the loan of February 28, 1861, for coupon bonds, were passed.

The Committee of Conference on the bill to authorize the establishment of an office of deposit in connection with the treasury reported back the bill as originally passed by the House and amended by the Senate with following additional section:

‘ "Section 4. That all treasury notes deposited under the provisions of this act, and permitted to remain for a period not less than three months, shall be exempted from taxation to the extent of one-half the tax that may be imposed on treasury notes on hand or on deposit elsewhere."

’ The bill to establish an arsenal and foundry in Deep Creek Valley, North Carolina, was reported from the Committee on Ordnance and Ordnance Stores and passed.

Mr. E. M. Bruce, of Kentucky, presented resolutions, which were passed, instructing the Committee on Exchanges to call on the heads of departments to see that commissaries, quartermasters, clothing agents, paymasters, furloughed officers, transportation officers and passport agents are sent to Camp Lee to minister promptly to all the wants of returned prisoners, and to report whether any additional legislation is necessary to promote the comfort of returned prisoners.

The House then took up the bill for the employment of negroes in the army as soldiers, and, on motion of Mr. Atkins, the discussion of the bill was ordered to be in secret session.

When the doors were re-opened the House adjourned.